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[Guide] Dell Inspiron 6400/9400/1520/1720/E1405/E1505/E1705 Intel Core Duo


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Just a quick question.. and I'm NOT promising anything... but are there enough people using the 1505/6400/1705/9400, that if I were say put together a special install disk, it would be of use to you guys complete with different install options for different hardware?

 

Or even just a special post install package?

 

Right now my time is being taken up in iDVD doing some work for the girl but when that's done I'm gonna need a new project since I can't work on EFI at the moment anyway.

I would be keen on the idea!! Especially if there was an install option for the dual core "temporary" solutions correct kernel etc (if that's possible).

Keep up the good work in this thread!

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Just a quick question.. and I'm NOT promising anything... but are there enough people using the 1505/6400/1705/9400, that if I were say put together a special install disk, it would be of use to you guys complete with different install options for different hardware?

 

Or even just a special post install package?

 

Right now my time is being taken up in iDVD doing some work for the girl but when that's done I'm gonna need a new project since I can't work on EFI at the moment anyway.

That would be charming. I would be very happy if you did. I would gladly offer any help I can.I don't want to be running around installing AppleHDA one day, then the old networking kext the next. It would be even better if it had an option to get new updates from the net, so we could install postburn patches.

LOL on the iDVD work. Many a day has been spent helping a damsel in distress to edit her movie. ^_^

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Hello. How about the new upgrade 10.4.10? Can I upgrade my mac osx 10.4.9 on my Inspiron 9400 to this new version? Is better? Is worst?

 

I tried to upgrade to 10.4.10 (Inspiron 1505/6400) but I am always stuck with a black screen shortly before the Login-Window usually comes up. The screen shortly flashes in blue, but then goes dark again. Only replacing my extensions-backup and old mach_kernel solved the problem.

 

Did anyone with a similar notebook (GMA950) ever manage to upgrade to 10.4.10? What could be the problem? Incompatible loginwindow.app or GMA950-kext?

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I tried to upgrade to 10.4.10 (Inspiron 1505/6400) but I am always stuck with a black screen shortly before the Login-Window usually comes up. The screen shortly flashes in blue, but then goes dark again. Only replacing my extensions-backup and old mach_kernel solved the problem.

 

Did anyone with a similar notebook (GMA950) ever manage to upgrade to 10.4.10? What could be the problem? Incompatible loginwindow.app or GMA950-kext?

 

Ok, just saw in another thread that the problem with 10.4.10 on GMA950-Dell's might be related to AppleIntelIntegratedFramebuffer.kext.

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Ok, just saw in another thread that the problem with 10.4.10 on GMA950-Dell's might be related to AppleIntelIntegratedFramebuffer.kext.

 

Well, I *was* the problem (I just successfully tried and am finally running 10.4.10). So when you upgrade to 10.4.10 on a GMA950-Dell, make sure that you replace AppleIntelIntegratedFramebuffer.kext with an older 10.4.8 or 10.4.9 version.

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Well, I *was* the problem (I just successfully tried and am finally running 10.4.10). So when you upgrade to 10.4.10 on a GMA950-Dell, make sure that you replace AppleIntelIntegratedFramebuffer.kext with an older 10.4.8 or 10.4.9 version.

This has always been the case when upgrading *any* laptop with a GMA 950.

My Dell Inspiron 6400 works fine with 10.4.10 /w the 8.10.1 Kernel.

 

Sound, Wireless etc. all working fine. As always only problem is both cores not working properly :(

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macdotnub- some people have reported problems with cd drives not mounting, etc. all of this worked fine with your 10.4.10 install? also, have you ever been able to use the sleep trick on yours to get both cores working? i can't seem to sleep and wake up appropriately with mine.

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also, have you ever been able to use the sleep trick on yours to get both cores working? i can't seem to sleep and wake up appropriately with mine.

 

AFAIK, the "sleep trick" to get both cores working has never worked on Dells equipped with a GMA950. The display never wakes up. On Dells with other Gfx-solutions, this seems to be less of a problem.

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Just a quick question.. and I'm NOT promising anything... but are there enough people using the 1505/6400/1705/9400, that if I were say put together a special install disk, it would be of use to you guys complete with different install options for different hardware?

