Dell Precision M6700 Owners Thread

Can you buy windows 8 (or the upgrade) now and install at a later date?

 

Glad to hear it. Can you post a screenshot of SMART output from the secondary hard drive you just got working? Then do a few reboots (keep a count) while copying files to the drive and post another screenshot of SMART output after each reboot (do 4 or 5 reboots). I want to make sure the connector in the bay is working fine. If it isn't then we'll see the Start/Stop count go up faster than the total number of reboots and the ATA error count will climb (indicating a problem in the SATA signaling).

2 of the 4 M6700 in my possession had this problem with the primary bay SATA connector. This is how I diagnosed it. My current M6700 (4th unit, 3rd replacement) is perfect.

In fact, I think every M6700 owner should be checking these values for all the drive bays and get their laptops replaced if they have a faulty connector(s).

Tweaking for Windows 7 and then upgrading to Windows 8 may not be the best use of time. I'd suggest upgrading to Windows 8 now and then dealing with Avid, nVidia, and Dell on the phone to solve the software issues.

A calibration should be easy. What will you be using? Colormunki is awesome.

Grab the activation key and you should be fine on installing it whenever.

You can. Some of the deals had to be redeemed within a certain time period. For example, the free Windows Media Center activation keys are said to be expiring. How Microsoft will handle people reinstalling at a later date is beyond me at this point but a regular Windows 8 key should be fine.

 

You don't have to upgrade right away. Complete your purchase and get the product key and you'll be set. You can run the install later if you like.

 

I think you have a lot more familiarity with this device than I do. I've only been working with it for a few days and most of that time has been struggling with solving my program issue. What is SMART?

You may have a point. The Windows 8 tool indicated only 8 of the total 63 were incompatible components. All of which were insignificant to me.

Hmm, actually I was thinking the old monitor calibration disc my friend keep in his desk drawer.

The key was tied to the activation/upgrade screen--which I was afraid of. Now what do I do?

 

This: S.M.A.R.T. - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, you can use something like HDTune, CrystalDiskInfo, the drive manufacturer's own diagnostic tool and other programs to get all the SMART data from the HDD.

I had incompatibilities indicated by the tool as well when I used my 15$ upgrade, but that only meant, uninstall and reinstall the windows 8 version in my case.

 

Tune and Crystal I know. But I'll need some time to regenerate before posting all that.

Well after a hair pulling day I managed to get all my A/V programs loaded and working. Even Windows 8 has been downloaded and waiting on my desk top for the ok.

As much as I'd like to move on and install W8, after all I've been through these past couple of days, maybe I should just sit back and savor a fully functional computer...at least for the moment?

 

if you try this, feel free to report back as I am curious to see if that helped you too.

True, although as a LabVIEW programmer and I can definitively use all the screen real estate available (especially when I am visiting customers).

Thanks for the info.
This is nice of them to get you a new docking station with usb 3.0.

If you try it let me know.

Thanks for the update.

 

My 6700 came with 16GB(2x8 format) of 1866 ram and I'm looking to add in another 8/16GB of the same speed... The empty bays are on the bottom right and under keyboard holds what should be installed by Dell already?...

Any recommendations RAM wise? Should I think to replace the sticks Dell installed with a different brand that's better or the Dell ones I mentioned above? I haven't looked to see what brand they use or the specs of them personally... Also any specific things to look for RAM wise when I go to purchase?



Side note.... Anyone else feel the battery slice has too much play in it when attached to the bottom? Mine seems to be fine but there is some amount of play if I pick up the laptop the slice has some wiggle play to it... My first one so dunno if there should be zero play at all or not...

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

 

Dell most likely installed the two modules under the laptop leaving the two free ones under the keyboard. As for brands, since you already have two modules of the speed you want, jsut Google the model numbers and find two more Only if it saves money though because depending on your current RAM's timings, going with something like the Kingston PnP 1866 kit might be more worthwhile.

I have the battery slice on mine and while there is a very 'tiny' amount of wiggle, it's not too bad. What I hate about it is it covers a bit of both intake vents...

 

If its better, its likely only in our mind. According to all the research I've gathered thus far, any gains above 1600 MHz (1-3%) are pretty insignificant. On the other hand, I suppose that may change depending on the programs you run.

I guess I should attach mine and see?

What do you make of this? I was making a check of disc systems and look what occurred:

View attachment 92336

I can smell something cooking.