Windows 10 and nVidia 980M GTX upgrades for Alienware (M17X-R4, without Optimus: Working Great!)

Ok, I tried to read up on the driver modding, but I got a 3yr old running around makes it hard to work. I did find my device ID for the 980m and downloaded the Eurocomm drivers for said device ID. The drivers Failed to install, DSE is disabled. Woodz help! what is the device ID for R4?

 

Your hardware ID you mean ? You gave that to me in an email. Can you give me an example of how it fails. What exactly does it say ?
Do you get a prompt/warning from windows telling you your going to install a non-WHQL driver and it gives you the options to Cancel or "Install anyways" before nVidia tries to install ?

 

I need to know if it fails to install, as in no hardware supported, or it tries to install and fails, or it installs and finishes but the driver /card doesn;t work and shows not installed on next boot - when you check device manager.

Also what OS are you using again ? windows 10 or windows 8 ? (or windows 7, if that is such a thing today, still)

If you have issues, since you were literally a customer of mine, just give me a call, my telephone is on the package near the address, I will explain everything and we can go through the steps, this might be the easiest, and less stressful approach. Cheers !

 

The link I gave was my own Drop Box.

Ah okay, rereading the posts I also see you have a 120Hz screen, okay things get tricky. Just call me, or let me know when i can call you, and send me your Tel. in a email or private message an when to call.

I think the steps on the first page are good, they should work universally, unless I missed something.



here is what normally has to happen :

• 
  Get unlocked bios.
  install 680M/keep it in there for now.
  go to bios, disable all boot options, just set it for UEFI, no legacy, no securom, no fastboot.
  Find the graphics menu in bios, set to PEG mode.
  shutdown. remove 680M, install 980M.
  Install windows. If needed run DISKPART from CMD prompt to CONVERT to GPT partition.
  This means your windows is on a UEFI enabled device like a EFI USB enabled GPT enabled USB drive, like what you woudl do using Rufus when creating the USB drive.

When windows 8/10 is installed fresh (not an upgrade, won't work otherwise properly)
Update ALL hardware and drivers and windows updates first. 100% make sure they are ALL updated.
Now disable DSE, and run Setup on the driver as ADMIN. Should have to "continue to install anyways" because windows still attempts to bother you with a prompt from UAC and DSE still... but that's when you know it's working.

 

LOL... Windows 7 still dwarfs Windows 8, 8.1 and 10 combined. Indeed, the best version of Windows ever released (Windows 7) is still the best, and still claims King of the Hill status. It's certainly hard to tell that from all of the baseless media hype over their latest abortion. It's clear from the amount of calories and money they are burning on W1ndoze OS X hype they would like us all to feel uncontrollably compelled to drink the Kool-Aid and jump on the downgrade bandwagon. What market share can be claimed is probably attributable to a high percentage of hijacked systems that have been taken by force. It probably doesn't reflect the number that have tried it, hated it and went back to Windows 7.

[parsehtml]<iframe width="600" height="570" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="" id="na635968640802620000"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">document.getElementById("na635968640802620000").src="http://www.netmarketshare.com/report.aspx?qprid=10"+String.fromCharCode(38)+"qpcustomd=0"+String.fromCharCode(38)+"qpf=16"+String.fromCharCode(38)+"qpwidth=600"+String.fromCharCode(38)+"qpdisplay=1111"+String.fromCharCode(38)+"qpmr=10"+String.fromCharCode(38)+"site="+window.location.hostname</script>[/parsehtml]Micro$lop would like us all to believe their new bloatware OS is the slickest thing since WD-40, but the numbers do not bear that out.

Like Windows 10, their market share on mobile/tablet is low as well.
[parsehtml]<iframe width="600" height="570" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="" id="na635968642080300000"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">document.getElementById("na635968642080300000").src="http://www.netmarketshare.com/report.aspx?qprid=8"+String.fromCharCode(38)+"qpcustomd=1"+String.fromCharCode(38)+"qpf=16"+String.fromCharCode(38)+"qpwidth=600"+String.fromCharCode(38)+"qpdisplay=1111"+String.fromCharCode(38)+"qpmr=10"+String.fromCharCode(38)+"site="+window.location.hostname</script>[/parsehtml]And, with a free OS we can see the expected milking of the public already starting.
Here's an email I received that is an example of what we can expect to see more of.

 

ahh the onedrive team.. currently and always set to : "screw you over".

 

Just remove that component from the Win10 ISO using some DISM capable toolkits, Win10 has the highest amount of bloatware than a fully virus infested 1998 computer...

 

Yeah. Nice
<Win10 has the highest amount of bloatware than a fully virus infested 1998 computer>. No it cant be so, becauce Win X is a virus, LOL
Of course is Win X a virus... And can not remove itself, because it's infected from the beginning.

