*Official* Alienware Official Windows 8 support thread [Questions and Discussions Here]

Hi there.

I wanted to know if this worked with the alienware m14x R2.

 

I responded to your questions in another thread. I have additional questions, so let's keep the dialogue in one thread instead of jumping around all over the place. Please reply over here to a few questions relating to your system.

In generic terms, the simple "down and dirty" process noted above should work on any system. It's not unique or platform specific.

 

Bumping this to check for any news on resolving the problems with AlienRespawn installing on Dell Solid State Drives.....guys, any news on this yet?

 

Bumpity bump for news on AWR and Windows 8/Dell PM830 SSD......

 

Don't think I have seen anything? Issue is windows 8 and alienrespawn requiring a quite large amount of space right? ~400GB?

 

Nope - just the fact that it will not install correctly. The GUI of AWR is all wrong compared to how it should be - every time I try and install it on a fresh Win 8 clean install, I get the following (and so do a few other guys with Dell SSD's) - in fact, one guy (GaryO) tested this theory out that it was Dell SSD by installing Win 8 on a Momentus XT drive and then AWR installed just fine......with Dell SSD's, it's epic fail just like my screenshot below.

 

Oh damn that looks weird, I don't even have respawn on mine, I have a samsung 830, I'll give it a try sometime, see if its any SSD or just dell ones.

 

Thanks, Bro. Actually, Optimistic Prime tested it out on his 18x R2 with a retail 830 - AWR installs/works fine. The difference is the Dellized firmware that has maybe "gimped" the Dell drive and for some reason, AWR won't install properly.....be interesting to hear what you find though!

If you look at this post: http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...rket-drive-alienrespawn-q-28.html#post8983275 you can see how it "should" look, as Mr. Fox installed it just fine too on his non-Dell SSD's.....

 

Had a go, hmmm looks like its broken/corrupt for me, similar screen to yours...



I am running under windows 8 (all latest updates + all .net packs installed) secure/fast boot enabled and UEFI.

 

Is your SSD a Dell PM830 or retail Samsung 830 ??

 

Its a retail one.

 

Hmmmm......I know Optimistic Prime installed AWR just fine on his Raided retail 830's:

Is your firmware up to date, out of curiosity?

 

If you reinstall Windows 8 with legacy boot options (no secure boot and no fast boot) do you have the same issue?

 

Thanks for the advice but I'm happy without the Alienrespawn anyways . Really cba reinstalling another OS. I assume its an issue with UEFI or something rather than windows?

I don't need it at the moment, my laptop originally came with w7 and my w8 key is not an upgrade.

 

Looking for basically any problems with upgrading the r1 to windows 8 as far as driver compatibilities, speed differences and any other useful information so I can decide if I am going to upgrade or not. My gpu's are being upgraded to 4GB clevo gtx680m in SLI, so any radeon 6990m incompatibilities will not apply to me.

 

Your Killer Wireless card may never work properly with Windows 8. It may with the native Windows 8 drivers, but there has been a mixed result with members of our Community. Some have given up and switched to Intel. Some have no problems with the Windows 8 driver. Almost everyone has issues with the driver provided by the OEM.

This may be of interest for your wireless: http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...thread-look-solutions-ask-questions-here.html

Most of the drivers for the M18x R1 will be provided natively during Windows 8 installation. See the "Quick Tips" link below.

[Quick Tips] Installing Windows 8 "The Fox Way"​

Windows 8 is ok, but far from fantastic. After tweaking it to work the way I want it to, I like it well enough to have it in a dual boot configuration with Windows 7, but I am not ready to let go of Windows 7. If I had to use it the way Microsoft designed it, I would have abandoned it and gone back to Windows 7. It has some cool features Windows 7 is lacking, but it is more restrictive. On the desktop it is very similar to Windows 7 if you add a Start button. I really don't care for the Windows 8 Start (Metro) interface. It's tacky and inefficient. It has a bunch of free apps that are more of a gimmick than a value-added benefit. Windows 8 runs all of my games fine, but it degrades performance somewhat. Better benchmark scores are consistently returned by Windows 7.

Congratulations on the 680M SLI upgrade. You're going to love it... it's most awesome GPU available in a laptop ever so far.

You will need to mod the NVIDIA drivers to get them to install with 680M in the M18x R1. I have posted in several threads how to do it. It's not difficult. Under Windows 8 you will need to restart with Driver Signature Enforcement (DSE) disabled or the driver installation will fail due to the modded INF. (One example of what I meant by "more restrictive" than Windows 7.)

Here are a few posts on the driver INF mod...

