M17x and Windows 7

Do you have the same down clocking issue ?

 

The problem I'm experiencing is both GPUs switching their clocks to max during web browsing and similar non-demanding tasks, they downclock as soon as you minimize all open windows, but after gaming/load only 1 GPU (secondary) donwclocks itself to min/norm, the other (primary) stays at max with the fans 30% and 50c....grrrrr...

 

Well, it does go up to max for web browsing, especially if looking at images/videos. But I only have one card running right now (260m, not TWO 280m's like in my sig). I don't know that I actually have a problem, but I'm sure I can cut off a few extra degrees so I'm sub-40C at idle.

 

Ok so I installed the 195.81 (I didn't uninstall the previous one, just run the installer with the modded INF. No restart was required) So far, when browsing the cards do downclock to 200/400 instead of going all the way to the top 583/1450. So some relief is here.
Now testing load/gaming...


Edit: they still occasionally go to max clocks when browsing but not always and fall back easier.

 

Eureka!
Just run Crysis and am pleased with both FPS and GPU temps (3-5c lower). But the most important is that GPUs get to 200/400 afterwards. Problem solved. Will monitor for possible side effects.

 

This may have been addressed 6 months ago but Windows 7 and Server 2008R2 are both on kernel 6.1, which is a brand new kernel.

For reference, the Vista/Server 2008 kernel was 6.0. Microsoft used kernel version 6.1 and not 7.0 for Win7 for the benefit of existing software/driver comparability expecting a kernel version 6.

 

Do we have a fix yet for that blasted W7 disconnecting web connection when comp goes into sleep? I would turn off sleep but I'd rather not. I leave my comp for twenty minutes to load some tv shows streaming from the web and I come back and my connection is interrupted and stopped downloading - completely counterintuitive to leaving it on in the first place!

And to make matters worse, I JUST downloaded a new driver [from Microsoft update] for my USB wifi antenna and it still does this.

I've read people are getting this issue for all kinds of web connection, especially the stock wifi 802.11N card in the computer.

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*Edit: I just checked my power plan and saw that sleep is turned OFF. So, this web interruption is happening with the 'display being turned off' too.

 

Web disconnects are always a tough one, have you tried to connect it via ethernet to see if the same problem persists?

Issues with disconnects might be
-Interference with surrounding AP's or other devices on the 2.4ghz spectrum
-Problem with the Wifi Router/AP
-Problem with the Wifi adapter on the machine

Are you using USB for Networking? That's never a great long term solution, have you looked into expresscard adapters? Why don't you use the built in adapter?

I dont have disconnect issues with mine and i'm on Windows 7, Stock Wifi adapters, and Linksys Wireless N ADSL Router.

 

Were you using these drivers: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=5459471#post5459471

I've not seen any issues since using these and for WiFi I have always avoided stock drivers from MS Update as they always seem to break my systems.

 

So, i have a M17x (i believe r1) i got it the second day the M17x came out. It has the integrated nvidia 730i motherboard and the GTX 260m. I got it with windows vista x64. My school offered us windows 7 for $30, i couldnt pass up the deal so i got it. With windows 7, hybrid graphics is not supported, and only my intergrated card worked. Dell(why did they have to buy Alienware, by the way?) was absolutely no help because i so called broke warranty by installing a new OS without them.

So, I tried to find help, no one could help me, so I am turning to you guys, is there a way to get it back? I am willing to do anything, even if it requires disposal of my integrated card. I am willing to flash the new revision bios, if possible, I don't care, i just want my powerful graphics card back.

For the time being I am back using Vista and I feel like i got screwed by both companies, neither wants to work with me.

any help would be greatly appreciated

also:
I do have all the updated drivers, it's just windows 7 doesn't support the actual hybrid graphics, so it only utilizes the very minimal integrated. but I also only had bios A02 when I tried the install of Win7, did they "fix" the hybrid graphics issue with the new Bios? I haven't tried. also the last time when i went to win 7 my system crashed so often (because of the graphics errors) that I had to a system restore to factory. It was bad. What do you think the chance of me having the same issue is?

 

Doesn't make any sense. Have you tried installing the drivers for the 260m?

 

yes, it was back in late november, early december when the problem accurd. So I didn't quite have the "new" drivers, but they were up to date. Another thought, when I had Windows 7 installed, it did not even show that I had 260m in my system, there was a strange unknown component though.

Since the driver( i have the most up to date, just checked) is the same between vista and 7, and because I have A03, is it safe to assume I shouldn't have the same issues, like did i switch to soon?

 

I don't think you'll have any issues. I suggest backing up everything, then doing a fresh install of Win 7, then update all the drivers. Most people with the M17x are running Win 7, so I'm thinking something went wrong. It sounds like the GPU drivers didn't install properly. Download all the drivers, then do a complete format and reinstall. Win 7 drivers should pick up the integrated card I believe, and then you can update to the new GPU drivers from the dell site. If you do that and run into problems, let us know exactly what the problem is in as much detail as possible. But the latest BIOS does help when it comes to some of the latency issues.

 

The 260m won't appear until you enable it through the option within the nVidia tray icon or the FN key

Make sure a) that Hybrid is actually enabled in the BIOS, b) that you remove all nVidia drivers (use a cleaner app if you want as well) then reboot. Once Windows 7 has finished sorting itself out, reboot once more, install the nVidia chipset drivers (don't install the Ethernet or SATA to avoid issues), then another reboot, followed by the latest nVidia driver for the 260M.

Once that's done, you should get the tray icon appearing that lets you switch to the 260M.

To say that "Windows 7 does not support Hybrid" is simply not true.

 

+1, great advice. I don't have experience with nvidia cards so thanks for helping!

