Precision 7560 & Precision 7760 owner's thread

[Aaron44126]

Alright, so somehow my palmrest got damaged.  Some of the carbon fiber finish has been "chipped off" revealing just plain black plastic underneath.  It's not a huge area, just a little "chip" along the front, but it's definitely noticeable.  (I just noticed it this morning.  I can't think of anything happening to the laptop that would have caused this, so either it "just happened" that some of the carbon fiber finish came off, or maybe my kids did something while I wasn't looking .....?)

 

Anyway, I'm sure that with ProSupport Plus I could get Dell to ship me a replacement heatsink.  What would it take to install that?

1. Follow the procedure in before working inside your computer.
2. Remove the SD card.
3. Remove the secondary M.2 SSD.
4. Remove the base cover.
5. Remove the battery.
6. Remove the SIM card.
7. Remove the secondary memory.
8. Remove the WLAN card.
9. Remove the WWAN card.
10. Remove the primary M.2 SSD.
11. Remove the keyboard lattice.
12. Remove the keyboard.
13. Remove the power button board or power button board assembly with fingerprint reader.
14. Remove the smart-card reader.
15. Remove the touchpad buttons.
16. Remove the power button or power button assembly with fingerprint reader.
17. Remove the SD card reader.
18. Remove the GPU power cable.
19. Remove the GPU card.
20. Remove the primary memory.
21. Remove the heat-sink assembly.
22. Remove the inner frame.
23. Remove the system board.
24. Remove the power-adapter port.
25. Remove the speakers.
26. Remove the middlecap.
27. Remove the display assembly.

Holy cow, there's like nothing left after removing all of those parts!  Is the palmrest now like the most central part of the laptop?  The manual seems to indicate that after you remove all of the parts listed, there are no more steps to do because all you have left is the palmrest.  I could pop the palmrest off my my M6700 just by taking the keyboard out and removing a bunch of screws, it was designed to be replaceable on its own.

 

(Just another thing nudging me to switch over to Framework...)

[Ionising_Radiation]

3 hours ago, Aaron44126 said:

Holy cow, there's like nothing left after removing all of those parts!

Sort of opposite to the 7530 and 7540; there, the silver and black frame around the laptop was the 'cage' that everything was attached to, so if you wanted to change the palmrest, it was only about a third of the way into disassembly. In the 7550 and 7560, the palmrest itself is the frame upon which everything is attached to. 

 

Not sure how it is in the 7670 and 7680. 

My laptop has already been thoroughly stripped down and reassembled two times by technicians; both requiring motherboard replacements. I have run out of patience to tinker, so even my RTX 3080 was installed by the technician the second time the motherboard was replaced. 

[Aaron44126]

57 minutes ago, Ionising_Radiation said:

Not sure how it is in the 7670 and 7680.

 

I seems to be the same on the Precision 7X70 and 7X80 systems.  But those, you can't even remove the keyboard easily — they eliminated the separate keyboard trim/lattice plastic piece that is easily removed in older systems to allow access to the keyboard.  I looked at directions to replace the keyboard in the Precision 7770 and it similarly requires taking everything out of the system from the bottom to get at the keyboard from beneath.  If you could pop off the palmrest then that would not be necessary.

[Rinconmike]

I decided to upgrade my 7760 from Win 10 Pro to Win 11. It has been on "Status: Installing 91%" for around 2 hours now. Anyone know if this is this typical? It has not done a reboot yet since starting the download and install.

I recently updated a Surface Pro 7 and it did not get stuck like this.  That finished the update in around an hour from start of download.

[Aaron44126]

I've never seen Windows setup get stuck like this.  Is this in Windows Update in Settings, before the upgrade even really starts?

 

You can force the update to kick off in a couple of different ways.

Check the link here: https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11

• Run the Windows 11 installation assistant.
• ...or, use the "create installation media tool" to build a Windows 11 USB drive (you'll need an 8GB+ flash drive that you don't mind erasing), and then run setup.exe off of the drive.

[Rinconmike]

yes. Under windows update.  It has not asked to restart yet.  First it was downloading and then changed to installing.  Just wondering how long I should wait.

