Windows 8.1 RTM OSD issues.

Hello everyone,

Just wanted to see if anyone else is having the same issue as me (its not a very big one) upon installing Windows 8.1 Professional on my M18X R2 I've noticed that the OSD driver won't hook the command center anymore. Simply put when you press the command center button on the media keys nothing happens, similar to the eject button fiasco that was present when Windows 8 was first released.

I understand that Windows 8.1 isn't commercially available to the general public until October 17 / 18th but was wondering if anyone had issues with their OSD not opening the command center but otherwise working fine. I was wondering if anyone else out there was a software assurance customer like I am with my company and was brave enough (or dumb enough) to try and get 8.1 working.

And just to answer the obvious questions this is a fresh install using most of the Dell Drivers for Windows 8 and the remainder of the drivers from the manufactures using their 8.1 download links. (Intel, NVidia, synaptic pad)

Just curious about this one, hope Dell supports 8.1 on the R2 not sure why the couldn't since its essential a huge service pack in the guise of a new OS install.


Update:


I have gotten the command center button to work on my M18X R2 using the new drivers and the A12 Bios. I applied all the updated drivers for Windows 8.1 that were listed on the link that Mr. Fox posted, I would recommend anyone having the issue to apply the A12 Bios update first, and then install the updated drivers as that is the path that I used and it fixed the issue I was having, all other buttons are working fine as well now. Props to Alienware / Dell for being on the ball with the Windows 8.1 release.

Links provided by Mr. Fox:

M18X R2 Driver FTP Site
M17X R4 Driver FTP Site

 

Thats bad to hear 8.1 requires full reinstall of windows 8?

 

Heihachi88,

You can do an upgrade in place from Windows 8 to 8.1 however after doing so I ran into issues with my Cisco VPN client hosing up my registry and a few other issues so I decided a fresh install would be better.

In all honesty if you have the Cisco VPN client or VMWare workstation installed make sure and uninstall those before upgrading, other than those two detractors I'm sure the upgrade would have been flawless. None the less it does install just like a fresh OS.

On a positive note the eject button still works!

 

Eject button was fixed just recently with DVD firmware update for Windows 8. So it does work in windows 8.1? I'm gonna test windows 8.1 at release day. I'll try to upgrade from 8 to 8.1 but ill do acronis backup in case of bugs

 

That's a really smart idea for sure. Everyone should be doing that for the sake of convenience. Being able to restore an image of an OS that worked correctly saves a ton of time and hassle compared to a clean install.

 

By all means I would highly advocate a full recovery image and Acronis is my favorite flavor and won't steer you wrong its how I usually image workstations for deployments at work and I know it works very well with Windows 8 at least Backup and Recovery 11.5 does.

Eject works like a charm, it only took me 4 motherboards and a system replacement later to figure out why it didn't initially work.

I'm fairly sure the OSD bug that is currently not launching the command center will be remediated since anyone who uses 8 right now will likely upgrade to 8.1 and they wont have a choice but to release a new driver, and to answer my own question about the OSD someone else back in July had the same issues I was with the command center button not working so I would guess I won't be alone with this issue at all. (Little goggling revealed someone on the Dell Forums had the same issue)

Let us know how the upgrade works for you, I'm curious because I have about 30 machines that will likely need this done and I hope my experience was rough on account of those two apps.

 

My OSD works just fine, i also use 8.1...

 

Mikecacho,

Does your Command Center shortcut button work on your machine? If so what version of the command center and OSD are you using since the M17X R4 and M18X R2 should be very similar in design.

 

The physical button does not work... that is actually the first time i have actually presed it, as i always just use the shortcut on the task bar. IMO those buttons are pointless as hell. My ACC is 2.8.10.0 and my OSD is .32.0.6C After reviewing your post i noticed that you were only talking about the button and nothing more.

 

Have you tried reinstalling the AWCC?

