M17x and Windows 7

There is no built in TV-Tuner for the M17x. The ExpressCard Avermedia TV Tuner is what you "could" purchase with your M17x, and that's what that driver is for.

 

ok then i have my own avermedia express card hybrid tv tuner and its own drivers.

do you guys believe the dpc latency will be fixed?

 

Possibly, but I wouldn't hold my breath. Dell hasn't really lifted a finger to do much about it before. Just my opinion of course.

Moving forward, let's keep the DPC latency discussion HERE. Thanks all.

 

For win7, notice how they dont have video drivers yet ?

http://support.dell.com/support/dow...abIndex=&scanSupported=True&scanConsent=False

 

ok so to add to a list of my problems:

How do you output via HDMI to 1920x1080? It always outputs as 1920x1200 and I can't figure out how to change it, I've tried both the windows display resolution and the nvidia control panel.

 

Well, all the current ones are kinda buggy with the Hybrid SLI setup. I guess they have some real working Win7 drivers in testing which will hopefully be released soon. You can use the Vista drivers in the meantime, but there might be some issues, especially with Hybrid SLI enabled.

I don't know. When I tried it on my TV, it automatically switched the HDMI output to 1920x1080. I was using the 191.07 ForceWare drivers with modified .inf, though. I was also able to switch both independently in the Nvidia control panel and Win7's screen resolution setting. Maybe you should try unselecting clone mode or change which display is the primary one. It might take the resolution of the primary display in clone mode (clone mode will use both displays at the same resolution). You can also switch it to extend the desktop or something like that which should allow you to run both displays on different resolutions.

 

I've had little issues with the Win7 186.81 drivers and Hybrid SLI - I just updated to 186.82 to hopefully fix an occasional BSOD from sleep/hibernate, and the few minutes I had before leaving home this morning is that switching from the 9400 to the 280s is far quicker. I also have 7.2 across the aboard except for HDD speed at 5.3 for the Windows rating, which was 6.9 for Aero with the previous drivers. I know the built-in rating isn't the best of tests, but at least it's a simple and consistent test I can between updates and across different machines.

 

Did you set the laptop display to " Extend my desktop '? Thats what you would need to do. This setup is using your m17x as main, and your external as an Extended Dispaly( Without the task bar, start bar, just only extended of your laptop display). Once you have establish this, you can right click display, change display, and choose the Extended Display , and change it's resolution. I've done this all the time, either to my 24" Gateway HD Display or my 52" XBR LCD. You can change to any resolution on the extended display. Hope this helps, if you are still confuse , let me know.

 

hi,
i have a problem with wireless driver. When i install windows 7 to my alienware , the wireless work fine. But when i install the nvidia driver 186.82, the wireless driver don't work fine. What can i do?

 

But I don't want to extend it, I want to use it as the only display.

 

Is it a 4:3 monitor or a 16:9 monitor? Does the monitor support that resolution? Monitor drivers up to date?

 

The same problem, I don't have wireless conection with Win7 when NVIDIA drive is install, any solution?

thanks in advance

 

Mine was perfectly fine this morning after I had updated to 186.82 last night. I will check tonight what version of the WiFi drivers I was using, but I do know that I disabled the manufacturer wireless manager crap that got put into my startup. Win7 does a good enough job and I don't want the bloat - shame it can't be uninstalled without removing the drivers like you can with Intel.

 

Try completely uninstalling the Ricoh drivers. Let me know if it fixes the problem for you, it did for me.

 

i don't have understand what do you do. I have windows 7 professional.

 

I installed windows 7 ultimate this morning on my m17x with the drivers used off the dell website for windows7. I used the vista 64bit nvidia video drivers since windows 7 64bit not up. But after everything is loaded and seems to be all working good. I still have Base system device (2 of them) under other devices in my device manager. What could it be?

 

Those are the Ricoh devices. Be warned though that installing the Ricoh drivers (no matter if they are the ones from Dell or from Windows Update) has caused me big troubles with wireless connectivity. I don't know if it's the case on all systems, but it could very well be.
If you do decide to risk and install the drivers for these devices, let me know if you are seeing wireless connectivity problems (either not being able to connect/wireless adapter unavailable or having really low speeds like ~11mbps where you used to get much more on a G or N network). If not, it might just be a problem I'm seeing, if you do get the same problems, however, we know that it's the Ricoh drivers causing them.

