Inspiron 6400 Virtualization in Bios?

Question

I recently purchased an Inspiron 6400 with an Intel Dual Core 2 chipset. I was using Virtual PC 2007 to setup a test server config when I noticed I could not enable virtulization. I double checked the BIOS and did not see any entry that would allow me to enable virtualization. Did I miss the setting in BIOS or is there a BIOS upgrade I need to install to enable this feature? Turning on hardware virtualization will increase my Virtual PC image 15% or more.

brian2k1 · Answer

I'm very disappointed. I own a small company and all of our laptops are most of the desktops are dell systems. In October 2006 we purchased an Inspiron 9400 system Intel Dual 2 Core and more recently my machine is an Inspiron 6400 with Intel Dual 2 Core chips. I installed Virtual PC 2007 on my 6400 this week and found the hardware virtualization not available. Further the Bios setting for Virtualization does not exist. So today, after waiting for someone from dell to respond to this forum post, I called support as was given the run around several times. First the tech support person (TSP) told me it was under POST Behavior, so I looked not there. She then had me download and update the bios, oddly it already had the lastest bios installed but she said to install it anyway. I did. Surprise surprise it is still not there. So then she put me on hold and came back with some super bull hockey about it is only available on Dell SPS systems, which I don't even know what SPS is... So I had my business partner let me boot his 9400 to BIOS and guess what IS in his POST Behavior, yes Virtualization. So I asked her about that and she put me on hold again. She came back a few moments later, apparently talking to the same uninformed person as before, and now says it is not available on the Inspiron 6400 machines. Complete bull hockey. I asked her to send it to the 'BIOS' team whoever that is and she finally after 50minutes on the phone today gave me a case number. I would appreciate some true insight from a Dell Forum Moderator on this Inspiron 6400 Bios issue and when it will be updated. Virtualization is a hardware feature of the intel core 2 chip and has nothing to do with the operating system, which the TSP attempted several times to explain to me it was a Vista issue. I use this machine to develop code and use Virtual PC 2007 to test installs for various operating systems. Having Virtualization Hardware support increases performance on these images by up to 30 percent. I purchased the Core 2 version of the 6400 specifically for this purpose and now I'm stuck with a limited system. Please update the BIOS and enable Virtualization. Again I would appreciate some insight from an informed Dell tech on this issue.

brian2k1 · Answer

yea I thought about that so I have the BIOS details for Processor Info here:

Type: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
ID: 06F2
Speed: 1.73 Ghz
Cache: 2048 KB
Dual Core Present: yes

This makes me even madder about how Dell Hardware support handled me on the phone today. First they said it was not supported on Insprions, then only my 6400 series. I knew both were lies and pressed them until a case number was created.

I'm seriously considering sending it back. I don't like being lied to or manipulated. I wonder how they would treat my mom on the phone...

jesster · Answer

I purchased my Inspiron 6400 at the end of Sept. 2006 and I have a Virtualization option showing under POST Behavior. I also have been running with the Virtual PC 2007 hardware virtualization enabled. The only thing I can think of is that maybe you purchased an Inspiron 6400 with the old Core Duo chip which does not support Virtualization or 64-bit. Are you sure your CPU is Core 2 Duo and not Core Duo? I believe I remember that at the time I purchased my machine it was possible to buy either Core Duo or Core 2 Duo so I think this must be what happened.

Message Edited by jesster on 05-18-2007 08:08 PM

jesster · Answer

That is strange then.  However, that is what the order details say.  Now you should go into the BIOS or Device Manager in Windows and see what it says you actually have.  Maybe they accidently gave you a Core Duo instead of a Core 2 Duo.   My system is configured as follows:   Core 2 Duo 1.83 GHz 2 MB Cache, 2 GB 667 DDR2 RAM, X1400 ATI Video

brian2k1 · Answer

thanks for the information, I knew I wasn't crazy.

Here is the exact text from the order details, I printed it to a pdf file:

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T5300 (2MB Inspiron 6400 Cache/1.73GHz/533MHz FSB)

Catalog #4 BNCWEH3

If you have any other insight on this I would greatly appreciate it.

kspider · Answer

I have the exact same problem with my Inspiron 6400 and have had the same experience with customer support. When they say things that make no sense so confidently, its very aggravating! I really hope someone can tell us something definitive about this.

brian2k2 · Answer

They already have our money, they could now careless.

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Inspiron 6400 Virtualization in Bios?

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