 

Edit: Wondering if I should try an restart.

 

Edit 2:

 

I decided to click on pause updates. Once paused, I restarted.   I then resumed and in windows update it asked if I want to upgrade to Win 11 or stay on Win 10. I chose to stay on win 10. I restarted the system and went back into windows update and restarted the updated. 

I do have malwarebytes installed and will closed it this time. 
I ran an SFC /scannow an it found no issues.

this is the photo when it was stuck at 91% first time

[Rinconmike]

So I ran win 11 upgrade again from windows update. It was ok 20 minutes to get to 91% and another 2 hours to get finish and ask to restart the computer. 

 

After hitting restart it said updating and around 4 minutes later restarted. At around 30% and 12 minutes in it restarted again.  It has now been 45 minutes since the last restart and has been on 65% for most of it. Total time is around an hour since the first restart form window update. Hopefully it will finish. 

 

EDIT:

Well if finally finished. Took a total of 2 hours from when I hist restart in windows update.

 

After, I ran Command Update and it noted to update the Nvidia Drivers to the same version already installed. I updated it figure no harm.

 

[Rinconmike]

On 2/17/2023 at 2:37 PM, heikkuri said:

Hi,

 

Thanks @anon272

 

Finally I think I understand the connection between NVIDIA Platform Controllers and Framework, Dynamic Boost 2.0 and Intel Turbo Boost Maximum Technology 3.0.

 

Check your BIOS performance settings. Intel Turbo Boost Maximum Technology 3.0 must be OFF.

I believe some previous BIOS version like 1.15.2 activated this setting.

I have disabled the value and now NVIDIA Platform Controllers and Framework status is OK in Device Manager.

I did remove the extra failed NVIDIA Platform Controllers and Framework from device manager after PC restart.

Dynamic Boost 2.0 is now back to value Yes if you open System Information link from in NVIDIA Control Panel.

 

I have not touched before Intel Turbo Boost Maximum Technology 3.0 BIOS setting in my 7X60 devices.

 

I have not tested, which configuration will give the best performance with our CAD / FEM  applications.

 

I have a bit different results with Dell Precision 7X70 models even the BIOS Turbo 3.0 setting description is identical in both model families.

 

 

After upgrading my 7760 to Win 11, I now have the exclamation point next to the Nvidia Platform Controller and Framework.

 

Does turning off Intel Turbo Boost Maximum Technology 3.0 impact performance?

 

Edit:

I went into the bios and turned it off.  After exiting bios and booting into windows I had the Blue Crash Screen.  I just went back into bios and turned it back on and booted to windows.  not sure if I left it off and tried to boot to windows if I would have gotten the Blue screen or not.  Did not want to mess with it further.

 

I am on bios 1.19.0  I did not update to 1.20 yet.

 

[Aaron44126]

BIOS update 1.21.1.

https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=86R0Y

 

- This release contains security updates as disclosed in the Dell Security Advisories DSA-2023-091, DSA-2023-095, and DSA-2023-099. For more information, see Dell Security Advisories and Notices.
- Firmware updates to address security vulnerabilities including (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures - CVE) such as CVE-2022-30339.
- Fixed the issue where the system cannot boot.

[Aaron44126]

So I got another hard lock (after almost a month since the last one) so I'm poking around with some different things.

• First, I reset the NVRAM and put all of the BIOS settings back.
• I decided to try running with graphics switching disabled (NVIDIA GPU driving everything), so I made that change in the BIOS.
• As soon as I booted up, I immediately got a bluescreen from nvpcf.sys.

Anyone else seen this?  It looks like its a thing.  nvpcf.sys is the "NVIDIA platform controllers and framework" driver, and I know some users have had issues with it just showing an error in Device Manager.

 

Following advice in the linked thread, I installed an older version of the NVIDIA driver (512.18), after running DDU, and it seems to be working (for now).  I was previously using the current driver from Dell, 517.89.

[Rinconmike]

16 minutes ago, Aaron44126 said:

So I got another hard lock (after almost a month since the last one) so I'm poking around with some different things.

