Alienware M17x R4 Windows 8 UEFI Fastboot boot time (8 Seconds!!)

there is a alienware widnows 8 os? with all the logo in the loading screen etc? or any instructons?

Thanks.

 

It infact does contain the UEFI boot partition so you can use a DVD to install if you prefer, I used a DVD to save having to format a usb drive. No fixing required.

I don't think there is a complete windows 8 theme, only things I could think of that could be changed are login screen and backgrounds, but you can do that yourself I assume? There should be a thread somewhere with links to download the factory wallpapers.

 

allright and there is anything i need to know before upgrading to windows 8? im affraid it looks so diffrent and complicated.. and should i go for clean new install or id go for upggrade?

thanks for the assitance..
btw im useing corsair neutron GTX 240GB.. would like to know whast the best way to get the fastest out of it

 

Clean install and UEFI/fast boot would be my recommendation, cold start to login screen in less than 10 seconds. I would most likely say you would have a old legacy style boot at the moment so I would recommend a clean install if possible. I have seen that any cloning software for your SSD causes performance issues as the alignment is not quite optimal for performance.

Installing windows 8, make sure you have the A09 bios, change hard drive mode to AHCI if it isnt on it, enable UEFI and disable legacy support. You can enable windows fast/secure boot after its been installed. Make sure you install with the UEFI + legacy support disabled, as you cannot enable fast/secure boot afterwards.

Personally after using windows 8, I don't see much change, the start menu is different, but everything else has been tweaked nicely, and to tbe honest I just stay on the desktop 99.99% of the time anyways. After you install windows 8, make sure you go into the windows control panel and change the zoom factor from 125% to 100%, mine was preset higher for some reason.

 

wow man you are awesome.. thanks for all the tips.. so i need to update my bios to A09 (any tip on how doing that? ) and then change harddrive mode to AHCI and enable UEFI and disable legacy support and then go for format and ofc new clean install windows 8.. does it matter if i keep the data on my second hard drive? or i have to format it?

Thanks again

 

If you have a second hard drive, keep it in bay 1 rather than bay 0, (bay 0 is the one in the center of the laptop) saves you hassle of configuring any hard drives for installation. I would keep your second hard drive disconnected from the laptop until you have installed windows 8, then put it in bay 1 after its been installed just to save any hassle in installation. You can keep the data on the second hard drive it shouldnt make a big difference.

Updating to A09, just make sure you need to install it, its F2 to get into BIOS, you should be able to see your version there or you can run the bios update from dell support website. Download direct from there, it should detect your bios version and install it if its required. Make sure you have no programs running and its plugged into the power and it should be ok. You will know if your windows installation has been successful if the alienhead when you switch on the computer has changed into a alienware logo basically.

 

you are the best

 

How do you turn off bluetooth in Windows 8? I miss having individual on/off control of wifi & bluetooth in Windows 7 on the R4.

 

hi.. ive just installed windows 8 and it doesnt let me use my serial key because its an upgrade version and i used fresh install.. is it possible to do UEFI boot install on windows 7 and then upgrade to windows 8? the only way is to go with a fresh install?

Thnaks...

 

You can do that yes barakre, i did the same thing.

I also took my boot time to about 3-4 seconds by disabling the option roms I don't use.

 

After using Windows 8 for about 3 weeks, i'm done. The only things i like about Windows 8 is the ability to lock the screen and have your current downloads to be able to continue downloading and the new task manager that shows the cpu speed.

Windows 7 is so much better and simpler and looks way nicer and more intuitive with the start screen, the search function and the glass look is much nicer. Also way better and makes more sense on a non touchscreen computer. Windows 8 is a glorified touchscreen OS and unless Microsoft creates a Win 8 version for non touchscreen computers or at least have a modified version where you can turn off Metro then I'm stickin to Windows 7.

 

Sort of feeling the same really. Considering going back to Win 7 next opportunity I have to spend some time sorting it out.


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You should be able to install without a cd key and then activate afterwards otherwise you can just install windows 7 then windows 8 under UEFI as well, should make no difference. Theres a thread somewhere for installing windows 8 without a cd key.