 

Luis,

I can confirm that this issue is present with all drivers from windows 7 and windows 8 running under Windows 8.1 RTM. I've uninstalled all revisions and reinstalled multiple times with the same effect, it would appear Microsoft changed something about the underlying operating system (big surprise) that broke a 3rd party application. Command center works fine when called via the shortcut to the application just not via the button on the media bar.

Also I agree with Mikecacho, that button is really pointless really I can tell you I've maybe used it less than 10 times between the M18X R1 and R2's if that tells you anything but it would be cool to see it work cause knowing there is a bug is what bugs me

 

No, i could careless about those buttons I use keyboard shortcut keys anyhow.

 

I meanto to ask the OP xD

 

Luis,

Of course I tried to reinstall the command center, looks like were going to need an updated version for 8.1 to work with all the media buttons, lord only knows what Microsoft has done. Works great under regular 8 and 7 with provided drivers just not under 8.1

 

Just asking We may need that. I would like to know if there is anyone else having the same issue among the users so that we can escalate it to the L3's.

Anyone else?

 

Alienware CC works fine for me in 8.1, when I still have my AW alive. The OSD (for turning volume, or adjusting screen brightness, etc) doesn't show in 8.1, instead what shows up are the ugly Windows OSD. But since most (didn't use some of the media buttons) work fine I don't bother with it.

At first directly after I installed Windows 8, I had problems but I uninstalled and installed the updated version on the AW 18 driver website. It was a terrible experience though. I had to uninstall and reinstall multiple times to get it to work properly.

Also, if you could, please ask the BIOS team to speed up on the BIOS fix for AW 18. It's been months.

 

Actually, I don't really care that much about the media buttons working. It's nice if they do, but I so seldom ever use them that they could simply disappear and it wouldn't matter that much. The eject button for those that still use an internal ODD is probably nice to have working.

 

Upgraded from Windows 8 to 8.1 Pro, everything went fine. But yeah, my alienware CC button isn't working anymore, i will test eject button soon. Also 331.40 nvidia beta driver not working correctly on windows 8.1 with sli enabled and secure boot on.

 

I just upgraded the Windows 8 half of my dual-boot setup on the M18xR2 to Windows 8.1 last night. I found the same to be true. As you mention, it's not a big deal. I actually don't care if they fix it or not. I never use the button on the media panel to launch AWCC anyway.

I still prefer Windows 7. Unfortunately, I lost some of my aesthetic mods moving to 8.1... it sucks losing Aero window transparency. The way I had Windows 8 running, it looked as great as Windows 7 does, but now I'm back to the ugly pastel-colored crap until I can get the UI tweaks working again.

Thankfully, all of the most important hacks are still working. Disabled hot corners, and spastic pop-out charms bar diabled (works only with Win+C now) and fully functional Start/Programs menu, so it's tolerable. The only real improvement I have identified is the ability to make all of the tiles tiny enough to fit them all on one screen. But, since I never use the Modern UI or Modern Apps that's not a big deal.

I am using the 331.40 beta on two machines with Windows 8.1 and it works perfectly with Secure Poot disabled. Unfortunately, Secure Boot breaks a lot of things... one of the reasons it sucks.

Why are you even bothering to use it? Do you need it for business, to have enhanced data security or something?

 

M17XR4, on A13 same issue

tried reinstalling but to no avail

 

Same issue Luis command center media key doesnt work
And while in game session volume keys doesnt work too
This after upgrade from windows 8 (fully functional) to Windows 8.1
This in a m17x r4
Thanks in advance

 

Since M18x/AW18 owners are not the only ones installing Windows 8 SP1 (commonly called the "new" OS Windows 8.1) I moved this to the main Alienware forum. It seems other are reporting OSD issues as well.

 

Here is a Windows 8.1 update for Alienware OSD... (it does not enable the Alienware Control Center button in Windows 8.1)

Alienware On Screen Display Application

This package provides the driver for Alienware On Screen Display Application and is supported on AW M17XR4/AW M18XR2 Notebook running the following Windows operating systems: Win8.1.

