Pictured above is the new Dell Optiplex 960 in the Desktop form factor my initial reaction isn’t 100% positive. My first thought was it looked like a 1970’s VCR.

Next up we have a front facing shot of the Tower, Desktop and Small Desktop.

For sure this is a bold design move but from these shots the contrast between the black and silver facia just doesn’t work for me. My first thought was “the front grill looks like a cheese grater”.

I would have taken some of design ideas from the Dell XPS 420 and hid the optical drives behind a front facing facia that folds out.

This shot of the Tower from the side is the only one I think makes the Optiplex look good.

The Dell Optiplex range now consists of the 960,760 and 360. It would appear only the 960’s have this new design.

To me this just looks like two design styles that have been smashed together.

The Optiplex is a great general purpose office computer and thankfully that audience typically doesn’t care about aesthetics as the computer is most often chosen for them by corporate I.T.

Official Optiplex 960 Product Link:

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/desktop-optiplex-960?c=uk&cs=ukbsdt1&l=en&s=bsd

I have a Dell Optiplex GX755 that I use for testing operating systems.

This particular machine would not let me re-install Windows XP Pro. The factory installed version had installed fine, but when I came to re-install it failed. Specifically on a blue screen of death STOP 0×0000007b.

So out of curiosity I tried to install Windows Vista SP1 and the same thing happened.

Next I try Windows Server 2008 and that installed perfectly.

So why the problem of with Windows XP / Vista?

I am sure it has something to do with the on-board Intel Matrix Storage Manager acting as a RAID controller.

What worked for me:-

In the Bios go to Drives > SATA Operation

You have 3 Choices

AHCI This is the default but causes the STOP 0×0000007b

ATA (This works) or Legacy (This works)

So I choose either ATA or Legacy and I can install Windows.

I did notice one difference between this Dell Optiplex GX755 and another that was working perfectly in this regard.

In the bios under the SATA identifier in my case SATA-0 in the Drive details section under BIOS it says “This drive is controlled by the AHCI Bios” on the problem one it says “This drive is controlled by the Raid Bios”.

So the correct way to re-install Windows would be to supply the Intel Matrix Storage Manager (OS Pre-Install Driver Only) package. During your Windows Install by Pressing F6 to load these. The prerequisite is your machine has a Floppy Disk drive.

This is a problem as Floppy Disk’s are now not common on new hardware.

This means you have to create a slip streamed install CD with the Matrix drivers installed. This is something outside of the scope of what a normal user should be expected to do.

In my case changing the SATA operation from AHCI doesn’t seem to cause any problems. Windows installed correctly and is working fine.

Microsoft has shipped out Windows Vista Business Install DVD’s with integrated SP1.

This means I can bypass having to install Vista then having to install  SP1 on top.

So now I can build my test rig. I am going create a typical business system and see how many real world issues I encounter.

The test machine consists of a Dell Optiplex GX 755 with:-

Installed I have

Windows Vista Business SP1
Office 2007 Professional (patched to Office 2007 SP1)
Both them have the most recent updates applied.
Cute PDF (for printing PDF’s)
Adobe Acrobat Reader 8.2
Nod32 Business Edition Anti-Virus
Winzip 9.0

I will be joining this to a Windows Small Business Server 2003 network.

Notes

Tech Tip: The install process was smooth. After Vista was installed on the Optiplex GX 755 I only needed to install the Audio Driver, Video Driver and the Chipset (note in my case there were 3 install packages offered on support.dell.com and I needed to install all 3 to get all my hardware identified).

I must say with a clean SP1 install the machine does feel robust.

My daily experience of Windows Vista is on a laptop that was:-

Windows Vista Business >
Upgraded to Vista Ultimate >
Add in 130+ Windows Updates over time 14 months >
Upgrade to Windows Vista SP1

I don’t think it will be much longer before I reformat the laptop and re install Windows Vista Business SP1.

So now the real test begins. The Optiplex machine I have build is exactly how I would deploy in the real world. Lets see how it does.

Bookmark the link below for future Windows Vista SP1 news

Link: View all posts filed under Windows Vista SP1

Dell are running a trial: They are using Dell Technical Support personnel to offer additional products and services to end users.

I take a dim view of this. As a Dell reseller I am under near constant attack from Dell contacting clients directly and altering their perceptions about technology offerings.

At this juncture Dell and I disagree about what product ranges my clients should be using.

Dell direct market my Clients Dell Vostro. I on the other hand recommend Dell Optiplex/Latitude.

So you can see why this latest approach is unwelcome to say the least.

Related Links

Link: http://consumerist.com/343132/is-dells-tech-support-staff-trying-to-sell-you-things-yet

Dell Respond: Tech Support Selling- What’s Going On-

I let my clients run their hardware for as long as they want. Sometimes this is a good idea, sometimes not.

I find that laptops last for a good 3 years, desktops can go even longer.

But one of my clients had a clicky, clicky noise coming from their vintage Dell Optiplex that shipped in 2001.

Now clicky, clicky noises are bad, but then so  is any unusual noise coming from a hard disk and should be taken as a warning of impending failure.

I replaced the user’s PC and took the old hard disk back to try and recover some of the users data.

In this case I wasn’t successful, the damage was too far gone. This was very disappointing as usually I have a good success rate with data recovery.

I basically take the bad hard disk and connect it in as a second drive in a working PC. I then boot Windows XP from the first hard disk and mount the fault faulty drive from inside windows.

