UNSOLVED
XPS 15 L521X ....Latest Problem
So I updated to Bios A09 hoping it would improve either my Wifi issues, my throttling issues, or my battery life issues.
After the A09 update, my nVidia Graphics chip is no longer recognized, and therefore have lost my dual external monitor support. That may improve battery life I guess since the nVidia chip is now worthless and I'm forced to the Intel 4000. Not the change I was hoping for.
Is it possible to revert the A09 bios back to A06? Is this isolated to me, or was it just not QA'd at all by Dell?
I worked around the wifi issue with a USB dongle, and am living with the battery life issues by getting less work done on airplane flights.
Losing my multi-monitor support is killing my productivity. Also losing my patience with this machine and Dell in general.
2384
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Posted September 19th, 2012 16:00
lpChris,
When you reinstalled the operating system, did you install the Desktop/Notebook system software and the chipset drivers first? If not, the rest of the drivers will fail to install. How to Download and Install Drivers in the Correct Order
Start with the Desktop/Notebook system software and the chipset drivers and follow the list.
Download and install the latest drivers. Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6235 drivers
I used these tweaks...
Intel ~ Recommended settings for 802.11n connectivity
Start, control panel, device manager. Click on Network and then right click on your wireless adapter, left click properties, power management. Uncheck the box, allow computer to turn off this device to save power.
I went to the power options, and changed the Wireless Adapter Setting, from Maximum Power Setting to Maximum Performance.
Rick
2384
0
Posted September 19th, 2012 16:00
I upgraded it to Windows 7 Ultimate through the Windows Upgrade thing the day I received the laptop (mid August).
There are others on the notebookreview.com thread remarking that they have experienced the same issue...nVidia geForce 640 not recognized after the A09 bios update.
Sysinfo:
Host Name: ENG-THEEMPIRICI
OS Name: Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate
OS Version: 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Build 7601
OS Manufacturer: Microsoft Corporation
OS Configuration: Member Workstation
OS Build Type: Multiprocessor Free
Registered Owner: admin
Registered Organization: Microsoft
Original Install Date: 8/17/2012, 12:59:44 PM
System Boot Time: 9/19/2012, 12:49:29 AM
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
System Model: XPS L521X
System Type: x64-based PC
Processor(s): 1 Processor(s) Installed.
[01]: Intel64 Family 6 Model 58 Stepping 9 GenuineIntel ~1197 Mhz
BIOS Version: Dell Inc. A09, 8/27/2012
Windows Directory: C:\Windows
System Directory: C:\Windows\system32
Boot Device: \Device\HarddiskVolume2
System Locale: en-us;English (United States)
Input Locale: en-us;English (United States)
Time Zone: (UTC-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada)
Total Physical Memory: 16,266 MB
Available Physical Memory: 10,400 MB
Virtual Memory: Max Size: 32,531 MB
Virtual Memory: Available: 24,275 MB
Virtual Memory: In Use: 8,256 MB
Page File Location(s): C:\pagefile.sys
Hotfix(s): 110 Hotfix(s) Installed.
[01]: 982861
[02]: KB971033
[03]: KB2393802
[04]: KB2397190
[05]: KB2425227
[06]: KB2459268
[07]: KB2475792
[08]: KB2478662
[09]: KB2479943
[10]: KB2482122
[11]: KB2484033
[12]: KB2488113
[13]: KB2491683
[14]: KB2492386
[15]: KB2495523
[16]: KB2496898
[17]: KB2505438
[18]: KB2506014
[19]: KB2506212
[20]: KB2506928
[21]: KB2507618
[22]: KB2509553
[23]: KB2511250
[24]: KB2511455
[25]: KB2515325
[26]: KB2518869
[27]: KB2519736
[28]: KB2519922
[29]: KB2522422
[30]: KB2529073
[31]: KB2529825
[32]: KB2532531
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[34]: KB2536275
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[36]: KB2539635
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[38]: KB2544893
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[95]: KB2709981
[96]: KB2712808
[97]: KB2718704
[98]: KB2719857
[99]: KB2719985
[100]: KB2722913
[101]: KB2729094
[102]: KB2731847
[103]: KB2732487
[104]: KB2732500
[105]: KB2735855
[106]: KB2736233
[107]: KB2741355
[108]: KB958488
[109]: KB976902
[110]: KB982018
Network Card(s): 5 NIC(s) Installed.
[01]: Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller
Connection Name: Local Area Connection
Status: Media disconnected
[02]: Intel(R) Centrino(R) Advanced-N 6235
Connection Name: Wireless Network Connection
DHCP Enabled: Yes
DHCP Server: 172.16.31.1
IP address(es)
[01]: 172.16.31.69
[02]: fe80::159e:c750:ecc:206c
[03]: Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network)
Connection Name: Bluetooth Network Connection
Status: Media disconnected
[04]: Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter
Connection Name: Wireless Network Connection 2
Status: Media disconnected
[05]: Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter
Connection Name: Wireless Network Connection 3
Status: Media disconnectedipconfig /all output:
Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : eng-theempiricist
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . : xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (redacted)
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . :xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (redacted)
Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection 3:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adap
2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : C4-85-08-58-6A-07
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection 2:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adap
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : C4-85-08-58-6A-07
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Ethernet adapter Bluetooth Network Connection:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Netw
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : C4-85-08-58-6A-0A
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (redacted)Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) Centrino(R) Advanced-N 6235
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : C4-85-08-58-6A-06
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::159e:c750:ecc:206c%13(Preferre
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 172.16.31.69(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, September 19, 2012 8:29:5
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, September 20, 2012 1:51:58
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 172.16.31.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 172.16.31.1
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 247760136
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-17-B7-B3-CC-D4-BE-D9-58-
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.129
192.168.1.127
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : D4-BE-D9-58-B9-B9
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter isatap.{8C4A3B5B-A1FB-44B7-921F-4994ED5ABDB8}:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter isatap.corp.lockpath.com:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (redacted)
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter isatap.{3339FBAB-A4B0-4022-A790-BE5B38112E26}:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #3
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter isatap.{CD7B3076-B587-4E10-98B7-A1CF85300999}:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #4
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Tunnel adapter isatap.{5DC2997F-B98B-45F2-99B8-CC8FFAD13172}:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #7
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes2384
0
Posted September 19th, 2012 17:00
The drivers were all installed and working correctly after the Windows Ultimate upgrade. This wasn't a reinstall, it used the Windows upgrade wizard that upgraded the OS from Premium to Ultimate.
