u/andrey_semjonov

I wanted to share my experience with a new Dell XPS 14 DA14260 that I have been using since end of April

In the first two weeks, the laptop has had multiple instant power-offs. No blue screen, no freeze, no normal shutdown sequence. It just turns off completely. After turning it back on, the power button shows a diagnostic blink code: 1 amber + 6 white.

From Dell documentation, this code appears to be related to an Embedded Controller / EC code-flow error.

Windows logs also support that this is not a normal software crash:

- EventLog 6008: previous shutdown was unexpected

- Kernel-Power 41

- BugcheckCode: 0

- LongPowerButtonPressDetected: false

- WHEABootErrorCount: 1

- No MEMORY.DMP / no minidump

The laptop also has repeated BIOS Event Log entries saying:

“Alert! Cover was previously removed.”

The laptop was never opened by me.

Dell bios diagnostics passed successfully, but the issue is intermittent, so I do not think a passing quick diagnostic proves the laptop is fine.

I contacted Dell support. At first they seemed to focus on an already planned fan/heatsink service, but I do not think this is a fan/thermal issue because there are no thermal events, and the shutdown is instant. Later, support said the blink code may indicate a motherboard/mainboard issue.

The seller is willing to replace or refund the laptop, but they need a defect report from the service center. The problem is that the service center may not reproduce the shutdown during a short test.

Has anyone seen this on a recent XPS?

I really like the machine otherwise, but repeated sudden power loss on a new laptop is unacceptable, especially when it can destroy unsaved work.

I made a small Windows tray app called PowerTray.

https://preview.redd.it/9ox8wtskryzg1.png?width=966&format=png&auto=webp&s=c81c3b3dcb669b983a3c83c5666da4162bdb934b

It started as a very simple personal tool: I wanted to change my Dell battery charge mode from Windows instead of going into BIOS every time.

I found out this can be done with Dell Command | Configure, but only through CLI commands. That worked, but it was not very convenient, so I decided to make a small tray UI for it. Then the idea slowly grew into something more useful.

The app was designed around my new Dell XPS 14 (2026). It should work on other Dell laptops too, especially for changing battery charge modes, as long as Dell Command | Configure supports the device. If there is interest, I could also think about adapting it for other laptop brands later, depending on what functionality they expose.

Now PowerTray lets me quickly switch Dell battery modes and Windows power plans without digging through BIOS, Dell apps, or Windows Settings. For example, I can quickly move between Power efficiency, Balanced, and Performance, or use battery charge presets like Battery Health 50-80.

The main view shows compact system information:

- Battery percentage, health, charge/discharge state

- Current battery drain, 10-minute average drain, and discharge rate

- Estimated remaining time based on average drain instead of instant power spikes

- Battery watts graph

- CPU/GPU usage graph

- CPU temperature and package power

- Top average CPU processes, so it is easier to see what is actually driving load instead of chasing jumping processes in Task Manager

One part I’m especially happy with is the **24h battery usage graph**. It is compact, but shows a lot:

- Battery level over the day

- Charging, charge hold, sleep, missing data, and energy saver periods

- Average watt drain/charge for each block

- Hover details for each block

- A detailed battery usage view where you can select a time range and see Windows battery impact data for apps/processes

https://preview.redd.it/r6lqhfdqryzg1.png?width=1018&format=png&auto=webp&s=7ed0b0c8d32ed92dbc892634ddb91722f268d269

CPU sensor data is optional and uses HWiNFO shared memory if enabled. Without HWiNFO, the app still works for battery modes, power plans, and battery history, but CPU sensor details are more limited.

https://preview.redd.it/6jmzsvurryzg1.png?width=961&format=png&auto=webp&s=53fb4a85f0a18cb3acce78691a00299c82d14cdb

A few notes:

- Dell battery mode switching requires Dell Command | Configure.

- Some Windows battery impact data requires the helper service installed by the installer.

- The app is local; no cloud account or telemetry.

- It is still an early beta, and I have mainly tested it on my own XPS 14.

This is something I mainly built for myself, but it became useful enough that I decided to share it. I’d be happy to hear feedback, feature ideas, bug reports, or whether this is useful to other Dell laptop users too.

GitHub / download: AndreySemjonov/PowerTray

Small tip: changing Dell battery charge limits from Windows, not only BIOS

I saw a few comments saying that Dell battery charge limits can only be changed in BIOS, but there is another way: Dell Command | Configure.

Dell Command | Configure Application | Driver Details | Dell US

It installs cctk.exe, which can change the same BIOS battery charging setting directly from Windows.

I am using it on my new XPS14 (2026) because I do not want to reboot into BIOS every time I want to change the charging plan. During a normal office/work day, I prefer something like 50-80 (charge start at 50 and max charge 80). But if I know I need full battery, I want to quickly switch to full charging from Windows.