Release Date: 10/9/2013
Importance: Recommended ​

Here is an audio driver update for Windows 8.1...

Creative Labs Sound Blaster Recon3Di CT9570 Driver for Win8.1

This package provides the driver for Creative Labs Sound Blaster Recon3Di CT9570 Driver and is supported on AW M14XR2/AW M17XR4/AW M18XR2 Notebook running the following Windows operating systems: Win8.1.

Release Date: 10/9/2013
Importance: Recommended​

More Windows 8.1 driver downloads can be seen on the Dell Support FTP Download page, some of which are not showing up a the normal support.Dell.com web resource.

Dell Support | Alienware FTP Downloads

 

Thanks for the links. Do you uninstall the old ones first or just install the new ones over the old?

 

I installed over the top of the older version.

 

my command center button does not work in 8.1. The other buttons work correctly

 

Guys,

I have gotten the command center button to work on my M18X R2 using the new drivers and the A12 Bios. I applied all the updated drivers for Windows 8.1 that were listed on the link that Mr. Fox posted, I would recommend anyone having the issue to apply the A12 Bios update first, and then install the updated drivers as that is the path that I used and it fixed the issue I was having, all other buttons are working fine as well now. Props to Alienware / Dell for being on the ball with the Windows 8.1 release.

I will post this at the bottom of my initial post as well so people do not have to search through 3 pages of dialogue.

 

Which command center version did you install? 2.8.10.0 for windows 8? Cause I don't see a windows 8.1 driver for it :/

 

I used the windows 8 version of the command center, and all the new drivers and Bios A12 listed on the FTP page where applicable. My button started working after I install all the new drivers, BIOS A12 first, then sound blaster, chipset, etc. I installed all the drivers right over the top of old ones without issue, and all my older drivers were base Windows 8 drivers from the support page minus a few Intel drivers for RST and the nVidia stuff.

 

All right. Thanks.

 

Douglaz hi have you tryied to update the bios?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free
On Dell ftp yesterday i saw a13 bios but i dont try it

 

Yes. Haven't installed any command center yet hoping there'll be a new one compatible with 8.1 soon but I know that might take a while.

 

Further Windows 8.1 discussions can be conducted in the new thread: http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...upport-thread-questions-discussions-here.html

 

My specialized button to activate Alienware Command center does not work. All the other buttons on the strip work as advertised. Media buttons, ejection button, airline mode etc. So I thought I would try again and sort out what is wrong.

Does anyone know the specific drivers and software involved? It is time for me to stop guessing! Clearly Command Center itself, but is anything else needed? I have done all the recommended drives in the appropriate order, I have done fresh installs etc.

My current config. is BIOS A12, Windows 8.1 Does the button work for anyone out there running Windows 8 or 8.1?

Thanks folks.

PS Upgraded to A12 hoping it would work. Doh

OK! I got it working, it seems I needed to reapply the 8.1 OSD update. Now all is well. Just one of those mysteries I guess.

 

Have u tried to clear full command center and install it again? Sometimes program stop working and with a full reinstall works

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 4

 

We already had a thread for this, so I merged it. Windows 8/8.1 breaks lots of cool stuff. Thanks again, Microsoft.

See post #29.

 

I found this thread because I also had the same problem with my CC button on windows 8.1. I updated to A12 BIOS and installed the new OSD. The CC button works now, but I do not see the alienware OSD icons. Only the windows 8 ones. Anyone else have this problem or know how to fix it?

 

The nice looking Alienware on-screen icons for OSD don't seem to work for Windows 8/8.1 like they do for Windows 7. Windows 8 has extreme limited aesthetic customization options unless you a lot of registry hacking to enable things Micro$oft has crippled. I'm not aware of a hack for the OSD icons, so you'll have to settle for the standard blasé Windows 8 stuff for now.

 

What a shame. Anyway, thanks for the fix though. The command center button was driving me nuts. I love to change my keyboard colors every few weeks.