[M17x R4] Switchable graphics not working.

So, when I press Fn+F7 I am not prompted at all to restart my laptop or it doesn't even show anything on the screen when I press that combo. I've spent the better part of a month trying to get it to work, and it's worked once but I've had to re-image the device since the first time. Maybe ya'll can help me out?

Specs:
DXDIAG:
View attachment DxDiag.txt

Pics of My BIOS:



What I've done:
Re-installed Windows completely 3 times.
Updated every single driver I can get my hands on with regards to everything about the laptop.
The graphics card is recognized as by the BIOS picture and the Hardware Manager both show its there.
The laptop is never booted up without it being plugged in to the wall with the power brick that came with it.
I've tried BIOS versions 10, 12, and 13.

So ultimately my issues, as stated before, is that the laptop is not switching the graphics card. I did manage to get it to work the first time I installed Windows about 3 weeks ago, but I ended up having to re-install windows twice since then. With the two new installs I have not been able to get the graphics switching to work and I don't remember what I did the first time around to get it to work. In the DXDIAG it always says that the device in on the Intel graphics card despite it having an AMD 7970m inside. I have done completely fresh installs of the video drivers. I've followed the installing steps that dell provides on their main page to make sure everything is installed in order.

Can anyone help me? Does anyone know what is going on, maybe something I missed? I can answer questions as they arise. This is all the pertinent info that comes to mind right now.

 

The Fn+F7 combo will not work unless both the Intel and AMD drivers are installed along with the Alienware command centre which is needed for the FN+F7 combo to work... What I would suggest is that make sure you have both the Intel and AMD drivers installed along with the Alienware command centre and on screen display...

Alienware Command Center Application Driver Details | Dell US
Alienware On Screen Display Application Driver Details | Dell US

If this all has been installed, then issue is with the drivers you have used... I've found Windows 8.1 to be easier to install these graphics drivers however whichever way try this..

1. Uninstall all Intel and AMD drivers using Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU).
2. Download the following AMD driver: AMD Catalyst™ 14.11.2 Beta Driver for Windows®
3. Download the Intel driver: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?DwnldID=24328&lang=eng&ProdId=3712

Download exe version..

Now disable driver signature enforcement and just install AMD drivers... Once installed, restart...

Then try the FN+F7 combo... If it works, you will switch to the Intel card and install Intel drivers after disabling driver signature enforcemenet...

 

Like Tom stated. On a side note when you do install the latest intel drivers avoid the ones from dell, as they are complete crap, download the latest HD4000 drivers from Intel's website to avoid issues.

 

Is it normal for that driver to install this "raptr" gaming software?

The AMD driver that is.

 

Ok so update.

I followed your instructions. On the safe side I uninstalled the Alienware Command Center as well as the On-Screen Display that I had on the machine. I used your link provided and re-installed the software again. First I installed the ACC, then the OSD.

Also, when I uninstalled the ACC and the OSD, I booted my device in safe mode and rand the DDU as you suggested, which I found here: Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) 13.5.4.1

I used it to remove the drivers for the intel and the AMD gpu's.

After I Installed the ACC and the OSD I booted it back up and checked to see what the video cards were saying in the Device Manager and they both said "Standard VGA Adapter".

At this point I installed the AMD driver (after disabling signature check). I used the Express installation, to which it installed the CCC as well as this Raptr gaming software.

After the installation, I rebooted the device. Now the device is booted up, no Intel drivers have been installed yet, and the Fn+F7 combo still does not work. I have all my windows closed, all the programs I can close are closed. I will tap the Fn+F7 and nothing. The Device manager does show that it is reading the Radeon 7970m graphics card, but it has the little caution, yellow triangle on the bottom left corner of the line saying Radeon 7970m.

Also, this raptr gaming software that installed with the driver is stating that there is a new driver to be installed, version 14.12.

What should I do from here?

Also, Attachment with specs regarding the Video Card: View attachment AMD.txt

 

And to note, the system DOES NOT, prompt me to reboot after installing the driver. I had to reboot myself.

 

Update:
I am now getting this error when I open up the graphics card within the Device Manager. Its under the General Tab, in the text field called "Device Status".

Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. (Code 43)

 

That is not good.. Ok, uninstall everything including the Alienware applications and now do this.

1. Install the 2 Alienware applications and restart!
2. Install Intel Driver and restart...
3. Install AMD driver and restart... See if this fixes it..

Hopefully fixes your issues... BTW, why do you need the FN+F7 key? I don't use it and have mine on auto switch (AMD Enduro mode) which is fine..

 

Ok I will try these steps.

In regards to the auto switch, I can't even seems to get it to auto-switch either. In previous installations I've been able to get the "switchable graphics" option to come up when I right click on the desktop. The problem is that when I set the applications to high performance, (i.e. steam, Civ 5, My benchmarker, etc.) it would not show that the AMD card was being activated. For my benchmarker specifically, I use the swarm test offer through steam ( Star Swarm Stress Test on Steam), and one of the options it gives prior to launching the test is to use AMD mantle with it. Yet when I click on the mantle button, its says that driver for the device is not compatible and can't be used. I can get a screenshot of that error if you wish.

 

Update:

When attempting to install the linked driver for the Intel card, it states:

"This installation package is not supported by this processor type"

 

Try the Intel driver from the Dell website....

 

Ok, so I went to the Intel website and ended up downloading the Intel Driver Update utility. This was able to find a compatible It installed fine and the device recognizes the card in the Device Manager.

I then installed the AMD driver, after rebooting prior, and one the AMD driver was installed, rebooted.

Now I'm back to the desktop, both devices are recognized in the device manager with no errors or caution symbols. Nevertheless, Fn+F7 still does nothing. dxdiag only show the Intel card being read.

YET....

I have set all the programs in the "Adjust Switchable Graphics" option to high performance on every single application (and sub-applications) for all the programs I'd want it to run for anyways AND...

It seems to be working just fine.

I appreciate the help, well done. This will have to do and I'll just ahve to deal with the Fn+F7 not working.

Thank you.