Studio XPS 1340 and Windows 7 (There are issues)

I had been running Windows 7 for 2 weeks on my 13 and I kept on getting lockups. It would just freeze up. Only bios functions would work.

I had dell replace the motherboad, heatsinks and processor and it still locked up, the laptop was running really hot too.

I spoke to dell and they asked if I was running windows 7, I said yes, they said the laptop did not support 7 (yeah right) and I was to test under vista. So I reinstalled vista and the freezes totally stopped. Been running for one day solid now without a hitch.

I think there must be some driver conflicts running 7 which makes the laptop over heat.

What do you think? I will install a newer build of 7 when it is relased but until then I will stick with Vista.

 

well there is a reason why the win7 is beta.
I know my P-7811FX started having some quirky issues after having Win7 installed for a few weeks.
Any specific reason you want Win7 and not just stick with Vista?
I never understood why people are using a Beta OS as a main OS.

 

wow sometimes i wonder what the intelligence level of some people are that they go as far as to hope for a motherboard change when they are running BETA software and something screws up.......

 

Dell says the laptop does not support Windows 7 and you are having problems with Windows 7 but not with Vista. Hmmm....

 

I never understood why people feel the need to download and use the latest beta of something (photoshop, latest OS etc). It's a work in progress and it can ruin your day in case something goes wrong.

 

Messing about with beta software is fine, as long as you have the technical know how or troubleshooting skills needed. The mainstream consumer who just wants to try out that new thing is exactly the person that should not be doing so.

The wife's 1340 has been running 7 for a while now. The only issues she's had is upon resume from hibernate. Sometimes it resumes, sometimes it doesn't. Restarting it always gets it to resume properly though.

 

Hang on chaps, I am a sys admin and always test beta software. I was not complaining, I love 7 and run it on a few machines. I was just trying to help others having similar issues and stop others who might be thinking about it.

Of course there are going to be issues with a beta. It was only becasue I was running 7 on 8 other machines without any issues like this, and it seem just like a hardware issue.

And I am sure the different spec 1340's will have an effect on the stability.

 

Dell was being extremely generous when they rebuilt your system because it couldnt run a beta version operating system.

 

Generous, whatever. i had just spent £40k with them, it was the least they could do.

 

Aye, they owe me for the three failed HDs in a month. I need to get a hold of a resolution manager.

 

I wonder if the 1640 has any of these issues because I plan on throwing in a X25-E and running W7 x64 as my main OS. Seems others haven't had any problems. I've been running W7 on my desktop for a couple months without problem. I guess it all depends on the hardware.

 

well the M1330 i run 7 on works great.
was gonna install 7 on my XPS13...think i won't now

 

I am encountering the same problems with build 7057 which makes me think that there must be a driver issue somewhere. I might try reinstalling and not putting on any Dell drivers and see if that rids it of the problems.

The issue I have is after reinstalling it seems to work fine for the first week but then the issues flare up....

 

Making a BETA software as your main OS is never a good idea.

 

That is not a very constructive comment now is it?

It would be fair to say that these bugs dont seem to be because Win7 is beta but rather that the drivers we are using are not compatable with Win7. There are no Win7 Driver's for the SLi cards in laptops at the moment as such we are forced to use Vista drivers. This situation might not change even when 7 is released. MS said they would not support SLi in Win7.

 

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/beta-faq.aspx

Are there risks to installing the Beta?

Yes. While the Windows 7 Beta is stable and has been thoroughly tested, it’s not the finished product. Your computer could crash and you could lose important files. So please don’t beta test Windows on your primary PC.

Other problems you might encounter include:

*

Software that doesn’t install or work correctly, including anti-virus or security programs
*

Printers, video cards, or other hardware that doesn’t work
*

Problems accessing corporate or home networks
*

Files may become corrupted

Bottom line: Please carefully balance the risks and rewards for you of trying out the Windows 7 Beta before you install. Before installing and using the Beta, download and review the Release notes. They provide important information that you should know before installing and using Windows 7. You should familiarize yourself with all of the known issues in this document prior to installing the software. For example, the release notes describe a bug in which MP3 files may become corrupted and provide information on mitigating risk.

