No guarantees. This works for me with a variety of ATI reference drivers, but not always the same way, i.e., some install cleanly and easily on first effort, while others require much more struggle. If it helps, great; if it doesn't, I'm sorry.
Start at the beginning. Of course you can install more recent drivers from AMD in the R3, but the process is different because of the switchable graphics and the installation is awkward and often requires multiple steps. In addition, the latest drivers from Dell are pretty good, so only minor improvements are available from newer reference drivers. You need patience. This assumes a general familiarity with driver installation and uninstallation. If you don't understand an instruction or don't know how to accomplish some interim step, ask.
• Start from a clean base – remove the existing drivers through Control Panel (and/or Device Manager, if needed) until both display cards are identified in Device Manager as Windows VGA devices.
• Restart in Safe Mode (F8 at the boot screen) and run Driver Sweeper (selecting only AMD - Display).
Phyxion.net - Driver Sweeper. Restart when prompted.
• Run CCleaner (
CCleaner - Optimization and Cleaning - Free Download) Registry Cleaner multiple times until it reports no issues. Restart (optional).
• Install the Dell July 29 6990M drivers (R307094)(
Drivers and Downloads) or August 9 6970 drivers (R309894) (
Drivers and Downloads, as applicable. If previously downloaded, go to c:\Dell\Drivers\R307094 or R309984 and run Setup.exe.
• Installation of the Dell drivers is necessary because it includes the drivers for the Intel IGP; the ATI/AMD reference drivers do not include any drivers for the IGP, so it will continue to use the Dell drivers throughout.
• Check that all is installed and working properly with the Dell drivers. Right click on desktop and click on Configure Switchable Graphics. Close or minimize any open programs and switch to the IGP. Then switch back using the same process. You want the discrete (ATI) card to be active.
• Download the reference drivers you wish to install. The Cat 11.8 WHQL set referred to in the prior post will do fine.
• Install the ATI/AMD drivers as you normally would. Ordinarily, one of two things occurs:
(a) Occasionally (rarely) it just installs cleanly, tells you to reboot to complete the process, reboots with the new drivers and you’re done.
(b) More often, when it finishes the installation, it just sits there without directing a reboot. When you attempt to restart manually, you get a BSOD during the shutdown phase. Very odd, but perfectly normal in this context. Hold down the Power Button to force shutdown.
• When you restart, one of two things occurs:
(a) It starts cleanly and reboots into Windows at normal (1920x1080) resolution. This should mean that the 11.8’s are now installed and active. Check CCC>Information>Software to confirm that the Catalyst Version (second line) now says 11.8. Device Manager should now show Driver Version: 8.881.0.0 for the ATI 6900M Series card; the Intel card will continue to show 8.851.2.0 from the original Dell driver installation.
(b) More often, it will restart into Windows using the Windows VGA Adapter (low resolution, limited colors, ugly), with a notice that the ATI 6900M does not have the necessary drivers. Go to Device Manager for the 6900M Series card, and it will probably say that it cannot start because the driver is not digitally signed (or words to that effect), but it will show the proper driver (8.881.0).
• Restart, pressing F8 rapidly at the boot screen (do not hold F8 down continuously) and select “Disable Driver Signature Enforcement.” It will boot cleanly into Windows with the new drivers active, as reflected in both CCC and Device Manager. Sometimes that’s all it takes, but not usually. Reboot normally to see whether Windows now accepts the new drivers. If you boot into Windows at normal high resolution (1920x1080), then you’re finished.
• However, if you reboot back into VGA resolution, then there’s more to be done. First, try reinstalling the 11.8’s over themselves. (Go to c:\ATI\Support\11-8_mobiility_vista_ Win7, etc (or whatever folder you unpacked the 11.8 D/L into) and run Setup.exe.) I’m not sure why this works except that the second installation will not encounter conflicts with the previous drivers, but usually it does, especially with official WHQL drivers.
• If, after the second installation of the new drivers, they still don’t take and Windows starts once again with the Windows VGA Adapter/resolution, then reboot using the F8/Driver Signature Disabled routine. When Windows starts with the new drivers active, launch Catalyst Install Manager and select Uninstall-Custom. Deselect All and then highlight CCC, click Select and proceed to uninstall CCC. Reboot using F8/Disable Driver Sig. Then, using CIM, select Install-Custom and install CCC (CIM will also automatically reinstall CIM and the display driver when CCC is installed). Exit and reboot.
• You should finally have the new reference drivers (with the associated CCC) installed and working. Check CCC>Software>Information and Device Manager>Display Adapters>Properties>Driver to confirm. Also switch to the Intel IGP to test the function.
• Others may have a better, quicker, more foolproof method. Sometimes the over-installatiion is fast and easy, but more often it gets complicated. And sometimes you just have to fool with it a little.
Good luck.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.
