E6530 owners thread

Definitely make the recovery DVDs before cloning, but I wouldn't use the recovery DVDs to install the OS on the SSD, I just like to have them in case something happens.

 

What is the reason for not doing so? If I'm not mistaken, the recovery DVDs will put the same exact factory image on the new SSD. Since it is a new laptop anyway, there is not much software loaded on it. Therefore, I don't require cloning. But if there are negatives, then I might reconsider. I do appreciate the responses. Thank you.

 

No negatives, but cloning should be overall faster, at least in my experience, just like installing Windows over USB instead of from disc is also faster. My reasoning is that if you're going to install from a disc, you might as well go the clean install router to have the slimmest install you could have. I just see it as the less profitable/most time consuming alternative rather than a bad one.

 

I see where you're coming from. A clean install is something that I enjoy in my DIY desktop. No bloatware of any kind and only the software I want. I'm a newbie to laptops so a clean install kind of makes me slightly nervous . That is the main reason for the recovery media. Thanks

 

The procedure is pretty much the same as on a desktop. If you're on windows 7, backup your activation (makes it easier to reactivate Windows), download the right .iso, make the bootable USB, get the drivers from Dell's website or the component's manufacturer's website and let the install fest begin.

It's what I did with my M6700, it took less than 15 minutes for the Windows 7 installer to finish (usb installer to SSD) and I was booted into Windows and installing drivers/updates/programs.

If you're on Windows 8, obtaining the iso is going to be problematic.

 

Thanks Tijo. Sounds like a fairly straightforward way to set up an SSD. The Windows 7 DVD came with the laptop so I'm not sure if I can simply use that or not. I will look at it later.

One question I have is about the screen. The colors, text and the vividness all are nice except for the graininess. There is a grid formation on the screen when viewed up close, like a 10" or so away. When further back, it is harder to notice it. I am wondering if I should just keep it or not. Everything else is fine but the screen is a big factor. The screen is made by AUO according to the Dell email.

I would appreciate any responses.

 

How reliable are dell business laptops?

 

I use a Dell D600 Latitude daily at work with XP, I have a Dell D610 Latitude with windows 7 at home for work related items, and my personal notebook is a D820 Latitude that did have the motherboard replace by Dell because of the Nvidia chipset fiasco. I am looking for a new notebook to take on a trip to upgrade my D820 but am undecided what to get. We have a number of Dell computers at work and except for the Nvidia problem, I can't think of a Latitude that we retired unlike some of the older IBM's, Acers, Toshibas, and Compaqs. My employer started getting some Vostros but I am not sold on them and neither are the users. So I am using some ancient Dell Latitude notebooks (in computer years) and they do the job and just keep going and going and going. That's my experience. I have upgraded the hard drives in them and the memory, but that is it.

 

Hi, guys

I'm trying to swap out the screens on a few E6530s with the Intel and nVidia chips; I've switched out the original screen with a 1920x1080 capable one and both video drivers show up in device manager, but it seems to be running on the Intel driver as I cannot get a resolution above something like 1320x980. The nVidia NVS 5200 is capable of 1920x1080, but does anyone know how to tell the system to use it? Many thanks.

 

Quick question, does anyone know how to boot the E6530 into the recovery partition? I had Windows 7 Pro on it (from the factory) with 2 partitions: OSDisk and Recovery. I booted into a Windows 8 disk and used the Windows 8 installer to delete the OSDisk partition and tried to install Windows 8 on it.

It didn't work so now I'm trying to use my recovery partition to bring me back to factory default Windows 7. I tried pressing F12 and F8 at boot but do not see any "Recovery" option. Thanks in advance!