The nVidia driver / Intel drivers were all working / functional after the upgrade to Ultimate (which I did on 8/17).
A couple weeks ago I applied the A06 BIOS upgrade, and again everything was working (other than the limited Wifi range issue that dozens of people have already reported in multiple forums).
Yesterday I applied the A09 BIOS upgrade. After the reboot, Device Manager showed the nVidia driver with an error icon. So I don't see how the upgrade to Ultimate over a month ago could have just now broken in reaction to the A09 BIOS upgrade.
Oh, and as I just got out of a meeting in our conference room where I was running on battery power and I discovered another bad side effect of the A09 BIOS....battery life is much worse.
With A04 I typically had 5 hours battery life.
With A06 I had about 4 hours battery life.
With A09 I'm now getting 3 hours of battery life.
If the trend continues then I'll be down to 1 minute of battery life after a few more BIOS revs.
I'm not the only one with problems with the A09 BIOS. See here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell-xps-studio-xps/673630-xps-15-l521x-owners-lounge-289.html
2384
0
Posted September 20th, 2012 03:00
lpChris,
An installation, reinstallation or an upgrade, the drivers still need to be installed in the correct order. How to Download and Install Drivers in the Correct Order
I realy didn't have time to read all the threads at Notebook Review, but I saw something mentioned about a BIOS issue. I have notified Dell about the BIOS. I see this version has only been released 3 days ago.
Rick
2384
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Posted September 21st, 2012 11:00
The exact same thing happened to me. With the wifi issues, this computer is a piece of junk. I have tried re-installing all the video drivers and my nvidia graphics card is still not recognized. I wish I had never done the BIOS update. I should have just gone for the Mac.
2392
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Posted September 21st, 2012 13:00
Nvidia has Optimus as part of their mobile drivers. Optimus is a battery saving process. It only lets the Nvidia graphics be used when high performance graphics are required. Otherwise the Intel internal graphics are used for lower power consumption. See here for more on Optimus:
http:/support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kcs/document?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dfh&docid=125975&doclang=en
">http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kcs/document?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dfh&docid=125975&doclang=enTo know when the Nvidia graphics card is being used, open Nvidia Conrtol Panel (right click desktop and select Nvidia Control Panel). In Nvidia Control Panel Menu check ALL boxes under Desktop (or View in some systems). An Icon will appear in the Windows Notification Area that will change colors when a program reguires the Nvidia GPU.
To check your GPU use Speccy from Priform - same people that bring you CCleaner.
A number of people appear to be having WIFI connection problems. Are you able to connect to the Internet? If so the problem is associated with your WIFI adapter card. WIFI is a different issue than connecting to your internet router. PUDGY has some good information on this but check your WIFI adapter card to be sure it is not loose or has a bad connection.
2392
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Posted September 21st, 2012 15:00
I just got off from a long chat session with Dell's support contractor in some far reach of the globe. After almost 2 hours, she determined that the Nvidia card issue is a "software" problem and that I need to backup all my files and set the machine back to factory. I haven't had this computer that long, and I just about have everything the way I want it. This is the last time I fail to image my system before installing anything from Dell. I will try the factory image this weekend.
2392
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Posted September 21st, 2012 18:00
Before you do the factory reset, take a serious look at my previous post. You will not see the Nvidia GPU in use unless it is in a game or other high performance graphics demanding program. The laptop DOES NOT USE THE NVIDIA GPU unless required by a program.
1276
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Posted September 21st, 2012 19:00
That is not the problem. In device manager, everyone affected sees:
Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. (Code 43)
Under the Nvidia GPU.
Sorry but I did not see the specific problem you mentioned elsewhere in this thread until your post quoted. Joegreen has the insight on the Code 43 in his post. I might add to his suggestion considering an uninstall of the Nvidia driver and using Driver Sweeper to remove all aspects of the driver. Only check Nvidia - Display and Nvidia - PhysX in Driver Sweeper. After cleaning with Driver Sweeper, install the latest Nvidia driver (306.23). Do a Custom Install and check the box for a Clean Install. This should provide a good driver installation. If the issue continues after this, then continue with the other possibilities.
McAfee security software can cause similar problems as well. McAfee in notorious for causing many different kinds of problems. I dumped mine and went to Microsoft Security Essentials (free with free updates - unlike McAfee). Results with MSE have been excellent. MSE gets many great reviews.
PudgyOne
11 Legend
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30315 Posts
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106638 Points
2384
0
Posted September 19th, 2012 15:00
lpChris,
Did you recently install/reinstall the operating system?
Can you run Finding System Information REMOVE YOUR PRODUCT ID, if using XP, run an ipconfig /all log and post it back here.
Rick