XPS 15 (Haswell) Owner's Lounge

Anyone else getting super load HDD spinning noise and scratching? Any fixes?

 

Ladies and gens, does anyone have the OEM wallpaper package? I tried to find it online but no luck so far. And the one available is only FHD. Thanks

 

Hi guys, have had my xps 15 top tier for little over a year have been really happy with it even though i had to have the original machine replaced.

Just this morning i have noticed that the screen has a vertical line of pixels that are sticking red or green, my laptop is now 1 month out of warranty so any ideas where i can get a replacement screen or resolve the problem? It would be great to know that when you are spending $3500 NZD that you are getting a machine that should last atleast 2 year.

Any feedback would be much appreciated.

 

The left-click on mine occasionally sticks. I'll get it repaired under warranty.

 

I'd get onto Dell and explain that whilst you're out of warranty, nothing you have done has damaged the screen therefore you believe it to have been defective on purchase.

That's how I'm getting a MoBo replacement.

 

On my repair, Dell closed the call after failing to note my number down correctly, and constantly delaying my repair because they couldn't get hold of me. They had a landline number from 3 years ago and my work number with an error in it...

 

Hello,

My XPS 15 9530 has the 512GB Samsung SSD. I have two questions:

1) I just noticed that Intel Rapid Storage is disabled in the BIOS. Is that proper? For what it's worth, Intel Smart Response is enabled. Please let me know if Rapid Storage should be disabled.

2) I have three volumes on my SSD. Should I have a paging file on any of these volumes? On each volume? System managed or manually defined?

Thanks!!!!

Jay

 

Motherboard replaced successfully.

Engineer said the last guy who did it didn't apply the thermal paste properly, but also that the fans had filled with dust (which was odd as I make a point to always use a laptop tray with mine.

He suggested buying a T5 driver and taking the base off every so often to remove any dust build up. I thought it might be useful to pass this on to you lot.

 

Hi, first post... I apologize in advance as this *must* have been asked before but I searched and could not find so anyway... I have a new XPS15 9530, I purchased for my wife but she refuses to move off her old laptop because she doesn't want windows 8. Can't say I blame her really. So I attempted to install Windows 7 x64 SP1, win7 installs ok and as expected could not find any of the drivers for network etc etc. So I downloaded the latest chipset utility and the win7 wireless drivers from the intel site (dell has only win8 drivers). I installed the packages but the system still does not detect any network interfaces. I've not hit this problem before on any other machines i've worked on. I know win7 is not officially supported on this model but I didn't think it would be this much trouble. I know otehr people have got win7 running so I must beinstalling the wrong drivers... I've got the factory re-intall images on 2 dvd's buut I don't want to go back to win8. any help appreciated. thanks.

 

For those waiting on the next generation XPS 15, going to be waiting a bit longer; no 37W quad-core in today's announcement of new Broadwell chips.

 

Depending on the exact model of 9530 you'll either have an Intel Dual Band AC 7260 or a Broadcom/Dell 1560 wireless card. Assuming they're the drivers you are missing, here are the windows 7 versions:
DW 1560: http://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER02618141M/1/9343_Network_Driver_KK4JF_WN_6.30.223.228_A00.EXE
Intel 7260: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/do...intel.com/24862/eng/Wireless_17.16.0_Ds64.exe

You'll likely be missing other drivers too, have a look in Device Manager and let us know what you need.

 

Thanks. Yes mine has the 1560 wireless card. I was trying to install the Intel drivers (which card is better?). Now I've only got 2 unknown devices:

• Intel(R) 8 Series/C220 Series B xHCI HC - 8C31
• Unknown device (no idea what this is).

 

DELL XPS 15 7000 !

WOW! Screen similar to the new XPS 13.

Video is in Italian, I couldn't find one in English.

 

The new Dell Inspiron 7000 seems the actual Dell XPS15 9530:
http://www.engadget.com/2015/06/03/...ium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget&?ncid=rss_full

Here pictures of the next Dell XPS15:
http://www.theverge.com/2015/6/3/8717975/dell-xps-15-infinity-display-computex-2015

 

My current machine has the DW1560 too and I had better results when I previously had the Intel 7260 - though this will probably differ person to person as everyone has different routers/access points. I've just ordered an Intel 7265AC to replace mine as they can be picked up fairly cheap (£30/$50).

The first device you listed is the Intel USB3.0 XHC; driver here: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/do...Intel-8-9-Series-and-C220-C610-Chipset-Family

As for the second one, if you double-click it in Device Manager then choose the 'Details' tab, then choose 'Hardware Ids' from the drop-down list and post the text that appears in the 'Value' pane we will be able to work out what it is

 

Thanks, one down one to go... the hardware ID of the remaining device is ACPI\NXP5442.

edit: just googled it, looks like its the NFC device. and it looks like there's no windows 7 driver for it.

edit2: how difficult is it to swap out the wifi mini-card?

 

Aaaaand guess what? The new motherboard has died 4 days after its replacement...

