M6600 Reimaging Thread

Hi LeePY - Thanks for the feedback
My next-door neighbor is from Hungary too!

Anyway, I've made some improvements to all 3 posts - hopefully you and others will think so. After using the post myself to reimage I saw some things that could be difficult reading/understanding. Reimaging is about as much fun as watching paint dry so want to get it right the first time and not have to do it again for a long while.

 

Couple recently released driver updates from Dell:

Intel WiFi Driver {A04} (4RH68), Network_Driver_4RH68_WN_15.6.1_A04.EXE

Touchpad {A06} (GGY5W), ALPS_MULTI-TOUCH-TOUCHPAD_A06_GGY5W_SETUP_ZPE.exe

I've added them to the lists since they've been up for a couple weeks. There's no FTP links available yet.

EDIT:
Sorry, Dell posted another Intel WiFi Driver that fixed TKIP Encryption that apparently was not correct and whatever else. So I killed the link. Here's the new one I'll update the reimage lists later today:

WiFi: Intel WiFi Driver {A05} (HH26V), Intel WiFi Link 6300, 6205, 6200, Network_Driver_HH26V_WN_15.8.0.5_A05.EXE

Here's updated LAN Driver and separate LAN Diagnostics (DMIX):

LAN: Intel LAN Network {A08} (NNGMH), Use with Diagnostics {A09}, DRVR_Network_Intel_A08-NNGMH_setup_ZPE.exe
DEAD/Pulled at Dell: Intel LAN Diagnostics {A09} (YMH42), DIAG_Network_Intel_A09_x64-YMH42_setup_ZPE.exe
Quite possibly it's already included in the general driver update.

 

Previous post above was edited after it was learned that there were further Driver releases and corrections.

 

I too have only registered to thank rcb.to.ca for the succinct, detailed and complete guide to reimaging. You are a GOD and I cannot thank you enough.
I've been futzing with computers since 1978, bouncing from OS as work required, Mac, NeXt, Unix, Linux and Microsoft, and am just astounded that in the 21st century, though it's gotten easier, we still have to jump through endless hoops to set up an OS system or repair OS rot properly (much less asking for jetpacks!).
It's no wonder people go screaming to Apple to this day.

Dell has improved its customer service and support immensely since 2002 when I abandoned them in disgust and I really feel the Precision 6600 is the best computer purchase I've made in a decade. But, their system detect and driver recommendation web interface is wholly dysfunctional and the Dell reimage guide, while informative as theory, suffers a huge disconnect between theory and application (finding the correct drivers out of the 105 suggested for my service tag).

Bless you for coming to the rescue. :thumbsup:

 

Hi Bolt and welcome to NBR

Thank you for the feedback and compliment; it really is encouraging to hear that people are finding the guide, and that it's useful to them. Godspeed.

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

On another note, it's been awhile since I last updated the main guide. There have been a couple new BIOS updates since: A14, and A15.
I'm planning to update the guide shortly, along with some instructions for changing the Boot method from Legacy BIOS to UEFI for anyone interested in how to switch over prior to reimaging.

In the meantime, here are the links to the newer BIOS's; Both are safe and stable releases.
(A15) M6600A15.exe
(A14) M6600A14.exe

I've recently noticed a difference in how the "safely remove hardware" icon behavior works. Whether it is from the BIOS A15 update or from a Windows update that changed it - I don't know. If you have multiple devices plugged in and request to remove a device - that device must be unplugged first before proceeding to the next device that you want to use safely disconnect from; before, you could safely disconnect them all then proceed to unplug them all.

Edit: ^ this problem seems to have went away and not come back - "shrug"

 

Thanks for the highlight RCB... still stuck upgrading to Win8.1 thou

 

Deleted

 

I am with LeePY. This "Guide" helped me step right through rebuilding the laptop. It is a device saver and extremely detailed. Follow the instructions and links and I guarantee success. The links are dead on and accurate.
Hats off to the author and contributors!!!!!!