Wow! I can't believe this stuff from Dell. I just bought an M6500 with 16 gigs of Ram and the only problem I had was the choppy video and audio in Windows Media Player. It ended up that the FIPS fingerprint reader and Smart Card reader software was interfering with Windows Media Player. So I deactivated them in msconfig.exe. Now I have 2 decorations to the M6500. Oh well.
YUP I had the same problem, yeah they wanted to tell me it was a software issue with windows... whatever I got a refurb and it is a 100 times better. but yeah now that I got a new m6400 all my days are bright and sunny: you should do the same SIR
I was about to buy one of these puppies. Did you ever resolve the issue? I am very concerned about this and am glad I came across your site. I came very close to a purchase today but couldn't as the IT department failed to complete my CC transaction onto a corp. acct.
What I also noticed, is that the Dell windows installation is crap, so I downloaded all the latest drivers from the Dell support web site and re-installed the windows from scratch, installing drivers in the controlled manner. As the result I have a very stable and very fast machine. I have calibrated display - colors in applications supporting ICM profile are great, for non-color managed apps. - oversaturated green and red as with any wide gammut monitor.
I have M6400 for almost year now. Got it from Dell outlet for 1/2 of the price. I have Quaddro FX 3700M, RGB LED screen, 2.53GHz quad CPU, 8GB of RAM, 2x320GB HDDs. I had problem with overheating (dust build-up in the CPU cooling grills). Cleaned the dust myself, and to prevent build-up now I am periodically cleaning the grills with pressurised gas. The laptop is perfect. You must calibrate the screen to get right colors.
Nope. I did a charge back on my credit card and supplied substantial documentation and Dell finally called and said they'd like to "see if they can get my money back". The machines were never fixed. Dell finally credited my card back and took it back.
I dont have this problem. The LA Film School recently gave all their animation students and game development students these laptops, not one of the entire 30+ students encountered this problem. Out of all the notebooks I have used, the Dell m6400 is one of the best. I also have a couple of Sagers. Sorry to hear you have this very strange problem, though my own experiences show that what you are experiencing is not that common.
This post was a heads up for Dell buyers to be aware of a flaw that affects a %'age of these specific machines and also make them aware of Dell's degraded support paradigm that punishes high end buyers.
Windows 7 a possibilty? I've started running this on a couple Dell's that we have during the past month. It has made a big difference both in speed and reliability, especially w/ x64 editions.
Told Dell I didn't have the time anymore to be part of their product testing group and just wanted it to work. Dell to the last finally admitted it could be a engineering flaw that needed to be resolved.
Hi I also have an M6400, the only issues I have are that with xp sometimes won't boot properly and need to hard reboot, not very often and that the microphone doesn't work, with vista it's the small freezes with the mouse but other than that works fine, linux just doesn't have all the drivers but works nice. I recommend you windows 7, I tried the beta with vista drivers and works like a dream, never had a problem with it, never. I'm waiting impatiently for it, haha.
Similar M6400 Covet posts were removed from Dell's forum site days after I told support it was an issue and guided them to Dell forum posts to support it.
Do you have the video of the technician opening it? Would be great to see that.
razor16190 1 year ago
@razor16190 Yes, somewhere I do but Dell finally gave me a full refund after they had no where else to turn and no one else to blame.
Arena3DX 1 year ago
I have a m6400 and mine did the same thing all i had to do is get a new driver for the sound card... and can i have your blood orange one ha ha
juman09 1 year ago
Wow! I can't believe this stuff from Dell. I just bought an M6500 with 16 gigs of Ram and the only problem I had was the choppy video and audio in Windows Media Player. It ended up that the FIPS fingerprint reader and Smart Card reader software was interfering with Windows Media Player. So I deactivated them in msconfig.exe. Now I have 2 decorations to the M6500. Oh well.
The72Rabbit 1 year ago
YUP I had the same problem, yeah they wanted to tell me it was a software issue with windows... whatever I got a refurb and it is a 100 times better. but yeah now that I got a new m6400 all my days are bright and sunny: you should do the same SIR
darkmark420 1 year ago
DO NOT BUY DELL COMPUTERS!!!
Bottom Line: If you want to have a working computer for longer then 6 months and you
want to have good customer/technical support
DO NOT BUY FROM DELL
daw126 1 year ago
I was about to buy one of these puppies. Did you ever resolve the issue? I am very concerned about this and am glad I came across your site. I came very close to a purchase today but couldn't as the IT department failed to complete my CC transaction onto a corp. acct.
The72Rabbit 2 years ago
What I also noticed, is that the Dell windows installation is crap, so I downloaded all the latest drivers from the Dell support web site and re-installed the windows from scratch, installing drivers in the controlled manner. As the result I have a very stable and very fast machine. I have calibrated display - colors in applications supporting ICM profile are great, for non-color managed apps. - oversaturated green and red as with any wide gammut monitor.
SAMFICOM 2 years ago
I have M6400 for almost year now. Got it from Dell outlet for 1/2 of the price. I have Quaddro FX 3700M, RGB LED screen, 2.53GHz quad CPU, 8GB of RAM, 2x320GB HDDs. I had problem with overheating (dust build-up in the CPU cooling grills). Cleaned the dust myself, and to prevent build-up now I am periodically cleaning the grills with pressurised gas. The laptop is perfect. You must calibrate the screen to get right colors.
SAMFICOM 2 years ago
Nope. I did a charge back on my credit card and supplied substantial documentation and Dell finally called and said they'd like to "see if they can get my money back". The machines were never fixed. Dell finally credited my card back and took it back.
Arena3DX 2 years ago
Did u get this sorted out?
defectedsound 2 years ago
I dont have this problem. The LA Film School recently gave all their animation students and game development students these laptops, not one of the entire 30+ students encountered this problem. Out of all the notebooks I have used, the Dell m6400 is one of the best. I also have a couple of Sagers. Sorry to hear you have this very strange problem, though my own experiences show that what you are experiencing is not that common.
Shiftfallout 2 years ago
This post was a heads up for Dell buyers to be aware of a flaw that affects a %'age of these specific machines and also make them aware of Dell's degraded support paradigm that punishes high end buyers.
Arena3DX 2 years ago
Windows 7 a possibilty? I've started running this on a couple Dell's that we have during the past month. It has made a big difference both in speed and reliability, especially w/ x64 editions.
rovercon 2 years ago
Told Dell I didn't have the time anymore to be part of their product testing group and just wanted it to work. Dell to the last finally admitted it could be a engineering flaw that needed to be resolved.
Arena3DX 2 years ago
Hi I also have an M6400, the only issues I have are that with xp sometimes won't boot properly and need to hard reboot, not very often and that the microphone doesn't work, with vista it's the small freezes with the mouse but other than that works fine, linux just doesn't have all the drivers but works nice. I recommend you windows 7, I tried the beta with vista drivers and works like a dream, never had a problem with it, never. I'm waiting impatiently for it, haha.
RHQ89 2 years ago
Similar M6400 Covet posts were removed from Dell's forum site days after I told support it was an issue and guided them to Dell forum posts to support it.
Arena3DX 2 years ago
seems like a bum HHD or SSD if your using it. if your using SSD try switching it out for HHD
dragonmoose1987 2 years ago
We have 3 of these M6400s that have same issue. We use SSD's in all of our 6300's
Arena3DX 2 years ago