Was using it yesterday to process some photographs, it handled them fine, no heating or excessive fans, come back to it 24hrs later, power button is doing nothing.

 

I just got a refurb'ed unit from Dell after complaining about my l521x screen constantly getting dead pixels.

This unit doesn't have coil whine (though it sounds like a jet is taking off when the fans turn on to 100%) like I've read about. 747 pages is a lot to read though, so I was wondering what the suggestions are for this laptop, ie best drivers for battery life.

Is there anything else I should be looking out for with this unit that would require me to deal with Dell again?

Also, I have the 61 Whr unit. I want to remove the HDD, replace it with a Samsung 850 msata ssd, and try to find a 91 Whr battery to pop in. Is it possible to upgrade from the 61 Whr o the 91 Whr battery? If so, where on Gods green Earth can I buy a genuine one?

 

Onto my 4th motherboard now, technician told me that they're generally only given refurbished parts, and both of my recent ones have been refurbed, hoping that's the reason for the failures, not a problem elsewhere that is blowing them (because they seem happy to just keep swapping them).

If it goes again I will be asking for a new unit, as it'll be taking the mick.

 

I notice there's a firmware update for the SM841 on Dell's website, but it looks like its only for the 256GB model.

 

See my long post a few pages back. I got my system replacement and it had the dell wifi card in it. I noticed immediately that its performance was noticeably worse than the intel ac7260. I called Dell and they shipped a 7260 to me which I swapped and sent the DW card back to them. The Intel card simply performs better across the board. I would never keep the DW card if I had the option to change it for the Intel card.

 

And guess what?! My "new" motherboard has horrendous coil wine. Proper high pitched clicking/squeaking that's giving me a headache.

Happens on scrolling ffs.

 

Thanks I found your post. I'm looking at this on ebay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191546531235?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Its the Intel 7265NGW - will this one be ok?

 

The 7265 should probably work as it is just a wifi card - the same standard as the 7260 - so it should definitely fit the slot.
(Before) buying one, though - you should probably google it to see if anyone out there has had issue with it or not - being a newer card, etc.

 

hmmm that one i linked to is a mini-card, not mini pci-e - i havent opened up my xp15 yet to see what interface the broadcom card is. I don't really know the difference - is one type more common than the other?

 

does anyone have the older bios versions? i updated to a08 and now i started noticing a flicker in the screen's backlight. i don't know if it's related but i want to at least try to fix it. I called Dell and they want to charge 700 euro for a replacement screen (even though they don't know for sure that the screen is the issue)

 

I have some versions around. But, is it possible to downgrade the BIOS, or will the installer reject the installation?

 

sorry for the late reply, I'm not sure if it would reject it, but I would like to give it a try

 

I find that in sleep mode my XPS 15 can get rather warm underneath. Anyone else experience this as well? Is there a way to force the machine to hibernate after a set time while sleeping?

 

I have not experienced the warm you describe in Sleep mode, but you can set any windows computer to Hibernate after X amount of minutes. Even if it is asleep, it will momentarily wake up and allow windows to hibernate (write everything to disk and shut power completely off). I have mine set to do this and it has worked fine for years. You set this in Control Panel -> Power Options -> Change Plan Settings -> Change Advanced Settings -> Sleep section -> Hibernate after x minutes (mine is set to 180 minutes).

 

I did a "powercfg /requests" from the command line and found out that wmpnetwk.exe was keeping my system from sleep. I disabled the "Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service" and so far so good. And possibly with this hibernate setting, no more warming effect. Hope this may help others.

 

Yeah, mine's like that too. It sucks, but it's just something you'll grow to live with.

You'll first enter a phase of annoyance, where the noise will simply be unpleasing to you. Then, it's pure anger, and you'll try fervently to fix it through several suggested methods; none of which will work. You'll debate getting yet ANOTHER motherboard replacement but you won't due to the fear that the replacement will sound even worse. So you'll try to live with the noise and it will pierce into your brain like an earwig contantly wiggling its way through your inner ear to the center of your cerebral cortex.

Eventually, you'll start to hear the noise all the time, even when the machine is turned off. You'll contemplate selling the device and ridding yourself of this curse completely, yet something keeps it around. It may be the fact that, despite this problem, Dell has managed to create a unique machine that fits your needs in every way, and that if it didn't have this one debilitating problem it'd be perfect. So you deal with it, and you start to acclimate and master the expectation of the noise. You'll then start hearing coil whine in every device you've ever owned, wondering how you never noticed it before.

Then, finally, you'll enter a phase of acceptance. You'll realize coil whine is all around us and maybe even in us. It'll become no different than singing birds in the morning, or the gentle whoosh of wind past your face. I know this, because this is what I went through. Now I love coil whine.

 

My motherboard just died for the third time and they want to send out the tech again to replace once again. The last one was replaced two days ago. The "corporate" escalation guy was useless and wouldn't exchange the system and kept on offering the same ol same old. Safe to say that this would be the last Dell that I'd be buying.