After installing Dell Command | Configure, check your current setting:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell\Command Configure\X86_64\cctk.exe" --PrimaryBattChargeCfg

Example output:

PrimaryBattChargeCfg=Custom:50-80

Set custom charge limit, for example 50-80:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell\Command Configure\X86_64\cctk.exe" --PrimaryBattChargeCfg=Custom:50-80

Set a more balanced daily mode, for example 70-90:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell\Command Configure\X86_64\cctk.exe" --PrimaryBattChargeCfg=Custom:70-90

Set normal full charging:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell\Command Configure\X86_64\cctk.exe" --PrimaryBattChargeCfg=Standard

Set Primarily AC Use:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell\Command Configure\X86_64\cctk.exe" --PrimaryBattChargeCfg=PrimAcUse

Set Adaptive:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell\Command Configure\X86_64\cctk.exe" --PrimaryBattChargeCfg=Adaptive

You need to run Command Prompt as Administrator.

You can also make a simple .bat file:

u/echo off
set CCTK="C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell\Command Configure\X86_64\cctk.exe"

echo.
echo Dell Battery Charge Mode
echo ------------------------
echo 1. Battery health  - Custom 50-80
echo 2. Balanced        - Custom 70-90
echo 3. Charge to full  - Standard
echo 4. Primarily AC Use
echo 5. Adaptive
echo 6. Show current setting
echo.

set /p choice=Choose option: 

if "%choice%"=="1" %CCTK% --PrimaryBattChargeCfg=Custom:50-80
if "%choice%"=="2" %CCTK% --PrimaryBattChargeCfg=Custom:70-90
if "%choice%"=="3" %CCTK% --PrimaryBattChargeCfg=Standard
if "%choice%"=="4" %CCTK% --PrimaryBattChargeCfg=PrimAcUse
if "%choice%"=="5" %CCTK% --PrimaryBattChargeCfg=Adaptive
if "%choice%"=="6" %CCTK% --PrimaryBattChargeCfg

echo.
pause

Run the .bat as Administrator.

I also started making a small lightweight Windows tray app for myself that uses these commands and shows the stats I care about: battery watts, CPU temp, CPU package power, top CPU processes, HWiNFO sensor data, and quick buttons to change Windows power mode and Dell battery charging mode.

https://preview.redd.it/cc9yx7dv5zyg1.png?width=653&format=png&auto=webp&s=7eea41a49d344b8c8adfd5527d81d6c5c2b7d3b5

After I finish maybe I will make available for everyone if someone wish to have it, not decided.

For my workflow this is much more convenient than going into BIOS:

• Normal office/desk day: Custom 50-80
• Mixed use: Custom 70-90
• Need full battery tomorrow: Standard

Just sharing because I did not realize at first that these BIOS battery settings can be changed from Windows with Dell’s own tool.

https://reddit.com/link/1syda4g/video/w1t7s7lgqzxg1/player

Received today XPS14 and decided to make separate post about fan noise. I think it can be possible airflow whistle / sealing issue.

After a few hours of use, I noticed a high-pitched whistling / rattling sound when the fans start spinning or when airflow increases.

At first I thought it might be a bad fan bearing, but after testing more, I think it may be related to airflow through small gaps around the keyboard/palmrest area rather than the fan itself.

What I noticed:

• The sound changes with fan speed.
• It is more noticeable when the laptop is held in hands or used on my lap. Possible to hear in some cases just when fan start to spin.
• On a flat table, it mostly appears only at higher fan speed.
• Light pressure around one area of the keyboard/palmrest can make the whistle appear or disappear.

So my current guess is that it could be a small gap, sealing, or resonance issue in the keyboard/palmrest area. I attached video where possible to hear that I click one button and this whistle disappears 😃 I already contacted Dell support and shared videos of the sound.

I still really like the laptop and I would be fine if Dell can simply fix it properly under warranty, but it is annoying to see this on day one.

​Received my XPS 14 today - looking for fresh setup suggestions

Specs: Core Ultra X7, 64 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD, OLED display, Windows 11 Pro

I know some people suggest doing a clean Windows install, but aside from that what would you recommend doing on a fresh device?

I went with the XPS because I need Windows for daily engineering work: CAD, FEM, and similar tools.

Initial impressions:

1. Build quality is insane. This is probably the best Windows laptop I have ever touched.
2. The screen looks insane. The OLED panel is beautiful.
3. I like trackpad.
4. Saw some reviewers was complaining about opening laptop. For me no problem at all. And you can open with one hand like Mac - finally.

Annoying part:

Windows setup was super annoying. I had to wait about an hour for updates, then click through a bunch of buttons just to say no to slop things I do not want.

Edit:

Noticed fan noise when it's started working harder. Started to play around with CPU stress test to get fan running faster.

Can hear on those records:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/xWV1FqgAo6MoRxiWA