M18x R2 Windows 8 OSD not working

Whilst they're looking into the Fast Boot issue, it mightn't even actually be possible to update the vBIOS to support GOP if the flash chip is too small so we just have to wait and see what they come up with.

It'd be nice to get some feedback from Alienware regarding the OSD and whether we are actually meant to see Alienware branded graphics in the Windows 8 version of the OSD software or not.

Also, I'm not sure how many of you are with me, but I'd really like to see an updated OROM in the next BIOS update. It's really disappointing that Dell ship these machines with RAID enabled, and even with SSD RAID from the factory with an OROM that doesn't support TRIM for SSD RAID. Come on guys.

 

Don't we have TRIM support for raid SSD already? If not then i'm up for that

 

Only if you flash the unlocked BIOS which has the updated OROM - It should be in the Dell stock BIOS.

 

Has anyone found a solution to this yet? I installed windows 8 yesterday (fresh install). I also installed OSD, and its not working the way it did in W7. All the functions work when I press the buttons but i don't get the custom Alien icons like W7. It just gives me the typical W8 icons. I tried all the solutions that were offered too, but still no luck.

 

The on-screen overlay probably never appears on the tiled Start menu. I use the "Metro" interface so seldom that I have never bothered checking. Does it also not appear when you are using the Windows desktop?

 

Very noobish question, but what is the onscreen over lay?

 

It is the image that pops up on your screen temporarily when you press one of the buttons. Some folks refer to them as "icons" since they give a visual indicator that you pressed a button. The important thing is that the buttons work, even though the visual indication is kind of nice... not needed.

 

Yes they work, the only thing is that they display the windows 8 icons not Alienware icons. I understand what you mean by them not being needed, but the way I see it is if it works for a majority of people then I must have done something wrong during instillation.

 

I doubt it is something you did wrong. It is probably a glitch in Windows 8. Heck, it might even be by design what you are seeing. I am not sure. What we don't know is how others are defining "works" because some may only be confirming the buttons do what they are supposed to do even if nothing displays on screen, so it is difficult to judge that.

 

Understandable, but how does it show up for you? It would be nice to know from Dell if it's suppose the display the same icons as W7 or not.

 

Asked dell rep's about that - still no answer. They're making A09 bios very slow...

 

I think it might have to do with whether you do a fresh install vs. clean install. Unless someone with a clean instill wants to chime in and prove me wrong. Heihachi88, are you still having the same problems too? I figured you might of gotten that solved by now, it's been close to a month and a half.

 

Well, when I do an OS install (Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8) I disable everything possible that they (Microsoft) deem "security" in the OS.

For example, I turn off UAC, set myself up as Administrator (limited user accounts suck) and manually take ownership control of every file and folder possible. I do everything I can to grant myself full and complete system level permission access and control. Everything works better that way. It is harder than ever before to do this with Windows 8.

For the Windows 8 Desktop, which is where I spend 99% of my time... I see this.



From the tiled "Metro" Start page, I see no visual indicator that the media buttons are working, but they do work. And, that's why I am indifferent about it.

 

Guys, these bugs with OSD GUI only happens with M18x R2 users with A08 BIOS, if you are not using it - then it works well for you.

 

OK. :hi2:

Thanks for the insight... I didn't know that. Maybe the locked down nature of the new firmware might have something to do with OSD not working with A08.

Thankfully, I was able to get rid of A08 soon after motherboard was installed. I used it for about a day and it really sucked with the 2920XM CPU. Since I have no use whatsoever for UEFI or secure boot, A03 is way better.

Here's a nice example of how special UEFI, secure boot and all of this new hardware/firmware based signature and certificate "security" feces really is...

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/software-os/f/4677/t/19479986.aspx

 

Well I'm on A05 and still having issues. Mr. Fox, what order did you install drivers? Maybe that might have something to do with it. I'm just going to reinstall W8 again, call it OCD but it's going to drive me nuts if I can't get it working. Also I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but I installed 12.11 beta 11 with NET4 support if that has anything to do with it.

 

I posted the information a few days ago here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...l-windows-8-support-thread-8.html#post8974490

Install OSD last. Do NOT use the Killer Wireless or Creative audio drivers from Dell. Use the drivers that are included with Windows 8 and/or downloaded automatically through Windows Update. The only Dell driver downloads you really need are the freefall sensor and card reader. If you want to, you can download Autopsy and Respawn. Download the AMD drivers directly from AMD.

 

The reason why I installed Creative Audio and Killer Wireless is because of the interface/programs that comes with the drivers. Is there a way to just download them without installing drivers? Also I'm going to dissconnect my other two drivers before I do the fresh install. Maybe something on them caused something to not work. With the AMD drivers, it seems like after a fresh install, W8 already has the 12.9 already installed, so I had to almost force it off the computer. Do you think that it has to do with being online while it installs, because if that's the case then I'll just disconnect durring install. Also if you don't mind, what is the difference between the drivers that has the NET4 support and the one that doesn't. I want to make sure I install the right ones.

