M17x R3 Win 8 fresh install + new SSD

I have had my M17x R3 for two years now and I am happy with it so far (barring some problems I had in the past).

Now it is time to upgrade it a bit, so, I am getting a new 120 GB SSD next Monday and I plan to install it as the main system disk and use the one (SATA, 750 GB) that came with the system as the "large data one". I also want to just install Windows 8 on the new SSD,so I have some concerns.

Is there a guide or something like the one pinned ( http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...er-install-order-guide-alienware-systems.html) about a fresh install with Windows 8, instead of Windows 7? If not, is it safe to assume all drivers from Dell will work on Windows 8? Anybody has experiences regarding this?

Also, the system was reinstalled a couple of years ago WITHOUT doing Alien Respawn and that partition/software was lost so I don't have the option to use that anymore.

I am also assuming that, once the SSD gest physically installed, it is just a matter to tell the BIOS that will be the drive to use a boot disk, right?

I am sorry to ask such trivial questions but I have never done this before and I prefer to be well informed before proceeding.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Meh, after a bit more research I found this topic which covers most of what I was asking... http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...e-m17xr3-windows-8-clean-install-drivers.html

I also am not very sure to upgrade to Windows 8 now, since I was about to buy it and the price went up a lot again. I had checked earlier this year and it was very cheap to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8, but now it would cost me $3,750 MXN (near USD $300?) which I am not willing to pay for now.

 

Yea the price went up in January. The previous price was just a discount price.

 

Finally found a deal with a local Microsoft distributor here in México. Payed $899 MXN (around USD $70) for Windows 8 Professional so I will be ok.

I hope the transition goes fine on Monday, any advise will be still appreciated!

Thanks

 

Just take it slow and follow the guide and I'm sure it will go fine.

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...e-m17xr3-windows-8-clean-install-drivers.html enter the Bios and change RAID to AHCI install SSD bay 1 (middle) for SATA III 6 GB/s [M17x R3] - BIOS A12 'unlocked' & 'SATA tweak'

120 GB SSD ?

 

Thanks for the info!

Yeah, 120 GB SSD. I know it is small but that's what I had available. I'll only use it for OS and few stuff, will still use the SATA for the data. Or why the question?

Thank you!

 

Spec. ? Crucial M4 128GB SATA III, that's why I'm using SATA III Fix.

 

Oh, it is a Kingston SSDNow V+200.

Spoiler

http://www.kingston.com/datasheets/SVP200S3_us.pdf
Kingston SSDNow V Plus Solid-State Drives for Business - Kingston

 

@j95:

Installed system today, seems to be working fine. I installed Dell's official A12 BIOS. Do I need to install the one you suggested with this SSD or should I stick to the official one? What are the differences between the two of them?

Thanks!

Sorry for the double post. Also, from your guilde http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...e-m17xr3-windows-8-clean-install-drivers.html, I only seem to be missing two devices: ACPI\VEN_CPL&DEV_0002 and ACPI\VEN_SMO&DEV_8800 just using Windows 8 drivers.

Should I need to install all the others you mentioned in that guide or not?

 

ACPI\VEN_CPL&DEV_0002 = OSD (Compal) http://www.dell.com/support/drivers...?driverId=PDP1D&osCode=W764&fileId=2947306610

ACPI\VEN_SMO&DEV_8800 = Free fall sensor>Disable it.

Unlocked A12 BIOS w/ SATA Fix will enable SATA III 6GB/s bay 1 (middle) + option to disable IGP (Intel HD 3000) and overclocking options, Kingston SSD V+200 supports SATA III.

Official Bios SATA II 3GB/s.

 

Thanks a lot!

Sorry for abusing your knowledge. I upgraded the BIOS to the one you provided, and reset it to default values (after that I adjusted few minor things, like disable RAID).

Do I need to do -anything- else in Windows or BIOS for it to start working @Sata III 6 GB/S? How can I test it is working that way?

Thanks a lot for your help and guidance!