 

On the contrary, it is an extremely constructive comment. Fact is that if the machine is your main computer, you should not rely on an unpolished OS on a day to day basis...major issues, such as those that you have experienced can arise at any given moment...

That's why the majority of those using 7 are dual booting it...it's mainly a toy ATM...a neat plaything, but not something I would store critical personal data on...or rely on to check my email, even...

And to expect it to perform flawlessly on a machine that itself is implementing new technologies (Hybrid SLI) is a little extravagant...IMO...

 

OH my god, everyone on this board are a bunch of self righteous so and so's.

We all know what a Beta is, I thought the point of a forum was to HELP people not preach to them. There are loads of bugs in Win7, it is a beta after all, there are also loads of workarounds. I was hoping this thread might turn into something useful with people giving suggestions of different drivers and install methods. Not a list of people says that it is a Beta and outlining what a Beta is, if you don’t have anything constructive to say then don’t say it. It is a waste of space.

166 and 206 posts with a rep power of 1, I can see how helpful you have been to people....

 

Yes, I am helping people by saying NOT to make Windows 7 Beta as their main OS because of reasons outlined by Microsoft on my reply #16.

It's nice of you to make this thread into "something useful with people giving suggestions of different drivers and install methods". But you don't have to be so hostile to a sound advice. What do you expect me to do? Encourage people even more to make an unfinished product that may corrupt files as their main OS?

So now you're going personal. Would you like an additional rep power for that?

I suppose you think you made something constructive by throwing insults?

 

I really can't be bothered with you any more. I don't see why copying and pasting from another site about what a Beta is helping anyone or has anything to do with the thread title. I really think I need to finda more tech savvy forum if that is the only advice you are able to give.

 

You with your three (gray) rep points...and horrible advices...W/E dude, just cause your a "network whatever" doesn't mean squat to me...just cause you've been to school, well...the advice I've seen you give would lead me to believe that you have no business whatsoever near a network...you must have been banging your teacher to even have graduated...lemme guess...ITT tech???

And most of my posts have been questions...trying to learn...and spreading what I have learned to other noobs...not passing out unsubstantiated "facts" as facts (per your Wireless N posts)...

 

yeah, i tried windows 7 on my xps, loaded the drivers from dell.com and also ran windows update (which had the nvedia drivers for the graphics card). it ran well, no crashes or anything, but vista just runs so well and fast on this machine (it actually feels faster than 7) that I've decided to just stick with vista for now until win7 has an official release.

 

I don't really get what your problem is.

Do you seriously want people to go ahead installing Windows 7 BETA as their MAIN operating system? If yes, then you are actually causing them harm instead of helping them.

At least I'm able to provide information (even if it's just copying and pasting) about the risks and dangers of relying completely on a BETA software. Did you even read what it said before you criticized it?

How about you? What have you done?

You are playing down this warning from Microsoft itself.

Worse, you resorted to ad hominem.

Go ahead. Find a "more tech savvy" forum. Don't expect people there though to tell you something differently about relying completely on a BETA software.

 

But, surely a thread about Windows 7 is for people who have already read and digested the pitfalls with a beta and are now trying to get to grips with the OS. I am used to testing systems, I was hoping that other people with a similar experience might be able to have a discussion with me, not people banging on about what a Beta is and how MS have already warned us etc etc. I never once said, Run 7 as your main OS. I am sitting here typing from a Vista machine. I was hoping, via discussion and testing that I might be able to get to the bottom of the crashes. Saying it is a beta does not suffice my inquisitive mind. I never once said, "OMG I have just lost all my data, MS are so stupid to let people use Windows 7" (where did you get the idea that i was relying on Win7? There are idiots out there I know, but that is not me. I have installed it with my eyes wide open, I just wanted to discuss reasons and solutions.

jeremysdad, my experience with the wireless was not a unique one, I helped out a few other people on other forums who were having exactly the same problems as me. It is a FACT that there is a problem with the 1515 cards and N wireless on some routers. I am not saying every router, just that there is an issue with the card and or drivers for it (although I tried lots of drivers). I know this to be true. Not for one second did i say an unsecured network did not work with N, just that if you are experiencing trouble connecting with N then there is a known issue that in some circumstances it will only connect at WPA2.

