m11x R1 260.99 Hybrid Drivers + Intel 2020

It's been less than a month since last update, don't fret. These people have jobs and lives. Has there been any major update to Nvidia drivers? Honestly, they've done enough of the legwork - and documented it - that if they stopped releasing drivers someone could step in and continue the work.
If you're that impatient, well, might be a good time for you to learn some ini/inf hacking

 

M11xR1 SU7300 BIOS A05 Win7 Pro 64bit.

Installed the Nautis Nvidia 265.90/Intel 2226 hybrid driver set.

Installed fine with drivers signed OK.

On startup one is able to switch to Nvidia(Discrete) and all initially looks good.
However once you switch back to Intel(Integrated) you're not able to switch back to Nvidia.

Even after a reboot the switching option is no longer available.

The Nvidia switching display looks like it's going through the motions but nothing happens.

Update - Bit more looking around under Intel 2226. Attempted to view a DVD using PowerDVD and it crashed the system with a blue screen (to quick to view message) and then rebooted.
Using VLC to view the same DVD gave no problem.
It just may mean a re-install of powerDVD as it could be linked to a lower level component of the new 2226 chipset.

As I'm restoring my old Nvidia hybrid driver set I'm not going to far down that track.

 

Strange, I can't seem to enable Test Mode. I keep trying to follow the instructions but there doesn't seem to be any "Test Mode" appearing on my desktop. I've got W7 Ultimate X64 and UAC disabled already.

 

F8 works fine on my M11xR1 to enable safe mode boot.

And if you've read the install instructions and have downloaded and run Driver Signature Enforcement Overrider and clicked on the "Enable Test Mode", reboot and in the bottom right hand corner of the screen you should see Test Mode.

 

Thx very good guide!!!




Translate to Spanish!!!

 

What does it take to get drivers signed? I mean seems the work has been done, why not send to Dell and have them get it tested and signed. The least they could do considering the group of people that did their job for them.

 

Nope, there's no Test Mode, which is really annoying me.

 

how can you view the driver information to confirm that it is the 260.99 after installing it?

great instructions thanks so much!!

 

With Nvidia Discrete GPU active view the following:

Computer-> System Properties->Device Manager->display adapter

Then right click on the Nvidia display adapter and view properties.

Click on the Driver tab and view the Driver Version.
You can view associated driver information within the Driver Details option.

You need to disable UAC as per instructions.

 

The drivers installed, the devices are in device manager, I activated Test Mode, but both devices say "Windows cannot verify the digital signature for the drivers required for this device" and have a yellow !.

I'm not really sure what to do at this point.

 

LightIBulb: If you are in test mode but the drivers are showing yellow !'s, you didn't sign them properly. Install RigelKent's driver if you can't do this properly. There is instructions on how to sign drivers using DSEO early in this thread, as well as Nautis' driver page.

htwingnut: Generally, OEM's will want to do lots of testing before releasing a driver - if they ever do! More driver versions = more potential bugs they have to take support inquiries about. Once support ends for a product, they seldom update drivers even if they are freely available direct from the chip manufacturer.

 

Good work guys!

Hero, after following the guide to install the driver in the first place, I took a look at your fix.

Not wanting to format and reinstall everything, I copied the files from the temp directory over to windows/system32, NOT overwriting any of the files, since I had previously installed the custom driver pack. I no longer have problems with gfxui.exe.

 

I understand that, but again, if you can't support it then why bother offering the product. They're still selling the darn machine as new too still, and selling like hotcakes. Not directed at you, but I get sick of companies coming up with excuses for not supporting their products. Part of the product is the support, especially when it comes to a gaming laptop. GPU drivers are critical.

Revising the drivers every six months isn't too much to ask, really. With one final driver before they stop sales of the machine. As prevalent as dual GPU machines are becoming, they better get used to offering updated drivers.

 

Yeah, but the gains are MINIMAL. Frankly you can easily see how many issues there are just with a small sampling of users.

If it is critical you can always choose to go dedicated and run bleeding edge drivers. Dual GPU machines are opti based not manually switched for the most part now. Our systems are "old" already.

 

If driver updates offer minimal gains then why are they updated monthly? Why not once a year then?

