New M6500 Discussion Thread

Not sure if it matters, but I used a retail Ultimate 64 bit disc for install.

Your supposed to receive the "file loading" progress bar first... then the questions asking if you want to do an upgrade or custom/full install... then the partition question/screen... then the install and eventually the starting windows splash with the twirling logo.

If your using a "recovery" disc then it is probably an image of the HDD (with the small amount of bloatware) vs a real fresh OS installation disc. Sounds like your working with the later.

 

The M6500 will run on a 90 watt Dell adapter. It warns you that performance may be scaled back to suit the smaller power envelope, but it runs and slowly charges. We have staff meetings in a teaching lab with 15 or so E6500's and I have plugged into the 90 watt adapters in there a few times.

 

I got it...I had to recheck raid in BIOS for Hd....image came that way from factory...can change it back now...

Q: I had Wireless USB manager running when it came from factory, can't get it installed now....anyone know which drivers to install for this from the DELL support site? I can't seem to get them right....thanks

Solved.....now to ACHI below

 

Thanks for the info. Good to know that the M6500 will work on a 90watt adapter.

 

My system won't let me run a single intel SSD in anything but the BIOS set to RAID. Tech support says when I put my platter in the 2nd drive bay, it won't run in raid unless I set it up that way, i.e. they will run as independent drives. If I set to ACHI, it will blue screen at windows start up (BIOS A02) ..also, Windows wouldn't even install with my BIOS set to ACHI in the first place...would hang.....anyone else have this problem?

btw, my WEI went from 5.9 with the platter drive to 7.8 with the SSD.

 

Ben....my windows won't install with BIOS in ACHI....it hangs after the files load during install.....did you get windows installed with the BIOS in ACHI? If so, how? ....

 

OMG! What are you doing?
For "casual noodling around" even my netbook with N270/GMA950 is way overpowered.

 

No problems here to install Win7 x64 with BIOS set to AHCI.

First HD slot has my Seagate 7200.4 500GB, second has my SuperTalent Ultra GX 128GB SSD. I installed Windows on the SSD.

Do you install from DVD or USB-disk? Fresh install or update?

 

Well my 6500 has shipped and it should be here either tomorrow or on Wednesday.
It was scheduled to ship on 6/30/10 and be delivered on 7/6/2010.
Early delivery > delay. Thank you Dell.

Now I'm gathering all of my programs as I get ready to spend the better part of a day deactivating, loading and activating all of my stuff which I've come to hate because no matter how much I think I have everything there is always something I overlook.

Anyway, I'm so geeked!!!

 

Can someone please give me a hint where I can find this or another compatible HDD caddy in the EU?
2nd Hard Drive (or SSD) Caddy for DELL Precision M6400, M6500 [OBHD9-SATA-SATA-B] - $42.00 : NewmodeUS, Hard Drive Caddys for Notebooks

Sure I can order in the US, but there are taxes, long shipping times, possible return problems and so on.