Desktops General - Read Only

[s.myrr]

The "Has anyone taken delivery" thread is getting out of control - and far more people there are not owners... SO how about this new and improved XPS 435 Owner's Thread!?  Instead of posting 15 updates a day about delayed orders, newest deals, etc, how about we start a thread dedicated to the owners of this machine, and also a place where future owners can ask technical or performance questions about the machine.  There are a good amount of owners here, so let's build a community!

Any takers?

[AndrewMiskell]

Has anyone with an 435T had to have their motherboard replaced? If so, were you or the Dell tech able to change the service tag on the replacement motherboard to the original service tag? I recently had to have my motherboard replaced due to a BIOS flash failure and now my service tags don't match in the BIOS. I called Dell tech support and they don't seem to know how to change it. 

I managed to find a utility on the Utility/Resource CD for it called fasset.exe (for Foxconn motherboards) it appears to change the service tag when I run it, but the changes never apply in the BIOS.

Now Dell is wanting to replace the motherboard again because they can't figure out how to set the service tag.

Anyone with any experience changing the service tag on a replacement motherboard?

[LathropDave]

I have a 435T also but haven't had to have the motherboard replaced. That said, I use to be a Dell authorized tech and although it was a few years ago we used a piece of software to change the service tag when changing out motherboards. This was a pretty common procedure and only took a few minutes. I'd find it hard to believe Dell got away from doing this considering how important service tags are. Sounds to me like you had a tech who either didn't know what he was doing or forgot his software. It may be your only alternative is another motherboard to resolve this but I'd for sure first be on the phone with their first/second level support to see if there is a way around it first.

[AndrewMiskell]

The onsite tech didn't have the software to do it, so I called the first level support via the tech support number and they couldn't tell me how to do it either and couldn't find the software for the 435T. Phone support recommended replacing the motherboard again. 

I'm pretty sure I found the software for the 435T on the Resource CD that came with the computer in the CSD\TOOLS\BIOS directory, the utility for the Foxconn made 435T motherboard is fasset.exe, I tried using the utility to change the service tag, and the utility said it changed the service tag, but upon reboot and a check in the BIOS, it wasn't changed. I even tried adding an asset tag using the same utility and it didn't apply either, so maybe it is that the replacement motherboard has a problem with the DMI section of the BIOS where all this information is stored.

I'm just trying to avoid getting into an issue of replacing motherboards over and over until either the utility works or Dell sets the proper tag before shipping out the replacement board.

[moropantus]

Anyone having issues with installing SP2 for Vista Home Premium 64bit on the 435MT? i got the box yesterday and it gives error stating driver error. The KB967752 talks about server 2008.

[Truc88]

Bob - That is excellent news, Thank You very much for confirming ...
When I was checking the product specs, it does not say Vista supported for this Miniview KVM switch.
And there are not that many iogear KVM switch with a "confirmed" Vista specs.
So I will definitely plug  it in when I receive my 435 MT.

[jsgiv]

The onsite tech didn't have the software to do it, so I called the first level support via the tech support number and they couldn't tell me how to do it either and couldn't find the software for the 435T. Phone support recommended replacing the motherboard again. 

I'm pretty sure I found the software for the 435T on the Resource CD that came with the computer in the CSD\TOOLS\BIOS directory, the utility for the Foxconn made 435T motherboard is fasset.exe, I tried using the utility to change the service tag, and the utility said it changed the service tag, but upon reboot and a check in the BIOS, it wasn't changed. I even tried adding an asset tag using the same utility and it didn't apply either, so maybe it is that the replacement motherboard has a problem with the DMI section of the BIOS where all this information is stored.

I'm just trying to avoid getting into an issue of replacing motherboards over and over until either the utility works or Dell sets the proper tag before shipping out the replacement board.

Well - funny thing - I just had my motherboard replaced due to a bad flash, whatever, of the A13 BIOS (BIOS appeared to flash ok - but upon reboot, didn't get any POST, screen, etc.)

Anyway - motherboard was replaced today - and, once installed and upon boot, we went into the BIOS to check - under the System Info (first option on the left) - is where we had to enter the Service Tag (was highlighted as blank).

Now that it's set, however, not sure if I can change it, etc.

[lesterpaul]

Bummer about your BIOS flash going south. I just got my XPS 435T Saturday. No way I am going to update the BIOS.

[LathropDave]

You may want to reconsider updating your BIOS to A13. I've noticed my 435T now boots much faster and seems to have resolved some hanging issues.

[jsgiv]

You may want to reconsider updating your BIOS to A13. I've noticed my 435T now boots much faster and seems to have resolved some hanging issues.

Agreed - was a little gunshy after just going through all of the effort to get the mother board replaced..  But I've gone ahead and tried the BIOS update again - successfully this time.

Most impressive / noticeable improvement was the boot time - whereas before it was averaging around 65-75 seconds from power to a "usable state" (i.e. I can login and use the machine) - now it's averaging right @ 45 seconds.

Other strange thing is the RealTek Ethernet message showing up trying to boot off of the network - I guess it was there previously on my old motherboard - but hidden...

[zerinSSL]

I have a GTX 275 in my 435T that I installed from day 1 back in May.  Never had a single issue or crash with my 435T  under Vista 64, Win7 RC, and now Win 7 64 Ultimate RTM.  It's rock solid and runs flawlessly.

Does anyone have the Nvdia card? Is it as troublesome as the ATI?