• First, I reset the NVRAM and put all of the BIOS settings back.
• I decided to try running with graphics switching disabled (NVIDIA GPU driving everything), so I made that change in the BIOS.
• As soon as I booted up, I immediately got a bluescreen from nvpcf.sys.

Anyone else seen this?  It looks like its a thing.  nvpcf.sys is the "NVIDIA platform controllers and framework" driver, and I know some users have had issues with it just showing an error in Device Manager.

 

Following advice in the linked thread, I installed an older version of the NVIDIA driver (512.18), after running DDU, and it seems to be working (for now).

I am now on Win 11 and in the device manager have the exclamation mark next to "NVIDIA Platform Controllers and Framework."

 

I tried disabling the Intel Turbo Boost Maximum Technology 3.0 and after exiting bios and booting I got a Blue Screen.  I want back into bios and turned back and booted fine.  Using BluescreenView it notes the exception was caused by nvpcf.sys.  I did not try messing with it further.

 

Not sure if it is related to your issue.

 

My Nvidia Driver is the Dell 517.89.

 

Edit: corrected I am now on Win 11

 

 

[Aaron44126]

8 minutes ago, Rinconmike said:

I tried disabling the Intel Turbo Boost Maximum Technology 3.0 and after exiting bios and booting I got a Blue Screen.  I want back into bios and turned back and booted fine.  Using BluescreenView it notes the exception was caused by nvpcf.sys.  I did not try messing with it further.

 

Hmm.  I do not have Intel Turbo Boost Maximum Technology 3.0 turned on.  (It is not turned on by default, and when I tested it on my Precision 7770, I found that having that enabled decreased peak dGPU performance by quite a bit.)

[Rinconmike]

3 minutes ago, Aaron44126 said:

 

Hmm.  I do not have Intel Turbo Boost Maximum Technology 3.0 turned on.  (It is not turned on by default, and when I tested it on my Precision 7770, I found that having that enabled decreased peak dGPU performance by quite a bit.)

I never turned mine on.  I read a previous bios update might have turned it on.  I did not try leaving it on and booting again after that first blue screen.  I am still on 1.19.0.  I did not update yet to 1.20. or the new 1.21.1.  

 

Also, since you reset it, I wonder if that in the bios reset turned it off.

[Rinconmike]

I tried enabling the Turbo Boost Maximum Technology 3.0 turned again.  This time it booted into windows and I had two of the Framework entries with one with the exclamation point.  I shut down the system, hooked to the dock, booted and it would not boot.  I had the lid closed so did not see any errors at first.  I disconnected from the dock and got to a windows diagnostics or something like that and it asked me to restart or advance.  I went into bios and enabled again the turbo boost.  I forget if I did that before I got to that diagnostic screen or after.   I think before.

 

System booted into windows.

 

I see no new dumps in Blue Screen View.

 

I ran sfc /scannow now and no issues.

 

In windows system maintenance it shows two entries that Windows Failed to Start because of missing system files.

 

 

[Aaron44126]

I just did the 1.21.1 BIOS update.  Good so far.  I rolled back from 1.20 to 1.19 after the first hard lock (it happened right after I did the update to 1.20 so I found that to be suspicious timing), but I have since experienced two hard locks on 1.19.

 

Regarding Turbo Boost Maximum Technology 3.0, it is interesting that it was turned on for you (by default or by some update).  I'm reasonably sure that it has always been off for me, from when I first got the system until now.  I checked again just now after doing the BIOS update to make sure that it was off.  In the help text for that option it says that turning it on disables NVIDIA Dynamic Boost 2.0, which is not something that I would want to happen.

[Rinconmike]

I just updated to 1.21.1.  Took around 8 minutes.  I will try turning off the Turbo Boost Maximum Technology 3.0 again later.  

[Rinconmike]

I tried turning off Turbo Boost Maximum Technology 3.0.

 

1. Went into Bios and turned off Turbo Boost Maximum Technology 3.0
2. System Restarted after Exit from Bios.
3. Blue Screen
4. Restarted automatically and then Auto Repair Message came up, showed Diagnosing, and then I selected Restart instead of Advance Options.
5. Blue Screen.
6. Restarted automatically and then Auto Repair Message came up, showed Diagnosing, and then I selected Restart instead of Advance Options.
7. On this restart I decide to turn back on the Turbo Boost Maximum Technology 3.0
8. Exited Bios and restarted.
9. Auto Repair Message came up.  I clicked Restart.
10. Back in Windows.

