Owner's Thread: Dell Inspiron 11 3147 2-in-1

Hi, y'all, I'm back. I'm setting up a 3147 for a friend who wants Linux Mint on it instead of Win 8.1 or 10. No problem for the most part, but a few features don't work and I can't find a solution in any of the Dell or Linux forums, so I thought I'd ask here:
Has anyone here managed to get screen rotation, kb/touchpad lock, 2-finger gestures to work in ANY variety of Linux?

 

Hello, I have same issue. I have tried to install drivers from Win8.1 didnt work. The touchpad seems very slow and have only basic functionality. Also I have a unknown device in my device manager. I think its the touchpad. Any suggestions?

 

Hello can you upload the driver for touchpad? I cant figuere out why is mine not working... would you know?

 

try Dell website, there are several updates - mine is working after I updated their drivers, using it right now with no issues.

 

I have gotten 2 finger gestures to work by downgrading to the A02 BIOS. None of the other stuff though.

 

Thanks, nsx2brz, Reverting the BIOS that far back from A05 seems counter-intuitive, but I'll give it a try! I know there were sleep/hibernate problems with A01, but I think those were fixed in A02.

I've read several conflicting reports about what features on the 3147 work (or not) in any Linux built on kernel 3.16. My guess is that currently some 2-in-1 features can be made to work in Linux with some custom scripting, but most of it is gibberish to me.

I found a script written for Yoga to make the accelerometer work in Mint-Cinnamon to auto-rotate screen & lock the kb/touchpad, but I don't understand the script, so I can't hazard a guess if it would work or is even safe to run on 3147:
https://github.com/johanneswilm/thinkpad-yoga-14-s3-scripts

I also found this one, written for the Dell 13-7347 2-in-1 (which appears to be the big brother to the 3147):
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/STMicroelectronics_LSM303DLH_Accelerometer/Magenetometer

I don't mind re-installing Linux if the script messes up the OS, but I wonder if running the script could damage the 3147 hardware.

Dell said last year that the 13-7347 2-in-1 would be offered with Ubuntu, so it probably shipped with proprietary Linux drivers. So far I haven't found them, and they may not work on the 3147 anyway. I'll post a new inquiry on Ubuntu, Mint, Dell forums and report any useful outcome here if I get it to work. Otherwise I'll have to wait for Linux updates to fully accommodate 2-in-1s. Meanwhile, lacking those features isn't a deal-breaker if it works well as an ordinary laptop in Linux, since the person receiving it has declared Win 8 or 10 to be unacceptable!

 

Battery life.
I use BatterBar and am getting 6 hours with brightness at 40%. I read that others are gettimg 8 hours. How is that possible?

 

I get 8 hrs, but to do that, I keep WiFi off, no streaming music or streaming anything, just work apps. And I have an SSD in it which extends battery life.

If I connect a wireless mouse into it, it drains faster. If I listen to music offline on it while I work, it drains faster. So if 8+ hrs is what is important to me due to my location, I have to keep those items off.

 

Do you only use the touchpad?

 

Yes, if I'm on battery only and need to work a lot of hours away from an outlet as a wireless mouse definitely uses battery power.

2 quick notes on my touchpad, as some have complained about problems:
* I found the touchpad acts weird if I wake the laptop from sleep, so I don't use sleep mode. I use either hibernation (6 sec to desktop) or boot up (8 sec to signin+3 sec to desktop).
* I keep the gestures off except 2-finger tap for the right-mouse menu, mouse clicks, and 2-fingered scroll.
* The Dell/Synaptic 18.1.29 driver gave me some problems. Downloading & installing the Toshiba Synaptic 18.1.30 driver seemed to help. Again, I keep most of the gestures off to keep down errors.

ADDED NOTE: By my experience, having an SSD instead of the HDD can add an hour to your battery life, so if you are getting 6+ hrs on your HDD on the 3147, that's not far off.

I've been on Windows 10 for several days now and really like it.

 

I'm using Windows 10 and can't find an app that allows me change the gestures, turn it off and on, etc., and I really need such an app.