So your saying that the install order should be as follows:

♦ Intel RST
♦ Alienware Control Center
♦ M18x R2 Windows 8 version of Freefall Sensor
♦ M18x R2 Windows 8 version of Card Reader
♦ AMD 12.11 Drivers
♦ M18x R2 Windows 8 version of Alienware OSD

I have a M18x R2 and they have windows 8 drivers so I figure I'll use those. Also I read from this http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...er-install-order-guide-alienware-systems.html that ACC should go last. Well about to do the install again, wish me luck

 

According to the install guide on the Dell website ACC first, then OSD.

.NET 4 is native in Windows 8 and you have to enable 3/3.5, so I would suggest using the .NET 4 Drivers

I would also suggest installing all the drivers from the Dell site, except where you can find newer drivers from the manufacturer on their website. i.e. Intel Chipset. (Yes it does actually update some of the pre-installed drivers included with windows)

The killer network manager, which is part of the killer drivers provides all the additional speed benefits like automatic QOS and reduced ping. If you don't install it, you don't have those benefits. I have personally noticed quite a large decrease in speed when it's disabled / not installed when you are downloading files with simultaneous connections. I sit on 12MB/second with it enabled and it drops to ~8MB/sec when it's disabled. I've had a few random disconnection issues with the new win 8 drivers as have others. Make your own decision if you think it's worth it or not.

The only driver I avoid installing is the Bluetooth driver as I don't use it and it's a huge bloated thing if you don't use BT or need the extra functionality that the driver provides. Windows already includes basic BT functionality.

 

The fancy Killer and Creative interfaces don't offer any value when the hardware does not work properly with the accompanying drivers. You can try using the native Windows 8 Creative driver and then install the Dell package, but select custom install and deselect the drivers. It might turn out fine, but if it is the interface/control panel that makes it stop working, it will end up the same. The only way to know for sure is to try it out and see if it works. It would be nice if it does, because it is a fancy GUI.

I was not offering that as a driver installation order guide. It was merely a list of what I installed. Other than installing AWCC and OSD last, after all Windows Updates are completed, (to make sure .NET and C++ are current before installing them,) the other stuff really makes no difference... After many dozens, maybe even hundreds, of Windows installs on new and old builds, driver installation order in general has never once has made anything better or worse for me. In the past, the only thing I made a special point of installing first was motherboard chipset drivers, but with Windows 8 they are natively supported and not necessary. A few times I forgot to do the chipset drivers first, and it made no difference. So, I don't burn too many calories being concerned about it.

And here's the other thing, which has changed since I posted that information. I have an M18x R1 that I upgraded with an M18x R2 motherboard. I did not need to reinstall Windows. Everything works great. I have the M18x R1 Windows 7 versions of the programs listed and they work without issue. The only excepts are the Creative audio drivers (which are those native to Windows 8) and I run an Intel Ultimate-N 6300 3x3 MIMO card versus Killer. I also downgraded my BIOS from A08 to A03 because the newer ones suck.

Like BrickTop, I am running the native Windows 8 Bluetooth drivers. There is no need to install those from Dell/Alienware.

 

Guys, there is something I noticed about using the built in drivers for sounds vs. the Creative ones, and that is the HDMI sound input does not work at all using the Microsoft supplied driver but it does work fine and everything else seems to as well using the Creative labs version, well as long as you enable the listen option on the HDMI input.

I've gone through 4 motherboards in the past 3 weeks due to various problems in each of the ones Dell has sent to replace the last, finally I got one that actually appears new and works! Of all the boards and revisions one thing still remains true and that's if you run A08 you are hosed when it comes to OSD.

What is confusing to me is that Dell is shipping the M18x R2 with Windows 8 now so they must have a bios that supports OSD or something up their sleeve because surely they wouldn't sell machines that didn't function correctly out of the gate, that would be a support nightmare!

If there is anyone here that has a factory installed M18x R2 with Windows 8 I'd like to know if you have OSD issues and what your bios Rev is.

 

no fix yet?

grrr

 

Not true, I'm on A05 and it doesn't work for me.

 

To those having issues with OSD on the M18x R2 with Windows 8, I realized the OSD I am using (which works correctly) is not the intended version. But, it works great, so who cares, right?

Remove your old OSD and try this one. [ Download | Alienware OSD]

If it works, please advise. It's working perfectly for me and I just realized that it is not listed as an available download for M18x R2 owners.

---

Title : Application:Alienware OSD Application Application
Version : A02
OEM Name : Alienware
OEM Ver : 0.31.0.15C
Computers : Alienware Laptop - M17xR3, Av
Oses : Windows 7 64-bit Home Premium, Windows 7 64-bit Professional, Windows 7 64-bit Ultimate
Created : Sun Sep 25 20:42:01 CDT 2011

 

Tried it and still not working... Its still the Win8 default. I really wish they can provide a fix for this, the windows 8 default is ok but I want my eject button working.

 

Thanks for testing it. Some folks were having issue with no overlay (icons) showing when buttons were pressed. If you were having that issue, did you notice if that had changed? All of the buttons I press result in the overlay showing on screen. Is everything except the ODD eject working for you with this version?

