The business-oriented Latitude and Precision models have VT options - the consumer-oriented Inspiron, Studio and Vostro generally don't.

Although I could understand that to some extent - even the Precision verbage on the site does not mention VT options anywhere.  But regardless, what you're saying is that in order to have a 17" laptop with dual hard drives - I'd have to spend close to $2000 just so I'd have the option of turning on the features that are already present on my Studio 17 with the exception of a bit-switch in BIOS?!?

I could see that happening - I could also see me going with a different company on my next major infrastructure purchase.  I'll definitely not be replacing this or my other two Dell laptops with new ones.

I guess this is one of those 'buyer beware' situations that I should have heeded - oh well, I'll just use the studio as a media player I guess and go buy a Lenovo or Toshiba (even their ultra cheap Laptops have VT switches in BIOS). :(

I have a Dell Studio 1737 and VT is available to enable and disable in the BIOS. Just go to the Advance Tab and Intel Vitualization Technology is there. My system has BIOS version A05 tho, and latest version is A06. Not sure if they dropped it from A05 to A06. Anyone care to add if they have BIOS A06?

I have a Studio 1737 and I have Bios version 04 and I can enable it in the Bios.

What does Intel Vitualization Technology do?

Rick

The following links should clarify your doubts:

http://developer.intel.com/technology/virtualization/technology.htm?iid=tech_vt+tech

http://www.intel.com/technology/product/demos/vt/demo.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X86_virtualization

In short Intel VT, introduces commands at processor level to improve the performance of applications that use virtualization, like VMware, Vitual PC, etc...  I know this is a very very very over simplified statement but if you want to learn more the links offered above should be a good start.

Hope this Helps!!!  :emotion-2:

I'm running A06 - however, I have since discovered my problem - apparently the VT extensions are not included on the T6400 C2D CPU - so my error was not in the laptop selection after all... it was in the CPU that was included.  I thought I got a newer series CPU than that with the laptop when I ordered it... so now I guess I'm off to research my initial order and probably have to hand off this laptop to my wife. :)

Thanks for the input though.. it's nice to know that I can just order another one with a faster CPU or possibly swap this one out if I feel like voiding my warranty :)

I had bios version 04 and although I could enable virtualization in the bios, it had no effect. Using VMware under windows 7 still said there was no virtualization. After an upgrade of the BIOS the software reported that virtualization was working properly. Unfortunately since then Dell "upgraded" my BIOS again, unsuccessfully, and I now can't power the laptop up at all to check what the workign BIOS version was.

WOW the language controls on this site are ridiculous... my post was deleted for saying that I thought what happened to you was sad - but I used the description for what a baby does with a bottle - and it got deleted and an email sent about the language I used!  :emotion-16:

Here is my post with the "offensive" word removed:

That [is too bad] about it not being able to power on at all! As a practice I never allow anyone to update anything without my sayso - so I didn't have to worry about that aspect.

As a followup I can indeed state that as long as your CPU supports VT extensions the selection is there (I swapped CPUs with an 8400 and it now works fine). I did run into the same issue that you stated... however, when I rebooted and verified that I had indeed turned it on - I tried one more time to install Windows Virtual PC beta - and that time it worked! I didn't change anything on the system at all... the only thing I can figure out is that somehow Win7 didn't "realize" that it was turned on now. Once I did... everything went as planned.

At a guess it has to do with the fact that the CPU originally did not support VT and therefore the first boot into Win7 with the new CPU had not yet installed it in software. Once a second boot occurred the OS finally was on the same page as the hardware and could see the fact that the extentions were in fact present. From that point on it's been smooth sailing for me... sorry that has not been your experience.

Well, I'm having a simular issue.  I love my new Studio Laptop 1737.  I installed Windows 7 Ultimate and found VT in there.  Cool, I can run Virtual PC again.  Well, I didn't have the processor to handle it so said the CPU ID utility from Intel.  So, I ordered a new CPU at the tune of $500.  OUCH.  I was also having a problem loading the A07 Bios update.  I kept getting the error that upgrade utility was causing a problem and will close.  Talked with Dell Tech support and they can't seem to figure out why.  They thought that it might be W7, so I reinstalled the original system and still can't get the bios to update.  I've seen in the post that the VT enable/disable in under the Advance Tab.  Well, not on my system.  Even the dell tech was surprised at that.  They tell me that my system is Hyper-V ready, but I can't find out why it's not anywhere to be found and why can't I update the bios.  It's late and I'm not sure this is making any sense, but if there are any ideas I would sure be interested.

Thank you for your help!

Chuck

Chuck,

The bios that came with my computer is version A04 and I can enable it on mine. I think version A05 can but not sure about A06.

Rick