 

Download (Portable Edition) CrystalDiskInfo5_6_2.zip Unzip>Run DiskInfo.exe

AHCI should be set before installing windows. After How to: Change SATA Modes After Windows 7 Installation (Windows 8 )

1- SSD Bay 1 (Middle)

2- Bios set to AHCI mode

3- Install Windows

4- Custom Install (Advanced)>Drive Options (advanced)>>Delete all partitions SSD Drive 1 (including system reserved 350MB) until it is only unallocated space>Select Drive 1 unallocated space (SSD)>Next.

 

According to CrystalDiskInfo, this is the current drive (without changing anything on BIOS/Windows Registry yet):

https://www.dropbox.com/s/od1izkdth8hbadw/Kingston-SSD-SATA-600.png

If it says "SATA/600" does it mean it is currently working at that transfer rate? Do I still need to switch to AHCI mode? I have spent a lot of hours for this installation (should have checked this before, my fault) and wouldn't like to lose all those work hours

*Edit*: btw, great program, CrystalDiskInfo! thanks!

I am reinstalling Windows now

 

Disabled RAID so it's under ATA (IDE) mode ? There's no need to reinstall windows.

 

Oh, I saw the guide, but I needed to reinstall Windows because I ran into trouble with the main reason for this computer (a game called FFXI) so I had to reinstall it anyway, and just changed the BIOS value Thanks a lot again!

 

http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.html?forum=10&mid=136328331194316930&h=50
http://steamcommunity.com/app/39250/discussions/0/882964117776553427/?l=english

It seems Intel HD3000 driver issue.

 

Oh, thanks for the links, but the problem I have with FFXI is a bit deeper and not related to this forum, but I'll describe it here anyway just in case

FFXI installs and runs correctly, I was able to play it last night without an issue. The game itself is very old, started in 2002, it is being updated but still not the "core" functions, just adding new areas, etc.) and the "playability" directly from the vendor (Square Enix) is pretty limited.

Because of that, a team of people made a third party tool called "Windower" which adds a lot of functionatiliby to the game. Anyway, last night I installed the game, and also installed Windower and was able to play without an issue.

This morning, however, I applied all of Windows updates and right after that (and rebooting) ran FFXI but then encounter an issue other people have reported before but Windower development team still hasn't been able to know the cause.

Somebody described it in here, and I added a bit more info: Windows 8 Windower 4 plugins & addons - FFXIAH.com

Anyway, since the only thing I did from last night to this morning was installing all of Windows update files, I went ahead and started uninstalling one by one, to try to find the culprit, but ended up uninstalling all updates and still the game wouldn't work correctly.

Because of that, I opted to reinstall Windows 8 and after installing drivers, etc. I will install FFXI + Windower and if it works, I am going to save a state of the system working and see what happens after installing windows updates. I hope I can end up pinpointing the exact cause of Windower breaking on some people, because in the worst case scenario I will go back to Windows 7 .

Anyway, thanks for the links, I hope I am able to find the causes of the error.

 

.Net Framework 3.5 enabled ?

Program and Features>turn windows features on and off>check .net framework 3.5>ok>download/install>reboot

 

Yup! It was in your guide (I think it was needed for OSD driver?) so I enabled it.

Problem is very very very strange. I ended up reinstalling (as I told earlier) then installed all drivers/OSD, everything was OK. Then I just installed FFXI + Windower and it was working! just like last night. I created a Windows restore point then I was happy. (I hadn't applied any windows update at that point).

Then I installed Mozilla Thundebird + Dropbox, everything seemed to keep working. Then I had to leave home for a couple of hours, came back, computer was suspended. Booted up FFXI (via Windower), then it crashed (strange). Rebooted, booted up FFXI again and *bam* same error message as before, just now I hadn't installed any Windows Update yet, so that doesn't seem to be the problem.

I tried to restore the system to the restoer point I created earlier, it did restore but still no luck, Windower spits the same errors .

I know this probably doesn't belong here anymore, but you are resourceful and have good ideas!

