Dell XPS 17 (L702x) Thread

[RogerSC]

unless all your drivers and parts are SSD/non-moving, you shouldn't be sitting it on your lap, because the lap moves around and those parts should never be moved around.

Can't disagree more with this one. Every laptop I've seen can actually be in your lap with the AC power supply plugged in. Doesn't matter if you have an SSD, this has been true for years, and is where the name "laptop" came from *smile*. The L702X that I got had the loosest power cable I've ever seen...there have been times that the battery wasn't being charged when the thing was just sitting on a table. I must have inadvertently bumped the power plug a little, or had moved the laptop a little which would have disengaged the power plug. In any case, I complained to Dell, and they finally fixed it, but it took a couple of visits and several chats and phone calls with support. And they had to replace a lot of pieces. Finally it's normal, I can have the computer in my lap without worrying about whether the battery is charging any more than a normal laptop.

[Sam_A_1992]

A. The QM67 chipset does allow RAID, but it is not enabled on the L702x.

B. SATA ports 0 and 1, which are the two HDD ports, are SATA-III; the rest are SATA-II. Again, this is part of the QM67/Sandy Bridge specification. SSD's work great on this platform.

C. Sorry, McAfee still sux in my opinion. You can get Microsoft Security Essentials, which is much less intrusive, for free HERE.

D. There are two DIMM slots on the non-3D systems and four DIMM slots on the 3D systems.

E. I like a clean install AFTER I make an external backup image of the stock factory install.

F. Unlike the business class systems, these systems do not typical have extensive technical documentation. However, you can go HERE for the available L702x resources.

Scott-

Scott what image backup program do you use? As i think i should really back my setup up.

[xxgokouxx]

Can't disagree more with this one. Every laptop I've seen can actually be in your lap with the AC power supply plugged in. Doesn't matter if you have an SSD, this has been true for years, and is where the name "laptop" came from *smile*. The L702X that I got had the loosest power cable I've ever seen...there have been times that the battery wasn't being charged when the thing was just sitting on a table. I must have inadvertently bumped the power plug a little, or had moved the laptop a little which would have disengaged the power plug. In any case, I complained to Dell, and they finally fixed it, but it took a couple of visits and several chats and phone calls with support. And they had to replace a lot of pieces. Finally it's normal, I can have the computer in my lap without worrying about whether the battery is charging any more than a normal laptop.

LOL, I understand that part, of course the AC adaptor has to stick in there! But without a SSD drive or some form of anti-moving precaution, your HDD will fail. I've had tons of customers come to me saying their HDD failed because they sat their laptops/netbooks on their laps.... thinking that's the full purpsoe of it. One way to remedy this (if it ever happens again and you're out of warranty), is to remove the battery, get some extremely fine tweezers, and no not the cosmetic tweezers, but mechanics tweezers(if that's how you spell it) and pull out the side pins that hold the laptop's port together. I still stand by ALL computers, including laptops that have moving components (i.e. HDDs isntead of SSDs) need to be put on a desk to have function. This is why my 10 yr old + Toshiba Satellite still lives without one kink. (except for maybe the palmrest fading due to my arms resting on there for so many years).

Scott what image backup program do you use? As i think i should really back my setup up.

Are you still using the given Dell Distro Sam? I actually use Acronis Back-up and it worked great backing up everything on my lappy.

[Scott_RC-TEK]

...Power brick. Where is the best place to get a spare? It would be handy to have 2.

This is a good vendor in TX who sells the same PA4E for your system -
eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices

Ssd. I read clean install v ghost. I am starting to think ghost is going to be easier. My ssd is 830 samsung 128 gig. My spec has 3d, tv, office etc. That's a lot of s/w to sort out. I can always check the alignment after and make changes to win 7 for ssd after ghost?

No need to align or defrag SSD's. Just image the drive and you are good.

Lastly 3d.. if i output to panasonic tv do I use the nvidia glasses or the panasonic?

Any active shutter glasses should work with the system's internal NVIDIA IR-Emitter.

Scott-

[Scott_RC-TEK]

Scott what image backup program do you use? As i think i should really back my setup up.

I like to use an eSATA dock like this one: Amazon.com: Thermaltake BlacX eSATA USB Docking Station: Electronics

...and a good backup/restore utility like Paragon 2012.

1. I remove the new/unused HDD as soon as a new system arrives. I do not turm the system ON...or pass GO...or collect $200...

