*OFFICIAL* M17xR3 Owner's Lounge Thread - Part 2

Thank you Batboy, so what do you think about just installing the media card reader driver later, even though it will not be in the right order of installs?

Also, is there any hope of multi-touch capability for our trackpad in the future. I'm using my old little macbook more than my Alienware just because of the multitouch trackpad. All I really want is the smooth 2-finger scrolling. The virtual scroll on the alienware is terrible.

 

For the media card reader driver, what is the exact issue you are running into when installing the current driver?

 

There is also a good chance that your current driver has 2 finger scrolling and you just have to enable it through the synaptics menu

 

Has anyone found a way to turn the touchpad AlienFX off?

 

FN+F12 will disable your touchpad (functionality and AlienFX lighting). Not sure if it would persist through power cycling but I'm sure you can confirm that part.

 

Set the color to black?

 

No, just hit FN+F12 and it will turn off the lighting and kill your touchpad.

Oh and Scook is probably right, I should have suggested checking the Mouse Control Panel first. Check the Synaptics settings tab. its a new touchpad, it should already have two finger scrolling supported.

+1 scook!

 

The Media Card Reader issue is BSOD randomly while Windows, followed by inability to getback into windows due to BSODs just after post. However, I have yet to confirm this. For the 5 million'th clean install, this time I left out the media card reader driver so time will tell.

I checked around the current synaptics options and only found virtual scroll bar. Any personal experience reported with m17x and scrybe?

 

I would just go with the dell driver again. Download this app and run it after you BSOD. This will help you confirm where the BSOD is coming from. Is it happening with all memory cards, or just one?
Resplendence Software - Advanced System Tools and Developer Components

For the touchpad, when checking under Device Settings, look under Scrolling - Two finger Scrolling should be there. Make sure you are running the current driver from dell.

 

Ryan glad to hear I'm not alone, I think it was the smart choice graphic cards are expensive... but graphics cards and screens are even more expensive! LOL

 

Yeah definitely lol
Hopefully our wait won't be long
+1 for making the smart choice

 

Ahhh!!! All right! Two finger scrolling! Not as smooth as apple but 5 times better than virtual scrolling area. That AND rotation, zooming, and three-finger flicking!
Thank you guys!

Also, I didn't have anything in the card reader. Right after I install the driver, I reboot and get greeted with BSOD.

Thanks again for the update on trackpad feature. I only looked *before* the updated driver. That or I just completely missed it.

I'm done with the drivers(except for the card reader), now onto updating flash, java, and directx.

 

I'd still go with the card reader. first report I've seen of a BSOD tied to it so it may have been a fluke.

 

I'll do a fresh download from the website and install that. I don't want to have to do this all over again. Though I suppose I could try your method of reversing the process.

 

Yeah, go for it. If you BSOD, run the app I suggested and PM me the info.
Resplendence Software - Advanced System Tools and Developer Components

 

After the install, I got this notification:

Disk Drive:
Device driver software installed properly.

Does that sound alright...?

There goes my BSOD. I saw sdbus.sys in the writings.

 

run WhoCrashed

 

WhoCrashed also thinks it's from sdbus.sys
Argh! is wrong with this driver!!!???

 

Please create a new thread in the 17x forum for this. Include the WhoCrashed info (copy/paste).

Thanks.

 

Can't set color to black. At least not on mine.

 

you can set the touchpad color to black, you just have to edit the theme file manually and change the touchpad's hex color.

use #FF000000

 

And that is exactly what I was looking for.
Thanks

 

To find it easily - set all your zones to red and the touchpad to white. Should make locating the correct zone in the theme file quite simple. have fun.

 

I felt that this would be the best place to ask regarding the M17x R3.

Would it be reasonable to purchase the 750GB HDD upgrade from the website for $100? I'm currently debating as to whether to just leave the HDD stock or to upgrade it to 750GB. The only things I will be upgrading will be the GPU and the LCD and maybe the HDD. GPU --> 6970M and LCD -->1920x1080 60Hz.

With only the GPU and LCD upgrade...it will total $1899.00. If I add the HDD it will be $1999.00. Do you guys think it's reasonable?

 

Pinoy! It's not worth it. For $100 more, You could get an extra 500gb momentus xt hybrid drive for a faster os drive.

 

Get the extra warranty also (3 years basic plan should do imo)!

 

Is there a Hybrid drive that is around 750gb? If I'm going to upgrade, I want it to be more than 500gb.

 

Im not sure. But still you could add that in your r3 to have 500gb+320gb.

 

If I don't order the RAID option, will it still have the second bay? Sorry for my noobish questions. This will be the first time I will order from AW.

 

Yes. It does include the extra caddy for the second bay.

 

Thanks for the quick response. It's accessible from the bottom of the notebook right?

 

Yeap. Just unscrew the 2 screws under the battery and slide then its off. Glad to help a fellow pinoy.

 

Thanks again! I'll go for your suggestion.

 

Since everything except that card reader is working.....I would make an OS image of everything up that point so you do not have to completely start over each time. You can do this by cloning the OS to another drive or creating a system image that windows can restore from if needed and storing that image on an external or other internal disk

You will find this saves you ALOT of time

 

Why are the POST and BIOS screens so dim?? Compared to any lappy I've ever had, they are very dim and it only brightens once the OS boots.

 

Could be the way you have the power settings in windows. Try maxing the brightness using the keyboard keys and then restarting.

 

Done that. When in the OS it is fine. But when POSTing or playing in the BIOS it is very dim.

 

fn + F4
10char

 

OK. I will write it ONE more time. Not working. Buuuuut, maybe I need to go into the BIOS and Fn+F4. Will try that and repost. I've just been trying while it is POSTing not while actualy in the BIOS. BTW, this thing is nice. A lot lighter, screen looks great to me, performance is top notch. No issues yet (other than brightness).

EDIT: I'm a moron. No comments. Go into the BIOS then change the Brightness. DUH!!!

 

XD
I did same thing. Started freaking out too, especially after fn+f10 multiple times during same startup was causing bsod.

 

I'm also Filipino!

Anyone know if we need the nVidia 3D controller driver cuz near the end of it's install, a notification of it not being installed successfully pops up even though shortly after, it does complete the installation.

 

This absolutely would have saved me days!!!
May I please get a detailed instruction on this process?

 

You should be able to make a system image using windows built-in tools. That would be my preferred method as I believe you can restore from this using the windows CD instead of doing a complete new install

 

May I recommend Clonezilla live? The first thing I do when I receive a new laptop is to clone its disk to an external drive, then I configure the windows and clone the system one more time just in case.

I use the 1gb USB thumbdrive for clonezilla image and external usb hdd for storage of the images. Clonezilla live should fit into 256MB thumb drive, though

 

I will do that as soon as I'm where I want to be before I clone.
However, I am having troubles with Windows Update. When I press the check for updates button, I get an error saying Windows can't check for updates. What's with that?

 

Do you have an activated copy of windows? Is your internet connected? Is your system date and time set properly?

 

Acativated? No. Never had to do it on Alienware before.
Internet, yes.
Date and Time... lol no.

 

If the date and time is wrong that makes Windows Update very angry haha

If it has not asked, then you should be activated. Was probably pre-activated from manufacturer (one of benefits of using disk from manufacturer)

 

Hey can someone link me to the M17x R3 benchmarks thread, I want to see what our babies can pump out comparatively to the older systems... also am I right in assuming the reason the 6970 isnt offered with the 3d screen is becuase nvidia has bought the (initial/extended) rights for only nivida cards to be offered with 3d?

 

There you go:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...alienware-m17x-benchmark-thread-part-4-a.html