 

oh yeah since i installed them i am having trouble with the wireless connection.

 

Just wanted to say I took Glzmo advice about disabling the ricoh devices. I am not connecting with no problems. Thanks Glzmo.

 

So... I've been running Windows 7 for awhile now, using the Vista x64 WLAN drivers previously posted (on Dell's M17x page). Are you saying that these worked for you, but the new Broadcom Win7 drivers on Dell's site does not?

I'm having no wireless issues (although I've only tested on an 802.11a network, not "g" or "n"), and I don't want to cause any by upgrading to the Win7 driver.

On another note... has anyone noticed that when you install the updated Command Center, Win7 loses its ability to "remember' the last login? By this, I mean, if you hit ctrl-alt-del, you simply get a password box, because the computer assumes you're the person who logged in last. Now, Sense messes that up, and you have to click an icon before you get a password box. Not a big deal, but still... it's annoying. Anyone found a fix for this? BTW, yes, Sense is turned off. I tried it, and it works great... UNTIL... you fail a recognition for whatever reason (such as low lighting). From then on, Sense will give a "Not Licensed" error, and fail to work, period. (I'm on a domain, btw... which may be relavent.)

I've had to revert back to the earlier CC until I can get this issue resolved. That extra click to login is minor, but for some reason annoys the hell out of me.

 

Does disabling the ricoh driver solve the shuttering problem?

 

I had installed the drivers off the win 7 list, did not try the vista ones.

 

Well, I haven't been experiencing any stutter (sound, video, etc.) since I've uninstalled the Ricoh drivers. It might help, but then again, I haven't really monitored stuttering issues since reformatting and installing the release version of Windows 7. I did experience video and audio stutter in the RC, but there I had Ricoh drivers running as well (and had connection issues, too). Changing out the mainboard fixed the stuttering mostly, but it was still there at times. Now it's completely gone, it seems. So it could be because of the Ricoh driver. But something else could have fixed it as well. I can't say, really.

Try completely uninstalling the the Ricoh drivers (so that your device manager Shows two "Base System Device" under "Other devices" and try if it helps any. Simply disabling the ricoh devices in the device manager might be sufficient, although I prefer conflicting drivers to be completely removed instead. Then let us know if it has an effect on your stutter issues.

 

Just checked and I'm running with the Ricoh Chipset drivers in Dell's R239407 package (v3.62.02) and also their wireless LAN drivers from R237484 (v5.20.21.0).

Like I said, these wireless drivers also installed some annoying Broadcom wireless config utilty which I disabled. However it does have a few cool tools which can be run its control panel icon I just don't want it handling my connections.

 

I have try with uninstal Ricoh driver, but the wireless driver don't go. If i uninstall nvidia driver, the wireless driver go. what can i do?

 

What versions are you running of each driver, nVidia and Ricoh?

 

for Nvidia 186.82 and ricoh 3.62.02

 

Sorry, I meant to ask for version of WiFi - is it the same as I listed above?

 

yes it is v5.20.21.0

 

people still use 4:3 monitors?

It's 1920x1080, 16:9. Yes it supports that resolution, the monitor works off my ps3's hdmi perfectly and my M17x's VGA port as well, but the VGA lags by 67 milliseconds compared to HDMI.

 

Anyone here used the upgrade version of Windows 7 to do a clean installation? If so, this gives exactly the same result as using a Full version on an empty hard drive, yes?

 

Yes
10char...

 

Thanks. Windows 7 time! Woohoo!

*crosses fingers for working M17x drivers*

 

if you guys Play WOW, wait on windows 7, because the video drivers just stink, they freeze up the entire PC having to do a Hard reboot, not sure why but lots of people are complaining about it, happened to me as well on this specific model. FYI I did disable to onboard 9400 in bios so thats a non issue.

 

Question:

I have my Steam, Media and Installers on my second hard drive. I wanted to remove this second hard drive before the installation of Windows 7 so that I can keep my stuff there.

I figured after the installation is complete I could just go and plug back my second hard drive and Windows 7 would just recognize it with all the stuff in it, and wouldn't have to format that one too.

Am I dreaming or would this actually work?