I am using this version with my Windows 8 installation with success, but it is a version written for the M17x R3 and M18x R1 and Windows 7. I have a M18x R2 motherboard now and A03 and everything works exactly as it should, including the ODD eject button. Perhaps someone else can also test to see if there is any evidence of improvement. As it was thought to only affect those on A08, lilone21804 advised that he as A05, so A08 is not the problem.

 

Are a few icons missing when you hit a button really that much of a problem ??? I don't get it !

 

Let me explain the big deal since you must have missed it, A few good people here on this board are having an issue with the Eject button not ejecting DVD's when pressed on the indicator cover, sure we could just go to the explorer and do it but really if you buy a car with power locks and your key fob won't unlock the door would you be happy? And to add insult to injury some people have been waiting for more than 2 months to have it fixed, might not seem like much but knowing that a part of my machine won't work really bugs me.

My OSD works now that Dell replaced my whole machine with a new one, but after 4 motherboard swaps I still wouldn't work past BIOS A03 on the old machine. I mean going back to the keyless entry thing, would you be happy if you bought a BMW and the key fob wouldn't work and BMW wouldn't even really acknowledge the issue and seemed to place no interest in fixing it? I think we know the answer is no, you'd be quite upset, that's the big issue here not a few missing Icons.

 

I don't mind what icons looked like, mine shows the windows 8 icons and not the Alienware themed or whatever its called. I just want the eject button working, and I am on A09, does that have to do with anything?

 

Oh I thought it was just the icons not showing, my eject button works fine in Windows 8 with A08, but I see your point, my keyless entry for my RX8 stopped working a few weeks ago and it's driving me nuts having to put the key in the door and turn it !! Damn you Mazda !!!

 

Well my new machine (refurbished) shipped with A07 installed from the factory and the eject button worked out of the box, went to A09 and it worked as well. But no BIOS past A03 will work with the new OSD and Windows 8 on older boards it would seem. I'm honestly wondering if its not the DVD drive itself that isn't getting the right signals.

I'd be curious to see what model and make my drive is upside some of you that have the issue, as stupid and crazy as it sounds it might actually be the DVD drive since that was the only part NOT replaced during my repair stints.

 

That's a good point re the DVD drive. My board shipped with A03 and has been upgraded the A09 and my eject button has worked all along. I am not bothered which icons I get.

DVD drive is HL-DT-ST CA30N

 

Yep same, mine came with A03 and has the HL-DT-ST CA30N drive.

 

Mine shipped with A01 and my drive is PLDS DVD+-RW_DL-8A4SHH, and my eject isnt working.

 

Also got mine with A01 with the same DVD as m5cartman

 

Thank you very much! It worked for me!

A little background first..... I'm running the A03 unlocked bios for starters. I did a fresh install of Windows 8 Pro, and the first thing I did was enable the .NET 3.5 in the "Turn Windows features on or off" section. After that, I rebooted and I started to install the Chipset Software, IRST, etc... One by one, rebooting when necessary, in the order that was stated we should do for Windows 7. From what I have seen, the install order is the same for 8 as it was for 7.

When I got the point of installing the OSD software provided by Mr. Fox, I let it install and restarted when prompted. Upon getting back to the desktop, I immediately tried the volume button to see if the OSD was using the Alienware graphic. It showed the default Windows 8 graphic instead. Thinking it did not work, I sat back for a minute just glaring at my screen in disgust. I then turned the volume down with the media button. To my surprise, I now had the Alienware OSD! All the buttons responded with the Alienware OSD instead of the stock Windows 8 OSD. I'm guessing the OSD software hadn't finished loading when I tried it the first time, thus why it didn't work immediately.

 

Well so much for that idea, unless our drives have different firmware running on them, as mine also appears to be the same as both of you guys. It's just really odd how the behavior is only observed in A08 and A09 on some machines and not others, it has to be a glitch in the BIOS or the EC that isn't passing the eject command to the drive. All the other OSD features always worked. Was worth a shot I guess, I hope they get this fixed because I'm only a motherboard replacement away from being right back to not having an OSD.

 

OSD version from Mr.FOX didn't worked for me. Seems like DELL rep's here didn't reported this issue to a techincal team or their tech team just ignored this issue. WE just need damn eject button works no need in Graphical images when you press media buttons since they cannot fix it.....

 

Do they care about our problems with eject button? Someone figured out what to do?

 

Alienware reps? Guys? So we will be using win8 on m18x r2 without working eject button?

 

I agree! I want my Eject button! PLS

 

Thanks Mr. Fox! It worked for me!

 

Has it been answered? Are we supposed to be seeing the windows 8's user interface or dell's own OSD interface?

 

Holy crap. this work ! BIOS is A10 on Windows 8 Secure Boot GPT ..... and i get all my sound wireless, and even EJECT!
i can't believe this work while alienware just said to me it would be impossible because i have windows 7 motherboard!!!

thank you

 

Awesome! Glad that worked for you as well. That makes at least 4 or 5 of us now. Not sure if others found it to work but never said anything in the thread.

 

My eject button started to work after dvd driver firmware update.

 

5 out of 5 then ?

... lol ..... what a find!

 

No no, i'm using different version of OSD

 

i see .... wow.

 

How does works yours? You see alienware styled graphics when u press media buttons?