m18x and windows aero

lol...that's another lady.


Here's mine from Alaska.

 

Heeyyyyyyyy, Did you copy the hdd before first boot? If so, how did it work?

 

Yes, I did. I had no issue completing the image before loading Windows for the very first time. Now that I have, I don't recall what we wanted to do with it.

 

OK, I just voted. I have the aero bug.

Some observations now that I was able to force this into occurring. See if any of you experience the same thing.

1. When aero stops working, my temperature monitor changes to zero. I open Device Manager and the primary display adapter is disabled. See attached screen shot. The error message is especially interesting. Restarting brings CFX back and the primary display is working again.
   
   Spoiler

   
2. My Windows desktop has an area along the top where the wallpaper is visible full screen, however, maximized windows do not fill the space and my icons and gadgets drop down as though the area is inaccessible.
   
   Spoiler

   
3. Another observation is, my Bluetooth Orochi stops functioning. It's paired, but won't work. I see this error below in Device Manager as well as the primary display adapter. Restarting brings it back.
   
   Spoiler

   

​

This was happening with Dell drivers, so I installed AMD 11.6 and things improved marginally. The issue with the Bluetooth failure does not occur using AMD 11.6.

Do you guys find the same thing when your aero goes on the fritz?

Well, yet another observation is that my system was ordered with RAID0, the BIOS is set to RAID, but the installation is NOT in RAID0. I am wondering if there is something wrong with their master drive images.

If that is the case, Nigel, we may not want an image of a factory install. I am considering killing everything on the HDD, including AlienRespawn and starting over from scratch. Now that all of my Steam games are downloaded, I can back them up to the data drive to save time. But, just for kicks, I suppose I can try to restore that pre-boot image after killing everything to see if it brings back Respawn and everything else.

 

You want to put the image on a new hdd and see if thinks its a new pc from dell

edit: Cool Mr Fox, if you got a smaller hdd kicking around from the original size see if it works on that. The big problem was changing to a different hdd and getting errors.

 

I'm soooo glad you're onboard. Classic troubleshooting 101....look in device manger for changes. I totally forgot to do this.

 

Take a second look at my post. I added more information since your reply. There's more than one device with an issue when the display adapter has an issue, but restarting fixes both of them... temporarily.

 

Interesting find....I've had issues with my bluetooth headset when Aero flakes out. That explains it. This is kinda on the lines of the R2's code 43 error.

This is much more serious than I thought. Most R2 owners were upgraded because Dell/AW knew that anyone with the plugged in charging issue also had the code 43 issue that would cause sata/hub/usb problems until a reset was performed. Most people didn't look in the device manager to notice it.

Now we know that this problem also affects our ability to use bluetooth. I've also noticed connectivity issues with different types of headsets(all bluetooth) when the Aero bug happends.
All I know is AW/Dell needs to get this fixed before the M18x R2 is announced!!

 

Since switching the GPU's to full power I've had no issues.

 

It won't allow you to run the backup from AWrespawn if you have deleted the AW partition.

Uhh...oh...Here we go again.....I thought this problem died with the r2....and a few M18x's.......
http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/594475-m17x-r3-plugged-not-charging-problem.html

 

Maybe what I was stating was not worded well. I created an image of the entire hard disk, including the Respawn partition, before allowing Windows to load for the first time. I created the drive image using Macrium Reflect. The thought was that it may allow us to restore to a HDD or SSD of any size without getting an error message. Respawn would have no control over anything, since Reflect was used to image everything including the Respawn partition. We would essentially be restoring the Respawn partition as well as everything else resident on the HDD exactly as the system arrived from Alienware.

Now I am not so sure that I have any confidence in the installation and may not actually want to ever restore what came to me from the factory. I'm not a fan of RAID0, but it was supposed to ship that way. The BIOS is set to RAID0 versus AHCI, but no array was created before Windows was installed.

I have no way to test if this works right at the moment because I do not have an SSD, or a spare HDD.

 

Also confirmed have no ability to change display brightness after resuming from S3. Unlike the R2, the controls are all present and functional, just nothing happens with display brightness when using them until reboot.

 

Yes, yes yes, exactly. A copy before 1st boot should fix any problems like you state. It concerns me that you don't like it and perhaps want to fresh install anyway. This is one of the main reasons why I wanted a M18x, no bloatware.

As for bios, yes, I agree, I'm not a fan of raid as well. I gave up a nice 750GB second hdd in Raid in a configuration for only a measly $60 credit (which they scammed me $30 back from not honouring my 1 yr accident warranty I had in a quote for the M18x I just bought.

Plus, I'll be honest with you all here, I went with the 580SLI's over the 6970's in hopes of helping avoid this WHOLE aero disaster.

