M6600 Owners Thread

That's real interesting with your temps. Unfortunately I wasn't monitoring the temps until I had this problem, so I don't know what it was idling at when healthy. I went ahead and called Dell again, and they are sending out a tech tomorrow though with a new gpu kit and motherboard if needs be. I'll report back with the temps afterwards.

 

Well that's the problem.

Swapped the OEM SSD back into Primary Bay and all is agreeable. No fuss, no fight, all went smooth and predictable.

Shame, can't use my new faster SSD the way I wanted. If you're wondering, this is how I setup my configurations:
User Profiles - Create and Move During Windows 7 Installation - Windows 7 Help Forums
It is impossible to do when the machine behaves as it was before with the drives in different locations. No flexibility.

My sense is that this is an OEM SSD problem. There are no firmware updates ever and having BIOS Raid On and the Dell/Windows7 recovery DVD resolves it.

Quite inflexible and ridiculous.

I have an open ticket about this with Dell. Don't know what anyone could do to get this fixed and supported.

 

To clarify:

If you have an OEM SDD you can relocate position of the drives physically to any bay/slot you choose as long as you install with the BIOS SATA Operation in Raid On mode (default) and you have and use a Dell/Windows OEM recovery DVD. The drives will report their position correctly then. The OEM mSATA SSD may also require similar setup requirements for normal behavior.

You can only use the BIOS SATA Operation in Raid On mode (default) if you have a Dell/Windows OEM recovery DVD.

Neither the recovery DVD or Generic Windows will work with BIOS SATA Operation in AHCI mode if you have an OEM SSD installed that is not located in the Primary slot/bay SATA 0 location.

There are other implications that are problematic even when the OEM SSD is removed before installing Windows onto a retail SSD drive (Not OEM) in the Primary SATA 0 position and then adding back the OEM SSD afterwards to the secondary position.

 

If I am running Dell Data Protection Access software with pre-windows fingerprint enabled AND I forgot the password (also for pre-windows login, that I can use if I cant swipe the finger), how do I disable/change that password?

 

Backup all your current data immediately. Also create a current system image with data using Windows backup and restore. This is in case something goes awry.

It may not be possible. Consult the DDPA help under pre-windows login. Pre-Windows login is the BIOS system password or admin password.

Check in DDPA and help for disable Pre-Windows login. Hopefully your fingerprint will work.

I think Dell can give you an override password but that it destroys all data. Not certain.

Edit:

By disabling it will clear the password.


Also get yourself a free copy of www.keepass.info and keep a backup on a usb flash drive.

Edit 2:

Looks like you can get a override password generated and keep your data. See bold text. Still, backup in case.


From Wave Systems:

Dell Pre-boot/Pre-Windows Biometrics Fail to Authenticate | Wave Systems Corp.

Text:
Step 1:
To access the machine, use your System password for authentication
During enrollment for Pre-boot/Pre-Windows authentication, a System password is created. To authenticate without biometrics, select Esc (escape key) then type in the System password.
If an Admin password has been set it can be substituted for the System password.
Step 2:
Clear your System password from within the BIOS to disable Pre-boot/Pre-Windows authentication.
1. Reboot the machine and press F2 at the Dell BIOS Splash Screen.
2. Enter the System or Admin Password to access the BIOS settings.
3. Navigate to Security > Passwords.
4. Select System Password. Enter the old System password, leave the new password fields blank and select OK.
5. The System Password status will change to ‘Not Set’.
6. Repeat the previous steps for Hard Drive Password if one is set.
7. If you accessed the machine with the BIOS Admin password and the System password is unknown:
a) Select Admin Password.
b) Select Unlock; enter the Admin password and OK.
c) Enter the old Admin password, leave the new password fields blank and select OK.
d) The Admin and System Password status will change to ‘Not Set’.
8. Exit the BIOS settings and boot into Windows. Pre-boot authentication is now disabled.
NOTE: The BIOS System password is required to remove the Pre-Boot authentication login.
If the System or Admin BIOS Password is Unknown:
If the System or Admin password is unknown and authentication to your computer with biometrics fails, you will need to contact Dell Support at 1-800-873-1420 in order to have a master password generated.
Please inform Dell that the BIOS password is not being accepted and request a reset. The master password provided will allow the computer to be accessed and the System/Admin password(s) to be reset.
If you purchased your system used and it came with the BIOS password set, you will need to transfer ownership of the system before you contact Dell.
Step 3: (Optional)
Re-enroll biometrics for Pre-boot / Pre-Windows using EMBASSY Trust Suite, Dell ControlPoint or Dell Data Protection|Access


------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From DDPA Help file, note last paragraph:


Pre-Windows Login
When pre-Windows login is set up, you must provide authentication (password, fingerprint or smartcard) when the system is powered on, before Windows is loaded. The pre-Windows login functionality provides additional security to the system, keeping unauthorized users from compromising Windows and accessing the computer (e.g., when it has been stolen).

