Precision M4400 Owner's Lounge *Part 2*

HI all, new here. I just got my M4400 (work laptop) and i also have a D620 as well as a custom built pc for home use. I installed windows 7 ultimate 64bit OS and also upgraded my HDD to a OCZ Vertex EX 60GB SSD. Let me just say, this thing FLIES! SUPER FAST. No issues so far, its been up and running for about a week. I love it.

On to my questions...

I use a docking station at my desk, but frequently take my laptop to meetings. I no longer have a "undock" option in the start menu like i did in windows XP. Is this normal? I'm also running dual monitors when docked.

Second question, would i see much gain going to 8GB Ram?

 

I too am driving dual monitors when docked. I just push the button on the port replicator to remove the laptop and it's off to the races. When I open it up, the screen automatically re-adjusts to the single undocked configuration.

In my opinion, you won't see much difference with 8GB of Ram (assuming that you are currently running 4), unless you are using multiple virtual machines (which I am) and want to assign them varying amounts of memory. However, other opinions be offered up in response to this post.

 

hey thanks. appreciate the info.

 

Haha, yes, once you have a little blob stuck to you that you don't know about, spend the next week cleaning bit's of it off everything around the house.

 

I have two questions.

1. Since I installed Windows 7 Pro x64 the keyboard shortcut Fn+D doesn't work. It should turn off display. It is functionality of Dell control stuff which I have correctly installed.

2. I like Dell OSD menus for Volume Up and Down but when I am playing some game or have some other application running in fullscreen mode then this OSD menu always gets focus, minimizes fullscreen application and takes me to Windows desktop. Then I have to switch to the application and maximize it back to fullscreen (sometimes it doesn't work).


Any help?

Thx.

 

Fn+D works on mine...

2: i have this problem too

 

@2 great during games huh? I'm glad i'm already used to ALWAYS use the volume control of the speakers iso the controls of my laptop.....i have everything hooked up through a Mackie Bigknob

 

OK, so reading this forum confirms that I'm not nuts about the overheating/downclocking problems that I've been having with my 4400. I've had the thing for about a year, and had fan problems (replaced 3 times), but the downclock thing only started about a month ago.

I guess I'm asking for it using the laptop in a docking station/monitor stand, but does anyone know if Dell has addressed the overheating issue with this model?

 

I use my m4400 primarily in a docking station and haven't had any heat issues. I honestly think that it is somewhat the luck of the draw... Have you changed out your thermal paste?

 

You are right... I had disabled DCP on startup because of OSD so also Fn+D didn't work.

I enabled DCP again and I only unchecked showing OSD for Volume and Brightness. That solve Fn+D But still if I enable showing OSD it takes focus :-(