fn f7 issue

Hello, for some reason whenever I press fn+f7 and reboot it turns off all my gpu's. Going to system devices the option for gpu devices (which normally has 7970 and intel 400 as an option) isn't there at all. Also right clicking the desktop and opening the catalyst control center will give an error saying I don't have the driver installed.

Any idea's? I already tried reinstalling the AMD driver using both the Dell website and the resource dvd. With switchable graphics enabled the 7970m works fine (5600 score in 3d mark 11), however gw2 will run on the Intel card.

Thanks

 

Your system shouldn't boot if it can't find a graphics device. It also helps to post your systems specs, including which Catalyst Control Center you are running. If you recently upgraded to the newest AMD Catalyst package, then it is perhaps an Enduro (auto-switching) issue. There should also be an Intel Graphic control panel which you can open. If that opens correctly, then its a fair bet your system is running on the iGPU (you haven't tried updating the Intel iGPU drivers have you?). Another way to check is using GPU-z. It will read only the active GPU.

 

I have an I7-3630qm, 6GB ram and the 7970M. My Catalyst Control Center is version 2012.0605.1337.22439. I couldn't update the the latest catalyst via AMD website, because after downloading and starting Catalystmobilty I get an error that my computer hardware isn't supported. So the only drivers I installed were the ones that came on the driver dvd with my computer.

I will add the GPU-z info in a few minutes.

edit:

Okay, so GPU-z doesn't seem to work properly when switchable graphics is enabled.

After pressing fn f7 and rebooting GPU-z would run fine, however everything is empty it doesn't detect any card.

 

I got GPU-z to work with switchable graphics enabled by running a game first.

Anyways these are the ss's of the gpu's:

 

Well, first off, I misspoke in my earlier post. You should not have tried to update your AMD Catalyst Package if you plan to run switchable graphics. The update doesn't always work. Looks like your running the latest stock AMD drivers from Dell, so that eliminates that angle. Yeah, the GPU-z should have no problems with detecting the switchable GPU setups. The screenshot of the AMD info shows something weird is going on because it should detect your AMD VBIOS without any issue. Which GPU shows up under display adapters in device manger? If the 7970m card doesn't show up, then the system is not currently switched to it. I'm still thinking it's an Enduro issue, but there are two possibilities which come to mind:

1) Your AMD card is malfunctioning. This is very possible, but not easily confirmed. The only sure-fire way to confirm it is for you to flash the unlocked BIOS for your R4, and disable the Intel iGPU and set the BIOS to use the AMD 7970m card only. This is dangerous because IF there is a serious problem with your AMD card, forcing the BIOS to use only the 7970m can cause your system to softbrick. The only way to fix it after that is to blind flash the BIOS.

2) Your drivers have become corrupt or screwy. Question is, do you want Enduro or switchable graphics, or would you rather just run your 7970m card all the time? Let me know your preferences. And here's a driver package that is working for R4 users: http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...-12-11-9-010-0-enduro-performance-driver.html. It's based off the 12.11 Catalyst Control Center, so it is a step up from the 12.6 Catalyst Control Center you are currently running. This driver package fixes some of the Enduro issues present.

 

Yeah, the 7970 is shown in device manager when running on switchable graphics. I will try that 12.11 driver to see if that helps.

I'm not to familiar with AMD drivers though. Is it still uninstall with device manager, run driver sweeper in safe mode and then reinstall? If yes, do I uninstall both the intel 4000 and the 7970m or just the 7970m?

 

I installed the drivers. I had to install them over my old drivers, because with a clean install I'd get a BSOD. I'm pretty sure the installation is successful considering my 3dmark 11 score increased by 750.

Anyways the same problem is still there pressing fn f7 somehow turns of both my cards and GPU-z still doesn't detect the AMD bios.

 

Fn+F7 won't turn off both cards. It just makes Windows not see which one is activated. OK, time for plan B. It's risky, but I want you to install the unlocked R4 BIOS. Then go into the BIOS, under the Advanced Tab, select Video Configuration. See what it says there. Check under Primary Display. If it says AUTO or SG, change it to PEG. This will force the BIOS to use the 7970m card. Then select internal graphics device, and change internal graphics device from enabled to disabled. This will disable the Intel GPU entirely. Switchable graphics won't work since there's no Intel iGPU to switch to. Run your system like this for a while (+/- 3 days). Games, videos, etc. The idea is to stress your 7970m card and see if the switchable graphics issue is with your AMD card (which it looks not to be since the Catalyst 12.11 drivers installed successfully) or the problem lies with your Intel iGPU drivers.

 

Wow I found the problem. I didn't know you had to install the AMD drivers twice, once when switchable is enabled and once when it is turned of. Thanks a lot for trying to help and I'm sorry for wasting your time =/

This was the thread that made my realize this: M17x arrived today, GPU issues? - Alienware Arena Forums

Sorry once again +rep though