 

I am willing to test it, but I don't have a drive of a different size to test it on. The fresh install using a retail Windows 7 distribution would be an attempt to fix problems with the Alienware modded OS installation. I am going to create a new image of my current installation with my MS Office, Adobe CS3 and Steam pre-installed games for disaster recovery. After that, I will test the pre-boot image on the existing HDD0. It concerns me that the BIOS was set for RAID instead of AHCI from the factory, but no array was created. Maybe that will not hurt anything, but I'm not sure.

 

Here's some new information to explore. I was able to force a BSOD to get a dump for further diagnostics. Enabling and disabling CFX in CCC a few times consecutively seems to cause Aero to stop working. When Aero stopped working this time, instead of rebooting I did a log-off/log-on and got this crash report. The links are for Google queries and I think you may find the results interesting. And the problem with the "dead space" at the top of my display comes and goes, but it seems to correlate with the AMD cards, because that problem is present after recovering from a AMD driver crash or an Aero crash. It looks like an AMD driver bug. I believe the problem with Aero is merely a visible symptom of a deeper issue with the AMD drivers flaking out. (I am currently running Dell drivers, but had the same problems using AMD 11.6.)

 

Cool. Looking forward to good results 

 

Some people have had this issue with nVidia cards, though.

 

Ya, I know, but that's why I said I'm hoping to avoid this problem with 580's

 

We don't know if the cause is the same. Aero can act up for a number of reasons, but the problem seems more severe with AMD than NVIDIA, as well as far more frequent (20:4 ratio).

You know, it will be interesting to see if any R2 owners that are installing 6970 CFX start running into the aero bug.

Hey guys, I have a question. If you reboot and use the Intel IGP, does aero work at all? I have only tried one time. The IGP had no drivers installed, so I installed them. Aero did not work, but I have not gone back to see if it works now. I'm not all that concerned about whether the IGP and graphics switching works properly at this point.

 

It only seems like more because more people have dual 6970 cards. How many M18x owners do you know have a single 460m or even dual 460m? Not many. So of course the ratio would be skewed..

Yes, the IGP uses Aero. Remember when I had my 6970M uninstalled from my M17x R3? Aero worked PERFECT with the IGP.

 

Yes, you have a point about the distribution of AMD cards being greater, but we still don't know that the cause is the same on NVIDIA systems. I am finding issues on the web with systems not made by Alienware and the vast majority have AMD graphics. You'll notice the BSOD points directly to an ATI/AMD driver file (atikmpag).

Any system can have aero drop out now and then, but it's only a big problem when Windows cannot recover from that driver crash. That's what is happening with the AMD systems... Windows cannot handle it. That often indicates driver bugs.

I am anxious to see and hear what happens with Nigel's 580 SLi setup.

 

Mr. Fox you have been busy.

 

Can you please elaborate on what your comment means? I'm not sure that I know what you mean by switching the GPUs to full power.

Also, what are your system specs, friend? Can you please add a signature with the specs?

 

probably power play.

 

Thanks for the response. That was on an R3 with one 6970M. This could be a critical distinction when troubleshooting issues. Are you waiting for a replacement R3 to arrive?

______________________________________
Intel Integrated Graphics Problem

I just activated the IGP, rebooted, and found aero working, but I also found other issues.

Remember my post from yesterday, bullet-point #2 about the "dead space" at the top of the screen? Well, check out what greeted me the moment I logged in running the Intel HD 3000 IGP (see image below). A log-off/log-on got my full desktop back. So, now I am wondering if there is something with the CPU or Sandy Bridge that is making the 6970s act up. I am wondering if a chipset driver update from Intel may cure (or improve) this issue.

Spoiler

I was worried that one of my 6970 modules was bad, but with the CFX disabled and the IGP the only video source, this is clearly not the case.

Edit: this might also be an indication that NVIDIA vs AMD is irrelevant if the problem is being caused by Intel hardware (2nd gen i7 and Sandy Bridge). So far, none of our buddies that are installing 6970 CFX in the R2 have mentioned any issues, but they don't have Sandy Bridge, nor do they have the IGP.
______________________________________
______________________________________

 

Ok, I've been browsing the Intel Developer site and there's a new Sandy Bridge driver package out. Will be giving this a go. It looks like the update includes the HD Graphics family and TurboBoost technology.

Read Me - Release Notes (Graphics) - Release Notes (TurboBoost) - Driver v.8.15.10.2361

Fixed Issues:

• System now maintains correct display scaling after reboot.
• Display: Occasional notebook display flickering when running in battery mode corrected
• Display: Display now enumerates after resuming from Hibernate state (S4) Windows

​

This is displayed in the dialogue box during installation...

Crossing my fingers...

 

Yes, me too.