 

* Under Win 7-10, in the lower right active task bar, I have an icon like a square w/ 2 buttons underneath. Open that for access to the Synaptic driver config. (Or right-click on lower-left Start Icon>Control Panel>Mouse)
* Go to the last tab "Device Settings".
* Click on "Settings".
* The Dell driver has a setting for "turn off Gestures". The Toshiba Synaptic 18.1.3 does not. I have to go through the various setting like "Pinch Zoom" and "One-Fingered Scrolling" and uncheck them. Even under "2-fingered scrolling", I only have the horizontal and vertical scroll enabled. Not the rest.

 

I have neither. Do have a link to the driver?

 

Here is the link to the Dell 11 3147 page of drivers and there is a new Dell touchpad driver for Win 10. I'll give that a try and report back to you here.

Here's the page for Dell 3147/8 drivers:
http://www.dell.com/support/home/us...duct/inspiron-11-3147-laptop/drivers/advanced

And the page for the new touchpad driver:
http://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER03115675M/1/Input_Driver_W9HP3_WN32_19.0.9.4_A00.EXE

 

Okay, just to add to my last post. The new Dell touchpad drivers are odd in that there are NO gestures or any way to tweak them. So if you want no gestures and a basic 2006 Microsoft touchpad driver, then install it. Weird. It says the Synaptics driver is installing, but when I look in Device Manager, it clearly ISN'T installing. So I'm opting to go back to the Synaptic 18.1.3 drivers that I had before.

Here is where I found the Toshiba Synaptic 18.1.3 drivers (that work just fine with my Win 10 setup):
http://support.toshiba.com/sscontent?contentId=4005593

To access the setup under this Synaptic driver, follow my instructions above.

 

AN UPDATE ON MY UPDATE:
I think I've found my first Win 10 glitch. It isn't allowing me to install the Synaptic drivers or even the older driver. None of them install. It says it was installed, but then it doesn't. Maybe I need to download ALL of the new Win 10 drivers on the Dell page and install them all.

 

Gents issue fixed by updating the Intel(R) Serial IO I2C ES Controller you may find it under post No93. I believe I have download it from there. Find the IO I2C in device manager and update the driver which you have downloaded...and restart...You don't even need to reinstall the original drivers. It worked right away fully functional

 

Here's something even more odd. I found the Toshiba driver myself earlier today and installed it. It doesn't show up anywhere; not in Control Panel > Mouse, nor is it visible in the Systray Hidden Icons popup. The same is true for your new link to Win 10 compatible Dell Touchpad driver.I don't get it. Have I failed to install some dependent driver?

 

Gents, I have had the standart problem with the touchpad, but now its ok. However I have had an issue with unknown device in the device manager "ACPI\INT33D6\5&15d725f4&0"
I found out that it has something to do with "Virtual buttons". I have found the driver at the dells webpage but would you guys know what's going on and why this was not working(or at least disappeared from device manager) for me right away or why this driver is not as part of the standard Dells 3147 package? Note: that the unknown device has been there prior I fixed the issue with my touchpad.
The link to the driver: http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=7P8X2

 

It won't install on my 3147.

 

Heya guys, I just managed to install Win10 on a new Samsung 850 EVO SSD. However the Samsung Magician software says that my computer is only running on SATA II, because it cannot support SATA III. I thought it supported SATA III....what can be wrong?

 

Hi Mikhayl,
Yes, the 3147/48 only supports SATA 2, not SATA 3. It might be due to the chipset used. Not sure, but even with a SATA 3 SSD, it will only run it in SATA 2 speeds. One upside that helps is if you install Samsung Magician and enable RAPID mode, your throughputs, as measured by Crystal Mark, will go through the roof.

 

Nor on mine. It says "Virtual Buttons" is not compatible.

But my real mystery is why the new Dell (Synaptics) Touchpad driver reports that it successfully installed, but when i check, it isn't installed. I'm guessing a glitch with Windows 10. Has anyone else been able to solve this issue?