2. I take the fresh drive and plug it into the dock attached to another system.

3. I then make my "factory fresh" entire drive image using Paragon.

I now have a factory image I can revert back to at any time if needed. This process also works well when I perform a CLEAN install prior to testing various drivers and/or programs. This allows me to keep both a factory and clean self-installed image on hand.

Within 10 minutes, I can restore the HDD/SSD to the flavor of install I wish. It saves a lot of time.

Scott-

[RogerSC]

LOL, I understand that part, of course the AC adaptor has to stick in there! But without a SSD drive or some form of anti-moving precaution, your HDD will fail. I've had tons of customers come to me saying their HDD failed because they sat their laptops/netbooks on their laps.... thinking that's the full purpsoe of it. One way to remedy this (if it ever happens again and you're out of warranty), is to remove the battery, get some extremely fine tweezers, and no not the cosmetic tweezers, but mechanics tweezers(if that's how you spell it) and pull out the side pins that hold the laptop's port together. I still stand by ALL computers, including laptops that have moving components (i.e. HDDs isntead of SSDs) need to be put on a desk to have function. This is why my 10 yr old + Toshiba Satellite still lives without one kink. (except for maybe the palmrest fading due to my arms resting on there for so many years).

Are you still using the given Dell Distro Sam? I actually use Acronis Back-up and it worked great backing up everything on my lappy.

Still not buying it, sorry. Most laptops that I've seen die do so simply because of the eventual result of too much internal heat. They're hard to have enough airflow for cooling. I'm not talking about using a laptop while doing hip-hop dancing, just while sitting watching TV or just using your laptop in your lap while sitting. I would never bother to buy a laptop, nor would most people that I know that own them, if they had to keep them on a desk...why pay the extra price for a laptop and have the reduced life, if that were the case. My daughters, myself, and most of people that I know treat their laptops well, but often use them in their laps. And they last quite a long time, not as long as a good desktop, but several years is typical. The L702X is the first laptop that I've had that I've put an SSD in, the second disk is a regular rotating disk, and is doing fine.

This isn't an argument, since you have your point of view and I have mine, and I think we're going to have to agree that we disagree about this one. Personally, I'd never buy a laptop if I didn't feel I could use it in my lap.

Sorry.

[xxgokouxx]

Still not buying it, sorry. Most laptops that I've seen die do so simply because of the eventual result of too much internal heat. They're hard to have enough airflow for cooling. I'm not talking about using a laptop while doing hip-hop dancing, just while sitting watching TV or just using your laptop in your lap while sitting. I would never bother to buy a laptop, nor would most people that I know that own them, if they had to keep them on a desk...why pay the extra price for a laptop and have the reduced life, if that were the case. My daughters, myself, and most of people that I know treat their laptops well, but often use them in their laps. And they last quite a long time, not as long as a good desktop, but several years is typical. The L702X is the first laptop that I've had that I've put an SSD in, the second disk is a regular rotating disk, and is doing fine.

This isn't an argument, since you have your point of view and I have mine, and I think we're going to have to agree that we disagree about this one. Personally, I'd never buy a laptop if I didn't feel I could use it in my lap.

Sorry.

You're most definitely right about that We both must sit back and agree to disagree No hard feelings hehe

[Sam_A_1992]

Are you still using the given Dell Distro Sam? I actually use Acronis Back-up and it worked great backing up everything on my lappy.

Im using nothing atm. Which is why i need a program. Ive heard lots of people use arconis, is it free?

I like to use an eSATA dock like this one: Amazon.com: Thermaltake BlacX eSATA USB Docking Station: Electronics

...and a good backup/restore utility like Paragon 2012.

1. I remove the new/unused HDD as soon as a new system arrives. I do not turm the system ON...or pass GO...or collect $200...

2. I take the fresh drive and plug it into the dock attached to another system.

3. I then make my "factory fresh" entire drive image using Paragon.

I now have a factory image I can revert back to at any time if needed. This process also works well when I perform a CLEAN install prior to testing various drivers and/or programs. This allows me to keep both a factory and clean self-installed image on hand.

Within 10 minutes, I can restore the HDD/SSD to the flavor of install I wish. It saves a lot of time.

Scott-

Ah thanks Scott, i will def give paragon a look. Do you use the free version? will the free version be good enough? I probably wont go as far as taking hdds out as long as they back up fine in the machine.

[manc_xps]

Thanks guys re the power supply. Will order one today.

My laptop is due to arrive in 48 hours...

[manc_xps]

Also, if it helps anyone I ordered on the 10th April.
Laptop was in build from 11th to 13th. It left Dell on the 16th April and is now on its way to the UK and should arrive 18th / 19th.