So in a parting note: Remember to back up as bad things do happen.

Take an existing a Brand:  Take the Dell Optiplex range of business computers. These are known to be competitively priced and a great choice for a reliable business PC.

They come with 3 years on-site warranty and have a good reputation.

You can find this range of computers in small offices, banks, and even large corporate clients use them.

I have hundreds of them in my customers fleet. About 6 or 7 are old Optiplex GX150’s running Windows 2000. The customers just don’t want to upgrade them as they just keep working.

Other clients plan to use their more modern Optiplexes for a minimum of 5 years before replacing. Something that sounds reasonable to me.

Path to Destruction

Step1) Get the geniuses in Dell Marketing on the case. Task them with finding out how to sell more Dell computers. The marketing geniuses come back with PEOPLE WANT CHEAP.

Step2) Create a new value brand called Vostro Hey people will think because it’s a Dell Business computer it must be good (after all those other Dell business computers have a good name).

Step3) Market the living crap out of anything that moves introducing this amazing new Value range.

Step4) Customer perceptions start to shift because you tell them maybe a business Desktop PC should be a sub 300 pound commodity.

Step5) Sit back and relax as you look at the Value sales numbers. Gee how smart are we. People just lap this up.

Meanwhile back in the real world….

Dell are essentially stealing their own customers and down selling them a product we both know has no margin and ultimately must be inferior in one form or another. The more Dell argue that the Vostro is fit for purpose, the more they shoot themselves in the foot about the higher priced Optiplex or Latitudes.

I spoke to an insider at Dell about this issue. They were even more depressed about Vostro than I was. Try making targets when the products are minus margin they said.

This story ends for Dell when their Optiplex and Latitude customers become their Vostro customers. 

If I end up with a choice of supplying Value Vostros I would rather reposition my business in the market of say HP’s business range of computers. I will drop Dell in a heartbeat.

The customers will always ask for cheaper products. Sometimes the customer need to be protected from themselves. Only time will tell if a value Vostro will still be working in 2013.

If you are from Dell and wish to comment on this topic please use the comments.

Likewise  if you are a Dell Reseller feeling the pain  - use the comments. 

I recently received a PC from Dell that had significant cosmetic damage.

Clearly the damage was caused in transit. I knew Dell would help me out.

They offered me a 10% Discount or to replace the machine. I elected to replace the machine as I sell the equipment to my clients.

The machine was a standard:-

Dell Optiplex GX745 USFF (PentiumD 3.0Ghz)

The are replacing it with a

Dell Optiplex GX745 USFF (Core 2 Duo E6700 2.66Ghz)

That’s a significant bump up in terms of chip technology.

So every cloud has a silver lining.

So that’s twice this year I have been the beneficiary of a specification bump when a machine needs to get replaced. It does help to take the sting out of having a problem computer. 

Thanks Dell

Several times a day the computer will Blue Screen with various different messages.

Dell sent an engineer out yesterday to replace both the motherboard and memory.

Unfortunately the random reboots are just that random and it was a good hour after the engineer had left before my friend the blue screen was back.

I agreed with Dell Technical Support if this happened to re-install the Operating System.

To further help diagnosis I also replaced the hard disk from another Dell, just to be 100% sure after all if your replace the motherboard, memory and hard disk, it does not leave much to play with.

So here we go again.

About an hour into the install at the Windows Update stage Bang, Blue screen.

I power cycle the PC and POST bios it does nothing, nada. Black screen (hey at least it’s not blue).

This machine just does not want to live.

To give the machine the benefit of the doubt I start again, re-installing Windows XP in my heart of hearts knowing it’s all going to end badly and sure enough about 45 mins later it blue screens.

So unless I am losing the plot we have changed the:-

Motherboard, Memory, Hard Disk, Operating System (twice)

And it’s still faulty. The only part left that’s original is the power supply.

Power Supplies can cause Blue screens but its way less common that Motherboards, Memory, Hard Disks and corrupt Operating Systems.

Sometimes in tech support you just have to keep battling until you have ruled out all the options.

Anyway let’s see if Dell Technical Support agree with me.

Final Update

Dell have elected to replace the entire machine.

If you’re a North West based business looking help and advice with new technology then get in touch I can help you. Tel: 01606-841587.

The desktop form factor is a more traditional looking form factor. Dell have some nice design touches like the rounded edges and the use of metal instead of plastic.

A peek under the hood.

The desktop form factor is the 2nd largest in the range. The largest being the Tower.

If you are looking at getting a Dell but are unsure about which form factor is right for you. Then check out these posts:-

dell-optiplex-gx745-ultra-small-form-factor-usff/

today-i-have-been-playing-with-the-dell-optiplex-gx520-and-gx620/

Still have questions? then leave a comment or drop me an e-mail.

If you’re a North West based business looking help and advice with new technology then get in touch I can help you. Tel: 01606-841587.

If you need expansion or super cooling for your gaming computer yes I can see why a full size form factor would be necessary.

But your typical office user should be using something this small and compact in the office. Why?

Desk Space
Noise (it’s very quiet)
Easy to move or relocate

My desktop PC is a Precision 390 which is huge in comparison.
I love my Precision 390 but with a USFF it could live on my desktop not under it.

Are you a North West based business looking for a really smart I.T Consultant? get in touch I can help you Tel: 01606-841587.