 

You know of a good W10 Unattended team/version available on the net without all the bloatware?
I haven't installed WShyyyyyt10 yet and don't intend to but still... in case I do try it, this kind of info is good to know.

 

I know we can install an LTSB windows with removal of some bloated components but the LTSB is on TH1 only and it doesn't work properly iirc with the maxwell,TH2 is fine but I don't want a part baked OS on my machine, Like now install the TH2 with all bloat removed, components like cortana and much more but again when the RS1 comes that TH2 will become obsolete, this new windows as a service is complete BS, LTSB is only the version to install for people who like Win7 .

 

congratz to all you Microsoft haters, you win this weeks derailing contest, hahah.

The last guy with the GPU issue has it resolved. Was DSE, as suspected.

 

I am not intimately familiar with all of @j95 Maxwell tweaks for Alienware simply because I have not needed to be. I have never owned an M17xR4 and I gave up trying to get 980M SLI to work in the M18xR2, in great part because not being able to run Windows 7 in Legacy mode was a deal breaker for me and was not interested in Windows 8/10 being my only option. I still use Legacy mode for everything as a matter of preference, including Windows 8 and 10. My Panther and the Sky X9 have Windows 7, 8.1 and 10 in triple-boot with Legacy/CSM mode.

One thing about the NVIDIA Inspector Profile tool (and the GeForce Profile Tool released by NVIDIA) is that you can no longer import all of them in one huge file. This feature got broken about 18 to 24 months ago and I believe it is because so many of the profiles have bizarre Chinese characters. If you manually delete those profiles it will work, so it almost has to be those Chinese characters. The export feature works but the import fails. What you can do is export profiles for the games you care about one-by-one and import them into older drivers. That works without issue, it is only importing the big profile for everything that fails.

Nice! Glad you got it sorted. They are fortunate to have your assistance with this upgrade process. I hope they realize how blessed they are to have you as a resource for Maxwell upgrade help. You're an asset to the community and Eurocom.

 

Thanks for the kind words. I basically spend almost all day providing support and troubleshooting things with people, but they usually call me, or email me, or PM me , most are usually too shy to come on a forums and openly ask a community, so I try and encourage them to come here and do it.
If they do not come here, i'm usually not as inclined to help either. Too busy, too much going on, etc.

The worst is when they buy from competing vendor's / resellers and come to me to convince me to support them. The hardest thing, though, is supporting people when all the stuff they need is not openly shared. Drivers and bios updates with passwords and stuff. I don't care about that stuff, if you are going to do it yourself, here's the files I have, for free. If it's a Prema vbios or someone else's handywork, buy them a beer, and when your done, buy me one too, cause I guarantee everyday of everyweek is a long one XD

 

Yo Woodz, thanks you were absolutely correct. It was a long week for me, was not on my game and too tired to focus properly. Everything is running great! I was getting some throttling and tried J95 peg mod drivers and its running nice.

 

I'm glad everything is running smoothly now for you. Enjoy !

 

Hello everyone, I have an Alienware M17x r4 7970M with my computer under Windows 10, the card has burned yesterday, I want to know is if I buy a 970 or 980m I could install it directly and make an installation clean the system or it will not work? Thanks for your help

 

Oh hey !
Your already on NBR ! Yeah I will help you through this, no worries. Thought sorry about the 7970M. They never last long those cards. The ones I had back in the day lasted 3 months ea.

So yes, it will w0rk.

 

Guys,

I may need help getting a new woodz 970m working on my AW17 I am trying to get a fresh install of windows 10 done right now.

 

when I do a fresh install of windows is it supposed to boot up on the new graphics card or the integrated one?

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/alienware-17-60hz-gtx980m-upgrade.768673/page-32

For 60Hz
First get Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 installed under full UEFI, make sure you have AW OSD to switch Optimus / PEG modes.
Second flash a vBIOS from Device mngr in optimus mode, Prema mod v2.0 (disable it and flash)
Third switch to PEG mode, get an INF mod (PEG INF only), preferably from TechInferno thread 362.00 (Need to disable driver sign verification, instructions will be in the same thread by J95. Install this driver in PEG mode)

Optional - Can install an M17x R4 fan too for better cooling. Make sure you run a render test from GPU-Z and run a Firestrike to check whether it performs up-to the mark, And carefully install the GPU it requires some pressure since the Xbrace is a Clevo one and make sure you place thermal pads properly and on the backside too on the vRAMs. And when you update the driver check the Gaming forum for results and user experiences, newer is not always the best plus you have to reboot to the Safemode run DDU shutdown and Install the PEG modded INF driver normally from the PEG mode.

Goodluck and enjoy your Elitist, last of a kind machine !

 

pretty much how it is.

I recommend switching your harddrive to GPT as well.