 

This thread made me laugh...

 

See, there's the problem. You made a baseless assumption. Because any person "who have already read and digested the pitfalls with a beta" would NEVER EVER in his sane mind use it as his or her main OS. If you think otherwise, then give me a good reason why would anyone make Win7 Beta their main OS even after knowing the risks of doing so?

Someone here is just about to do that, and I just warned him that it's not a good idea to use Win7beta as your MAIN OS. That's when you get so upset about not giving a constructive comment, blah blah, and then you started throwing insults. Do you want him to end up doing the wrong thing??

Geez, forgive me for caring to point out something that a person might regret doing later when the beta expires and suddenly he/she won't be able to boot his machine using it!

 

See, we helped someone!!!

Seriously, you were implying that you were using it as a main OS, that it broke your machine (that Dell rightfully should not have replaced, since you broke it through experimentation with a non supported Beta OS), and you were having issues.

I have read at least three posts of people who have run it successfully on their 1340, including the Hybrid SLI...maybe you are the one who is not so tech savvy, yes-no?

Whatever, this thread is ghey now...

 

Well its not even the fact that he tried running Win7 and wanted help working out the issues....it was the fact that he demanded support from Dell that made no sense.

 

no idea if Church works in IT. but do you?
cause with a statement like
"Because any person "who have already read and digested the pitfalls with a beta" would NEVER EVER in his sane mind use it as his or her main OS"
is a bit rich.
i'm in IT an right i'll run a beta OS as my main OS whenever i can. Gives me a huge jump on what too expect when the RTM comes out.
Ran XP when it was called Whistler for over a year, just so when it was released as XP i was well used to it.
so no you don't have to be mental to run a beta OS


ps...this thread also made me chuckle.

 

Me too, but thanks for the support, at least someone understands about Beta testing and getting ahead of the game.

FYI, I never asked Dell for support, I asked them to change my Motherboard and heatsinks. As I have a good relationship with them, they did as I asked.

OK, but let up please top this silly argument. I would love to ressurect this thread with a bit of an update.

I have installed every build of Win 7 as it has been release/leaked in the hope that my freezing problems might be fixed, after all it is a beta . I have also tried running 64bit versions, currently on 7068 64bit.

Unfortunatly nothing has helped me, I still get the freezing. I have kept up to date with all the latest drivers on dells site but nothing seems to help. One thing I did notice however was that when I was trying to upload about 6gig from an SD card the laptop would always freeze whilst doing the transfer, there was not specific image it froze on, just it always seemed to happen after it had done about 3+ gig of the transfer. The only way I managed to transfer the files in the end was by USB cable from the camera which did not seem to cause any problems at all.

This seemed odd to me as I could not attribute my othere freezes to the SD card reader, but it made me think that perhaps the chipset drivers are not fully Windows 7 complient (again, I know it is a beta and thus why should they but I noticed when instaklling the Dell Nvidia drivers that it says Windows 7 drivers when installing)

I really don't understand this freezing issue, we are very close to coming out of Beta and into RC1 of Win 7 so I just cant believe it is Win 7 causing this but rather a specific drivers interaction with Win 7.

Failing that it might well be a hardware issue which was what I thought at the very beggining. Perhaps SSD?

 

Well Dell are yet to release any Windows 7 drivers, so you can't really say just yet. Best to wait until Windows 7 makes it's official release before pointing the finger at one thing or another.

 

Alright guys. First off Most of the XPS 1340's Overheating and locking up issues were resolved with BIOS update A07. Also since Windows 7 is not officially out yet issues are bound to pop up but since Windows 7 is very closely related to Vista if Vista is running fine with the drivers than Windows 7 will work with the Vista Drivers.