 

I don't quite have anything to back-up on, are there any free trial sites for that? i mean in total i only have 125GB used. I do understand the importance, but do i have to do a clean install? its just I have the upgrade, not the full OS, because even if you take the choice of "clean install" with it, it still leaves behind a tiny partition (if I remember correctly).

random, thanks for serving our country, i really look up to you. It's something I wanted to do, but couldn't because of disabilities.

well, from what happened to me and what microsoft said, for example http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=2942 I just figured it was true.

 

Thanks, for that.

I don't think you have to do a clean install, you can probably just do the upgrade, then it would save all your other files in a folder. So that should work.

 

Thanks alot you two. So, I am doing that today, I will let you know how everything works out, hopefully by tonight. =D TTYS

 

Ok, so it failed miserably. =/ I did everything I was suppose to, i got it installed and as soon as it rebooted to what should have been the log-in screen, I was met with the same blue screen "of death" that has irked me so many times before. the system crashed, restored itself to an earlier date and now I am back at Vista home Premium x64. Do I try again? or do I wait for another windows to come out in a few years? It kind of makes me sad, I have been dealing with pc's since i was little, I never in my entire life had so many issues. Any advice guys?

 

I have issues too in moving from Vista to Seven.
I could install but I had to desactivate hybrid graphics. I'm running on the 260 all the time (bios change).

My problem is that i regularly have VERY long freeze under windows. I updated all drivers without success.
There are 2 things windows did not reconize and I don't know what.

My Wireless card isn't working at all and I tried everything that was suggested in Gizmo guide. So I ordered a new one.

I'm so frustrated. It seems i have to choose between vista that I hate, and an unstable Windows seven. :'(

I'm not sure i'll buy a new Alienware in the future. It seems I have more problem with this "deluxe" computer than I would have had with another brand.

 

well, atleast you get power, i was stuck with 9400 when it actually booted up fully. and I also had the same wireless card issue, it seemed to now exist to win 7.

I am going to attempt installation again, without the drivers for gfx or wireless, and when i finally get it up and running if at all possible, i am going to then install all the drivers.Maybe I'll get lucky. who knows, I believe it's worth the trouble.

oh, and i completely agree that i will never buy alienware again. I've had home built linux based comp's that worked better, so what if i have to use wine to play my games.

 

Purchased my M17x in November 2009. While it came with WIN7 Home I immediately dumped everything and installed WIN7 Ultimate 64. The only problem I had was the media bar lighting up/working intermittently - called Dell and a tech arrived at my house 2 days later to replace the bar.

Just curious how a computer that operated fine with Vista has so many problems with WIN7, essentially the same O/S. Has anyone tried removing a stick of RAM or installing a new hard drive?

@dlingerfelt22 - you really need a local backup solution. Does your M17x support a second HDD?

 

ok, I got mine june 26, 2009, pre-windows 7 for alienware systems. The versions after that were different. But, i will continue to try, even after Alienware being absolutely no help.

and yes, you can add RAM and Hard drives no issue.

yes it does support a second hdd, I just can't find a low price 2.5in, I was planning on getting a 500Gb, because I DJ For WKUF 94.3, I need the extra room. and why not have a safe backup.

 

Did you update your M17x BIOS? Version A03 dated November 11, 2010 is available on Dell's Web site - from dell.com go to FOR HOME/SUPPORT & DRIVERS/DRIVERS & DOWNLOADS and then use the drop-downs to get to the M17x page. Look for BIOS and there should only be 1 available.

Typical Dell the friggin date is all jacked up because there is no way they could release a BIOS dated November 2010!

And I did not use the Dell GPU driver - got mine directly from NVIDIA.

 

I think the problem is mainly due to OEM Win7. Had a friend who installed WIn7 Pro on his M17x, it's all good. Mine with OEM OS freezes a lot.

 

If it's the same edition of Win7, there is no difference between your OEM and a full copy. It's just a licencing thing.

 

1. I had Vista installed on my R1 and now the Command Center is half missing after installing W7 via the Microsoft upgrade program that was offered. Although, as long as sense and FX still work I'm ok with that for the time being.

The only weird thing is that when the machine goes to sleep the FX stops working when it wakes back up. The keyboard FX works as normal but the Logo, strip, Head, and speaker positions are all dark. I have an older version of the FX loaded as you can imagine. Perhaps I should update the Command Center. If I reboot cold then all is happy.

2. I also noticed that at a cold boot the keyboard lights immediately but the remaing FX items light after the OS is loaded and all the icons appear in the system tray. My assumption is that the OS loads the Command center almost near the last of the load process. The question being.. is there a file to modify to place it in the correct boot position, like the win.ini file or something. With that in mind I have to let you know I had to uninstall CCenter a few times so I could load the W7 version.

The machine is working flawlessly to this point so I take my time to consider updating anything.
Is
The steps are like stated elsewhere...
1. uninstall Command Center
2. Boot into safe mode
3. Use CC cleaner to cleanup
4. Boot back into machine
5. Install Command center
6. Reboot
7. Reboot

That's right Reboot twice for command center to work correctly.
I read these steps elsewhere in these pages if my memory servs.

3. The only other thing is the camera light in W7 reacts different.
The light actually shows when the Driver is loaded and flashes the camera. This may be a activation of the camera thing.
It will also flash on shut down as well. It is perhaps taking a picture of you anyway....(stop looking over your back you guys,,,)

It is perhaps a setting in the sense portion of command center.

just my thoughts.


Dilinger: When replacing the drives with another kind make sure that you use the correct ones. Alienware r1 and r2 use the slim line drives. I do not know the thickness requirements but it is not the norm when dealing with 1t or bigger drives.