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    Problems updating the m17x Display drivers (preferrably WHQL)

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by Gazoo, Dec 15, 2009.

  1. Gazoo

    Gazoo Newbie

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    Hey forum guys and gals,

    Brief introductory paragraph first - feel free to skip if you just wish to read my question. So I have gotten my mits on an Alienware and I am both pleased and displeased with it. It seems to perform well, but unfortunately has stability problems and the left button on the touchpad does not work any more. Briefly speaking - I will be taking up the service/support with DELL after the upcoming winter break. Now then - on to my dilemma...

    I wish to update the Nvidia drivers on my Alienware m17x to the latest 195.62 version. I do this to make use of GLSL 1.5 and OpenGL 3.2 which supposedly these drivers support. I have been unable to determine exactly when Nvidia started supporting these editions of GLSL and OpenGL respectively, therefore I have decided to just go for the latest WHQL versions of the drivers. I read that these drivers were supposed to natively support DELL's dual GFX card architecture. Unfortunately, my installation did not go without a hitch. I downloaded the mobile WHQL driver package for vista 64-bit from Nvidia, restarted the machine to make sure all three graphics cards were enabled and started the installation. The following then happened:

    1. Installation starts as normal and Setup.exe proceeds to uninstalling current drivers.
    2. System restarts normally.
    3. Once back in Vista, the installer informs me that certain devices that are running can only be updated (or uninstalled or something) with another reboot. Therefore...
    4. System restarts normally.
    5. Once back in Vista, the drivers seem to have been removed since I am left with a very low rez desktop and the nvidia driver installer does not reappear. I decide just to manually restart the setup.exe from nvidia.
    6. The setup seems to install the drivers it finds necessary.
    7. System restarts normally.
    8. The last thing I see appearing while booting into vista is the round vista logo. Then, the screen goes black with only the cursor remaining. After a short while the cursor also disappears. I inadvertently send the machine into sleep mode by pressing power off. Leaving the sleep mode seems to bring back the cursor but still only the cursor is visible (still in a semi low rez version).

    Given this poor result, I perform a system restore back to the original DELL drivers and there I am - back to square one. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I should proceed. The other driver thread mentioned some guy who installed the latest drivers without these black-out problems (albeit with other problems thou). I would of course prefer optimal drivers without any troubles and support for the latest GLSL and OpenGL, but right now I have to prioritize getting the latest GLSL to work.

    Specs:

    Alienware m17x
    Vista Sp-1 64-Bit
    2x 280m
    Intel Core 2 Extreme Q9300
    4 gig Ram
    2x Raid HDs

    I would be eternally grateful for any insightful feedback!

    Thanks,

    Gazoo
     
    Gazoo, Dec 15, 2009
    #1