XPS420 w\Geforce 8800GT 512MB

Trying to find out from other users of same build XPS420; Vista Home prem 32bit; Nvidia GeForce 8800GT 512MB graphic card) if they are encountering same problems I have with my XPS420 which is 5 weeks old.

1) I set several personalized settings in the NVidia Control Center.  About 30% of the time on Startup the setting don't load.  I have worked with Dell tech, they attmepted to upgrade driver from 167.39 to 174.74.  After the Install...my second problem started

2) After 174.74 Nvidia driver was installed, when you shut down PC the display would go from Desktop to a Vista Screen that showed PLEASE WAIT, then flip back to the desktop, then shutdown.  Even the Dell tech was puzzled by this (Normal shutdown is from desktop to Vista Screen SHUTTING DOWN).  Dell tech tried to correct this abnormal shutdown by, Rolling Back driver, Using an earlier restore Point, installing a different Driver version....nothing would correct the Abnormal shutshut except when we uninstalled the NVidia Driver and let Windows install its driver, then the PC Shutdown Properly.  I had to use the Dell factory restore to correct the problem.

3) The problem with the Personalized setting continues, I contacted NVidia tech.  They opinioned Dell's Install was bad and guided me thru updating to 174.74.  After the Install....yep, abnormal shutdown started again.  NVidia had no explanation or way to fix, another restore was required.

4) Currently running Factory "Dell restore" Nvidia driver 167.37.  Noticed AutoPlay was not working.  When I would insert a disc, the drive would read the DVD but autoPlay would NOT open.  Worked with a Dell tech.  Basically after trying many different corrective steps they felt a Startup file was the cause.  Went into Msconfig and unchecked all Startup programs.  ReBooted PC, AutoPlay ran.  Began adding back in a few Startup Programs at a time, rebooted after enabling\checking programs.  Got down to a few left unchecked, I was directed to check all as well as Normal Stratup.  Rebooted, Auto Play ran fine.  It was thought disabling and then re-enabling startup program corrected the AutoPlay.  Next day when I started PC AutoPlay again would not run.  I unchecked all Sartup Programs, rebooted, AutoPlay Ran.  I added fewer Startup programs back.....again auto Play continued to run fine even after ALL Stratup programs were finally all checked.  I am thinking it is NOT a particular Startup program that prevents AutoPlay from running, it has something to do with the order in which the Stattup programs load.  I noticed that the order of the Startup Programs (looking from top to bottom)from yesterday to today is different. 

So in summary,

1) Nvidia Personalized settings in Nvidia Control center will not always load 

2) I have been unable to update my NVidia driver because when I do I get the Abnormal Shutdown as described above.

3) AutoPlay will not always run and to get it to run I must disable all Startup Programs, then I can add them back in it Runs.  Sure I could just run Selective Stratup and basically uncheck all the Stratup programs, but my feeling is, I am working with a Clean DELL Image on my hard drive, I have not added any software nor made changes....Dell's Image should be conflict free.

Anyone else with an XPS420 running Vista 32Bit and the Nvidia 8800 GT 512MB Graphic card experiencing any of these problems? I would sure like to hear from you