vista/sxga/ati compatibility issue

While configuring Inspiron 6400. The site popup a compatibility issue:

" 15.4 inch UltraSharp™ Wide Screen SXGA and/or 128MB ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON® X1300 HyperMemory™ is not compatible with Express Upgrade to Windows Vista Media Center or Pro. "

 

thats odd, only thing I could think of is perhaps the x1300 cant run areo well at 1680x1050(native res of wsxga+) do you get that message with the 1300 and the wxga option?, or wsxga+ and the x1400 option?

it might also have to do with how much ram you have in your config, if your going with 512 and plan to add more aftermarket I could see how that would show an issue as the x1300 only has 64 meg dedicates, up to 192 shared from main mem

 

Ram is 1Gig ( 2x512) and graphics card selected is ati x1400. In warning for some reason it complains about x1300....which is not even there in customize options.

It didn't gave this warning yesterday when I selected same configurations.

 

probably a glitch on dells part, I wouldnt worry about it

 

i really hope it is just a glitch otherwise when i install vista my sxga screen wont be able to shows its full potential.

 

I had ordered a DELL E1505 (aka 6400) two days back with T7200, 2GB Ram, ATI x1400, SXGA+ and with the Vista upgrade to Home Premium. There were no compatiblity issues then.

But today when i checked the same config, I am getting the compatibility error with the SXGA+ and the Vista Upgrade option. The one u specified.

I hope this is just a DELL website error. Hope it works on 1680x1050 resolution on my SXGA+ screen.

 

I too ordered earlier this week with the same configuration, and I recieved no compatibility issues. But I was there today just messing around, and I noticed the issue. It realy doesn't make since to me why there would be an issue. Vista is supposed to be visualy better, why would a screen with better color and resolution be a set back for it? Unless it's a hardware and or software issue. I have written dell and asked them about this. I will post you there response as soon as they get back to me. Hopefully it's just a glitch, because I'm looking forward to upgrading.

 

Again, just no excuse for the lack of an X1600 option on the E1505.

The Core2Duo cpu is excellent, it will be the short lifespan of the video card that will have a lot of us buying new laptops in 18 months.

I <3 beancounters. Not.

 

So, I finally heard back from Dell, and here's what they had to say.

Dear Mr. H*****,

Thank you for contacting Dell Technical Support.

Mr. H*****, I understand that you have some questions regarding the
compatibility of Windows Vista with the display of your Inspiron system.

I apologize to state that we do not have the expertise to comment on this issue.

For this issue I would request you to please check the following link:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/default.mspx


Alot of good this does. They didn't answer anything. I can assume that Vista will work on my SXGA display, but it would be nice to know what the compatibility issue is. Oh well, hopefully someone can figure this out.

 

so...does this mean that the wsxga with x1400 isnt compatable?....because i configured an e1705 with a wxuga and x1400 and there isnt a compatbility problem...i hope this is a glitch

 

I doubt there's a compatibility issue, there really isn't a whole lot different in basic rendering between xp and vista, just a lot more optimized (tho dragged back a whole lot by having a whole lot more going on) in vista.

I'll be putting build 5744 on my laptop soon, I'll let you guys know how it goes. Id bet website glitch.

 

I briefly tested Vista RC1 on my new Inspiron 6400 (Core 2 Duo T7200, WSXGA (1680x1050), 2Gb 667mhz Ram and Ati x1400) and it worked fine - Aero worked flawlessly although there is a beta Vista driver available from ATI which is worth checking out. It was only a brief test before I put XP Pro back on but can confirm it works fine.

 

Good deal. Glad we can put the issue to rest. Thanks for the input. On a brighter note, I get my new 1505 today. I can't wait!!

 

I want to know why too - so I spent more than 3 hours today hoping to find out if this is a website glitch, a compatibility issue, or something else.

1) First Attempt
I added a computer with "SXGA+ display" and "no Vista upgrade". Then I used the chat function on the website. After a while, the customer representative (CR) acknowledged that she couldn't figure out the problem so she said she would forward the issue to a sales. The sales called me back in 20 mins. I explained the problem to her, she wasn't convinced and asked me why I have to have the display and "they are all 15.4" anyway". OK. WTF. I insisted on my configuration. After a long fight with her, she said she has confirmed that this is a website glitch and she's willing to put a note on my order for my "Free Vista upgrade". I wasn't comfortable and told them to fix the website first.

Conclusion #1: It's a website glitch. (confirmed by a local sales)

2) Second Attempt
I need a laptop really badly. So I made an order with "SXGA+ display" and "no Vista upgrade". I called and apparently my call was routed to India this time. They said they couldn't modify my order and they have to cancel my order in order to change configuration. I told them it's of no use because that would result in the same compatibility warning in their system. They resisted. Fine. So I allowed them to cancel my order and tried. But then as I said, they are having the same issue. My call was disconnected in the middle of the conversation.

So I called again. The indian lady said they have successfully created an order with "SXGA+ display" and "Free Vista upgrade". I hang up and went to my computer to check my order status. ****. This time my order says "WXGA+" and "Free Vista upgrade". I called again and was hooked up with an indian guy. The indian guy cancelled my order and tried the same thing again. Didn't work. By this time I am already very angry. So I told him to cancel all my orders

Conclusion #2: It's impossible to place an order with "SXGA+" and "Free Vista Upgrade".

3) Third attempt
This time I deliberately tried to get my call routed to a local sales team. After explaining the issue again and again, i got a chance to talk to the sales guy's boss. His boss told me that there's incompatibility issue with the SXGA+ and Vista. I forgot what exactly he said but the idea is that if I have SXGA+ and Vista installed, I would get the same resolution as WSGA+ on Vista. I didn't want to deal with this anymore so I hang up.

Conclusion #3: There's incompatibility issue between SXGA+ and Vista.


What a good job. DELL! I'm glad that i sold your stock. I think I already had enough with this SXGA+ and Vista chaos. I will let you guys figure it out...

 

Beside this issue, I think Dell does a poor job of testing its website before launching new webpages. Sometime back I lost a discount Coupon during the purchase process because of a bug in there site. I talked to several dell customer support reps (local n not-local ones) they would never admit the fault and the best compensation they offered was a $100 discount....where as with coupon I was getting $450 discount.
They daily make changes to there product offerings and discounts etc and the end result is a not so robust or informative website.

 

I wonder, would it be possible for those of us who bought the x1300 because it said it was vista compatible could ink a x1400 from this?

 

i still dont get it...i tried configuring a e1705 with the wuxga screen(higher resolution) and it had no problems....im just a bit worried because i ordered my e1505 with the wsxga screen with the express upgrade right before the website had this problem.

 

You have nothing to be concerned about - provided you have an ATI video card on your e1505 you will be fine for running Vista.

 

It seems the issue has finaly been taken care of on Dell's website. But only if you combine the x1400 with wsxga. Here's what it says now, and I quote. "Your selection of the 128MB ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON® X1300 HyperMemory™ in combination with 15.4 inch UltraSharp™ Wide Screen SXGA is not compatible with Express Upgrade to Windows Vista Media Center or Pro." It's a good thing I ordered mine with the x1400.

 

I received conflicting information about this from a phone rep and an online rep. She stated that DELL was showing issues with the SXGA and Vista, regardless of the video card installed.

Is this truly resolved?

 

When I placed my order yesterday the issue had been resolved. I could order the X1400 256Mb with the SXGA+ screen. I had tried to order the same config on 11/7 but had the same errors and bailed after Dell phone reps were no help. I've been testing Vista for a few months now and I have never had an issue with screen resolutions. Perhaps the X1400 was an issue but i doubt it.