Latitude E6400 Owner's Lounge, Part 2

Windows 7 IS Vista from a technical level. At a user perspective level, Vista was all about the back-end being new and fancy, while Win7 is all about optimizing the back-end and offer a new features on the font-end (what you see and use.. (interface)). Basically what Windows XP was over Windows 2000. (but the cap from Vista and Win7 is far greater then what is was from 2000 to XP).

In other words, Windows 7 has a lot of bug fixes (the list is long, like always), lots of improvements, big optimizations making the OS run faster than Vista, and even a little faster than XP. In addition, new features, like Aero Snap, Aero Shake, access your music from anywhere (well.. from another Win7 PC), new taskbar, new re-scripted sidebar engine (now called just Gadgets - yes, it supports Vista gadgets), themes (presents of sound, screen saver, background, colors saved into a nice file for backup or sharing), backup feature improvement, a little better old software compatibility (also has XP Mode, basically running XP on Win7, for those pesky old application (not for games). XP Mode is for Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate edition only, on supported hardware of course). And more... Oh and it's also, I believe, The most consistent Windows ever build by Microsoft since windows 95.. not perfect consistency.. but close (just missing a few panels that are rarely or never used by most users).

Personally, I work much faster under Win7, as not only my computer is snappier (than Vista, which was snappier then XP), but most importantly the new features.

From my understanding....
1- Same laptop have Intel vPro technology enabled. It's basically Intel's version of remote desktop, and allows a company to monitor system (going diagnostics) form distance. The idea, is that the I.T department knows when a hardware configuration/failure from distance. Totally useless for anyone other than for Medium size companies, who don't have I.T's that can go round around and fix computers... basically it's supposed to reduce the round around for I.T's. So, the BIOS, does some update to that technology (bug fix?)

2- No idea... my guess is to allow a computer to boot via network. So I guess it's an update (bug fix) to this feature.

3- TPM, is a security chip on your system. It allows software to use it to encrypt your data, so that if someone pulls the HDD out of your system and put it on to a different system (even a different E6400), while the data was not FIRST decrypted, then the data can't be access no mater what. Windows Vista/7 Ultimate edition can take use of that chip for Bit-drive encryption, where you can encrypt a whole drive, including Windows partition itself, if I am not mistaken.

For your personal knowledge: Alternatively, for non-TPM chip users, Professional (Win7)/Business (Vista) and up edition have normal encryption system, where it uses your account log-in and Microsoft generated certification. Once you encrypt your first file(s), Windows will prompt you to save that encryption certification somewhere else, so that you can use it to decrypt your files(s), in the case re-install.

The BIOS update concerns the TPM chip (security improvement?)

4- If you have an Nvidia graphic card in your system, it will update the card BIOS. Now, this is the tricky thing.. will it provide reduce performance?! I don't see a way to restore to the old graphic card BIOS. So, it could be a risky move.

5- Showed LOM MAC address in BIOS setup.
It's supposed to show some MAC address in the BIOS. I guess, just for convenience, in the case a business wants to image computers via network.

 

Hi all,

Somehow, and i honestly have no idea how as i typically only move my laptop from my desk to my bed ~4 feet away, a piece of the lower left corner of the bezel chipped off.

I have no idea how since i havent dropped it or it hasnt hit anything, and its in a spot that is pretty hard to damage (front part of the screen bezel, the top part is what would hit).

Is it very difficult to replace the bezel myself if i decide to do so? I cant send it in as i really need to use the laptop. Its not a big deal but id like it fix.

 

It's easy to install the screen frame. However, you have 1 try. If you miss your shot for wtv reason, removing it will losses the snaps and then the hole frame will be lose.

Instructions:
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/late6400/en/sm/html/display.htm#wp1201557

When you talk to Dell tech support, ensure that he gets the correct one.. he once got me the one without the MIC hole (I have a Mic and no webcam). So just mention the one that you have (no Mic/Webcam or no webcam but mic, or both webcam and Mic).

 

New BIOS A20 out:
http://support.dell.com/support/dow...typeid=-1&dateid=-1&formatid=-1&fileid=370464

I don't see the reported vBIOS previously mentioned.

 

It is possible that was from the e6500 bios update text. below.

New BIOS A19(e6500) out:
http://support.dell.com/support/dow...typeid=-1&dateid=-1&formatid=-1&fileid=370467

 

Hmm interesting veritas...
Or maybe, the E6400 has that Nvidia BIOS update but was forgot to be typed in.

In other news, Lat E6510 leak:
http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/01/dell-e6510-margaux-strolls-through-the-fcc/

 

New nVidia driver:

Fixed Issues:
- Unable to keep resolution with multi-user and multiple external displays.
- Loses video on LCD when connected to external display using DisplayPort.
- Blue screen when put to standby in dock and removed.
- nVidia M3700 graphics corruption / freezing.
- NVidia GPU Win XP64 no login screen visible in E-Port Advanced.
- Sometimes Fn+F8 no function in XP 32bit.
- DP_Login Window Show Timing Not Support; Edocking VGA too

 

I have a question about battery capacity and life:
i have 9 cell battery , 13 month old
Designed: 86580mWh
Fully Charged Capacity: 44711mWh

Is this normal that battery degraded by 50% over 1 year period? I think that's not normal, but i might be wrong.

 

You can sometimes recover capacity by doing a full depletion of the battery (ie run until it is empty, not until Windows shuts the computer down). This helps the battery to fix its calibration.

If not, you may have missed the boat unless you have the extended battery warranty. You could probably have got the battery replaced if you had contacted Dell prior to the end of the normal 12 month warranty period.

John

 

Thanks John.

I never even thought about checking the battery life, i noticed battery life got coniderebly smaller, but i didnt think it was at 50%.

I'll try what you suggested.