the windows 7 on a M4400 thread..

I agree - no need to install any chipset drivers on Win 7 (x32 or x64). The drivers that come with Win 7 are great.
On my system I'm scoring a 6.4 WEI.

 

That's good to hear - thanks!

 

i agree! no need to install many drivers

 

Hope you don't mind me jumping in here and asking a question or two. My M4400 shows a quick message during boot up that it is using the Intel Matrix Storage Manager but it looks as if it is an old version (i.e - 8.0.0.???). If I download latest version from Dell website and install it doesn't change the version number during the bbot up sequence. Also, in the "Device Manager" it looks like it is using Windows 7 (or Microsoft) settings/drivers instead of Intel's format for listing drivers?
Also, but have about given up on it is the "fingerprint reader". I've installed the ControlPoint Security Application Drivers (did the "custom" install or the fingerprint drivers will not be installed) and the ContolPoint Security Management Application", but it will not enroll fingerprints. Not sure if I'm setting up the Embassy/Wave software correctly because of all the things it ask about "Password and Biometric" login or "Enable Crtl+Alt+Del" at login. My question here would be that "Do I need to install ControlVault or any other ControlPoint modules to get it to work?
Last thing is what driver/software did anyone use to get the "Intergrated Webcam" to work? Mine is listed as an "Imaging Device" > "Intergrated Webcam" as an usb device I think?
Thank you very much for any help/advice/feedback that you can.

 

those are quite a number of issues. i think you should call dell to resolve it. the workstation support team are actually very good

 

Already called them and they could not help me one bit with them. 4 hour phone call and nothing. And basically boils down to getting the following 3 things to work:

1)Fingerprint reader - listed as "Other Devices" in Device Manager. Installed ControlPoint Security Application and Drivers and get to point enrolling fingerprints and it freezes trying to find sensor.

2)Integrated Webcam doesn't work, but is recongnized in Device Manager as "Imaging Device", There no drivers/software listed under M4400 running Windows 7 32-bit. Vista drivers will not load even using "Compatability Mode".

3)Computer seems to run great, but it seemed odd that during boot up and prior to Windows loading that Intel Matrix Storage Manager v8.0.0.?? loaded. I formatted thid drive prior to loading Windows 7 and did not load Intel Matrix Storade Manager because another thread stated that I didn't need it with Windows 7. I installed it but it will not update the version of Intel that is booting up prior to Windows.

Thank again

 

1) sounds like a hardware issue

2) there should be a CD that came with the laptop with the software for the webcam? but for some reason the software isnt on the dell site

3) not sure about this, i hardly ever restart the computer, maybe somebody else can say what version is displayed on his/her unit

 

Just took delivery of a M4400 (Q9300, 128SSD, 500GB secondary, 8GB RAM) and am installing Win 7 64 bit on it and have a few questions.

I've only installed the nVidia driver from the nVidia site and everything else so far seems to be working just fine. I'm usually of the opinion of a few others on here that the Win7 drivers should do just fine, but based on my questions, maybe not?

I had a quick play with Win7 out of the box and saw that the Fn-Brightness, backlight, volume, etc keys showed a nice overlay of what I was selecting - anyone know what driver I need to install to get that functionality back?

I "only" get a WEI of 5.9 with my SSD being the lowest offendor - not sure what WEI others are getting with a SSD on Win7x64? I have not installed any drivers apart from the nVidia ones from their site so maybe that is the issue?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Regards,
Matt

 

@ Aussie

That sounds off. I'm getting a 5.8 because of my HDD (ST250421ASG) which is 7200rpm so you should score quite a bit higher. The rest is all at 6.4

 

Aussie,

Did you set your HD to AHCI mode in BIOS before installing Windows 7?
If not you need to ensure that it is, also don't install the Intel Storage Matrix drivers/program - the windows 7 ahci driver is best.

When installing did Windows 7 create a 100mb drive at position 0?
This is critical as the 100mb chunk at the start of the drive properly aligns it. Very important for SSD.

You should get somewhere in the 6's with SSD.. My intel x25-g2(160gb) gets 7.7 and my OCZ gets 7.5

~Tom.