No idea why I cannot disable this.

 

[Aaron44126]

This may be related to mine.  I wonder if, when I was on the newer NVIDIA driver and getting the BSOD earlier, and if I had gone and enabled "turbo boost 3.0" if it would have bypassed the BSOD.

 

Anyway.  It's working now and I don't want to mess with it any further either 😛

[Rinconmike]

2 minutes ago, Aaron44126 said:

This may be related to mine.  I wonder if, when I was on the newer NVIDIA driver and getting the BSOD earlier, and if I had gone and enabled "turbo boost 3.0" if it would have bypassed the BSOD.

 

Anyway.  It's working now and I don't want to mess with it any further either 😛

So I wonder if I use the current Nvidia Drivers or downgrade the previous dell Nvidia driver if I can disable the Turbo Boost 3 and then can boot with no BSOD.  I am done messing with it for now.  I googled and did not find anything like this.

 

[Rinconmike]

I installed the latest driver from Nvidia site. Rebooted. Rebooted again and went into bios and disabled the turbo boost 3. Rebooted and in windows. Device manager has two of the framework items one with an exclamation.  Rebooted again to see if I get a clean boot. Got a blue screen. On reboot went into bios turned back on turbo boost 3. And boots fine in windows. Not sure why I cannot turn it off without a blue screen. 

[Aaron44126]

If you want to try to match my configuration and maybe shed some light on this, try to install driver 512.18.  During NVIDIA driver setup, pick "custom" and check the box for "clean install".  Once it is all settled, try booting with turbo boost 3 disabled.

 

(Everyone in this thread says that this is an issue only with newer NVIDIA drivers, which is why I immediately went to this particular version that someone stated as working — but I didn't see that anyone had made a connection with "Intel Turbo Boost 3.0".)

[win32asmguy]

5 minutes ago, Rinconmike said:

I installed the latest driver from Nvidia site. Rebooted. Rebooted again and went into bios and disabled the turbo boost 3. Rebooted and in windows. Device manager has two of the framework items one with an exclamation.  Rebooted again to see if I get a clean boot. Got a blue screen. On reboot went into bios turned back on turbo boost 3. And boots fine in windows. Not sure why I cannot turn it off without a blue screen. 

 

Maybe also try these drivers for the 7680/7780 which worked fine on older Precisions (7560 w/3080, 7670 w/3080ti).

 

https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=w0dp7&oscode=wt64a&productcode=precision-17-7780-laptop

[Rinconmike]

thanks.  As FYI, I am on 528.89 from Nvidia site.  I did a clean install when installing it. 

 

Maybe I will try the older drivers later.

 

I also wonder if that first time I booted, it booted fine.  If I deleted the NVIDIA Platform Controllers and Framework
entry with the exclamation point in Device Manager would that solve it?

[Aaron44126]

14 minutes ago, Rinconmike said:

I also wonder if that first time I booted, it booted fine.  If I deleted the NVIDIA Platform Controllers and Framework

entry with the exclamation point in Device Manager would that solve it?

 

I wonder if that might actually be what keeps it from crashing ...?

nvcpf.sys is actually the driver for that device, so if that device is not in a functional state, the driver is not running and it shouldn't be possible for nvcpf.sys to produce a BSOD.  In fact you might be able to solve this just by disabling all instances of that device in Device Manager.

 

Clearly there's something "not quite right" with this driver (both the BSOD/crashes and the fact that Device Manager often reports it as not working).

[Rinconmike]

1 minute ago, Aaron44126 said:

 

I wonder if that might actually be what keeps it from crashing ...?

nvcpf.sys is actually the driver for that device, so if the driver is not in a functional state, it shouldn't be possible for nvcpf.sys to produce a BSOD.  In fact you might be able to solve this just by disabling all instances of that device in Device Manager.

Do I just delete (uninstall) it in device manager?