 

I am -almost- convinced now to just install Windows 7 and live with it for few weeks/months/(years?) until/if the issue I have is found and fixed by Windower development team hehe. Oh well, Windows 8 was a beautiful idea and I hate the money I spent on the license to be wasted :x

 

Have you tried updating Nvidia drivers ? NVIDIA DRIVERS 314.22WHQL don't try 320.18 WHQL it's broken.

1- Try disabling IGP (Intel HD 3000) Bios>Advanced Menu>Video Configuration>disable IGP>set display to PEG>F10>reboot.

2- Under programs and features uninstall Nvidia drivers and reboot then install 314.22-WHQL

 

Shouldn't be a graphics problem, since it has more to do with some plugins "unable to load" (like if Windower 4 didn't have access to its own plugin folder) but at this point I am trying everything so, I will do that.

I have currently latest verde drivers installed (320.18!), will uninstall that and install the ones you are suggesting Thanks!

OK, seriously, j95, you are like a wizard/genius hehe. I uninstalled 320.18 driver and just tried with the ones Windows 8 comes by default, AND IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING! I am still not sure if after next reboot it will still work but... it -may- be something to have with the drivers after all!

Would you recommend me to stick with the ones that came with Windows or go ahead and install 314.22 from Verde?

 

M17XR3 60Hz screen / Optimus

Intel HD 3000 Win 8/7 x64 driver https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=22628&lang=eng
Release notes, there's a fix for FFXI http://downloadmirror.intel.com/22628/eng/releasenotes_gfx_3062_64.pdf

Nvidia driver from Microsoft v. 311.44 x64 http://download.windowsupdate.com/m..._43383f9ea8c8725009c658052b9a98f33e6f2e19.cab

IGP disabled / PEG enabled ?

Try NVIDIA DRIVERS 314.22WHQL if issue persists, uninstall under programs and features>reboot>install Microsoft driver.

 

I am at work, so I will have access to my computer until later tonight. Was just wondering about this:

Would that mean that the system would stop "seeing" 2 video cards (thus, Optimus disabled) and only see the Nvidia one from now on?

About the release notes for the Intel one, the mention is for FFXIV, which is a decade newer game than FFXI. I bet most hardware manufacturers now aren't even aware of the existance of such an old game anymore hehe.

I'll try upgrading Intel drivers tonight anyway, then see if the issue persists with the Windows Nvidia ones and if not, upgrade to 314.22WHQL.

Not sure if I want to disable IGP and enable PEG, if that means always be working on Nvidia card? (I would do that too if that fixes my issue).

Thanks a lot for the input!

 

Try first with IGP / SG enabled.

Uninstall all graphics drivers, install Intel driver first; download .zip option https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=22627&lang=eng unzip>device manager>Display adapters>Intel HD 3000>Properties>Driver>Update driver Manually>Browse extracted driver folder>check include sub-folders>setup.exe follow this guide for Intel graphics http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...er-install-order-guide-alienware-systems.html then install NVIDIA DRIVERS 314.22WHQL.

@bigtonyman additional info regarding Optimus, never used / will.

 

Just a little update to this: I got home and everything seems to be working just fine with just original Windows 8 drivers (for both video cards). I guess I'll relax and play tonight because I haven't played in several days and think about if I should upgrade both video card drivers tomorrow or not. (Kinda "if it is not broken, don't fix it?").

Will keep posted in any case Thanks!

 

Glad to hear you got it fixed!!! If you ever have the issue in the future follow what j95 said and just manually shutoff the igpu in the bios so that the discrete is forced to be used. Sorry I didn't reply earlier but its been a crazy busy day. I haven't been on top of nvidia drivers in a while, but that will hopefully be changing soon.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S2 running Resurrection Remix

 

Last (? hope so!) update about this issue: Have been using my system for a couple of days with zero issues from original Windows 8 video drivers for both video cards. I am not sure if eventually I should upgrade them or just keep working this way, because "if it is not broken don't fix it"?

Anyway, BIG THANKS to @j95 for his very valuable help; without it I wouldn't had been able to solve all this.

 

Try it out, updated drivers for newer games / apps and you can always roll back drivers + system restore.