Slight tingling/vibrating sensation on the left palmrest for 1647?

Does anyone else get a slight tingling or vibrating sensation on the right palmrest? It doesn't really bother me but I just find it peculiar....it's really hard to describe except that my hand can feel some kind of vibrating going on (it's very subtle and doesn't make noise). Anybody else know what I mean?

 

It's most likely your hard drive. More so the case if you have a 7200RPM drive.

 

That's what I suspected. It's not a big deal but I was just curious whether anyone else had noticed this? I suppose it's inevitable when so much high-end stuff is packed into a small space.

 

I think there's a particular batch of Seagate 7200RPM drives that're particularly susceptible to vibrations... I think there's a firmware update you can download to ameliorate the problem. Maybe.

 

Sorry for the dumb question, but do you know where one would find such a firmware update? Should I be checking the dell site for firmware update to hard drive?

And how do I go about finding out what hard drive model I have?

Ok, I found out the hard drive model...it's a western digital 320gb....but I have no idea where one finds a firmware update or driver...

Model: WDC WD3200BJKT-75F4T0, Serial: WD-WXF0AC9P0962, Firmware: 11.01A11

 

Is it an alloy (metallic) palm rest? If so, it could be an earthing problem. The 1330, 1530 & 1730 suffer this but is resolved by using a proper earthed power supply. I used to get this when using my laptop on battery and plugging in an external usb disc that was not earthed. Very weird sensation but completely harmless.

 

Sorry for the dumb question, but what's "earthing"? If it helps my notebook is plugged into the 90w AC adapter and it sits on my wooden desk. The computer is Dell Studio 1647...

It might be the hard drive spinning (it's a western digital 300 gb) but I have no idea how to reduce that and Western Digital's web site doesn't seem to have any firmware update for this model.

Any help would be much appreciated...

 

As you know, most plugs have three pins (earth, neutral and live). Most electrical devices use all three but some smaller electricals such as radios don't bother with the earthing as usually the main body is all plastic. The power supply supplied with the XPS laptops mostly use the earth pin but some of the early ones did not. If the device is not earthed or has somethinig plugged in that is not eathed, you can get a slight tingly sensation when you touch the palm rest. This can feel like a vibration but is not.

As I confirmed, it is not dangerous. I guess your hard drive could be vibrating but to test this theory, launch the OS and when all has settled down see if you get the vibration. If you do when there is no disc activity then you know it is something else.

 

Doesn't appear that there is one at the Dell site: http://support.dell.com/support/dow...bIndex=&scanSupported=False&scanConsent=False

 

Ya I saw that. Frustrating.

 

I'm not sure what model HDD the 1647 uses, but I'm assuming it is the same as the SXPS 1645. You should be able to use the same HDD drivers for the 1645 and 1647. Check the model of HDD you have in the Device Manager to be sure.

 

It's a Western Digital: WD3200BJKT

 

I'm sorry... didn't realize that Dell is putting WD drives into the new XPS's. The 1645 and 1640 use Seagate or Samsung drives. I looked around on some other Dell models and didn't see any Western Digitals. There may be a driver on another site, but I did not see one on Western Digital's website either.

 

Ya I think they put Western Digital in the 1647s....it's frustrating since there's nothing in terms of a firmware update or a new driver on either WD's web site or Dell's.