 

Well, geez. I got a Synaptics driver 16.6.4 to install, but you are never going to guess how. I went to the Lenovo page and downloaded their Synaptics 16 for Windows 10:

http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/downloads/ds032247

Then I unzipped it. The Setup install file reported it wasnt a Lenovo (duh), but I then went into the WinWDF folder and then the x64 folder and launched the DPTINST.EXE file and it installed just fine and then rebooted. Then I went into the Mouse section under Control Panel and on the last tab "Device Settings" and clicked on "Settings" and turned off all gestures I didn't want.

And now it works fine, incl two-fingered scrolling like on a Mac, and two-fingered tap (for a right-mouse click). But, again weirdly, now my right-mouse click doesn't work. bummer, but it will do for now. :-(

I'm certain this is a Windows 10 Dell driver glitch that will get fixed but will take time until they get to it. Come on Dell, get this mouse driver issue settled!

 

Yes YES YES.... TY TY TY everything is again right with the universe, EVEN my right click. Thanks for posting a solution that at least is a band aid until a proper Dell driver can be posted. Now if I could get the extreme left side of my keyboard to work again.....

Dell support PLEASE catch up.

 

Hi guys,
My laptop has been really annoying recently. I bought it refurbished (by GENCO) off of dell outlet. No modifications accept for installing the Windows 10 update, and installing the dell touchpad drivers (that weren't installed OTB!!!!).

Two finger scrolling and any 2+ finger gestures RARELY work. It is SOOOO annoying. I'm up to date on the drivers, I've tried enabling and disabling EVERYTHING in the touchpad settings. I restart my laptop at LEAST 3 times a day hoping it will fix the problem. It rarely ever does, and when it does, it only works for a little while. Any help is GREATLY appreciated.

Also, half the time touch operation doesn't work in chrome. I'm forced to use edge, which i don't think has an adblocker extension, so that's really annoying too.

Thanks so much in advance!

 

Is it an app/program? I think I remember seeing it in windows 8.1 but I can't find it in Windows 10. I have a recovery disc, but that just has the OS on it i'm pretty sure.

 

Dell Inspiron 11 - 3147 System BIOS
3147A06.exe | Windows/DOS (22 MB)
Release date 3 Aug 2015
Last Updated 3 Aug 2015
Download: http://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER03153948M/1/3147A06.exe
Details: http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=682K2

REDWOOD G-SENSOR CALIBRATION (Touchpad Firmware Update) *password protected from Dell*
gsensor -external .zip|ALL(2 MB)
Release date 30 Jul 2015
Last Updated 12 Aug 2015
Download: http://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER03199675M/1/gsensor -external .zip
Details: http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=1MGNJ

Microsoft Windows 10 Media Creation Tool
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
> Choose upgrade pc now, no key will be asked
or to make/save iso
> Choose create installation media, English US, Windows 10 Home, 64-bit, then save to local drive or make flash drive.
You have 30-days to decide to keep Windows 10 or rollback to 8.1, don't delete Windows.old folder till you decide what to do.

 

Did you upgrade your BIOS to A06? It looks like this one has some support for the Intel Virtual Buttons, and Dell's Win10 section has the driver for it.

 

I ended up with the Dell's version 19.0.15.2 after the Win10 upgrade - gestures seem to work like before the upgrade. Dell's latest driver for Win10 is 19.0.9.4 - I assume that 15 is newer than 9.

 

This one is password protected. Not sure what it is supposed to do. Post if you get it to install.

 

The G-Sensor is the TouchPad??? It's not. It's the orientation sensor, i.e. gravity sensor/accelerometer.

 

need help please. i'm trying to update to A06 Bios - it doesn't matter where i do it - in Windows or Dos - I'll always get Error: Decompress Failed!!!

I also had the same issue when i was trying to update to A05. I tried, disabling/enabling secure boot, enabling disabling legacy, ahci and non ahci but i still get the same error.

would appreciate any help!

 

This seems odd. I would call Dell Support.

 

Download bios again, verify in Windows no AV programs are running that could be blocking app. Make sure your laptop is the Del 3147 model.

