Vista 64-bit on XPS M1330

Has anybody been able to get mediadirect to work right with this setup?

I get blue screened when it trys to initialize.
Also has anybody been able to do away with the media direct partition completely or resize it to a much smaller size without issues.

I just want to be able to use the eject and media buttons within vista.

 

My mediadirect works fine. As for getting rid of it, there would be no problems. Relating to BSOD...have you installed Intel Matrix Storage Manager as of yet?

If worse comes to worse...I think you can reinstall mediaDirect 3.3 without having to redo your whole system.

 

Believe me, I tackled more issues than you and trebuin combined...and yes, I am running x64. As previously mentioned, however, those drivers work for x86 and x64 and don't have too much to do with this thread, but I know much of this thread has been discussing AHCI drivers so I thought I'd share.

 

Speaking from my experience, I generally start with computer supported drivers, eg Dell's provided chipset drivers, ect; then I move over to to better drives as the computer vendor fails to update. My rule of thumb is 1) if it isn't broke, don't update it, and 2) if it makes things faster, time to upgrade.

As for uninstalling vs installing over...depends on the drivers and the writers of them. 1) if the driver install commands and overwrite all files and registry values, then I just do an install over. These are chipset type of drivers, not video card...it's a bit hard to determine what falls into this category. 2) If the driver is from a company that I know does a good job, then I would update.

In the end, it won't hurt to uninstall and reinstall in this case. It's usually recommended, but from intel's documents, you can just update these drivers. I'll personally use these as well.

With the older chipset drivers, it didn't make any sense to update as the drivers did not fix anything with even generational updates, since your chipset is probably not even looked at anymore.

Thanks for posting the link to the drivers Doubleback. I'll build a non-vendor provided update section to the first post when I get a little more time.

 

Well with something like AHCI drivers, then you can't just uninstall them because that requires a reboot, and Windows will fail on restart. Yes, generally it's "if it ain't broke don't fix it" but it's still technically broken, I updated to try to see if this version allowed for write caching, but it did not...however personally I did see a performance increase, therefore I decided to recommend it to others.

 

I checked the drivers and the performance change was within standard dev. There's nothing wrong with the older stuff as I have seen no crashes caused by them.

You can uninstall the older drivers with Vista, probably not XP, but Vista has the built in AHCI system...the registry change that I posted...that will keep it functioning without the AHCI drivers.


I am researching if Intel takes over that function or if it is indeed broken as many have stated. I will post again when/if I find a solution.

 

Here's what I have found so far:
1) There's much talk about the caching being disabled because the nature of these drivers along with SATA is that the drive is supposed to be hot-swappable; to prevent corruption, the write caching has been flat-out disabled.
2) you can see this in my first post with those drive benchmarks...the burst rate will drop...for me by about 10 MB/S
3) People and vendors have said that the AHCI functions have excessive cpu overhead (1% for me, negligible) and it induces lag...not seen in my benchmarks.

***even with the registry change and no drivers...this still happens***

I'm looking for a way to enable this for you guys.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_Command_Queuing

 

I'm havingthis same issue - any ideas people? And thanks to all of you for this wonderful guide.

Problem is that I can't reinstall the AHCI thing as suggested because when I even try to install it I get the following message: "This computer does not meet the minimum requirements for installing this software. Steup will exit."

 

Check the bios settings and then make sure that your AHCI is enabled through the registry (it should be).

Also, I changed some things around in my registry to see if I could force the drive to cache and now I'm getting a ridiculous burst rate of anywhere from 100-150 mb/s. The device manager shows the device is not caching still.

 

its disabled in the bios but it seems enabled in the registry (how do I check for sure? is it the directions you posted on the first page?

Its disabledin the bios because else it gives the blue screen

Thanks for the help

- Shoeb

 

Thanks trebuin, it was the Ricoh xD, MMC and Memory stick devices, not sure how I missed those as I had the SD host adapter installed.

 

As per Flamenko:

Reinstall the Intel Matrix Storage Manager (AHCI fix).
Dont do a hot restart; shut it off and do a cold boot instead.
Then you can switch to AHCI in the bios.

 

Well, what registry changes are those?

 

Ya Ide like a bit more on that as well Treb..

 

Hi I got my M1330 today I'm delighted with it thus far. I have installed vista ultimate 64bit on it and have everything up and running aside from this ACHI option for the SATA drive. I went into the registry and trebuin mentioned in his post but that specific entry is already at 0. Each time I restart and try to boot again using ACHI I just end up getting a BSOD.

I am unsure how to go about installing these drivers. Can someone point me in the right direction?

 

Yes...when you are in Windows, install the Intel Matrix Storage Manager and restart. Once you have done so, restart again and go into the BIOS setup, setting your ACHI and Flash Module at on two below that

 

And just to confirm where should I download these drivers from? Just to be sure I have the right version...

Thanks

 

The driver is on the Dell site but there is a newer one on the intel site. Go there and search 'Intel Matrix Storage manager'.

Not pos...but there may also be one on the drivers disk.

Repped ya for the guts to move over to 64!!!

