M6600 Owners Thread

Common problem with the M6600 and M6500 and not all lids Dell Techs use can rectify the problem I am afraid. Just be persistent and they will get it right.

 

I have a M6500 that is 1-1/2 years old and I'm considering purchasing a M6600 now that the 2960XM is available. My M6500 has the RGB LED screen on it. I'm not sure, but I think this may have been called IPS back then as well, but I'm certain back then they weren't using the term PremierColor. I remember because HP was using DreamColor back then and I was thinking that this RGB LED was the same as the DreamColor for HP.

1) Is the new IPS PremierColor screen basically the same as the RGB LED on my M6500, or ? (I do know that the resolution is now 1080 rather than 1200)

2) I also understand that Optimus will not work with this IPS screen, correct? This isn't a big problem since I usually have it plugged in, but it would have been nice of course.

3) I work with large files so I plan on buying a Corsair Force GT 480GB SSD. I plan to use a data transfer kit to transfer the contents of my M6500 SSD to it, since the M6500 install is quite new. What issues will I run into?

3a) Will the drivers for the M6500 automatically "uninstall"?

3b) Do I simply follow the instructions in the Re-Image how to guide that is found here: Drivers and Downloads | Dell [United States]

3c) What about Windows licensing? Will I be able to use the product code from the OEM version that comes with the system, or will I have to buy a new OEM version to get a new product code, or ?

 

Thanks for the update on the memory I will update when it arrives.
Blimey thanks for the info on the IPS screen got me worried now.

I last year had three Samsung 56" TV's delivered and returned with the same problem, whole forum with hundreds of pages devoted to the problem (AV Forum search clouding bleeding Samsung) However will update when the M6600 arrives circa 12/12/2011.

I have ordered a A3865793 Breakout Laptop Messenger - Fits Laptop with Screen sizes up to 17-inc

TIMBUK2 Breakout Laptop Messenger - Fits Laptop with Screen sizes up to 17-inch : Laptop Accessories - Accessories | Dell UK

The compartment for the laptop is very well padded and has other compartments for spare drives etc seems rain proof as well and has a snug fit had it delivered with the first M6600. I also tried the same style with rucksack style but was not so well padded so sent back with the 2nd M6600.

I had three M6600's this year all sent back for refund faulty or wrong specs

Will check the screen on delivery if you want any more details on the bag just ask.

Regards Clive

 

Just posted a reply
Regards Clive

 

I have just discovered that my new M6600 doesn't want to recognise External USB drives.
When I set up my machine I made the Sata_1 the boot drive as I wanted to hotswap the Sata_0 as this is the quick removeable drive bay. I have put a 1TB drive in this bay which assigns itself as the (D) drive and I have no problems with this. If I insert a USB Flash key into any of the USB ports they are recognised perfectly and bring up the autorun wizard at the same time assigning a drive letter as normal.
BUT when I insert an external 2.5 sata drive caddy (I have tried 5 different ones) the bingbong audio sound acknowledges it is connected but it does not display in file explorer nor does it invoke the autorun wizard. I have to go to Admin Tolls and manually assign a drive letter. From then on it works fine but say for example I have a drive in (F) and a drive in (G). I then remove them both and then plug the (G) drive back in it stays as (G) instead of reassigning to (F). Obviously this is because the Admin has associated it a device profile.
Also I have noticed that my Bios is set by default to Sata Raid. Should I change this to AHCI, but having said that Dell support recons I will have to reinstall the OS if I do this or I will get BSOD's. Other than that the support was of no use at all.
Any ideas?

PS It may be noteworthy that I have VMWare WKS8 installed and my OS is Widows 7 PRO with networking enabled.

 

I think you have to set it to AHCI.
BSODs happen in XP when you change the bios to AHCI, Win 7 is better. You can google for the registry settings to be made to make it work in Win 7. I have done it with Win 7 Home 64 bit by changing to AHCI in the bios and the registry change.

 

Just an update, with the ATA option in the BIOS, the computer won't even boot to the setup(f2) with the mSATA SSD installed.

Does anyone else have this problem?

 

I am not 100% on this but I think the IPS is the same panel as the hp dreamcolor aka same manufact but dell runs at 10 bit which I think usurps optimus again not completely sure although its not the same screen as the 6500

I have heard that mobile braodband signal can cause interference with ips but I am not sure if that has been resolved with the dell

 

Can you explain which parts were faulty or wrong on the ones you replaced

and did you use hwinfo when determining wrong parts or did you take the machine apart

 

Dear All
Having just recently purchased a M6600 I was told by the sales rep that i could not have two ssd's in the laptop. no reason given. You can have a card ssd 120mb with two hdd, one ssd with hd no card ssd. I have one ssd and one hdd.
Hope that helps
regards Clive