Optimus has its share of issues and requires OEM support too. Even if Dell offered manual switching on bootup. "Press F6 to select GPU" kind of thing would be fine with me. Then you could install dedicated drivers for each GPU and not have to worry about the silly soft switch drivers.

I just think it's a lazy excuse. But in any case, a lost cause. I don't want to only switch to the dedicated GPU because I need battery life of the integrated, which is why I bought the machine, long battery life + ability to game. I guess I won't be buying Alienware again considering the lack of support.

Either way, glad this community came up with a workaround. I'll be sure to try it in the near future.

 

Its not that driver updates offer minimal gains all the time...

It used to be chasing drivers was not only a bit of "fun" but you could really impact system performance - usually across the board. While I think it is fantastic these guys are doing this driver work and no doubt resolves some issues for people it doesn't seem to me to have anywhere near the impact a large driver ver change used to do.

Keep in mind that even those DOING this work are not promising big improvements on any large scale - either for programs or user base. Some non-driver-hobbyist might read these threads and assume his perfectly normal system needs newer drivers... to only find help required to finish the install and minimal gain (if any). Those guys might be better off waiting until this has matured a bit more.

Flame proof clothing on!

 

@GNandGS, I think what you said, is fair and balanced.

You could have worn a Moo-moo and still been OK.

One little gotch I find is that Intel and Microsoft windows Update are chasing me with new Intel chip-set updates, but I can't install them or bunny hope over them until I can get a stable nVidia hybrid driver set installed.

I've not noted any meaningful FPS improvements in the updated Nvida driver sets and as proof most of the original 3DMark highest scores on standard M11xR1 where achieved on old circa 197.xx Nvidia drivers.

A lot of the Nvidia updates are not about FPS, but stability and refinement within the hardware spec of the original GT335M.

 

Thanks! I'll get my moo-moo! Stability issues certainly change things. Always.

 

How do you get to Nvidia Control panel? When I right click on the Desktop and choose that option, it gives me the Help page where there's a link I have to download driver/software? I did download it but the installation quits because it can't detect the 335M. Pointers?







===============================================================
Core 2 Duo SU7300 1.6GHz OC| 8GB | 160GB 5400RPM | GT335M | Win 7-64 | 11.6" 1366x768 | Cosmic Black |

 

Is anyone having issues resuming from Hibernation via battery? I know it worked just fine before I did a clean install and updated the driver to 260.99 / 2020. Is there a work around for this issue?

 

Did you download direct from Dell, use this method in the first post of this thread, or download from nVidia?

You can't download direct from nVidia, it won't work. You need the drivers from Dell or follow the procedure laid out in this thread.

 

No, I didn't download the driver from Dell. I did a fresh install of windows 7 and went directly to page 1 for instructions and followed those steps. I ran into the gfxui error. But that was solved after following another person's post here by just copying the files and NOT overwriting it pre-existing files.




Core 2 Duo SU7300 1.6GHz OC| 8GB | 160GB 5400RPM | GT335M | Win 7-64 | 11.6" 1366x768 | Cosmic Black | Bluetooth Dongle

 

Did the same thing and works like a charm!!!!

 

The monthly updates are usually small bug-fixes (affect few people), or they're work-arounds/performance tweaks for new games.

My 2c? It's mostly so AMD+nVidia stay on top, or at least competitive with each other in each title so when someone upgrades, it's not to the competitor for being better at their new fav game. That is the big motivator for most mainstream user graphics upgrades, so it's a lot of money lost if they don't.

 

great job rigelkent thank you for this and hero thank you as well for fixing the gui error. got this thing working! one question though is the nvidia control panel option suppose show when i right click the desktop even if im using the intel chipset?

 

I installed RigelKent's drivers with the instructions and have had no problems with functionality or anything like that (saw a definite improvement with GTAIV) but the driver's deactivate everytime the computer is restarted. Device manager gets the yellow ! and I have to uninstall/reinstall the drivers. On top of that, Windows Update is regularly trying to reinstall the Intel drivers now, resulting in the need to reboot all the time. Is there something I missed? Thanks.

 

you can right click the Intel drivers in Windows update and "hide" them so you don't accidentally install them.


Are you test signing mode?

