what updates do I need for refurbished dell xt?

[sooch90]

Hey, I was wondering if you guys could give me some suggestions, I'm not really sure what I need and I want to make sure I have my laptop all up to date.



Do I need to update vista? Something about sp1? Or is that part of the automatic update?
Do I need to install an ethernet or something?
Do I need to update ntrig or anything else like that?
Do I need to update anything elsebefore getting the multitouch update?
Any other updates I missed?

Gee, sorry about that string of questions. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks!

[sooch90]

Also, random question, how do I write in a program such as Journal so that my palm/fingers don't write on that screen?

[Rob Bushway]

Definitely hit up Windows Update and get SP 1, plus other updates
Definitely update to the latest ATI video card from the ATI site
Get all the latest updates from the Dell Support site: N-Trig and BIOS especially. I'd apply the bios update first.

The palm rejection works fairly well, but what I do is set the digitizer to Auto Mode, so I can manually control when touch is turned on, so as to avoid the vectoring

If you are an iTunes user, then you'll also want to review my iTunes thread for removing the upperfilters from the registry.
http://www.gottabemobile.com/forum/f...s.asp?TID=6004


Edited by: Rob Bushway

[miralles]

Rob: is there a "utility" or similar that notifies you of software/driver updates available for download from the Dell support site?



I just checked the site now, and there is a lot of software/driver there available for download, but I can't quite tell what's already installed on my XT.

I know the HP 2710P has a utility that tells you when you need to update some software or driver.

For example, I only learned about the N-trig update because I read it here, but not because I got notifed by Dell.

Seems like an awfully simple thing to have available...

[Steve S]

<<...is there a "utility" or similar that notifies you of software/driver updates...>>

Fernando: In order to receive notification of updates from Dell, you have to create a user account and establish a subscription. See the post about half way down this page for the procedure:

http://www.gottabemobile.com/forum/f...=5422&amp;PN=2

Note that you need to sign up for notification of driver updates and BIOS updates under separate categories...

<<...I can't quite tell what's already installed on my XT...>>

...This is a problem. If you know your XT's date of maufacture, simply choose relevant updates that have a later effective date. If you don't know the manufacture date, choose updates that have effective dates that are later than the date that you received your XT. Note that most updates for the XT (so far) haven't been too earth-shaking and that if your XT is working OK, then there's no real need to get too worried about whether your drivers are absolutely the latest issue. Also note that your BIOS version is clearly shown at start-up. If it isn't the latest version (A03, I think...) then you can at least assume that your drivers pre-date that update...

UPDATE: I forgot to mention that, if you really want to establish a baseline, you can always go to the Device Manager and find the version number for many of your drivers. Select a component, right-click Properties, and look under the Driver tab.

<<...Seems like an awfully simple thing to have available......>>

...I agree. Dell's customer support is good, but I guess there are still some things that they could do better!Edited by: Steve S

[sooch90]

Thank you so much for your reply! Should I get the LATEST ATR video card, or the latest one that dell has (going to the dell site and checking for drivers)

How do you set the digitizer to Auto Mode? How then do you control when touch is on and off?

Also, if I got this XT fairly recently (as a refurbished though) does this mean that some of the dell updates are already on my computer?

all right thanks again guys!

[Steve S]

<<...Should I get the LATEST ATR video card, or the latest one that dell has...>>

sooch: At the moment, I would suggest the latest AMD / ATI driver, Catalst 8.7, but there's no need to rush. I would advise you to spend some time getting used to your XT first; explore the various features and run some applications. while you're doing that, take the time to read some of the discussion threads here, especially the ones pertaining to the video driver. You will discover that updating the video driver, in particular, takes some patience and some extra steps.

However, the point here is that you don't need to start updating right away. Take the time to do some background reading first.

<<...How do you set the digitizer to Auto Mode...>>

Open the N-trig driver windowfrom the icon in the sytem tray (the area in the lower right corner). Click the radio button for Automatic and close the window.

<<...How then do you control when touch is on and off...>>

The touch gesture is two rapid touches on the screen (like a double-click, but with your finger). Look for a small box-shaped graphic on the screen that will denote that touch is active. As soon as the screen senses the pen, touch will be turned off again...

<<...if I got this XT fairly recently...does this mean that some of the dell updates are already on my computer...>>

...Yes. See the discussion above with forum member miralles...