 

Quick sanity check for those with Wireless problems.
Have you checked that Wireless is enabled via Windows Mobility Centre as well as via the M7x Touch Strip button for Wireless? Probably you have, but easy to miss if you have the former disabled but latter enabled (OSD shows Wireless 'active' when not).

Cheers

Trelawney

 

It might. Some programs are "portable" while others are not. WoW, for example, you could just backup the entire directory and run it off an ext hd. Steam may not work that way, I'm not sure. But you don't have to remove the second hd, when you upgrade/install a new os, it doesn't erase all your hds and all your partitions, only the partition you're installing to.

 

the nvidia chipset drivers combined with nvidia graphics drivers cause the wireless problems.

uninstall one of them to fix it... and that'll probably be the chipset drivers, unless you enjoy not using accelerated 3d graphics.

 

^^^^NoOb question but wouldn't uninstalling the chipset drivers cause something else not to function correctly?

 

Actually, from my testing the Ricoh drivers (the ones from Dell's site as well as the ones from Windows Update - be aware that if Windows update is set for automatic installation of updates, it will install these buggy drivers automatically) appear to be the culprit that causes the wireless connection problems in Windows 7. Without them, any combination of Nvidia Chipset and video card drivers seem to be working fine for me.

Could you completely uninstall the Ricoh drivers so you have two "Base System Device" under "Other devices" (disabling the Ricoh devices in device manager might work as well) and check if it fixes your wireless connection issues? I'm just trying to narrow it down.

 

OK. Thanks.

Next Question:

What's the status so far on this W7 compatibility? Any issues exist for everyone, or is it just here and there for a few users? Don't make me read this giant thread please.

Any heads up?

 

Wouldnt uninstalling any major system drivers cause at least some system destabilization?

 

OK read the whole thing. It seems it might be hit-or-miss at times. Either way I'm gonna give it a shot as there doesn't seem to be universal problems.

Gonna follow BatBoy's blog order for installing the stuff. And I am gonna go with 186.82 (my current drivers) for the cards.

That's it I guess. If I don't come back to report it later tonight, it means I punched my computer in the face.

 

AW advises to follow this driver install order for Vista 64 (no updated info for W7 although I can't see it changing really):

http://4help.alienware.com/cgi-bin/alienware.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=6066

 

Wireless networking: Issue found, could be either the Ricoh or Nvidia chipset drivers, but removing the chipset drivers definitely fixes the issue. I'll test later.

Audio stuttering: Issue is related to the graphics card or driver... or maybe something else. Vanishes when using the 9400m.

OS Freezing / graphics drivers fatally crashing: I'd assume the graphics drivers are at fault here. 186.82 and 186.91 tested and both freeze. Testing Dell's Win7 x64 186.33 (but I don't think this will help) and the recently released 187.66 (modded inf) later.

I have HDMI output problems, but I require a lot more testing before I can be sure what's the actual problem.

 

Hence why I am waiting until they release 'official" drivers since they dont even have that on the support.dell.com site
That might tell you all soemthing.

 

Is anyone doing a dual boot to Vista or 7? That is what I am thinking of doing.

 

Fixed HDMI output by using a custom resolution in nvidia control panel.
187.66 is working well, no audio stuttering.

 

For those that have fixed issues by removing the nVidia chipset drivers, it may help to further narrow down the issue by only removing one bit at a time.

I had 15.35 installed and would occasionally suffer from the HDD access going 100%, the LED being full on. I reverted just that part to the default Win7 ones from Windows Update and that problem went away. Yes, I ran full diags 3 test loops overnight on the HDD and it's healthy.

I spotted this morning 15.49 on the nVidia site with updated drivers for all sections of their chipset - going to give this a go tonight and see if they fix the HDD issue or rather hope it doesn't come back.

Annoying thing is that many moons ago I swore I would never buy a nVidia chipset'd system (excluding video) as they were a hopeless - it was a Shuttle SN45G if recall. Had exactly the same issue as I had 5 years ago with the HDD driver being a piece of crap and the LAN port being flakey. Why can't nVidia stick to what they are good at with video as even 5 years later they are still brining out dodgy drivers? I'll be digging more deeply on my next purchase and avoiding them.

 

I solved the Wireless issued, what I did is:

1.-Uninstall the driver of network version Win7 and then Install the version vista 64.
2.- Install again the chipset Nvidia Win7 without the option ethernet, (uncheck)

I hope help people with the same problem