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...-not-detecting-second-680m-2.html#post9016273

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...-64-beta-released-11-28-12-a.html#post8968565

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m18x/702943-r1-6990m-cf-680m.html#post9023292​

 

Yea i had a feeling windows 8 would just be a mess. Am happy to finally upgrade as I have a 27" korean 2560x1440 monitor and with that many pixels being driven by a laptop you can use all the horsepower you can get.

The only bad thing is the 780m is most likely right around the corner.

I'm not even gonna bother with windows 8, waste of money.

 

Hello!

Can you provide some information, will be provided updated video drivers for m17x R3 (Intel + AMD) by Dell? Will them support Windows 8?

We have only 2 years old driver that is very outdated, and have many problems.

I have posted on Latest Intel driver issue on m17x R3 - Laptop Video Forum - Laptop - Dell Community on dell some issues.

 

Just get the latest drivers from intel? Install ones from Dell first then upgrade over them with the latest from intel, (just in case there are any special modded files by Dell to make it work, hopefully those changes are kept).

Even for my R4, I use manufacturers drivers over Dell ones, because their usually the latest.

Oh btw anyone with an R4, there are official drivers for the Synaptics input device, but the one on the Synaptics website is newer.

 

download the latest beta drivers from AMD and you should be good to go. Intel Drivers should be included in the package.

 

Somebody help, my m17x comes with windows 8. Everything works fine until I right click a program and run as administrator. Now program with the "uac shield" won't run unless I right click it and run as administrator.

Before this problem occurred, I could open program with "shield" just by double click it and uac would prompt.

Someone please help~

 

Thanks Mr. Fox for a great post.

I also tried "AlienGUIse" ... No success on that one.

PowerDVD 9.6 that came on my M18X-R1 and on my M17X-R3 will not run on Windows 8, and Cyberlink's "solution" is to buy PowerDVD 12 (which works fine).

 

Hi I writed this thread because I'm thinking about upgrading for a while to test Windows 8.

Currently my system set up is this:

M18x R2
A08 BIOS Unlocked
680M VBIOS with svl7
Windows 7 Pro
RAID 0 SSD

I use MSI Afterburner and Nvinspector to overclock the GPUs, I wonder if I switch to Windows 8 I will lose some of the possibilities currently I have in Win7 as it allows me to overclock or be able to use unlocked BIOS and modified vbios.

Also I would apreciate if someonte tells me if I have to remove the RECOVERY partition to install correctly Windows 8, I mean, I have Win 7 with RAID 0 and as all of you knows very well AW cames with a recovery partition. I don't want to lose that partition, specially if I want to step back to W7.


Thank you very much.

 

What program(s) are you referring to? Depending on what it is, it might be normal that it only runs that way. Is your user profile set up as a member of the Admnistrators group? Have you disabled UAC? If not, make those changes and see if the system behavior improves to your liking. You may have something messed up with your file access permissions. If those two suggestions do not correct it, take ownership of the files you are wanting to launch that require elevated permissions.

If you create AlienRespawn USB or DVD restore media, it will not make any difference if you lose the recovery partition because using the Respawn media will reinstall everything including that partition. You can do everything in Windows 8 that you did in Windows 7. All of the same programs and games work fine, including Afterburner and NVIDIA Inspector. Windows 8 will hinder performance a little bit.

 

Well, I am the member of administrator. Yes I did disabled UAC. I was able to play Battlefield 3 from Origin, until I right click and run as administrator Garena Plus Setup. Since then, everything messed up. Battlefield 3 freezes at startup loading screen and I have to right click and run as administrator for program which has "UAC shield".

 

Hmm. The "Garena Plus" you mentioned... I am not familiar with that, but I Googled it. I have a hunch that might be your problem. I you have not already done so, uninstall it and see if your system works properly. Perhaps installing that screwed up permissions in your Windows, and I am finding Windows 8 already to have some issues with permissions being messed up without any extra help from third party apps.

If that does not help, try creating a new Windows 8 user account. If that new account works properly, delete the old one.

 

#174 Could I save the current content of the RECOVERY partition without restoring to that state first?

I mean, do I have to first restore to the recovery partition point and then export to USB?

Or right now I can export my recovery partition.

Once this is completed it's better to recreate the RAID? Or I will be able to install W8 in the current RAID 0 config? Of course after having formatted the SSDs.

Any advices or tips?

Thank you!

 

#174 Could I save the current content of the RECOVERY partition without restoring to that state first?

I mean, do I have to first restore to the recovery partition point and then export to USB?