Also when switching to PEG this is done two different ways, either modified unlocked bios, or by hitting the AWCC OSD switch Fn+F5 and rebooting (but you need everything up to date and installed hardware and updates wise)

SECOND : no need to flash the vbios. The vbios you have on the card is/should be fine, but yes, you COULD flash it.
(Because the vbios was from me)

You can use your own drivers you modify or mine or some from laptopvideo2go or T|I or elsewhere on NBR, but you have to make sure it has support for your specific hardware ID becauise it's 970M it will have 13D8 in it, and end with ****1028 for DELL. The asterix could be 0551 or 055A or such... depending how the laptop is configured I think.

 

How do you know if you are under full UEFI

 

First go to BIOS and make the boot option as UEFI only and disable legacy.. Next, as said by woodz make sure you are on GPT for that use Rufus, to make a UEFI bootable windows select "UEFI machine" option in Rufus.

When installing the Windows - Shift+f10 CMD> diskpart > list disk > select disk 0 > clean > convert GPT OR I guess if you select a drive and format it, it becomes a GPT drive since you are using UEFI based USB bootable with UEFI boot option from BIOS. I didn't had to use cmd method.

PS : If you like Win7 and the way Win7 is what Windows should be then don't go with Win10 get Win8.1 unless you want DX12 games which are generally not worth, bugged plus lack of user control. Use Classic Shell on Win8.x or Win10.

 

Looks like I got it to work. Should I still install Prema mod v2.0 or just leave it alone. Also what is the best overclocking software to use with that card. I also need a good monitor to check FPS and Temp.

Thanks

 

Well It's ur take on the vBIOS, I just did flashed it right away even though I don't overclock. But for OC use Nvidia Inspector and HWInfo for temperature monitoring..

 

Back up the vbios on it if you plan to flash it. before you flash anything, also test what you can do now, before overclocking it.

 

Yep always make a default vBIOS backup, I did mine too but unfortunately I deleted it accidentally (was in my ddu+inf modded folder, lost it thinking I had it backedup on my ext hdd)

 

Well, we resolved his issue, he let me know via email/PM (Forget which). Once your in dedicated mode and in Windows things get easier.

 

I received the gpu today, I have to flash the bios of my laptop before installing the gpu in or install the gpu then flash the bios of the laptop? the 7970 My laptop was burned I do not know where to start

 

Start at the first page. You can flash your bios on your laptop while on the intel HD chip, without any videocard installed.

If it is what I think it is, your flashing it to an unlocked bios so you can manually go dedicated mode , right ?

Just go and do that, then go into bios and make the changes needed for UEFI boot and such, after it's been flashed, then install the card, and install windows following the guide, like full UEFI on GPT partitioned drive windows 10 64bit, fresh, not from an upgrade whilst the graphics mode set in bios is "PEG".

Then disable DSE whenever your going to install the videocard drivers and run setup as admin. I recommend HIGHLY that you update and install everything else, and restart your computer 3-4 times before installing the videocard graphics driver. Windows updates can lag behind and screw things up. Get ALL hardware and software done first , like except games and the general run time libraries and Visual stuff.

 

http://hwbot.org/submission/2740451_

Overclocked M17X-R4

 

I must necessarily flash the bios or I can install the card without it and install Windows?

 

well, what's your situation, whats your OS and laptop model and which card ? What bios do you have now ?
If it's M17X-R4 and you have a bios version less then A11 I can just give you a copy of an unlocked bios, that will allow you to have the hidden menu's.
Otherwise - you MIGHT be stuck using Optimus, OR having to try a ridiculous cult-like effort praying to the laptop gods through repetitive tasks - to switch an invisible switch, unless your fine using Optimus. (which always has a performance hit with it)

 

I have not installed the card that I bought you, I have the bios A12 in m17xr4 and Windows 10, I do not know where to start

 

A12 bios gotcha. I do not think you can downgrade easily to A12 unlocked bios.
How did you get A12 bios ? You just have flashed it yourself, or did you get the laptop recently with that bios already ?

What you want to do first step is make sure your boot settings are set to UEFI and not not legacy in any fashion.
You want to make sure your install of windows 10 was on a GPT partition too.

once that is set, you can actually uninstall your old videocard drivers and make the swap.

I would wait to see where you are at before continuing. You should have a Microsoft basic display adapter showing in device manager when you boot with the 900M series.

If it doesn't boot, then you were not full UEFI in the bios. Disable legacy support, disabled fast boot and securom and just enable UEFI. If this makes your windows unable to load, then you need to re-install windows.

If you are going to re-install windows, let me know, just wanna make sure your also using a clean version, and not an upgrade, as that can make a difference, and screw up the drivers.

Clean means everything formatted, no files kept etc.. Also you can run DISKPART by hitting Shift+F11 at the install prompt/window that first shows up when you are going to re-install. A command prompt follows and you can run commands there.