 

I am moving over to 64 tomorrow

 

You will enjoy it but you know its not corporate compatible eh??

Any questions just ask...

 

HKEY_local_machine\system\currentcontrolset\enum\ide\"your hard drive"\"scrambled letters and number"\Device parameters\disk\

userwritecachesetting set to "1" to activate...this will already be there

On my laptop, I have 3 different "scrambled letters and numbers" selection, but only one had the "device parameters" and so on. I created the same folder in the other two and added the same parameters in the other two. This did make a difference.

Now as for results, I already posted the benchmarks which shows a few points that boosts the score. The actual checkbox in the device manager is STILL UNCHECKED. The reason why I hesitated releasing this is because there is very little known on this. Feel free to do some tests and let me know what you see.

Oh, and restart to take effect

 

Did you switch off AHCI, enable the registry, and then re-enable the AHCI? Double check the bios because sometimes it does not stick.

 

I only have 1 "scrambled letters and numbers" in the "device parameters" i have 3 values.

(Default) = (value not set)
CacheIsPowerProtected = 1
UserWriteCacheSetting = 1

Does this look right? I'm trying to enable super-drive-speed-thing, have the newest Matrix Storage driver installed.

 

I have below...

Are you saying I should copy the 'Disk' Folder from the first set of numbers/lettes and add it to paste it to the second?

Pik attached.

Ok tried it...restarted...I have attached the before and after....no change in transfer rate both stick around 55mb/sec on average.


Also...Is this dependant on the Matrix Storage Manager being installed? I presently redid my system to compare as I would get a 'freezing' every now and then. Without the Matrix driver, I dont get that and have got the same transfer rate with just a bit of an increased cpu usage.

Will I need to reinstall to see the full affects of this? Yes ACHI is still selected in setup...except now I have Enable Write caching checked off under the disk properties along with enhanced performance.

 

I have ACHI disabled in the registry otherwise Vista Ultimate 64-bit won't boot - instead i'll just get a BSOD. I've downloaded the intel matrix storage manager off the intel website and when I am installing it the installation exits with the message "your system does not meet the requirements for this installation" or something similar.

I'll keep trying various things and post a solution if i find one.

 

Thats very odd. In your setup, is ACHI turned on???

You may get the bsod on hot reset and, when this occurs, just do a cold restart and finish the driver installation.

Hey solid state drive!!! Congrats!! There are 3 of us now!!

EDIT!! Make sure your registry is as it was previously. Go into setup and make sure that ACHI is on with the flash mosule enabled to below. Then when you do a reset it will BSOD. Dont worry about it, just tur the system off and let sit for a few seconds. Restart and it will work. Install Matrix driver when it gets going.

I myself have uninstalled the Matrix driver and am trying something a bit diff for a bit. I would get sporadic freezing so im seeing if that was the cause...no freezing now....still in ACHI/no Matrix driver...

 

I have it set to ATA in the BIOS. Is this what you mean when you say is ACHI turned on?

When you say to do a cold restart and finish the driver installation - do you mean just switching the BIOS back to ACHI? I can't get this far as I cannot install the driver...cause of system requirements. It's a weird error for it to give on installation.

 

The bsod isn't due to the ahci issue. I had that issue initially and had to reinstall all over again just to add the driver during the vista install.

As someone else mentioned before this tidbit of info needs to be added to the first post. Its much easier to add the driver during the install than to have to deal with the bsods and registry edits on a clean install.

I think mediadirect may not be working for me because i moved the location of its partition when i resized my primary partition.

Oh well i'm going to be reinstalling again in a couple days anyway.

 

when i try to install dell/intel sata driver i got "your system does not meet the requirements for this installation" too, in vostro 1400. still stuck at ahci fix. no sulution even with cold boot.

 

Yeah i've tried numerous combinations but cannot get this driver to install.....

 

all the other drivers (video, audio, touchpad, cardreader, ethernet, wireless) work fine, especially the new intel 64bit driver for X3100.

 

trebuin, i followed your suggestion for ahci fix but with no success: after set registry to 0 in that start option under msahci, both intel or dell's sata driver can't be installed due to the previous mentioned error message. if use update driver option to force a driver update, will then get bsod regardless ahci mode or ata mode. please enlighten us with more insightful solutions, thanks.

 

Markjsca:

You should be set to ACHI in Bios and not ATA. Cold boot and install the Intel Matrix Driver. I dont understand why it wouldnt work considering we have the same exact system. Im wondering if it has to do with your directory as you changed that and I never and only we have the SSD.

Vostro, did you try my suggestion to do a cold boot when BSOD occurs and then try the iinstallation of Matrix?

And Mr. Deeds. I have installed/reinstalled this laptop now trying diff configurations 3 times and the BSOD always occurs when installation is done and the AHCI driver has not been installed as of yet.

 

set achi in bios resulted in bsod...

 

I know and thats when I say to cold boot...after ACHI is set as well as the cache to selections below. It will then BSOD. Turn it off and let it sit for a few seconds. Does it still BSOD now when you boot?