Or right now I can export my recovery partition.

Once this is completed it's better to recreate the RAID? Or I will be able to install W8 in the current RAID 0 config? Of course after having formatted the SSDs.

Any advices or tips?

Thank you!

 

Were you able to choose to use UEFI or not becasue you have a SSD? I am getting ready to clean install 8 on my M17xR2 and when I ran the Windows 8 assistant it told me, 'Secure boot isn't compatible with your PC. Your PCs fimware doesn't support secure boot so you will not be able to use it in Windows 8." I am not sure if I care or not, but was wondering why I did not have the "choice."

Thanks,
Sandy
(sorry for the double post debacle, tried to delete but don't see where to do that.)

 

Were you able to choose to use UEFI or not becasue you have a SSD? I am getting ready to clean install 8 on my M17xR2 and when I ran the Windows 8 assistant it told me, 'Secure boot isn't compatible with your PC. Your PCs fimware doesn't support secure boot so you will not be able to use it in Windows 8." I am not sure if I care or not, but was wondering why I did not have the "choice."

Thanks,
Sandy

 

I dont think the M17x R2 has UEFI compatible BIOS. Not 100% sure though.

 

Yes, that could be why. I was just curious. Thanks for your response and all the other helpful things I have read from you ; )

I found this and it was helpful to me - especially the part about how it takes care of the partitions for you without the need for formatting...

How To Clean Install Windows 8 (Part 1 of 2)

Just thought I would pass along...

 

Unfortunately, creating a new Windows 8 user account doesn't work. I also tried to enable the hidden administrator account, also, it wont open until I run as admin.

 

I installed OSD and Alienware Command Center but OSD is not working... when I launch Command Center I don't see anything about the Facial Recognition login... and if I recall there should be a category for that with all the settings. There is no category for facial recognition in Command Center.

I am going to clean install everything again tomorrow since I received an error message for just about every. single. driver I tried to install tonight with the exception of AMD which was the one I thought might give me trouble. I clean installed Windows 7 on here last year and it went flawlessly - tonight went like a train wreck.

I wanted to know if anybody had any ideas about the OSD though so when I try this all again tomorrow I can hopefully get that working. And I did enable NET Framework 3.5 before I started which was mentioned in this thread to help with OSD.

Any help would be greatly appreciated - although, at this point, nothing could have gone WORSE than tonight.

Sandy

 

Sandy, are you using the versions of OSD and Alienware Command Center designed specifically for the M17x R2? Sorry to hear things haven't gone well with your Windows 8 upgrade.

 

Please I need an answer for this post, because I don't have an USB with enough capacity to use right now. And I want to get my 14$ w8's key!
Thank you!

 

Yes. It is from Dells Drivers and Downloads using my Service Tag. I know it works because I clean installed Windows 7 last year and it went fine.

I tried 3 times today (clean install) and all with the same outcome... what Alienware Command Center is missing is Alien Sense - that entire category is missing/gone and that is the category for Facial Recognition.

I think I will use an image backup I made with Acronis when I clean installed Windows 7 last year - I did an image backup right after all the drivers were installed - nothing else. Go back and install that image and then install Windows 8 over it, not clean since with clean I do not get Alien Sense. There were also numerous error messages for drivers - that shouldn't have happened either because the Windows 8 assistant said I was compatible with those drivers.

I will post back what happens...

What is odd is I have clean installed Windows 8 on various machines and it has been the easiest install I have even done... Going from Vista to Windows 7 was much harder. But for whatever reasons, this machine isn't handling this well.

 

I called Dell but because I am not clean installing Windows 7 which came with this computer they would not give me the download for the Alienware Command Center that includes Alien Sense. The download on the page from Dell Drivers and Downloads for my Service Tag does not include Alien Sense anymore. So I bought the program Fast Access which gives me facial recognition although without the nice "Alienware" vibe.

I have attached 2 print screens. One says my Free Fall Sensor isn't compatible. Does anybody know if that is really a "bad" thing or can I live without that. The 2nd print screen shows the Drivers and Downloads page from Dell and all 4 of those drivers cannot be installed without error messages. I am wondering if I can just live without them, or is that a bad idea. Also, I have no blue tooth. I went to the manufacturer site which is Broadcom and they do say they are compatible with Windows 8 and give a download but I can't install it because it says "Please turn on your Bluetooth device" and I show I don't have one - so how do I move forward with Bluetooth.



So I am unsure about my setup right now- if it is okay or not. If not, it may be better to install an Image of Windows 7 with the drivers and install Windows 8 on top of it (not clean) to give me some of the drivers back I can't install right now.