I thought for sure it wasn't going to happen today (me getting 580's) because my rep from Dell phoned me today at lunch and I thought it was the call telling me that the 580's were an order error and that I had to be change to 6990's but it wasn't. He called telling me that the Dell finance was finally approved and he really needed to change the purchase from credit card to Dell finance. I didn't care so I said sure. Next thing you know my edd went from the 29th to august 1st. Man I was choked. I emailed him asking for a free upgrade to nbd cause of this and he said he would take care of this. So mow I really have no idea when my m18 is going to show up

 

Hoping this works Fox - havent done it yet, let see how you get on with your testing for 24 hrs. +rep for all your continued hard work to help! (when it lets me give you some rep!)

 

Thanks, stevie.

I just ran a battery of tests running on the IGP and the problems I had on IGP seem to be resolved. Did 5 runs of 3DMark06 and aero came back every time on IGP after logging out/logging in once. Aero never would come back to life on IGP before the Intel update.

For anyone that has not looked at system errors in Event Viewer > System, you really should take a gander. I am going to clear out all logs now that I have the Intel update installed. That way I can see what error events no longer reoccur. Here are a few highlights from my system:

I am going to switch back to CFX and make sure nothing is broken, and hope to have similar good news. I am on Dell drivers for AMD right now.

_____________________________________________

Edit: Go to this post for more information: LINK
_____________________________________________
_____________________________

 

Im keen to hear how you get on with this testing whilst on discrete cards. Lets see how you go on and see if you get Aero to flake out....

 

Got my replacement 6990's. They didn't send me another crossfire cable. Used old one. Haven't seen Aero Bug. In game computer freezes/flickering w/6990's. On the phone with AW tech trying to resolve. Can't even run benches!!!! Freezing/flickering regardless of crossfire enabled.

 

For context, here are two prior posts that lead me to this one... (open spoiler to view)

Spoiler

Ok, this may get to be long-winded, but it looks as though the Intel Sandy Bridge chipset/driver update may have cured our Aero problem. If not cured, dramatically improved. As I mentioned above, I put my M18x through a battery of tests with the Intel HD 3000 IGP and things turned out well. I put a couple of my prior posts on this subject in the above spoiler to keep them grouped together and make this post as user-friendly as possible.

After rebooting into AMD HD6970 mode, the results are equally encouraging. I should add that after installing the Intel update in IGP mode, you need to reboot once in IGP mode, then reboot once into discreet graphics mode before the changes seem to take full effect.

Here is the torture I just subjected my system to, with a good outcome:

1. I ran 3DMark2001SE and scored 49014 - system changed from Aero to Basic, then Back to Aero without intervention on my part.
   Spoiler

   
2. I ran 3DMark06 and scored 21472. Curiously, the system never switched into Basic and Aero never bugged out on me. (I found this very odd.)
   Spoiler

   
   
3. I ran 3DMark11 and scored 6325. Again, no issues with Aero whatsoever.
   Spoiler

   
4. I ran 3DMark Vantage and scored P21333, again with no Aero issues.
   Spoiler

   

​

The thing that I have not sorted is the "dead space" at the top of my display. This is a very narrow band (between 1/8 and 1/4 inch) where wallpaper exists, but that space is not accessible. If you drag a window or icon into that space, it automatically drops back down. Windows opened to full screen leave this space empty. A log-off/log-on corrects it in 6 out of 6 tests. Below are screen shot demonstrating what I am referring to.

Spoiler

(1) At first boot... dead space

​

(2) After Log-off/Log-on (fixed)

​

(3) After Rebooting, problem with dead space returns

​

(4) After Log-off/Log-on (fixed again)

​

NOTE: The exact same behavior exists when using the Intel HD3000 IGP. Fortunately, the BIG dead space that I had with the IGP seems to be fixed.

Conclusion: the Intel Sandy Bridge update is worth the time it will take you to download and apply it. We need more testers and time to confirm my short term results. Install the Intel update while using the Intel IGP, not while running on discreet graphics.

_____________________________________________
_____________________________

 

Thanks I just got done with removing the 6990's & boxing them up. Now I'm working on something else as a replacement. I don't want to jinx it so I'll keep quiet until/if they arrive. 6970's installed and freeze/flickering is gone.
I installed your recommended Intel Display driver....so far all is well.

Haven't run into that issue.

 

How the heck do you get parts so fast???? You live next to the factory? LOL.

So this is not good news for the 6990's then.

Wow, this is excellent work. +1

 

I have been constantly working on a solution to the Aero Bug. Recently I was offered 580M's but then had the order canceled because of the value of the cards. I then was given the 6990's. I think either the cable is not compatible or one of the cards is defective.


I'll try again in a week.

 

Correct...settings in CCC.

 

Hey guys, so far, so good. Is aero holding for everyone testing it?

I have been gaming and benching and so far only one instance (using IGP) where I had to log-off/log-on for aero to come back. No issues using CFX since applying the Intel updated.

