The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    New M17X R4 Windows 8 reinstall

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Kevinmcg, May 10, 2013.

  1. Kevinmcg

    Kevinmcg Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    177
    Messages:
    737
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Hello,
    So a few days ago. I got an m17x R4. It came with a 128gb ssd and a 750gb hdd. Needless to say dell installed windows 8 on the HDD lololol.
    So i had to install it on the ssd. When i did that, the disc didnt have the drivers built in so i had to go to the website. Now when i go to the website and install the soundblaster drivers. My mic doesnt work. It lists it as "Microphone Array" but it picks up no sound. Prior to this install The microphone works but the sound sucks as it has NO bass. Like i have 2.1 speakers plugged in and nothing comes out of the bass. Oh I also installed a windows 8 start bar and after that windows 8 got corrupted and now i have to install it all over again. Its been a pretty bad experience. The rep also didn't offer me any help when he called to ask that i received it all right. He just said he'd leave the case open. Which wasn't very reassuring.

    Thoughts on what i should do anyone?
     
    Kevinmcg, May 10, 2013
    #1
  2. DDDenniZZZ

    DDDenniZZZ Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    810
    Messages:
    1,311
    Likes Received:
    35
    Trophy Points:
    66
    See how the reinstall goes, there is a guide for clean install drivers installtion, but basically you just need to install all drivers on the support site, then update the computer using windows update and finally update the graphics drivers (amd/nvidia) direct from their websites. I didn't follow the guide for my windows 8 installtion but mine turned out ok.

    Could have been just disabled? FN+F9 might have 'unmutted' it I guess. Who knows, maybe try the sound blaster control panel and enable/disable the effects (I like them on personally as it enhances the sound coming from the built in speakers).

    Also when you reinstall make sure your using UEFI/fast/safe boot if you want it, (you need to disable legacy support) and choose between AHCI/RAID (AHCI is more compatible, RAID is for any raid drives you might have).
     
    DDDenniZZZ, May 10, 2013
    #2
  3. Kevinmcg

    Kevinmcg Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    177
    Messages:
    737
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    31
    It wasn't muted. I forgot to mention that last night after it restarted one last time in w8 the ATi drivers couldn't find the 7970m to install the 13.5 drivers.
     
    Kevinmcg, May 10, 2013
    #3
  4. steviejones133

    steviejones133 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    7,172
    Messages:
    10,077
    Likes Received:
    1,122
    Trophy Points:
    581
    steviejones133, May 10, 2013
    #4
  5. Kevinmcg

    Kevinmcg Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    177
    Messages:
    737
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Kevinmcg, May 10, 2013
    #5
  6. Alienware-L_Porras

    Alienware-L_Porras Company Representative

    Reputations:
    3,658
    Messages:
    6,874
    Likes Received:
    969
    Trophy Points:
    281
    Alienware-L_Porras, May 10, 2013
    #6