 

Or even just a special post install package?

 

Right now my time is being taken up in iDVD doing some work for the girl but when that's done I'm gonna need a new project since I can't work on EFI at the moment anyway.

If one was available, I would totally use it ;)

I was thinking of doing the same thing myself, but never seem to have the time...

 

macdotnub- some people have reported problems with cd drives not mounting, etc. all of this worked fine with your 10.4.10 install? also, have you ever been able to use the sleep trick on yours to get both cores working? i can't seem to sleep and wake up appropriately with mine.

CDs/DVDs/Disk Images work fine.

 

As for the sleep trick that's never worked for me unfortunately because GMA950 = no sleep, as quasar_x correctly stated.

 

Though interestingly, I was able to use Mac with both cores enabled (ie. without cpus=1), but it was rather jittery! - However it didn't crash as it with all previous versions...

 

~mac.nub

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Hey Fellas,

 

I was hoping someone could point me in the right direction. I'm still having 2 problems that I cant seem to work out. Both problems are listed in the original post but the recommended fix isn't working for me. Hopefully someone can help me out here.

 

My Software/Hardware

- E1705

- STAC 9200 Audio

- Geforce Go 7900 GS Video

- 2 GB Memory

- 200 GB Toshiba SATA 7200RPM HD

 

- JAS 10.4.8 w/ 10.4.9 Update

 

Problems

1. Sound stuttering/cracking/poping when I first start to play a file. But only at the beginning of the track or every time I pause and start again. The original post said to upgrade the kernel, I'm running OSX 10.4.9 with the 8.9.1 kernel. (I didnt change the one that installed with the JaS image) Is there a certain kernel I should be using?

 

2. 32-bit color banding. I read the first post and am using the recommended drivers. DiaboliK's Natit, np_'s NvidiaEFI & np_'s LaptopDisplay 1.0.0d1 didnt help. Any advice?

 

I should also note that on startup after the grey apple load screen I get blue stripes on screen with what looks like a white liquid expanding from the bottom of the screen for a couple of seconds before the display blacks out, snaps to white and than loads to the desktop. I get full resolution once in OSX... but I seem to have a driver issue.

 

So like I said, if someone could just point me in the right direction it would really help.

 

 

Thanks

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Hello, I am fairly new to the scene here and have obtained the uphuck 1.3 osx 10.4.9 install dvd... I am trying to install the os and I dont seem to be getting the correct combination of kernel and or drivers... Since after install I get a blank blue screen for the desktop and nothing loads from there... I have an Inspiron 6400... Please advise on the correct parameters to select in the install... Many thanks in advance!

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Thanks dc2000 it worked!! Ok so now how do I change my kernel for 10.4.10 update... I have the 10.4.10 Mac OS X delta update for hackintosh package and I have copied the kext to the extensions folder... and want to install the mach_kernel update file but dont know how to do it... Thanks again.

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Just out of curiousity has anyone heard anything new with Prasys' work that should help with the second core issue.

 

Unfortunately no... I hope he hasn't given up on it. :|

 

Meanwhile it's maybe best to keep on buggering Dell for the lack of AHCI/NCQ-support since this has a high potential of fixing the dual core issue of the Dells (as I understand).

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Seeing as I wont be selling my Inspiron anymore, I'm up for making quite a big issue out of this AHCI problem.

We need to really get on Dell's back to implement this feature.

 

I'm going to be phoning them over a period of weeks to make sure they are aware of this demand. I have already e-mailed them today about it. Please, if anyone wants to join in, it would be extremely helpful, as we need to make it clear to them that something so 'standardized' with practically every other motherboard needs to be implemented ASAP.

 

They've had months and months to sort their BIOS out, yet there are still many issues present, such as the Dell Wireless 1500 Vista issue with audio popping and ExpressCard incompatibility with a wide range of external hubs such as USB and Firewire add-ons.

 

If they expect Linux users to take an interest with their laptops, they will need to add AHCI support, otherwise there is going to a lot of pee'd off users :P

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Excellent, the new A09 BIOS fixes the problem with Firewire ExpressCards! Now my Belkin TI card works perfectly :)

 

I got a reply back from Dell regarding AHCI btw:

 

Dear Mr. Osmolski,

 

Thank you for contacting Dell Hardware E-Support.