 

So when you switch over to IGP or from IGP to discrete, you have to restart the computer?

I never did that before.

 

Yes, on the M18x with CFX it is necessary. On the M17x R3 (single GPU) it is not. The FN+F7 key switches over the hardware then prompts you to accept the change before rebooting. You can only see the IGP in the BIOS or in Device Manager when it is turned on, then the CFX hardware becomes invisible.

Did you receive a replacement R3? You signature only indicates that you have an HP DV9640US.

 

Um, no. Had it happen once today for no reason. Just restarted for unodates and there it was. Oh well........

 

Hey massey, thanks for posting. Was it only one time for you? As I mentioned, I had it occur once today also. Aero hasn't flaked out on me again since. This was almost a constant problem for me prior to the update, so I'm still calling it a good result so far. In IGP mode, Aero almost never worked for me before the update.

When I have more time in a couple of weeks I am going to do a clean install using a Windows OS disc not provided by Alienware. The Alienware OS installation seems to be riddled with issues and I think that is part of the problem. I may test the image I made of the factory HDD for Nigel at that point, but I have no intention of using Respawn to "spawn" more problems. The fact that my BIOS was set for RAID, but no drive membership were created and the OS was not installed in RAID tells me somebody was not paying attention when they set up this machine. (I don't care about not having RAID0 since there is no great advantage to it, but the screwed up settings I do care about.)

 

It hasn't since and I ran Vantage once. Went to basic then back to Aero like it should. We'll see.......

 

No, I asked for a refund an plan on getting an M18x lol. Just waiting for my return money to order.

 

Excellent choice. If you ever owned an R1 or R2, the R3 was a huge disappointment on build quality. The M18x is everything the M17x R1/R2 should have been. The R2 was the nicest computer I have ever owned, but that claim to fame was displaced by the M18x. In spite of this aero issue, it's freakin' awesome.

 

Dumb question, whats CFX? Is that cross fire?

 

Crossfire-X. I believe the term came about when the x1950's were out. It had something to do with moving away from the y-dongle and on to the internal crossfire connector that you see today. For a while I thought it referred to using 3-4 cards in crossfire config, but I guess its just become commonplace to call all amd multi-card setups 'CrossfireX'

 

Not a dumb question, Nigel. A totally legitimate question. Answer: Yes, just an abbreviation for CrossFireX.

The R3 is a single GPU machine without any ability to accept a second GPU installation. The R1, R2 and M18x (only) have the ability to accept a second GPU for a CFX or SLi configuration. The single GPU was not the reason the R3 was a disappointment to many though. By build quality I was only referring to the construction, fit and finish of the R3 being inferior. It has a plastic chassis and lid covered by the rubberized "soft touch" material that is on the palmrest area of the M18x. It is elegant and well suited for the palmrest, but not so much for the exterior surfaces. The R3 also has cosmetic issues with panels that don't line up as well, etc. It's still a very nice machine, but doesn't live up to the Alienware reputation for build quality in the opinion of some Alienware fans.

 

Ok, cool thanks for that Mr Fox.

That brings me to my follow up question, its been said a reboot is necessary for xfire to IGP but what about sli to IGP? Is that just a FN + F7 to switch or what ever the combo is? Or does that also require a reboot in the M18x?

Thanks

 

You will need to let us know about SLi when your system arrives. My guess is yes, as the only differences between systems will most likely be the video modules and the cable connecting them to one another. I believe the need for rebooting is built into the M18x motherboard and BIOS, but I am eager to find out for sure when you receive your system. Perhaps another member of the forum with an M18x running SLi can tell us now.

Some are complaining about having to reboot, but I don't think it's a big deal personally. I cannot help but think there was a reason they made it that way on purpose. It already looks like CFX has some degree of issues behaving when partnered with the Intel HD graphics, even with the IGP becoming invisible.

 

I've been infrequently experiencing the aero bug since a clean install of Windows 7 earlier in the week, usually when coming out of standby or on reboot - always with the 6970 in my case.

I'm using non-Dell drivers where possible.

The event log shows an error when Aero drops out:

6:48 - The Desktop Window Manager has encountered a fatal error (0x88980406)

6:47 - The Desktop Window Manager was unable to start because composition was disabled by a running application

6:47 - A request to disable the Desktop Window Manager was made by process (Windows System Assessment Tool)

I noticed the Windows System Assessment Tool (WinSAT) is scheduled to run when the PC is idle. It's entry is in the Task Scheduler under Microsoft\Windows\Maintenance.

I have a theory that if it is regularly assessing your PC and for whatever reason, misreading the video card's ability to support aero, that could explain the irrational behaviour of the bug.

I've disabled the service to see if it solves the problem. Too early to call just yet but it's been behaving itself after multiple resets and toggling between graphics throughout the day.

Will keep you posted.