 

Mine doesn't have any coil whine. I think I dodged the bullet...

 

I recently upgraded mine to the 7265, and it had no problem recognizing it -- didn't even require a new driver! MUCH better speeds on 5.3ghz 802.11AC, still kind of poor speeds on 2.4ghz either 802.11AC or 802.11N, but it is only a 2-antenna card.

 

oh god, I need dell to come and replace a faulty fan as it has started vibrating due to a shot bearing (this is not coil whine!)
I am told they can only send a tech with a refurbished fan. What use is a bloody refurbished 2nd hand fan, this is just not good enough. wear parts should be swapped on a new basis only.

I have already got a new pair in my basket from aliexpress for under £20 as I hold no hope in this working for long.

 

ugh so I opened mine up last night, just for a look... I believe I put everything back the way it was, but now the system does not recognise the wireless card, or the 2 usb ports on the same side... argh... I also lost one of the small T5 screws. Never try to disassemble a laptop after 8 pints at the pub lol.

 

Reseat the ribbon cable connecting that USB board, sane with the one connecting the wifi card, and yeh never do it pissed, never works well!

Did you repaste the cpu and vga chips while it was open ? always worth it.

If you want to find that screw either use a decent magnet or stick a sock (or tights if you have a woman in the house) over a vacuum cleaner pipe and go over the area.

( took a couple from a swap unit for spares but can't find them )

 

thanks, yeah i'm going to open it back up tonight and have another look to see if i can fix it... is there a guide for repasting the cpu and vga chips? is this is a known problem with this model? sorry this may have been discussed earlier in the thread i've not read all of it.

 

I suggest running a benchmark once the screws are out of the case to warm the pads making it easier to remove the heatsink. look at the heatsink, remove the 6 numbered screws starting from 6, once out give it a wiggle with a bit of pressure to lift it without bending it, try to avoid pulling on the copper heatpipes as they will bend. once off clean up and repaste like any gpu/cpu and refit.

It isn't a problem just generic thick paste on a weak heatsink so those extra few degrees you gain = less noise and less throttling.

 

Just want to update on my system, I am running on win 10 build 1062 and to my surprise, the dell touchpad is not replaced by the generic synaptic touchpad and two finger tap for right click works like a charm. It also runs cool as win 8.1. I measured about 39 degree C when idle, about 50 degree C with light use and about 75 degree under full load. I tried Ubuntu 15.04 but the wifi didn't work and I couldn't figure out the scaling to make it right so I got rid of it. I'm loving win 10 so far.

 

That's weird, wifi should work perfectly. Do you have the Intel or the Dell wifi card? (I have the former and it definitely works).

About the scaling, you probably were using Unity. I would recommend Cinnamon (the one I use), KDE, or GNOME 3. You can find more detail in the wiki.

 

Hi guys,

I am happy in general with my laptop but I have a couple of quetions.

1) How do you clean the palmrest keyborard and touchpad?

2) Howdid you solve the problem of thtouchpad getting stuck at the left corner

3) I have a defective palm rest as some bubbles appeared on one side of the palmrest. I have no idea why you can cehck the photo below. Can dell replace it ? I know that there is no chance to receive a new unit for that.

 

Wow. Bravo. I certainly don't love it, but I've started to accept that I need to unplug the power when it reaches 100%, however I'm concerned that that will damage the battery.

Dell have offered me an off-site inspection at some dodgy warehouse somewhere, but I can't be without it that long at the moment. I don't know why they can't just give me a new motherboard.

I'm tempted to quote the SOGA at them and ask for a replacement.

 

hmmm I can't seem to get the system to detect the wifi or usb ports... I may have actually damaged something... I reseated the big 90 degree ribbon cable, I can't see any other cables to connect - I can hear the windows "plug-out" sound when i disconnect one end so i think its seated correctly.

 

I have the terrible and horrific Dell wireless card and I'm asking for the dual band Intel one right now. The speed is fine when near the router but when moving away from it, it drops like a bomb. and thanks for the suggestion but I don't think I'm keen enough to learn a new OS. Too lazy and too Apple-like.

 

When I need a new palmrest due to a mark they sent out a "refurbished" palmrest.

load diagnostics from the startup options (F12) and see if a USB mouse works on the diagnostics page.

 

#$@!!! DELL !!!!!
Give me a BREAK already - how much GRIEF is this doomed poor excuse of a laptop going to bring me ?!!!

Today, out of the blue, my 4K screen decided that it would display two horizontal lines - basically dissecting the screen into 3 equal parts.
There is also a faint border around the entire display - the same thickness of the horizontal lines - too !
The appearance of the lines is "similar" to the way that "burn in" looks - however my screen is never on long enough to get burn in - and especially in this pattern.

I have gone through 3 replacements now - and now THIS !

I truly regret my purchase of this doomed model.
Now to call Dell - like I really like having to do this every few months - geez !

 

Damnnnnnnn you scare the bazooka out of me as I recently received a replacement and my warranty will be expired soon.