I also have the Dell Inspiron 15 R, Special Edition, 7520. I upgraded from 8 to 8.1 over the weekend and had some issues, including the "thread stuck in device error."
My main issue is with my power settings. I did uncheck the box within the power settings to "turn on fast start up" and that fixed the error. I'm not getting it, at least starting up after the computer was turned off. And the start up is quick. But
I do have issues with the power settings.
In 8, I always had a setting for dim to set a lenght of time before it did. That setting isn't there anymore (the screen does dim after a minute, and then goes black, has to be all by default). On the different power option windows, there's now only two
different settings, not three (no dim) as there was with 8.
Also, when I had 8, I had it set up so when I lowered the lid and came back 15 or 20 mins later or hours later, I'd lift the lid, and since it was sleeping or in hibernation (I don't remember) I'd hit the power button and go through what I'll call a "partial
reboot." With this "partial reboot" I'd get the black screen with the Dell logo, and after 20-30 seconds, my desktop would appear with whatever I had running on the screen. There was no fulll reboot, no "Seattle" screen and no sign in. But with 8.1, with
the setting set to either sleep or hibernation, and I close the lid, it immeadiately goes into sleep or hibernation. And when I open the lid, I hit the power button (it doesn't wake up on its own, or by touching the touchpad) it goes into a full reboot, the
"Seattle" page and password - and I have it set NOT to ask for p/w after sleep (the sleep and hibernation reboots take a bit longer then the startup after the laptop was turned off). And what I had on the desktop is gone.
The only difference between the sleep and hibernation reboots is that with the hibernation, I'm getting the "thread stuck in device error."
Also, when I go back to the lid settings, the sleep and hibernation setting reverts to "Do nothing." So even if I wanted sleep or hibernation, they're not locking in. And yes, I do click "save changes."
Also, with 8, when I closed the lid, I lost internet access. Which is fine. But with 8.1, I'm still getting wifi with the lid closed.
But there's more.
With 8, when I closed the lid, I'd return with my battery percentage the same as what it was when I closed it, even hours later. Even when it was sleeping. But now, with the lid closed (not in sleep), the screen goes blank and the battery drains almost as
fast as if I was using it. And with 8.1, battery drain is worse than 8, and it was bad with 8 to begin with.
Also, now, returning from sleep drains the battery even more then just closing the lid and having it go blank. "Sleeping" with 40% left, I came back an hour later with nothing left. I got the black screen saying battery level was critical.
So something is messed up with the power and its settings. And there's more battery drain than there was with 8.
I want to get this back to the way it was: when I close the lid (internet wifi is lost) and after 20 or so minutes, I want to push the start button and go through that short partial reboot - no "Seattle" page, and no p/w - and whatever I had on my desktop
is up as I left it when I closed the lid. With little to no battery drain.
Anyone have any ideas?
I did get the Quickset driver from Dell's web site (under "Application"). Application_G75PM_WN_10.15.026_A00.EXE but it didn't do any good.
However, if you click on "view details," there's two downloads. I didn't download them. I assume the first one was what I downloaded on the main page.
One odd thing with the 8.1 update is that with 8 I was using the lowest resolution 1024 x 768 (15" screen) and it was perfect. Sharp and not at all squished or stretched. But with 8.1, I have to use 1600 x 900 to get the same look.
Thank you.