Latitude E6400 Owner's Lounge, Part 2

[ohadfreund]

That Program Files, has NOTHING to do with compatibility. You have 2 Program Files: "Program Files" and "Program Files (x86)". These are there to separate Windows own programs to differentiate 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

I didn't write anything about compatibility... :-)

[GoodBytes]

I didn't write anything about compatibility... :-)

The way you said it, you made it sound like if "Program Files (x86)" is to run 32-bit application, and they have to be put 32-bit programs in that directory else they won't run properly. Which made me say that it isn't true.

[Sir Punk]

I just installed Win 7 and in the W updates I see this "Broadcom driver update for Dell Wireless 1510 Wireless-N WLAN Mini-Card. This driver was provided by Broadcom for support of Dell Wireless 1510 Wireless-N WLAN Mini-Car"

and also this "Intel Corporation - Display - Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family"

my wireless card is working just fine. I can't find any details. has anybody installed these?

[wsx]

I would stay away from non-Dell drivers for the X4500MHD graphics. As far as I know, they have issues with controlling the brightness of the screen.

[sermak]

Hey,

I got hands on a Dell Latitude E6400, formatted and put the WinVista, installed the drivers said that the Dell site, but for now I click Connect, it connects, but then turns off the LED On / Off and connect 3 LEDs I do not understand.



I did update the firmware and ControlVault netbook never took off ...

Someone help me?

[SpeedyMods]

I've got to deal with the slight annoyance of the screen brightness being a little more difficult to adjust (I believe the upper levels are available when you hit the key for auto adjust, and the lower brightness are opposite) because Adobe Premiere Pro will not work with the Dell driver. Everything is flawless if you force the newest Intel driver to install.

I've got to get a hold of Dell over the next couple of days, as I had my 160gb 5400rpm Western Digitial drive fail completely. I was able to get my files off thankfully, and I was running it as a second hard drive in the optical bay.

My left arrow key needs replacing, but that's been like that for like 9 months, every couple of weeks it'll just fall off, but it goes back on. I also have had some of the the rubber feet fall off.

I've owned the machine about a year now and those are all the real issues I've had, other than bad drivers early on.

I got one of those hard drive caddy's off of eBay in place of the optical disk drive, and I'm very impressed.

Greg

[GoodBytes]

My left arrow key needs replacing, but that's been like that for like 9 months, every couple of weeks it'll just fall off, but it goes back on.

Dell will send you a new keyboard if you call tech support.

I also have had some of the the rubber feet fall off.

This is the fun part. If the missing pad is on the base, Dell will give you a new laptop base entirely (this exclude the bottom access panel). If it's on the bottom panel, well it will be a new bottom access panel.

[SpeedyMods]

I was going to just glue the pads back on (they're just on the cover) but now that you mention it, I might as well just get them to send me a new bottom cover.

Anyone else have paint wearing off the edges of the lower chassis? I don't particularly want Dell changing out the base/palmrest, as I've read that the palmrest never quite goes back in correctly. Same reason I was just planning on pulling the key from the replacement keyboard and installing it on mine.

I would much prefer not to be sending my laptop away anywhere, and I suspect that the paint will just be gone again in a few months.

Also, I should note that this machine has plenty of horsepower to editing DV footage in Premiere Pro and After Effects CS4. I'm impressed.

Greg

[GoodBytes]

I was going to just glue the pads back on (they're just on the cover) but now that you mention it, I might as well just get them to send me a new bottom cover.

Nha, just have the part replaced.

Anyone else have paint wearing off the edges of the lower chassis?

No, but I assume it's because there is a lot of friction at these stop. If the pad is on the base of the laptop then you'll have a new one,

I don't particularly want Dell changing out the base/palmrest, as I've read that the palmrest never quite goes back in correctly.

So, have the palm rest replaced.

Same reason I was just planning on pulling the key from the replacement keyboard and installing it on mine.

What?! Laptop keyboard can't have it's key remove and put back, it will be like your lose key.. always fall out. In today's world, it's manufacturing plants with sophisticated machines that build parts, ensuring that the shape it identical from one to another.

I don't know where you read that things "don't fit together anymore" but that is total B.S (excluding manufacture errors which are a slim percentages, and if that happens, it's the manufacture responsibility to cover it... so that means in this case Dell will send you a new one)

I would much prefer not to be sending my laptop away anywhere, and I suspect that the paint will just be gone again in a few months.

Hmmm ok... that is the strangest answer I ever heard. So, your laptop is broken, under warranty, but you don't want it fixed. huh.... I don't get your logic. You want a buy a NEW one again, for THIS?! I am totally lost. Send it it out already, at least it will be like if you had a new one, as the keyboard, base, and palm rest will be replaced.

[TabbedOut]

What?! Laptop keyboard can't have it's key remove and put back, it will be like your lose key.. always fall out. In today's world, it's manufacturing plants with sophisticated machines that build parts, ensuring that the shape it identical from one to another.

Not really. Laptop keys can be popped out and replaced pretty easily actually (have done this MANY times in the past). The key itself is held in place with a scissor mechanism like this (from my E6500 which I just popped the key off for this demonstration:


Notice that there is a white nipple in the center. This is what provides the "springiness" in the keyboard. At the corners of that scissor mechanism are points that are paired with those pictured here:



If a key is falling off it is (*EDIT* probably... the points where the mechanism attaches to the base could be at fault and for this you would need to get the whole keyboard replaced... the site of the fault is easily diagnosed though, get a good magnifying glass if you have old eyes) at this junction where the fault lies. In any case replacing a key is probably one of the EASIEST things you can do (as I said I just popped this one off to illustrate this and it's now back on without any harm done).

As for the rest of your post: many people don't want to send their computers in because they cannot afford the downtime. It's great if you have another computer or you work somewhere that will provide you a replacement but if not you are pretty much stuck for the 2+ weeks that it takes to ship, evaluate, and return your computer. It's all about weighing the cost of the loss of the computer vs that of replacing the part yourself. In the case of the keyboard you can replace the whole thing for ~$25 and then save the old one for parts.