Any advice would be helpful...

Sandy

 

Yes, you can save the content of the recovery partition.

I was running Windows 8 on two Agility 3 SSD in RAID0 without any problem. It is best to use RAID setting in the BIOS instead of AHCI, even if you only have one SSD or HDD.

My first M17x R2 had a lot of problems with the Bluetooth module malfunctioning. It was replaced under warranty and still had issues. It would just stop working randomly and Windows would tell me it was turned off. My current M17x R2 never does that. Why one behaves different than the other I have no idea. If your system works correctly with Windows 7, I think I would be skipping the Windows 8 "upgrade" rather than giving up functionality. There's nothing particularly wonderful about Windows 8 at the end of the day. I would prefer to have a machine that works correctly with Windows 7 than one that has been impaired by Windows 8 compatibility issues.

Do you have the original CDs for your M17x R2? You should have the version Alienware Command Center with AlienSense on that disc.

Or, at the Dell Support page for the current version, trying clicking the link to download one of the previous versions:

Alienware Command Center
Alienware Command Center Application (Also contains the driver and firmware)
Release Date: 5/27/2010
Importance: Recommended
Version: 2.5.48.0, A06

Alienware Command Center
Alienware Command Center Application (Also contains the driver and firmware)
Release Date: 2/24/2010
Importance: Recommended
Version: 2.0.14, A04​

 

Hi, finally I installed windows 8, everything seems to be right but I have 2 unknown devices ( ) that I don't know which are. I would like some help if someone had had the same problem.
I had install the following:




@dell's download page I have these left to install but I want to ask first:

Intel DPTF Driver (Don't know what's for)

This two I think Windows 8 has installed it for me:
Intel Management Engine Interface
Intel HM77 Panther Point Chipset | Intel Panther Point HM77 Chipset

ST Microelectronics LNG3DM Free Fall Sensor (I do have RAID 0 SSD's)


The only one that gave me any problem was "Dell Wireless 380 Bluetooth4.0 Module" at the end of the installation the OS said that there was some compatibilitie problems.

Thank you to all.

 

Thank you for the links and for the advice as well!

After messing around with different Command Center downloads for 2 days I have come to the conclusion that Alien Sense (embedded in Command Center) will not install on Windows 8 Pro. Like I said, I purchased Fast Access so next subject (and it preforms like its name - faster, so that's actually better.)

You are so right... losing functions or features, that you paid for (and we all know these systems aren't cheap) is probably not worth it. But I have been known to execute "stupid" in the name of advancing my systems and OS'.

Right now I see no performance issues with anything. The only exception is the loss of Bluetooth (I have never used Bluetooth in the 2 years I have owned this system, but I do like to see that lit up Bluetooth symbol - I do love stuff that "lights" up which is why I run Alienware ; )

I am going to contact Broadcom tech support... Windows 8 won't let me install the driver for Bluetooth due to compatibility - that driver tells the system I have Bluetooth. I can't install the version from Broadcom that would correct the problem since Broadcom thinks I have no Bluetooth. I will see what they say to do about this if anything. I will also contact the people who make the free fall sensor and the infrared and ask when they will provide a driver for Windows 8.

I like Windows 8 and I have a Windows Phone 8 Nokia Lumia 920 that works well with it so I am going to see how this goes. I have image backups of Windows 7 so I can get this entire thing back to Windows 7 Ultimate in 20 minutes.

I did want to mention that - I didn't use Alien ReSpawn for image backups, I use Acronis True Image Home 2013 which is compatible with Windows 8. Acronis True Image has saved me countless hours of tech troubleshooting - you boot from the CD and it can restore an image back in 20 minutes. This allows you to try out different things and if they don't work - you simply restore back. It truly is a life saver. Just wanted to pass that along...

Once again Mr. Fox thanks for your input... Whenever I see your name I know I am going to read something helpful! :hi2:

 

I had three that were unknown in Device Manager... by the time I had finished installing Drivers from Dell's Drivers and Downloads, and Windows had finished finding what it could, I now only have 1 unknown device which I am thinking is the Bluetooth that isn't compatible. Wish I could be more helpful - but I wanted to let you know you aren't alone with your "unknown" device(s) issue ; )

Good luck!
Sandy

 

@ [Nikos]

Chances are the missing ones are the Freefall sensor, maybe the card reader but to be sure, double click on each one, then select the details tab, in the drop down bar, select Hardware ID and then Google the ID's that show up. Should pretty much narrow it down for you and show you exactly which ones are required via the Google results.

