Dell Precision M6700 Owners Thread

Thanks - not a character has shown up on the display. It acts like it is booting up but I can't see anything, and I have tried to guess how to use arrow keys etc. to boot to a known good USB UEFI Windows 8.1 or a CD. No luck.

 

Hi, it's been a while since I've been here. I'm planning to do a fresh install on my Samsung 840 EVO 1TB mSATA tomorrow (replacing the Crucial M4 256GB mSATA). Do you guys recommend setting the computer up with Legacy or UEFI boot mode? I've used Legacy up to now, would I benefit from switching to UEFI?

Another issue I'd like to bring up, every time I reach around 75% of my RAM memory usage, all my programs start to crash.
I tried doing some online Dell diagnostics on the memory chips, but the diagnostics program doesn't seem to run properly anymore, and fails (telling me to try again).
Anyway, could the crashes mean one of the memory modules is faulty?

I've also got issues with using the USB3.0 ports, some times it doesn't work, and requires me to disable and re-enable the USB3.0 Host controller to make it work.
Same issue with the SD card, but here it's already disabled after every boot, and need to enable it every time to get it to work.
I suppose these last two issues may get resolved after the fresh install?

Thanks.

 

Download memtest and test your ram first. Crashing after certain threshold kinda makes me point into ram direction.

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It will take some time to run memtest, as you do have quite an amount of memory

If things keep getting disabled, could be a hardware malfunction. But you were going to do a clean install right?

UEFI or Legacy, 1 important fact Legacy does not allow booting from a harddrive larger than 2TB in regards to the MBR.

 

OP could try pulling sticks one at a time and see if the crashes go away. It's a little more manual work but may be faster than memtest, if crashes can be pretty easily produced.


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Is there a reset CMOS procedure beyond just removing all battery sources? Some computers go into a special moe if you hit a key stroke sequence or seomthing.

Also I found this - anything like this on the m6700, I didn't identify anything inside:

3-Pin CMOS-Jumper: The connector strip has 3 pins and the default jumper position is pins 1+2 (see picture). To reset the CMOS move the jumper cap to position pins 2+3.

2-Pin CMOS-Jumper: Depending on the default position, you have to remove or place the jumper.

Soldered points: Sometimes there is no connector strip and you'll only find 2 soldered points which must be bridged (e.g. with a paper clip) to reset the CMOS.

CMOS-Reset-Button: On newer mainboards you'll find different buttons for e.g. Power, Reset and CMOS-Reset. The CMOS-Reset-Button works like a normal CMOS-Reset-Jumper.

 

Can someone help me with this rather simple thing (hard though with no display <g>) - I think I have successfully created a bootable flash USB with the BIOS automatically running on it - I am trying to reflash my BIOS and I Have nothing showing on my screen. It's a long shot but it may work.

So I need to know, what keystrokes do I press once the m6700 BIOS update A12 comes up on the screen, to actually begin the flash? For example, do I hit Enter twice to get it to start, down arrow down twice then enter, etc.?

If you could help me out I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

 

I had issues with the 1tb Samsung evo in the main drive bay. Bios would randomly see and not see the drive. I wound up returning the drive. Have not tried another 1tb yet so not positive if it was the drive or system. Curious to see if you have any issues.

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Done. Nothing came up, Also ran the full boot diagnostics after, nothing came up.

Yeah, it took just over 3 hours to run the memtest.

Yes, I'm on a clean install now, still have my previous install on my Crucial mSATA.

Thanks, I've made the switch to UEFI, seems to boot faster.

No issues with both Samsung 840 EVO drives, SATA and mSATA, I'm really happy with them, no issues at all, and I trust them with all my data and would buy another any time. Your sample may have been faulty (I guess you've returned it?), I'd suggest trying another one of them.

Actually my Crucial mSATA has that same issue some times when there's some changes/updates in the BIOS or boot configuration, it's extremely annoying actually, but somehow eventually shows up again after numerous restart attempts and will continue to work after that normally, until I start messing with BIOS or the boot configuration again. Leaving the computer to rest, and starting it up again after a while will usually miraculously solve the issue for the Crucial mSATA (no idea why).

You mentioned main drive bay, my 2.5" 1TB 840 EVO is located in SATA drive bay #1
the 750GB 7200rpm HDD (which came with my system) is installed in the main/eject-able SATA drive bay #0



Anyway, new install here, had to redo it a couple of times, different OS/driver installation order.

Only thing (still got a case open with Dell for this), I still can't get USB3.0 hot-pluggable normally, once the system has booted into windows.
The only way I can get it to work is my disabling the USB 3.0 Host Controller in device manager and enabling it again, after that it will function correctly.
If I plug in the USB3.0 device before booting up the computer, it will also work correctly.

 

You're missing vital points in your procedure. First, tell us what's wrong or what's happening (problem). Then the procedure you go through or actions you take to get to that point (procedure).

For example, when you say hard power off required? Does that mean you turn it off or unplug it? Also "required" for what. For it to work properly?

Also what is the configuration/setup? Are there any external connections? And via what ports? Remember, any reconfiguration must occur before powering down your system.