 

whenever i set achi (and/or/or without intel flash cache) i will get bsod (with microsoft default sata driver). whenever i try to install intel or dell sata driver, i got error message (in ata bios setting of course, since there is no way to get boot with achi setting in bios). whenever i tried to force a driver update with intel or dell sata driver, i will get bsod (regardless achi or ata in bios) when reboot regardless cold boot or hot reboot. frustrated.

 

We have virtually the same system (2/2.2) which is why I dont understand this at all. I understand your system was made in ireland and not malaysia but i would believe all would be the same. Did you do a clean install originally before all this?

 

This is applicable after you have set up AHCI and through not installing AHCI during the initial install. That's why I see 3, also, I'm still trying to figure what this is actually doing, if actually anything.

Flamenko, this boosted just my burst speed...150 on that, everything else was the same. I don't know if this will help a SSD at all as the drive actually functions as cache.

 

Which is why you install the driver before the vista installation even starts.

You install the ahci driver at the beginning of the install where you pick the hard drive or partition you want your vista install on. I've done this twice now and did not have the issue again. All this do a cold boot and edit your registry stuff is a fix but its causing more trouble than its solving especially for people that are doing clean installs.

 

It was in my opinion that if you uninstalled the intel storage matrix to upgrade it, that would be very bad as that's the only drivers that makes the OS work. Anyhow, I'll uninstall mine and try to confirm/deny this.

 

Mr. Deeds,

I am not suggesting to do it that way (rather than the install suggested) but rather, trying to show a possible fix for the problem after it has occurred that worked for me.

The posts I am answering are people asking why the BSOD and what to do now.

Point taken.

My system right now runs like a charm and I am testing it without the Matrix Driver installed at all. Thats all we do here...Test, test, test...

 

I've sorted the problem with the help of this thread here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=164159

The steps involved are (I've modified the instructions from the above post to relflect the changes required for Vista 64-bit):

1. Download the Intel Matrix Storage Manager here to the desktop:
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Product_Filter.aspx?ProductID=2101&lang=eng

2) Once you download the file, run it with a -a switch:

To do this press the windows key + R - then type cmd and navigate to your Desktop (Should just have to type "cd desktop") - then type iata76_enu.exe -a
This will NOT install the Matrix Storage Manager. What this will do is run the installer, and ONLY EXTRACT the files to C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager. Again, this does NOT install anything.

3. Your drivers are now located in C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager. The 64 Bit ones will be found in \Driver64.

4. Go to Device Manager --> IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers. Double-click on the Intel ICH8M 3-port SATA Controller - 2828... remember, *ONLY* click on the device that ends with 2828. Right click on it and select properties.

5. Go to Driver tab, and choose to Update Driver > Browse for Driver > Let me pick from a list... > Have Disk and point it to the C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager\Driver64 directory.

6. The driver you want to install for Vista 64-bit for the Dell XPS M1330 is Intel 82801HEM/HBM SATA AHCI Controller

After you install the driver and click OK out of every menu, SHUT DOWN (not restart) the laptop.

7) During reboot, go into BIOS and turn on AHCI mode and Flash Module

8) Voila! Vista 64-bit will boot up with no BSOD!


Hope this works for any people having the same issue as me!

 

From Trebuin:

With respect to this

"Also, I changed some things around in my registry to see if I could force the drive to cache and now I'm getting a ridiculous burst rate of anywhere from 100-150 mb/s. The device manager shows the device is not caching still." and negotiating the disk cache through the registry, the registry fix does nothing.

His suggestion is not to mess with the write cache settings further because, no matter what you set, Intel resets them to 'enabled' automatically causing your efforts to be null.

He believes that "the other "1" under the ...protected=1 keeps you from modifying it"

And finally, he confirms that Intel Matrix driver locks the write caching and advancing in the disk and its not an error of the system or driver.

Ok so your probably wondering why Im writing this for him. I cant tell you why but he is somewhere where it was easier this way because internet was way too slow and he wanted my to get it out.

 

markjsca1,i tried this method yesterday but with no luck.

 

Don't get me wrong im definately not trying to get into a pissing contest about whos right or whos wrong.

I'm sure both ways work just fine if instructions are followed.

I was just suggesting that this a problem that may be easier headed off at the pass rather than after the fact. No worries though.

@Trebuin

If it hasn't already been said, thanks for putting this all together. Its was great to find links to all necessary drivers in one place.

 

No...Im sorry. I know I can get a bit on edge at times...

 

MrDeeds, could you elaborate a bit how to install the driver before the vista installation even starts? i see this might be a better way. thanks.

 

Hes not online so briefly...

When you insert and start the installation of Vista, you will come to a screen that allows you to seek and install drivers.

At that screen, you can install a disk with the Matrix Storage Manager or your drivers disk and I believe then the proper driver is installed. From there you continue with the installation and all is in order.

I believe the specific file is identified by Treb at the beginning of the article.

 

thanks, but i didn't see any screen which could allow me to install third party driver. sth wrong here?

 

No its there...It might ask for files and not drivers.