 

One cavest that I will toss out here ...

I purchased two copies of "Windows 9 Pro" from Dell. One for my M17X-R3 and the other for my M18X-R1. I specifically told the sales person that I wanted the full copy that I could install to a blank (newly created) RAID set. I did not want the upgrade. He assured me that was what I was getting.

I installed on my M18X first. I blew away the RAID set and re-created and booted off the DVD and everything went smashing. I put in the Product Key and Windows activated just fine, and I followed Mr Fox's notes and all is great.

My wife went to install the other copy on the M17X, Again she filled the RAID set and re-created it and booted from the DVD. The product installed, but wouldn't activate. When she called Microsoft, they said: "That is an 'upgrade' DVD, that is all we are selling." Once she gave them the Windows 7 product key, they gave her the magic number to activate Windows 8 Pro. They were at a loss as to why my copy installed and activated just fine.

Anyway, I pass this on in case you run into that problem.

 

Thanks so much for the info the and print screens! You are right mine is the Freefall Sensor made by STMicroelectronics. You can't get help from them. And regarding my Bluetooth from Broadcom - I checked, and you can't get help from them either. And you can't get help from Dell because I called and they won't even talk to you if you installed another OS other than what came on the Machine. I went through this with them on a clean install of Windows 7 on a Vista machine (when I needed them to come to my home to replace my motherboard for my XPS, which took 3 motherboards by the way, I had to image back to Vista.) But I got every driver to install and work on that Vista to Windows 7 upgrade - this time that didn't happen.

If enough people use Alien Autopsy (which flagged me on the unknown device) Dell should get a big fat electronic shout out on what we are all "missing" and hopefully get the drivers we need. Because if they won't even talk to me how can I get them to push these manufacturers for a driver update?

In any event... once again thanks for the reply and the print screen!

Sandy

 

The following is the link for the Windows 8 driver for Broadcom Bluetooth

Bluetooth Software Download | Broadcom

As you can see from the instructions you have to have the Bluetooth turned on - I can't do that because my system doesn't even know I have it. When I tried to install the driver from Dells Drivers and Download Windows blocked me due to "compatibility."

Does anybody know how to get my system to "show" Bluetooth so I can get the driver from Broadcom installed? I know I have Bluetooth because it was running in Windows 7 Ultimate.

 

I banged away at this and did find a place to write to Broadcom... I will post back if they offer any help around this problem.

Sandy

 

Never mind it was "undeliverable" even though it is a valid email address provided from their website. I love how these large companies can just stonewall you. Or, like Dell, spin you around in an ineffective circle.

I should be able to write to Dell to tell them Broadcom is offering a Windows 8 driver, but due to the incompatibility of the original driver on Dell's website, users are unable to take advantage of it. I should be able to do that... seems simple enough but it can't be done. I even used my XPS Service tag to write to them to see if they would pass it along to the powers that be. They didn't and wouldn't. I have to call, and I have already done that and it was a stupid waste of time.

 

I contacted Dell one more time using this link from an email they sent back to me when I was trying (unsuccessfully) to get help...

Alienware : The Ultimate Gaming Machine

These people were much kinder than the other phone number I have for Dell. I did get someone who said they could do it if I paid. I said okay.

He got the free fall sensor working by trying to install it in Compatibility mode. After you try to install the driver you go to your computer C:/dell/drivers and select the driver number (whatever that may be for you) in that driver file is a icon that says "Set up" - right click on that and hit Properties and then Compatibility - then select Windows 7.

Here are two print screen that should help...



He tried to fix the Bluetooth but wasn't able to because he needed a separate link from his email account that he didn't have access to at work. He was going to call me back at 8pm but he still hasn't... I am sure I will eventually hear from him and when I do I will ask him for that link and provide it here.

 

Hi Sandy. My Ultimate-N 6300 works beautifully under Windows 8. Here is a link to the latest from Intel: Intel® PROSet/Wireless Software and Drivers for Windows 8 and select the download for wireless_15.5.7_De64.exe file.

You can also try the Microsoft Update Catalog driver as a last resort, but I think the one above should work better for you.

Title	Products	Classification	Last Updated	Version	Size
Intel driver update for Intel(R) Centrino(R) Ultimate-N 6300 AGN	Windows 7,Windows 8,Windows Drivers	Drivers (Networking)	9/15/2009	13.0.0.107	2.0 MB 2101407

Whatever driver you use, disable UAC and ignore the warning (choose to proceed with installation) when you see it. You may even need to reboot Windows 8 with driver signature enforcement disabled in order to install them.