From the Pre-Windows Login window, administrators can set up pre-Windows login, or create or change a pre-Windows (System) password; if this password has already been set up, you can disable pre-Windows login from this window. Setting up pre-Windows login will launch a wizard which will do the following:

System Password: Set up a System Password (also called a pre-Windows password) for pre-Windows access. This password is also used as a backup in cases in which a user has additional authentication factors (e.g., to gain access to the system if there is an issue with the fingerprint sensor).
Fingerprint or Smartcard: Set up a fingerprint or smartcard for use in pre-Windows login, and specify whether this authentication factor will be used instead of, or in addition to, the pre-Windows password.
Single Sign On: By default, your pre-Windows authentication (password, fingerprint or smartcard) will be used to automatically sign you into Windows as well (this is called "Single Sign On"). To disable this feature, select the "I want to login again at Windows" checkbox.
If a BIOS Hard Drive password has been set in addition to a pre-Windows password, you will also have the option to change or disable the Hard Drive password.

NOTE: Not all fingerprint readers are enabled for use with pre-Windows authentication. If your reader is not compatible, you will be able to enroll fingerprints for Windows login only. To find out if a specific fingerprint reader is compatible, contact your system administrator or go to support.dell.com for a list of supported fingerprint readers.


Disable Pre-Windows Login
You can also disable pre-Windows login from this window; to do this you will need to enter your current pre-Windows (System) password, verify that the password is correct, then click the Disable button. Note that when you disable pre-Windows login, any enrolled fingerprints or smartcards remain enrolled.

 

Hi, I am new to the SSD and need help on how to install a brand new SSD to a brand new Precision M6600 laptop.

Specification:
Intel Core i7-2760QM Quad Core 2.40GHz, 6MB Cache
4.0GB, 1333MHZ 2DIMM
NVIDIA Quadro 4000M
750GB 7200rpm HDD
17.3" FHD Wide View A-G
Windows 7 Pro 64-Bit
Dell Wireless 375 Bluetooth Module
Cyberlink Power DVD
Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300

The computer also comes with the following media:

Dell Windows 7 PRO 64-Bit DVD
Dell Resource Media (Disc1 and 2)
Dell Resource Media--Dell Webcam Central for Business
Roxio Creator Starter Backup Disc

I also purchase a MyDigitalSSD 240GB BP4 SATA III SSD and 16GB (2x8GB ) 1600MHZ memory from Amazon.com

I am going to remove the original 750GB HDD from the primary bay and put the new SSD in the same bay to use as my primary OS/program drive then I will put the 750GB HDD to the secondary bay as my secondary DATA drive.

My question is, can I just use the Dell Windows 7 Pro 64-Bit DVD to install the OS to the SSD?

Do I need to do anything setting change in the BIOS?

If yes, how?


I also notice I am able to utilize all 4 DIMM slots for the memory (since the CPU equipped
a Quad Core CPU) and the machine can handle up to 32GB of memory, but at the present time I only install 16GB (2X8GB) 2DIMM slot, my question is:

which 2 slots should be used? the one just behind the back cover of the laptop?

or the 2 slots underneath the key board?


Any help with step by step will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

You can get everything here in the first three posts: http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell-latitude-vostro-precision/687529-m6600-reimaging-thread.html

The owners manual is there as well with hardware assembly instructions. Complete reference list in post #3.

If you want the SSD to be the primary sata 0 slot you'll need to swap the HDD out if it is there.

You shouldn't need to adjust anything if you put the SSD in the primary slot. BIOS should adjust itself.

Post #2 at the end has an example using Diskpart at the first install screen encountered in order to customize further. On Win Ultimate the System Reserved partition should be at least 200MB up to 400MB.

Read through everything and post back any questions.

A few newer drivers are not listed so if you want the newer ones you'll need to get them. Updating postponed until I have some extra time to update it.

RAM is easier to put in on the bottom. Make sure to use all the same type and Mfr. of RAM.

 

Thank you for the comprehensive answer, fortunately for me I did not have to try all the above as my wife remembered the password. I cannot even imagine when I told her that password, but it's a good thing I did.

 

Hey good thing!

No problemo - I just cut and pasted most of it. Anyone who reads it knows what to do now if they get into that situation. I found wave.com from trying to figure something else out.

 

Hey all -

I haven't read though all 603 pages of the thread, but I see from the last few that I'm not the only having issues swapping out the primary drive. I currently have the samsung 830 (256 GB) drive for the primary and a OCZ 512 in the secondary. I'm trying to install a new Sandisk 480 in the primary slot, but am getting some goofy errors along the way.

I've got my system all up to date with both MS and Dell updates and have flashed the latest firmware on the Sandisk 480.

I clone the samsung to the sandisk, install the sandisk, boot to safe mode, windows installs new drivers. I reboot and that's when the wierdness starts;

• From the time the windows logo appears to log in could be 30 seconds or 5 minutes
• It will sometimes hang on the windows logo
• Sometimes I can move my mouse, but none of the buttons work and the keyboard is dead - although the back-light stays lit up
• If I do finally get to log in it takes a very long time to complete the log-in -( connecting to the internet, starting the various background processes, etc)
• If i get past that point I start to get 30 - 60 seconds hangs every 2 to 3 minutes . The system is not even close to being use-able.
• I tried to sfc /scannow both before and after the disk clone / swap without any affect on the issue.
• I tried updating iastor, but apparently I have the latest version already

If you take a look at the event viewer you can see where the errors are occuring - iastor.sys gives an error 9 (timeout)

Any ideas?