How to update graphics drivers?

I have had my M17X for a good 6 - 8 months now and have never updated my graphics because every time I try using the AMD/ATI graphics update process, I am told the drivers are not supported. I am wondering how to go about updating my drivers..

Here is some information:

Dedicated GPU: 6990M

Driver Packaging Version 8.851.2-110609a-120503C-Dell
Provider ATI Technologies Inc.
2D Driver Version 8.01.01.1152
2D Driver File Path /REGISTRY/MACHINE/SYSTEM/ControlSet001/Control/CLASS/{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}/0000
Direct3D Version 7.14.10.0833
OpenGL Version 6.14.10.10765
Catalyst Control Center Version 2011.0609.2331.40394

 

Go to this page and download the AMD Mobility Radeon Driver Verification Tool. It will detect the card (not the driver), then it will download 12-6_mobility_vista_win7_64_dd_ccc.exe which will include latest stable Catalyst (12.6) and display driver (8.98) and all other stuff. If that doesn't work, let me know and I will upload my 12-6_mobility_vista_win7_64_dd_ccc.exe package (downloaded from the AMD website) to a dropbox account and you can download it straight from there without having to go thru the detection/verification process.

 

I've actually tried that tool and it does not work for me at all. Everytime I download it it says that it will not work due to incompatible hardware/software. Even when I got my R3 last year on a stock install direct from alienware it would never work. However I was able to install the drivers from the R4 without issue

Edit.

Thanks for the complete file name however. a quick google search brought up a download location for it and I was able to grab them without the tool. And they installed perfectly so most up to date drivers are now installed.

 

Excellent. Glad that worked. I don't know why AMD changed over to using that driver verification tool if it isn't gonna detect the GPUs properly. I swear, if I get the money in the next few months, I'm gonna give the Nvidia 680m a chance.

 

I tried getting new drivers manually for my AMD Radeon 6990. Googled it like the OP did ... and my computer crashed (blue screen), I had to do a system restore because it was not booting again.

Seriously now I understand why people say laptops are not made for gaming, this is my first and last one.

 

I'm glad that everything worked out for you. You may want to look at this article for f urther info on video drivers.

 

Honestly?

Drivers are a breeze. i just google AMD, go to there drivers page and READ through the latest drivers to see if my card is supported. Simples.

sometimes people dont read the small print where it says "does not support notebooks with switchable graphics"

Thats where most go wrong anyways.

 

Agreed. I've made that mistake before. I didn't read the 12.7 beta drivers README carefully enough. Otherwise I would have seen it the beta drivers were compatible with the 5800 series, but NOT the 5800M series.

 

Drivers are a breeze ? I use the ''Automatically Detect and Install'' and it says there is no drivers available for me because nothing is compatible with my 6900M.
AMD Catalyst

I went there, doesn't work. It shouldn't be so complicated for newbies like me to download drivers.

 

I never use any of the automatically detect and install stuff that runs thru a website. Too many vunerabilities that can download the wrong driver files...you did notice the disclaimer towards the bottom of the page that says, "The following notebooks are not compatible with this tool:
Notebooks equipped with switchable graphics"?

 

Like Radji said, auto detect and install is terrible. A manual search for the latest drivers takes 2 minutes. I Assume you know AMD labels they're drivers for the year and month a la 12.7, 12.6 or 12.5? Although they have said they're not doing monthly updates any more.

I always (since someone mentioned it here) go straight to the desktop drivers as they normally always support notebooks too.

Keep this page saved in you browser, check it every now and then:

Downloads

If you click on the 12.7 Beta drivers, scroll down and you'll see this:


This article applies to the following configuration(s):

Hardware:

AMD Radeon HD 7900 Series
AMD Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition
AMD Radeon HD 7800 Series
AMD Radeon HD 7700 Series
AMD Radeon HD 6000 Series
AMD Radeon HD 5000 Series
AMD Mobility Radeon HD 7000M Series
AMD Mobility Radeon HD 6000M Series
AMD Mobility Radeon HD 5000 Series

Thats your card!!

If you go via the Auto detect and install or use the options seletion where you put in Notebook, then Radeon HD then Windows 7 64bit etc etc it will come back with Auto detect and install:

AMD Catalyst

Read the release notes scroll down and you will see this:

The following notebooks are not compatible with this release:

Any notebook launched after this driver release
Switchable Graphics enabled notebooks
Toshiba notebooks (please contact the notebook OEM for driver support for these notebooks)
Sony VAIO notebooks (please contact the notebook OEM for driver support for these notebooks
Panasonic notebooks (please contact the notebook OEM for driver support for these notebooks)

Now you know what to look for, it will be a breeze!

 

I downloaded the 12.7 beta drivers like suggested ... but it gave me a blue screen and it didn't work, I have to recover my system in safe mode.
I feel like an idiot right now, is there something I have to do before installing the drivers ?

 

Did you delete the old drivers? With Drive Sweeper in safe mode?

 

No, sorry. Like I said I'm a real newbie with computers.
I will try that.

 

Ok, no problem, i had the exact smae issues when i first got the laptop.

Follow this guide:

Yuo will need "drive sweeper" And CC cleaner. Google both, download and install before you start.

Anything you are unsure of, let me know.