 

I don't know how many times i've downloaded the updated bios. now it's A07. and i'm sure my system is the 3147 - i searched using the service tag.

AV programs? but the system reboots and tries to update the bios at post, AV programs shouldn't be running at that point.

 

Has anybody installed this yet? I downloaded it again yesterday, and it still needs the password Dell put on it. Dell support techs are clueless about getting it to extract & install.

 

Did you get it to update? I agree, AV shouldn't be running during post, but maybe AV or firewall blocked the flasher pgm from starting in the first place? I didn't need to turn off my AV or firewall, but some are more/less restrictive about allowing downloaded .exe's to start unless you've whitelisted the source. In that case, though, it should give you a warning message.

I updated successfully to A07 yesterday on my brother's 3147. It was still at A04 before that, so I first did A05, then A06, then A07. Might not have been necessary, but I don't know if Dell carries over the previous updates into the new ones. All of them installed & restarted OK, and no problems noticed yet.

 

I managed to get the trackpad working nicely with the newly released generic drivers:
A. Go to the device manager and make sure that under "System Devices", the installed I2C driver is the one provided by the updated DELL chipset drivers, a.k.a, "Intel(R) Atom(TM)/Celeron(R)/Pentium(R) Processor Serial IO (SIO) - I2C Port 1 - 0F41" (and if not, just change it manually using "update driver...")
B. Go to the synaptics web site ( http://www.synaptics.com/en/drivers.php) and download the 1st option, the one labeled " Windows 10 PS/2 and SMBus Devices v19.0.19.1" (and NOT the I2C one!!! AHA!)
C. Install the drivers and... bummers... nothing happens...
D. Go back to the device manager and under "Mice and other pointing devices" you'll find the good ole (yet worthless) "PS/2 compatible mouse". Double click it and press "Update driver", then press "Browse my computer for driver software" and then "Let me pick from a list...". Now uncheck the "Show compatible hardware" option and then under manufacturer press "Synaptics" and for model choose the "Synaptics PS/2 Port TouchPad", press "Next" and then "Yes" and you'll be asked to restart you computer once again.
E. Restart your computer and behold the magic...

 

Hi guys just got a new 3147 today. I just finished upgrading it to Windows 10 but its too sluggish for me and I want to put a spare SSD i have into the machine. Is it as simple as plugging in the new SSD, inserting a USB with windows 10 media creation tool and thats it? Or will I run into more complications? Ive seen people talking about touch pad drivers but Im not sure if thats a one off issue some people are having or if its something everyone runs into. Im sure this has been answered before but I read through a lot of pages and didnt see a concise answer. This laptop is a gift for my girlfriend and I want to make sure she doesn't run into any issues that could arise by me swapping out the HDD.Thanks for the help guys.

 

As long are you are comfortable opening up the laptop and swapping out the hard drives, then it's pretty simple. You have to go into the bios and switch the boot order, and probably disable secure boot as well.

 

I followed these instructions. I have a Dell WM713 Bluetooth mouse. I set Synaptics to turn of the touchpad when it senses the WM713, and it works perfectly.
Thanks

 

I have an SD card in the card reader but it's not recognized by the 3147. Perhaps I used the wrong driver. Any help?
Thanks

 

Just be VERY careful detaching the bottom at the SD card slot area. The frame around the slot is very fragile and prying the bottom away from the frame can crack the frame.

 

is it the quad core? Mine is, its pretty responsive and snappy with 8gb ram, I have a SSD coming to swap myself

 

Thank you very much for this. This worked for me when other methods didn't. At last, I can update my touchpad to v 19.

 

contact dell tech support and tell them you want a media recovery key. they will send you a usb drive with the os and drivers it. after you swap out the hard drive (supper easy to do), put in the usb key, turn on the computer and the installation will start. I had to update a few drivers, but other than that it was very easy to do. I did not change any bios settings when I installed the ssd. it runs fast now. I was going to upgrade the ram but I don't think I need to now. good luck

 

In tablet mode did you manage to lock the touchpad, mine only lock the keyboard...