 

So? Is there any complete autoinstall package with latest intel+nvidia drivers?

 

Am currently testing Intel 2991 + Nvidia 267.24. Hope this pans out.

 

I hope it pans out too.

Intel 2991 + Nvidia 267.24

That'd knock the hand knitted slippers right off my stocking feet.
And if it does pan out, I may even find it within myself to squeal like a girl.

+100 rep for RigelKent.

 

Here is the problem i am experiencing so far, from NVIDIA i can switch to intel.
But from intel i cant switch back to nvidia.

It seems the NVIDIA turns off in such a way that i cannot turn it on and switch back to it.

Im stumped, could i be forgetting a registry setting or am i forgetting something else?

 

Nautis' last Nvidia hybrid driver set (think it was 2226/260.99) had the same problem. You could switch to Nvidia after you first installed the driver and then nothing.

Even after a reboot, you were no longer able to switch at all.

I don't have an answer.

 

After a fresh format with Win7 64 had no issues whatsoever with installation or otherwise. Alienware command center no longer works due to the graphics switching utility being an incorrect version, but I dont really need that anyway.

 

O wow!

From the main site (notebookreviews), all I saw was "m11x R1 260.99 Hybrid".

I clicked on the link and was preparing to whip out my credit card. Oh well I knew it was too good to be true.

 

I think I'll wait for these to upgrade from stock. (Just got the m11x today, first thing I did was ruin it by installing drivers direct from nvidia...

 

What do you mean ruin it? I installed the latest 266.58 drivers straight from nvidia, and I haven't had a problem yet on my m11xr2

 

R1 systems don't have Optimus. You can use the newest drivers on them, but you lose the ability to switch graphics all together.

 

Ah yes. I keep forgetting posters are referring to m11xr1 and not r2.

 

Are you saying I can use those drivers on the r1? I'm currently using 260.99 / 2020. From the previous post, is there anything else besides the disabled manual switching compared to the custom driver?

 

Hi RigelKent, since you are trying hard to get 265.xx to works, can we work together?
I am using Sony Vaio VPCZ1 (Nvidia GT 330 & Intel HD Graphic)
my latest modified package is 26314 2266 and 26314 2281, but if you want to get it work with alienware m11x r1, i suggest you should choose intel 2281 and not 2266 or 2291.

please see the link at my signature.

Edit:
I don't see any reason why 260.XX with Intel 2226 or 2281 won't work
There are 3 types of swithching available:
- switch(if the notebook have it)
- hotkey(if the notebook have it)
- hybrid graphic UI(for all notebook except switch type because you will have to disable the switch
)

 

Aw, I want to try this, but I have to run in Driver Test Mode and that means BSoDs. If only someone reverse engineered the driver(s). The 260.99 drivers make a huge impact on Fallout:New Vegas. Which will be AWESOME! Since I have the game and the game stutters a tiny bit.

 

@AlienOnions

why would you be getting a bsod?

 

Because nVidia hasn't signed this driver which probably means this is bug ridden.

 

iv never had any bsod's on the hacked hybrid 260.99 drivers

 

My drivers are all signed

 

This is the challenge with oem drivers: build for the masses.

There should be no shock that some can use and some cannot. Unless newer drivers fix a lot of things for a lot of users it probably sits low in priority

 

hmm, my 26314 2266 or 2281 fixed a lot of things foor Sony vaio VPCZ1:
Improve/support Intel wifi display(unconfirmed)
Fixed Internet explorer 8 or 9 crash after changed.
Increase stability for most games
Signed, don't need to be in test mode.
Change from 1 graphic to another graphic take shorter time than OEM drivers.
Brightness control working
New Nvidia features available(not including 265XX)
Newer cuda version.

Known bugs:
Cuda will not reload after changing(same with OEM)
Nvidia card run hotter(unconfirmed)

 

Will I be able to use this driver for my R1 and be able to have switchable driver feature? I dont want to be stuck on the Intel driver or vise versa.

 

My package haven't support Intel gma yet, I will have it added in pre stage 2 deployment in 5 months time, depending on my free time.

 

I dont know much of what you mean. But does that mean that I will only be able to use this driver with the Nvidia 335M and I wont be able to use the Intel graphics for longer battery life?