Alienware M11xR1 SU7300 and Microsoft Windows 10

Not much to report.

Installed Microsoft Windows 10 on a formatted 50GB HDD partition of my M11xR1

Installs without any problems and a first time login is all basic stuff.

There are Nvidia and Intel driver updates and if you do go down that path I'm not sure where it leads.
However, I suspect if you have discrete GPU enabled in BIOS you should be OK most the time.

I installed the Nvidia v.263.08, A02 drivers and it all seems to be working OK.
That said, I haven't worked out what process needs to be white listed in Regedit to get rid of Windows Store blocking any GPU switching.

I noted in installing Nvidia drivers there was a lot of display 'looping' which effectively locked out any screen input.
After a few Nvidia re-installs and reboots the device settled down and I'm now using Intel GPU with switching enabled.

Just need to work out the Windows Store process GPU block thing and then I can hopefully tick off GPU switchable support in this release of Windows 10.

 

Thanks for sharing the findings, I have an R1 myself and could need it if I wanted to install Windows 10 in the near future.

 

Now have Windows 10 Build 9860 installed and operational with switchable graphics on a M11xR1.
Getting the Nvidia/Intel Graphics installed and working is a bit of a nightmare, but it is doable.
Also the Microsoft Store 'process' is a bit of a challenge to get rid of so that the Nvidia switching control can actually do it's switching, but again doable.

I'm not quite sure what Windows 10 would give you that you don't already have on Windows 7... but still, the option can't be bad.

 

Good to know win10 will work sweet on my M11x :>

 

This is good to know. Mr R2 is a hassle to get updated but this might be worth it when it's updated.

 

I'm glad the M11x's are kicking strong. I loved mine when I had it prior to switching over to a desktop and then a AW 13...but I still do miss my trusty M11x.

 

Haha! Im so thrilled the M11x R1s Community is still around. I am using mine mostly for work but this kind of stuff is great! I plan on putting Win10 on my little buddy (that I am using right now) when I know for sure there will be no issues. I dont want switching enabled ~ Never use it... I also want to know if bluetooth will work. If anyone has any updates, please post

When I reformat with 10 Ill make sure to post my adventure in doing so. If I ran in to problems, where, and what I did about it. However seeing that I use my 11x for work, I cant risk breaking it ~ so I have to wait to make sure things will be stable.

Cheers everyone!

Edit - anyone know if the Bluetooth is working with 10 yet?

 

Maybe.
I have an Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 card in my M11xR1. Approx USD30.00
The card works fine and it also has built in Bluetooth 4.0.

I have observed WiFi speed around 300Mbits/sec in real uploads/downloads, which is pretty good considering the PCIe half card in running on a pseudo USB 2.0 bus.

This card has drivers that will extend onto Win 10.

I had built-in Bluetooth on my original M11xR1, but don't use the original Bluetooth module.

Given Windows 7 is so stable for the M11xR1, one does have to question the benefits on Windows 10.

I may just ride out my days with the M11xR1 on Windows 7.

 

Is there a way to get switchable graphics working with the latest nvidia drivers?

 

What wireless card do you have installed?
I have an m11x r2 with a broadcom card. I had tons of issues with connectivity on windows 8. I went back to windows 7. Have you had any issues with the wireless card staying connected?

I also had issues with the AlienFX software. Have you been able to get this to run on Windows 10?

 

How did you get the 263 drivers installed? On my R1 if i enable switchable graphics in bios the computer just doesn't boot properly and just loops on a black screen forever. If I enable discrete graphics it boots ok but the 263 driver won't install - just says install failed.

 

I also tried win 8 on m11x r1 but switched back to win 7. issues with connectivity.

So far win 7 is most stable , and gives you everything you could need in this hardware .

Personally I dont use switchable graphics, I keep it on discrete and still get plenty of battery time.

I am planning to upgrade to win 10 when it is available.

 

Managed to install 10. Did a clean install of 7 from official Alienware recovery disk, did not install nvidia divers and updated to 10.

Now installed nvidia driver but running services avoid switching to Intel graphics. How do you guys get switching to work?

 

As soon as Win10 is installed I installed DELLs last Nvidia switchable driver package.
Wasn't that straight forward as you need to have a VERY old Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) to start with.
Windows 10 update wants to install the latest GMA supported by the M11x which wont work with switchable graphics.

I've not tried this on a release version of Win10.
I used a very early version of Win10 beta.

 

I've got the latest Dell nvidia driver installed.
I just have some internal shell and search processes running preventing to switch down to the Intel drivers. Tried but cannot force quit those processes.

 

From memory it's the Win10 store, but couldn't remember the whitelist entry you need in regedit.
But if that is the case, then you should still be able to add the program to the whitelist.

 

I decided to give windows 10 a shot on my old R1.
Are you guys use clean install of windows 10? I am trying going that route but the original OEM serial number doesn't go through. I googled that OEM serials eligible only for upgrade not clean install. Is this information correct?
In such case, where to get original windows 7 recovery iso?

 

Only way to install a release version of Win10 is via an upgrade from an existing licensed Microsoft Windows 7/8 OS OR buy a new Win10 USB/DVD.

If you upgrade from an existing MS win7/8 OS the first upgrade activates your new Win10 licence and then after that you can install a clean copy of Win10.
I've did this with a Win8.1 box(non-alienware) which I first upgraded and then installed a clean Win10 ISO and no problems.

I've not installed a release version of Win10 on a M11xR1 and probably never will.

 

I have the same problem,
- unistall the video card driver
- then restart
- go to update & security , check for update, install updates and done.

http://puu.sh/jGAGm/145bc494b5.png

http://puu.sh/jGAKh/19aa64d3f3.png

http://puu.sh/jGAMW/96b0417837.png

then no more problem with switchable graphics in bios.

But the switchable graphics dont work. FN + F6 dont work, anyone please tell me how make work switchable graphics i need so much! any kink for any FAQ about this please.

 

So, in the end, does r1 support videocard switching on win 10 or its better to use in discrete-only.

 

To anyone experiencing problems - Here's how to do it.

Install windows 10. Doesn't matter if it's a fresh install or upgrade from win 7/8.

Go into Control Panel > System Properties > Device Manager.

Expand the devices under "Display Adapters". Right click, "uninstall". A further pop-up box will appear. Make sure you select the "Remove device driver from system" (Or something similar to that. Uninstall the Nvidia driver if installed and Mobile Intel driver.

Now start the Dell's latest (re - old piece of crap) driver from 2012. It should install without issue. It may take a while though (Took mine around 5 mins with 2 mins of blank screen!).

If you have installed Win 10 and it boots into windows with a lit but blank screen, force restart the laptop by holding down the power button. You should see the alienware boot process. When you see the Windows Logo with the circle of dots chasing each other, press and hold the power button. This will force shut it down mid-boot. The next time you start the laptop, it will go into recovery mode, select the choices to boot in "Safe Mode". When in safe mode, uninstall the drivers as described above, reboot into normal windows and then install the crappy old drivers!

Now you should have switchable graphics.... but you won't because a couple of processes will stop it from switching. Personally I don't care, I would prefer the intel graphics for longer battery life! If I find a method, I will update this thread!

P.s, you can manually switch graphics in the BIOS.....