M6600 Owners Thread

@darkydark: Make sure to have them check the box "NO SUBSTITUTES". The AUO will have no flickering.

@IT_Architect: First thing I do with these machines is put a generic windows image on. The factory image gets wiped using the clean all command in diskpart.
That will eliminate any problems with the factory image. Doing this also will allow at least the minimum System Reserved partition to be installed by default - Dell can't put this on due to their own imaging system requirements and Windows limitations.
The known issues with these machines are the factory image, the FHD LCD: LG WLED flickering or CMO low quality (Acceptable "?"), some noisy clicking keyboards, and the proprietary Dell SSD's functionality.
If a RAID array is required the Dell Windows reinstallation disk is needed to accomplish this. There must be a way around requirement I just haven't looked into it much since I don't run RAID.
Also, I get skittish wireless mouse movements that I attribute to the wireless router nearby - both are on 2.4Ghz frequency and I get it with two different machines and mouse mfg.

Nobody, including me, likes to reimage but it is the only way to know that nothing is faulty or corrupted. Factory images are far from perfect - there is just too much going on there. And IT personnel are just too busy and try to avoid it too.

Wherever possible avoid a tech repair visit or repair depot send-in. Just like taking your car to a mechanic - beware! You don't get to choose your own.
If you feel the support person isn't knowledgeable enough ask to have them replaced with someone else - use the manager email links.

If you haven't already done so or are just putting it off, here's my Reimaging thread.

 

Yep your are right about Michael Dell he is probably too busy with other things like Carl Ichan. It's unlikely Dell with be in the Laptop market in too distant a future anyway. I thought about skinning it with a protector but they will probably say it will void the warranty that I have exisiting. So I have discussed the issue with the OFT and a couple of legal advisors as the issue is material failure. Also bearing in mind the original engineer that worked on it overtighted and distorted the panel just below the screen, of which the second engineer had to remove when correcting the first guy's failings. In fact Dell rang me and apologised for the inconvenience saying they had sent the first guy for extra training . Up to now I have always been impressed with their service and passed that to my clients. Am I dealing with the same Dell I wonder? Look's like I have a long battle on my hands for something that would probably cost Dell about $25 parts and $30 for the cost of the engineer to fit it.

 

rcb - i did. As i've read every post that had "chi mei" inside of this topic. I'm calling today to check on what is going on...

 

So new motherboard came in today, changed it , everything is working fine with the battery.

Still waiting for the palmrest to come in, as the touchpad ribbon broke.

But a different issue came up. The gpu gets super hot and it's like the vent won't start. The built in diagnostics run just fine, all test pass for vents and others, but in windows, temperatures rise hella fast and the laptop shutdown before the vent even ramps up. Am I missing something? Should I reinstall windows? I can't imagine why this would be a software problem.

Any tips?

 

If it checks out fine in diagnostics and your sure you have a good image then I would say uninstall the video driver completely and reinstall it. May want to do that with the chipset drivers as well.
Also you could check how it behaves in safe mode.

 

So the laptop is open in front of me as we "speak" and while running unigine benchmark, the card rises to 90 degreese in a matter of seconds and the fan still does not start. I can see it working because when running the dell diagnostics it ramps up to max speed, but not in windows. Guess I have to refresh the windows instalation.

As you said, gonna try with gpu drivers first.

 

I've always found the chat thingy and email for support to be good. You have it in writing then. Always get it in writing.

 

Everything is sorted out now. I opened up the laptop one more time and reseated, repaste the heatsink and for some unknown reason it's makng proper contact now. Just need that damn palmrest to have a 100% functional laptop again.

If someone should be in need of assistance, I think I learned all the screws by heart - location, size, number, etc

 

Wow that was fast! You're even braver than me too.
One of these days I'm gonna need to re-paste my CPU - just the thought of all those small parts, tight spaces and static makes me sweat, even being a mechanic most of my life.
I'm sure with all the cumulative knowledge around here even the most timid person could be helped through the most difficult task.

 

I'm available at any time for questions that I may help with

Dell called today to let me know that the palmrest is out of effin' stock and they have no ETA as to when they can ship.