M17X-R3 6990M How to upgrade from OEM Drivers to 11.10???

So I just got my M17X-R3 and this is the first time I got to deal with ATI's Switching GPU Technology. The problem is I heard that you can't install 11.10 over the stock Dell drivers with just the installer as that causes BSOD's and other nasty issues. After looking around this massive sub-forum, I still can't seem to find the right directions to do so. So as a first-timer to switching technology, how does one install Catalyst 11.10 over the Dell OEM 11.8 and not make it BSOD due to the GPU switching???

 

Same problem. I just got my M17X r3 today and spent at least half day trying to figure out how to update driver for 6990M to the newest from AMD. But unfortunately it seems impossible for me to do it, I got lots of crash&blue screen while trying to install the 8.902 version from AMD. No matter I tried just to install the video driver or both of CCC and video driver, none of them worked. I had to restore my laptop to factory status to get avoid the mess caused by the dual GPUs that we have. Switchable Graphics is officially stated as unsupported from AMD for the newest driver
If anyone can provide us a workaround to let us still implement the newest driver, much appreciate.

 

DO NOT DOWNLOAD the 11.10 Catalyst package from AMD website because it does not actually contain the drivers for some idiotic reason!!! Use the links below to download the "REAL" drivers package. The drivers will install properly and the video card will work 100%, hope that helps.

Windows 7/Vista x64 ( http://www2.ati.com/DriVeRs/11-10_vi...dd_ccc_ocl.exe)

Windows 7/Vista x86 ( http://www2.ati.com/DriVeRs/11-10_vi...dd_ccc_ocl.exe)

Windows XP x64 ( http://www2.ati.com/DriVeRs/11-10_xp64_dd_ccc_ocl.exe)

Windows XP x86 ( http://www2.ati.com/DriVeRs/11-10_xp32_dd_ccc_ocl.exe)

Windows 7/Vista x64 Mobility ( http://www2.ati.com/DriVeRs/mobile/1...dd_ccc_ocl.exe)

Windows 7/Vista x86 Mobility ( http://www2.ati.com/DriVeRs/mobile/1...dd_ccc_ocl.exe)

 

I actually solved it and I did end up using one of the above links to get the full package. In fact the idea was solved by a post from the The Revelator in another thread.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...xr3-owners-driver-updates-18.html#post7962984

If you follow how he did it, it will work for the rest of you all. It did for me but I will admit, it is very finicky and the BSOD can discourage you to continue, but after many attempts and System Restores, I managed to get the exact results of how he installed 11.10.

I am not really a fan of switching GPU's, especially the pain on the ATI's in-terms of driver support, but if this works for any successive driver update, I will stick to it and keep trudging though it to get the latest drivers.

 

has anyone else noticed on how benchmarks score higher on windows XP platform than win 7 platforms?

 

Thanks, I'm trying right now, will let everyone know if this workaround works.
update: This workaround indeed works and it is great. I get 5% increase in FPS in BF3. Thanks a lot to Star Forge & Revelator.

 

I get BF3 to run very smooth with 6970m drivers from Dell. Although the FPS seems a bit lower than 11.10 driver. Then again, I get stuttering issues with 11.10 and 11.9.

Current card is 6990m.