Some questions for my new Latitude E6400.

Hi everybody !
I have bought a new Dell Latitude E6400 from dell outlet.
It installed with a Windows XP Professional SP3, and a Windows vista Business 32 bits.
I'm a newbie so i have some questions and hope you can helps me:
1. Is there a DELL Latitude E6400 User guild (about using functions, and how to optimize performance, or optimize the battery ...)
2. I want to disable bluetooth, card reader, optical driver-i don't often uses them, so how do i do? I tried to disable in Advance battery save, but when i select features to disable, and turn of dell UCP, it don't remember my setting, i have to set agains, is there a ways to auto disable them when system start up?
2. I want to install a clear Vista 32 bits, but when i go to dell support side, and download drivers for my lap, i so confused ! Many driver, many apps ! (Specially for chipset, ricoh, ATM what they means ?). So any body can explain for me what i need and what i don't need for my lap with this services tag: Deleted Thx you, GoodBytes!
3. If i want to install Windows 7 on my laps, I head that Windows 7 can auto install driver for me, is it true and how can i use these auto functions? If not, where can i get these drives?
Thx with all my heart.

 

If you have 4GB of RAM, then you are not using it as a limitation of 32-bit processors prevents that. The only way to make your CPU switch to it's true form (64-bit CPU), and use it's full potential is to use a 64-bit OS, so as Vista or Win7 64-bit. If you have 4GB of RAM, call dell tech support and nicely say that your system doesn't sue 4GB of RAM, and they should send you Vista 64-bit disk. A system format and re-install will be needed, so backup your stuff before. Doing this is very easy, just follow Windows Vista/Win7 64-bit setup, by inserting the disk in the driver and set teh BIOS to boot the DVD/CD-ROM. Contact Dell support and they will help you. It's all done in a nice interface and takes about 20-25min to do depending on your Hard driver speed and optical drive speed. You need a DVD-Rom or burner to do this, which I hope you have.

There is no guild, but a guide yes. No there is no optimization tips, it's all logical.. the more you do on the system the more power it takes, the more you increase the brightness or increase the volume or plug large speakers, turn on backlit attach a USB device, uses more power.
To turn off device, check out the system BIOS and Dell Control Point panel. (Fn + F7).

Setting your system power management to power saver on batter (see system tray (next to the clock) to quickly change the power settings of the system) will save battery life. But, you reduce system performance. So expect to have your system going more slowly. No don't worry, if you do anything other than something intensive like CAD, gaming, Folding, or using some kind of super heavy application.

As manuals you have these: http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/late6400/en/index.htm

See BIOS and Dell Control Point panel (Fn +F7). Your optical does not consume power when not in use. Ok, I have to say this because else someone on this forum will kill me for not being technical. So, actually it uses a fraction of Watt to detect when you press the eject button, that should not do anything visible on your batter life.

All you asked are in front of you in the same panel.

Your system is already clean. All you have (or should have) is Dell Control Point and it's plug-ins, Roxio (to burn disks), PowerDVD (to play DVD's as XP and Vista Business edition doesn't have a DVD codec) and drives. All can be easily uninstalled from Windows.

but when i go to dell support side, and download drivers for my lap, i so confused ! Many driver, many apps ! (Specially for chipset, ricoh, ATM what they means ?). So any body can explain for me what i need and what i don't need for my lap with this services tag: XXXXXX
It is not wise to share such info. now I can carry your warranty, I suggest to edit it that out. On the driver page, you have a place to use your system tag, put that in and it will show you all the drives that your system needs.

Oy, this is complicated, yes and no.
It's more on desktop where proper standards exists, for laptop it will either install the real drivers or default drivers. Default drivers are basic drivers so that your system works for you to get the real drivers but you don't get any power management nor performance out of your system, and may have a/some device being buggy. The system is there to help you. Some are lucky, and all the real drivers are in, but some companies (I am not talking about Dell, I am talking about hardware manufactures like Creative Labs, Logitech, etc..) prefers to have it's users go on their website and download the latest drivers, instead of having Windows to do it.
The feature in Win7 is not new, Vista has that too.

 

Thx you alot goodbytes.
I'm really want a OEM Vista 64bits, but I'm in VietNam, so it hard to me to order a new disk. Is these any ways to download a Vista 64bits disk and get the license form DELL? How to do it?
I want to disable bluetooth on startup, so must be disable in BIOS ?
And can you give me the life time of your 9 cells batt. I have one, and I want to sure it work fine.

In the list of driver from my services tag, i confused with the chipset, do i need install all of this ?
You talk about DELL UCP plugins, so what plug-ins i need?

 

If you have a retail copy of Vista OR OEM disk (NOT from a Microsoft partners; ie: Dell, HP, Acer, etc.. but for for small or individual system builder like me, which build their desktop computer myself), you can download the 64-bit disk and upon installation you use your 32-bit disk product key to make. This will work. Is it LEGAL? Well, let's say that Microsoft doesn't care to a point that the activation will work.

But in your case, you have an OEM but it's a special one. You have a special made by Microsoft for Dell disk, which is pre-activated and the product key is already in. All the setup looks is that you use a Dell system. The product key under your laptop (under the battery), is a deactivated code and not the same of your disk, you can activate it, but you will need to call Microsoft for the activation every time you install your system.
I would still try Dell tech support to make things easier.

Yes, but if you want to enable it, you need to restart your computer to access the BIOS to enable it again. I think you can have the wireless switch to be a blutooth switch instead or both, if I recall correctly (all is in the BIOS).

What is your FULL system specs?

UCP... you mean DCP (Dell Control Panel). Contact Dell tech support.
Sorry, but I don't know how to explain simply, and I don't know your system and your needs. I'll let someone else pick this up.

