Omg My 1530 Came!!!

Sorry, for the obnoxious title, but I'm pretty hyped up right now - about 9 days early!

Anyway, please help! What defects/problems should I check for?

Also, how do I check what screen manufacture and HDD/CD drive manufacturer (which is the loud one?) I have?

Lastly, is it a good idea to do a clean install of Vista? If so, how would I go about doing so? Should I install the drivers and utilities using the CDs provided, or should I install drivers from elsewhere (ie. online? if so, does anyone have a good link that has compiled all of the necessary drivers?)

And actually, one last thing: when I plug my XPS into an outlet, is it best to take the battery off first (does that help increase future battery life at all or would it be fine just the plug the notebook into an outlet and have the battery attached at the same time)?

 

Cool, I hope mine comes early too

Check the screen for dead pixels, graininess, etc. Make sure the keys on the keyboard are all good (have seen many dell laptops with one or two keys that need way to much pressure to work or are not aligned right). If anythings wrong you will probably notice it within a few days of using it. Use all the system, make sure everything works right down to the webcam, fingerprint reader, and burn a DVD for a test.

I think in Device Manager it will show you all that type of stuff about who makes the drives and screen. Probably click on properties (right click, properties) to get more info.

Clean install is a good idea. Some drivers from the CDs, but you may want to download new video drivers at least.

I Think it has to be attached to the notebook to charge.

 

This is utterly stupid, but it happened to me and it happened to a few others. Look on the bottom of you laptop and make sure the RAM cover and everything is properly closed and screwed on and none of your ram or internals are showing.

Also go to your Device Manager to see your CD Drive, if you have an Optiarc, you have the noisiest drive out of the M1530 line. If you have anything other than that such as a TEAC, etc. Your good.

Also push down on the corners to check that your notebook is balanced and is not tilting back and forth when you press down on opposite corners.

 

It looks like I have a Mat****a drive - is that one of the manufacturers? But I can't seem to find out how to find the screen's make (I go to Control Panel -> Device Manager -> Monitor -> *rightclick* Properties)

The notebook is very balanced, the keys seem to be working fine for now (I'll test them later), there is no hump in the middle of the keyboard, the back covers and screws are all on.

And how do I go about doing a clean install? Doesn't the Vista reinstall CD included with the notebook , still have all the bloatware?

How do I check for dead pixels/grainyness?

 

Yep Mat****a is the parent company of the brand known in the US as...*Drum Roll*...Panasonic.

 

Definitely check for all screws. I'm missing 1 HDD screw, my fiance's laptop was never even put together correctly - as in the LCD panel never had ANY screws in it, and there were no hdd screws and other things. We didn't notice the issue until too late, but after a few months of fighting we got him a brand new laptop. Better to check for all those little things now then to be out of luck later.

 

Stickied threads for Bloatware/Clean install
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=157838

Also, you'd know if you had a bad screen. If you don't notice problems with it it's fine.

 

I do notice slight back light bleed at the top and bottom so I wanted to check if if the screen was a CMO

 

Use Les' guide in the forum sticky for a fresh install. It also has some good tweaks in it.

Enjoy your new machine!

 

Holy crap thats horrible. Dell really needs to work on the quality control. They make great stuff but sometimes their QC is just horrific.