 

Mr. Osmolski, I will be assisting you with your Dell Inspiron 9400. As per the description of the email, I understand that you are facing an issue with enabling the AHCI/RAID on your laptop.

 

I would like to tell you that enabling of RAID/AHCI is available on the Intel Chipset whose BIOS are INTEL BIOS and are sold by the INTEL themselves, but on Dell Laptop the BIOS of the laptop is created by the DELL and AHCI/RAID is not enabled. This issue is already is already escalated to our technical department.

 

Please accept my apologies for the difficulties you encountered when attempting to resolve your technical problems. I assure you that your situation is not indicative of the quality service Dell is capable of providing.

 

Mr. Osmolski, your case number for this interaction is CENSORED. Please keep this number for your records; it will help us keep track of this issue so we can better assist you if you have any further questions or concerns about your issue.

 

Thank you again for contacting Dell Hardware E-Support.

 

Respectfully,

 

Rohit

 

9:00 AM to 6:30 PM

Technical Team

Dell Hardware E-Support

 

UK & IRE Support

http://support.euro.dell.com

 

When responding to me, please use the REPLY function of your e-mail program. This will keep the SAME SUBJECT LINE of our e-mail. Otherwise your message may be delayed or lost.

 

Introducing Dell Support 3. This Dell tool is a complimentary, automated upgrade and notification system for your Inspiron or Dimension computer. It offers you on line links to software updat

 

Hyperlink has been Converted to Plain Text

 

software updates, and information, which will help protect and maintain your specific computer.

 

For more information click here

 

_http://support.euro.dell.com/support/topics/topic.aspx/emea/shared/support/root/dellsupport30?c=uk&l=en&s=gen

 

Hyperlink has been Converted to Plain Text

 

Introducing Dell Network Assistant. This complementary Dell tool helps simplify the set-up, monitoring, troubleshooting, and repair of your network. For more information click here

 

_http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/topics/topic.aspx/emea/topics/services/en/network_assistance?c=uk&l=en&s=gen

 

Original Message Follows:

------------------------

* * * PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE THE SUBJECT WHEN REPLYING * * *

*** This is a feedback Message from the Dell Online Communications Centre. ***

******************************************************************

 

Customer Information:

***********************************************

Name: Pawel Osmolski

Email: CENSORED

Daytime Telephone Number: CENSORED

Service Tag: CENSORED

eTrack: CENSORED

***********************************************

System Label: Inspiron 9400/E1705

 

Problem: Update - Software/BIOS

Operating System: Windows XP

Problem Description:

 

Not applicable, read description.

 

The hard-disk in my laptop is NCQ and AHCI compatible with your ICH7-M board that is present in the Inspiron 9400/E1705, but the very latest BIOS (A08) does not have a feature to enable AHCI.

This is a very serious issue for potential customers using your laptop for Linux and Audio/Video Production, as they will need to take advantage of their hard-disk's maximum capabilities, but it would seem you are purposely limiting this.

 

There have been many complaints on your forum and also amongst a few communities I am a member of.

Do you ever plan to add this standardized feature into the BIOS, as many of your competitors already allow this.

 

I would really appreciate if the AHCI issue could be raised to your engineers, as this is a very important feature and SHOULD be addressed.

 

Also, regarding the Dell 1500 Wireless card and Vista Ultimate, have any steps been taken to fix the audio popping issue that has been causing literally hundreds of users serious problems?

 

Please get back to me about this if you can.

 

Regards,

 

Pawel.

 

 

Not possible to troubleshoot this issue as it is a BIOS limitation.

***********************************************

Sent to: UKI_TS_Inspiron@dell.com

Referring URL: CENSORED

Date submitted: 06/07/2007

Date Received(K): 7/6/07 11:51:59 AM

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This issue is already is already escalated to our technical department.

 

Sounds promising, let's hope that it's more than just phrasemongering. Maybe I should write them too since the AHCI/NCQ-issue also applies to the Inspiron 6400/E1505.

 

If we could only directly get in touch with Dell's BIOS coders...

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