 

Here is my system spec.:
Latitude E6400 Laptop: Intel Core 2 Duo T9600 (2.80GHz, 6M L2 Cache, 1066MHz FSB)
Operating System
Genuine Windows XP Pro with Vista Business License
Memory
4 GB DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz (2 DIMMs)
Hard Disk Drive
160 GB Free Fall Sensor Hard Drive (7200RPM)
Video
NVIDIA Quadro NVS 160M With PC-Card
Laptop Screen
14.1 inch Widescreen WXGA LED Display - Brush Metal Black
Media Bay
8X DVD ROM Drive
32BIT Operating System CD XP
32BIT Operating System CD Vista
No Camera
Hardware Upgrade
9 Cell Primary Battery
125V Power Cord
90W AC Adapter
Back-lit Keyboard
No Fingerprint Reader
Brushed Metal Black
Bluetooth Wireless
Dell Wireless 370 Bluetooth Module
Network Interface Card
Dell Wireless 1510 802.11a/g/n Draft Mini Card

1.I don't know it have Intel vPro Secure Advanced Hardware Enabled Systems Management or not? How to check it?
2.And I don't know it have micro phone or not too? But i see a little whole uppon my screen top-panel ?

3.One think i not sure is I have a DVD Rom which i can't indentify its name, and the DELL page don't have the drive for DVD Rom, so where can i get it ?
4.Thx if you can give me the estimate my battery life and help me to indentify the driver meet my lap.
5.And just one more question: Where can i get right driver if i install Windows 7 on my lap ?

 

Nice computer you have there.

The sticker on your laptop next to Windows one, says "vPro' if you have it.
Either way, you don't need it, very few people need it. It's just some software which allows the control remotely of the computer by distance (like the included Windows remote desktop with your Windows), and some other stuff that few business might be interesting. usually if a company you work in uses that, and wants to put that on your system, they'll just give you the disk for you to install... so really no purpose. Take it as the "free cheap pen that banks have and give you just by coming in or creating an account".

On top of the screen you will notice the lock system of the screen, next to it you you have have a small round hole. If you do have that hole, then this is digital microphone.

Oy, the day of DOS has ended years ago.
Optical drives, harddrive, solid state dirve, mouse, keyboard, microphone, speakers, touchpad, trackpoint and monitor, don't need drivers.
These are standard system devices. For example on your DVD-ROM. Liek CD-ROM, Blu-ray drive etc... they all communicate with the Operating system the same way.
- OnEvent (Operating system receives a call when you open/close the tray)
- Check (Operating system sends this command to ask the optical drive if a disk is int)
- Seek (Operating system sends this command to get some data somewhere)
- Read (Operating system sends this command to read data on the disk)
- OnData (Event which the operating system gets when the optical drive reads a file. This is done so that the Operating system gets the data being read by the optical drive)
and so on...
Basic command that does not differ from one device to another as it's been standardized decades ago.

Some thing you must know, that the battery life shown in Windows (or any other operating system) is just an estimation. It goes "If you do what you are doing right now, non stop you will have X hours of battery life", so when you start an application is may drop significantly (as your system is under load) but once the application has started it's back as before.

Backlit turn off, screen brightness at minimum, close the screen (FN+D) everytime I don't need it, PowerSave turn on, Wireless ON, speakers muted, typing text in Word, I got about 9 hours of battery life on the FIRST day.
If you run more system intensive application you may want to enable the Extended battery life feature. Or at least disable the transparency of Aero (see Windows settings under personalize>Windows color and Appearance). Since then it drop. I can reach almost 9 hours today, if I enable Dell extended battery.

You must know that Lithium ion battery is a tricky bas****. At first it give you wonderful battery life, but it diminishes over time... The first month you will notice this but the nicer thing is that it stabilizes after some time.
That is why system that says "3-4 hours of battery life" Consider it 1 hours and half. In my case, today (I have the system since November, use my laptop at university every day doing full days with it), I get about 7 hours and half of battery life doing the above without enabling Dell extended battery nor disabling Aero transparency (Windows says 7 hours, but when battery is close to low you noticed that after 10min it still says the same thing or a minute less, again this is because it can only estimate).

2 suggestions:
- It is recommended that every 40-50 recharges (or when you see you went well below the 7 hours mark despite anything you do) to calibrate the battery, this means to set Windows to NOT shutdown/hibernate/sleep when your battery is critical (set battery critical level or 0), set the system to powersaver, set the screen brightness to minimum, don't attach any USB device. Then have the system fully recharge if it is not already, and just let it sit there on battery until your system shut downs. Once it's shut down DO NOT TURN ON THE SYSTEM (this will empty further the battery and permanently damage the battery) then plug the system in, wait about 30min to recharge a bit, and then turn on your laptop. You can find more information, more details step and precaution on this forum, under the "
Notebook Dummy Guide Articles " section. This will allow the system to know better the real battery life.

Second suggestion is to reduce the percentage of the critical battery level. Because, this works in percentage, it's design for the usual 3 hours at best battery life system. We have a 9-cell 9 hours at best battery life, so at "critical" you will still have about 45min of battery life, which is kinda ridiculous. I put mine at 3% to have enough power to hibernate. And maybe increase it over the course of the year or next year, as your battery will age and provide less hours of time. If you don't want to complicate your life, then just leave it as it is.

Right now Windows 7 is not officially release. The day it is, Dell will have them of the driver page.
If you have Windows 7 public BETA, then it's more tricky as you have do get them manually from each hardware manufacture, and sometimes use Vista drivers instead of Win7, and understand the limitations of Alpha and Beta drivers of Windows 7, and using the wrong drivers in the OS (possible performance problem and blue-screens which can lead to data loss)

 

Thanks you for your helpfulls informations.