m17x R3 w/AMD graphics driver issue

I followed the directions located here: Proper AMD/ATI Driver Install - Alienware User Support

1) Programs => Uninstall ATI (everything).
2) Checked device manager and had 2 "Standard VGA Devices" for my video cards.
3) Rebooted into safe mode w/networking.
4) Ran Driversweeper (now Driver Fusion) and removed everything that it would allow me to. Ran it 3x just to make sure. Even broke out the old Driversweeper to make sure.
5) Rebooted and verified that no custom drivers were installed then ran CC Cleaner as specified. Ran 3 times to get the "No Results Found."
6) I rebooted again just to make sure everything was ok.
7) I installed the latest ATI driver on Dell's website, AMD Radeon HD 6970M, v.8.851.2, A02
located here: Driver Details | Dell US
8) Rebooted and verified that I could switch graphics just fine. downloaded the latest ATI catalyst package here which supports the 6970m graphics card: AMD Catalyst
9) Chose express install and everything installed fine. I was not prompted with a restart so I manually restarted. I did get a message saying it may not have be installed properly but I said it was before restarting. I did NOT get the BSOD, the system just restarted. Upon restarting I still was in full graphics and not the standard vga. I checked CCC => Information => Software and it was still referencing the old graphics. I tried reinstalling again and the same results.

From CCC Information:

Driver Packaging Version 8.851.2-110609a-120503C-Dell
Provider ATI Technologies Inc.
2D Driver Version 8.01.01.1152
2D Driver File Path /REGISTRY/MACHINE/SYSTEM/ControlSet001/Control/CLASS/{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}/0000
Direct3D Version 7.14.10.0833
OpenGL Version 6.14.10.10765
Catalyst Control Center Version 2011.0609.2331.40394

I cannot seem to get the system to take the newest drivers even though it's running just fine without errors. What steps should I take to get these drivers installed?

Alienware m17x R3 w/bios A12 (latest)
Windows 7 x64
6GB Memory
2 x 300GB HD Raid 0
ATI 6970M

 

Have you tried installing as custom instead of express?

 

Yes same results. When I do custom, all of the pieces say I have the up to date version. Obviously this is not true.

 

From what I can tell, you un-installed and cleaned up as advised, but then installed the Dell driver and THEN installed the AMD driver over the top of the Dell one. Why not try repeating the procedure but instead of installing the Dell driver at stage 7, simply install the AMD driver and do an express install. This should then be a totally clean driver install and not an "over the top" install which is obviously leaving traces of the Dell CCC behind.

 

I'll give it a shot this afternoon. Wouldn't that result in me losing the ability to swap to the Intel graphics though?

 

I don't think so. The clean install guide mentions the following in the opening post:

If you find that switchable GFX is not working, you could try below, from this thread: http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...install-reference-drivers-m17x-r3-6990-a.html

Spoiler

 

I think that in order for it to get it you need to install the DELL driver 1st.

 

I had some problems too and would like some help. I installed 13.4 over Dell's M17x official drivers after a clean install. Windows installed Intel drivers (pic) and I installed Dell's Intel drivers. When I switch graphics to Intel and then want to go back to the 6970m, I have to go to device manager and click enable the 6970m card for it to work. In Catalyst Control Center it is not possilbe to switch back to the 6970m. It also seams that the Intel and the 6970m are considered different displays (pic). And for me to use the 6970m I have to "conect only projector". When I want to use the Intel gpu I have to "disconect projector". Has anyone idea of what is happening? View attachment 96282 View attachment 96283

 

For the PC to run well we always recommend to use the DELL drivers, they are the latest stable drivers.

 

That is fine but your drivers are ANCIENT and do not have the latest tweaks and performance improvements for new games. How can you say the RELEASE drivers by DELL are the best ones and there's been a bunch of releases by AMD that DELL hasn't even attempted to use. People pay top dollar for these giant paperweights that they want to be able to use the latest drivers.

If you're going to comment, please provide feedback that is useful to fix the problem. I followed Alienware's directions and still it is not working. Thinking modified INF is going to be the way to go.

 

It's unfortunate, but I imagine Dell cannot validate every single driver release from AMD and Nvidia across every Alienware platform. That would be quite some task. I think the reason Brother Porras recommends the Dell driver is basically because they are the ones that Dell have validated for use, and work (should be without issue) on your machine. Performance is lack-lustre when compared to the most recent reference drivers, so it's not ideal.

Maybe a clean install would help iron out your problems? - it's maybe worth considering at this point if you are still having problems.

 

Clean install as in wipe the computer and reinstall windows?

 

Yup. It could be a good idea. If you are not having any success with updating drivers, a fresh start is definitely worth considering.

 

ok. i'll have to look for the alienware disk to do a fresh install.

 

Thank you for posting your procedure Darthn, I have been following these exact steps to install the latest amd drivers, however ever since amd drivers 13.xx they have not been working. The main issue is with the igp for my case. So in order to fix this issue, i disabled my igp within the bios. cleaned up every remaining amd driver and simply installed the latest amd driver without the dell recommended drivers. Everything works fine except that igp will now be disabled, good luck mate.

 

Same, IGP disabled since they released A12 bios and everything works fine. no headaches.