If you need more help or explanation let me know. This is usually done with a telephone call, or via PM's back and forth etc. Otherwise it can take up a ton of space and messaging back and forth. You should have my telephone number on the package.

 

Hello,

I have an Alienware 17 (R5) running windows 10 (Build 10586) and the latest BIOS from Dell/Alienware. My nVidia 880m card died suddenly recently (now running on the intel graphics card only; I removed the nVidia card) so I'm thinking of upgrading to the 970m. I am concerned about this step in your instructions on post #1 though: 12- Re-install Win10/Windows 8/Windows 7

Do I really have to reinstall Windows 10? My machine was originally running Windows 8.1 and eventually upgraded to windows 10. Any other information you need, please let me know.

Thank you.

 

No, you can use windows 8, you will be fine. If you are looking for Maxwell cards I know where you can buy them for the best pricing and service around, just send me a PM.

 

Every time i manage to install a driver on the next reboot i get this: system_service_exception nvlddmkm.sys.
Windows 10 on M17xR4 with 970m , booting in SG mode with igd on auto.
With PEG mode i get 8 beeps.

 

with PEG mode, your not using full UEFI. Disable legacy boot, and disable securom and fast boot, and make it UEFI only.

 

as for the Optimus in windows 10, I never recommend it, but PEG mode is the way to go. But you get 8 beeps because your not loading a UEFI boot.

well - to be fair that's 99% chance the likely reason.

 

Thanks for the replies woodzstack , i am also trying it on windows 8.1 with everything legacy disabled in the bios and the PEG enabled ini file on 368.22 with same results.

 

Well i managed to get past the 8 beeps in full PEG mode but i am afraid not much better , i can see windows booting up from the cpu activity , but the screen is blank , it seems to turn a little brighter but still blank(i presume is in windows at that point).
I installed Eurocom`s driver for 0551028 whiich is PEG dedicated i believe.

 

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/jtkjy4kp05cau8l/AAA9JJPPLuFZ6R7h0mthQW-Ua?dl=0 should be latest driver for those who need it.

 

your still having issues ?

I've been running around, hard. Sorry I didn't get back to you in time, you can always message me directly with PM's, I do not subscribe to this thread so no updates when people reply, I manually check it, thankfully.

So - wait, black screen , windows 10, 9XXM full UEFI finally... do you see anything once it hits windows or hits hits post or is it black the whole time ?
Do you have a 120Hz monitor ?

Do you have an external monitor you can hook up to the laptop ?

Is there a chance you hit the external screen Fn button (is there one on the 17's ?)

When you installed for hardware ID 05511028, that was your specific hardware ID when you are in UEFI right ?
(If you had a black screen the entire time, how did you find out ? Or am I getting something mixed up here?)

In PEG (the right way to do this) you should be able to install the driver I linked, when you disable DSE and run as admin.

If anyone has trouble with it, let me know.

If your getting a black screen but it continues to load, I have theories but will wait and see for your input, first.

 

Oh Im such an idiot.. windows 8... okay, the driver should technically work, but I have a feeling it will not. Before you install check in device manager that when you are in UEFI - that the hardware ID matches the driver you were looking at.
Or we could mod you a universal one. Sorry it's so humid right now, I'm like passing out. My brain is foggy.

 

My screen is just the 60hz and the eurocom driver matches the hardware it of the card.
After some time the black screen becomes a bit brighter with more cpu activity , must be in windows.
I will hook it up to an external monitor tomorrow , thanks for the idea woodzstack never thought of it but so simple of an idea LOL.

Should i try a modded vbios , it is the stock clevo ending with .11 now

 

Actually, no, that vbios is perfect for the AW17.

 

**EDITTED: INITIAL PAGE***
(added small tips, like the"always use the paper strip test" etc..)
I should really just make video's for this stuff...

 

Hey Guys

I've completely followed this procedure to the letter when I got my 980m, worked perfectly and turned my M17xR4 to a beast.
recently though I've updated the version, upon my request, to 364.51 in order to try and solve the Witcher3 Crashing issue.

ever since my computer is having the 8 beeps issue with no success of recovery
I reset CMOS , take out the GPU everything I do will not get me to BIOS boot
after reseting the CMOS with battery out, I get a flash and turn off > 5 beeps > turn off > turn on > 8 beeps
what i can tell, is that the monitor turnes on, i see the "backlight" light so its not burnt and the cable is in place (I opened it up, and checked..)

I just cant reach bios anymore to set it correctly.. any ideas?

 

I'm no expert but I think it is a problem between Windows 10 and nvidia drivers whql, he got there same thing to people on the forum, look to threads http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...illing-alienware-and-clevo-lcd-panels.779449/