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    Updating M11XR2 - 335M not recognized

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by porkmuffin, Feb 21, 2011.

  1. porkmuffin

    porkmuffin Newbie

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    Tried updating my drivers today...everything is at stock level. Might have been a driver update through Windows update but wasn't sure. First attempt to update to 260.99 failed with this message:

    Graphics Driver could not find compatible graphics hardware.

    ? It's like my 335M is gone? Now I can't upgrade anything. So frustrated. Dell drivers do nothing, windows update does nothing, nvidia drivers (all whql I've tried) all fail.

    Any ideas? Do I need to do a complete restore? Will that even help? Am I f$%#%?

    Any and all help is appreciated.

    BTW, realized I am on A01 still...should I update that now or wait?

    Thanks all!

    K
     
    porkmuffin, Feb 21, 2011
    #1
  2. MegaTherion

    MegaTherion Notebook Consultant

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    Do you see any conflicts or unknown devices in device manager? Is the 335M no longer listed under Display Adapters?

    You could try uninstalling your Nvidia and Intel Graphics drivers, then reinstall them. Be sure to run driversweeper from Safe Mode to clean out the left over nvidia registry entries folders, after uninstalling.
     
    MegaTherion, Feb 21, 2011
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  3. porkmuffin

    porkmuffin Newbie

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    Yeah, it just shows two drivers:

    Intel(R) HD Graphics
    and
    Standard VGA Graphics Adapter

    the second one is the one that should be the Nvidia card I think, right?

    It does have a small triangle with an exclamation point in device manager, but won't update or scan new hardware. I will try the full uninstall of both. Bit worried about losing all drivers though. Will I lose my entire screen?
     
    porkmuffin, Feb 21, 2011
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  4. porkmuffin

    porkmuffin Newbie

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    Tried deleting both...both update automatically via windows update on restart before it's even finished booting up.

    I'm f%$&% aren't I?
     
    porkmuffin, Feb 21, 2011
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  5. MegaTherion

    MegaTherion Notebook Consultant

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    Yep the 2nd one is the 335M. You may lose display when you uninstall the Intel HD Graphics driver through Control Panel. If so, just let it sit a bit so it finishes the uninstall, then hit the enter key a couple of times to complete the uninstall and it should reboot. When it boots back up you'll have video again.
     
    MegaTherion, Feb 21, 2011
    #5
  6. DeeVu

    DeeVu That Compsci/Psych Major

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    happened on my R1. I was forced to reformat.
     
    DeeVu, Feb 21, 2011
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  7. MegaTherion

    MegaTherion Notebook Consultant

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    Let them update on restart, make sure you do the driversweeper in safe mode on your nvidia display and nvidia physx. Then reinstall Intel HD Driver first, reboot, then Nvidia Drivers last.

    I'm using 260.99 for my Nvidia drivers, and the AW supplied Intel HD driver from the website.
     
    MegaTherion, Feb 21, 2011
    #7
  8. porkmuffin

    porkmuffin Newbie

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    Yeah, I think I'm in your boat Deevu. God Dangit!

    What was the best way to reformat since the notebook has no optical or backup? Should I just find a Win7x64 Home ISO and install from that?

    Side note, is search broken on this site? I get no results when I use the search bar up top.
     
    porkmuffin, Feb 21, 2011
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  9. porkmuffin

    porkmuffin Newbie

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    OK, found search bar below the site search...little bit of an idiot!

    However...now I can't see my recovery partition? How the f%^ could I have lost that? This is just getting worse and worse.

    Anyone spare a torrent of that partition? Pretty please?
     
    porkmuffin, Feb 21, 2011
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  10. porkmuffin

    porkmuffin Newbie

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    OK, found Recovery using F8 on startup, but I don't see a partition for the recovery on my machine when booted into windows normally.

    Not going to try until someone gives me an answer...not looking to make a paperweight at this point.

    Thanks everybody!

    What a crappy way to spend a holiday!
     
    porkmuffin, Feb 21, 2011
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  11. DeeVu

    DeeVu That Compsci/Psych Major

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    Haha I had an external optical. It was easy enough for me. :( Sorry about your current situation. Hope it gets resolved.
     
    DeeVu, Feb 21, 2011
    #11