M1330 Drivers - Keeping up to date

Hello, I've seen some users going ahead and already testing out where M1330's max capability in game play is (seen through "Bioshock experience on M1330") and I wanted to dedciated this thread in notifying others of where to get the latest updates for firmware so that you can take advantage of your M1330.

The first place I noticed for drivers is http://laptopvideo2go.com/

That place has a "driver scanner" utility which you can scan to see if your system is completely up to date.

A real nice place to get your updates is through Dell's support website. Simply select the type of OS you have and you're ready to go.

Note: After updating Nvidia firmware through laptopvideo2go.com, vista experience has changed from 4.0 -> 4.1. As you can see the new driver have somewhat of an impact on quality of graphics and experience.

Feel free to subscribe to this thread to keep yourself updated and well... if you really apprechiate the time and effort that I've put into this rep me will ya?

Please help me update!! If you see newer version drivers please post here and I'll try to read them ASAP and update! All links below are Vista 32 bit only. If you wish to dl drivers for linux/xp/vista 64 bit please use the Dell's support website (the link I posted above) and select your version of OS.

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Driver updates:

Video Drivers
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Release Date: Mar 18 08 laptopvideo2go team has released new 163.69 drivers (updated)
Max Gaming Driver: Geforce 8400GS nforce 174.74 and moded inf
Stock driver( recomended): Geforce 8400GS nforce from Dell

Instructions: 1)Download driver and moded inf files to desktop 2)Open XXXX_vista.exe and add "nvidia" to the end of the install path so it looks like "C:\Users\[username]\Desktop\nvidia" and click "extract". 3) place the modded inf file inside the nvidia folder on your desktop (allow it to overwrite when it prompts you). 4) go to the vista orb -> Control Panel -> System -> Device Manager. 5)Double click on "display adapters" so you can see 8400GS showing. 6)Right click "Nvidia GeForce 8400GS" and select "Update Driver software" 6)Select "Browse my computer for driver software" and then select "Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer". 7) Select "have disk". Click on "browse". 8) In the "look in" select box click and choose "nvidia" folder. 9) Select "nv4_disp.inf" 10) Click "next" and proceed with installation. 11)when you are done setup you can delete the nvidia folder and the dled files.

note: during install if it says the drivers are not Microsoft certified select "install anyways" since the inf file was modded to bypass nvidia's lock. The drivers itself is original and is safe to use.

CD/DVD-R/RW
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Released: Sept 10 07
Product: GSA-S10N DVDRW 8X ultraslim IDE slot load - HLDS firmware

Applications
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Released: Sept 4 07
Product: Dell Quickset

Release Date: 25/02/2008
Dell (Product) RED Operating System Customizations (optional)

Bios
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Released Date: May 06 2008 ( Updated)
Product: M1330 Bios Version A10

Instructions: download to desktop and run the exe file.

Audio
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Release Date: Sept 27 07
Product: M1330 Sigmatel HD audio drivers

Intel Chipset
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Release Date: July 11 07
Product: Intel Chipset Drivers

Release Date: July 11 07
Product: Ricoh Drivers

Release Date: Oct 25 07
Product: Intel Turbo Memory

Chipset (Hard drive related)
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Release Date: July 11 07
Product: Intel Matrix Storage Manager(note: only install if you have a AHCI HDD setup)

Wired Broadband
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Release Date: July 11 07
Product: Broadcom Ethernet controller Driver

Wireless card
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Release Date: Nov 8 2007
Product: Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG, WiFi Link 4965AGN (v11.5.0.0)

Release Date: December 18 07
Product: Wireless-n-mini series (1390mini and Japan version, 1490, 1505 series)

Release Date: Nov 19 07
Product: Intel 4965AGN Wireless

Bluetooth
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Release Date: July 11 07
Product: Dell Internal Bluetooth 355 + EDR 2.0

FingerPrinter Reader
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Release Date: Aug 28 07
Product: UPEK FingerPrint Utility v5.6

Wireless Broadband mini cards
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Release Date: Sept 19 07
Product: Wireless 5700 TELEUS mobile broadband card

Release Date: July 11 07
Product: Cingular mobile broadband 3G express card

Release Date: Aug 30 07
Product: Wireless Broadband Mini card

Release Date: July 10 07
Product: VWZ Mobile broadband 5720 (EVDO-RevA) mini card

Release Date: Oct 25 2007
Product: Vodaphone 5505/5520 Mobile broadband 3G HSDPA mini card

Release Date: Aug 29 07
Product: Cingular Mobile 5520 wireless mobile Broadband (3G HSDPA) MiniCard

USB external 56K modem
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Release Date: Oct 22 2007
Product: Conexant - Diagnostics Utility

Web Cam
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Release Date: Dec 12 07
Product: Creative Labs Driver (Laptop intergrated webcam)

Touchpad
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Release Date: Feb 1 08 (udpated)
Product: Dell Touchpad/Pointing stick

Other Peripherals
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Release Date: Feb 22 2008
Product: Dell Premium Optical Mouse and Logitech Dell Premium Optical Mouse(Nala)

 

Thanks murdoc, I saw the QuickSet update a couple days ago and I updated it. Now quickset crashes everytime I boot up windows... Thanks a lot Dell

As for the firmware, I do not know how to apply it to the drive

 

That firmware is for the Hitachi drive; most of us have Panasonic DVD drives, if I am not mistaken.

 

The latest update for M1330 is the bios A06. I'm pretty sure you've all seen it on another thread but I wanted to warn you all that your battery life will be reduced. I have a fully charged M1330 and using A05 firmware allows 5hr08mins of battery life under power saving mode in vista. However, in A06 as soon as I have it booted up it says 4hr30. So you will lose 30 mins of your battery life! Think carefully.

The major benefits of this update is fixing the eject button behaviour so that you can push the eject button even when you're loading windows as well as ejecting disks when installing games that have multiple disks.

 

Well I have 2 M1330's here, I'm about to test this out and see if it happens to me too. I wish they had a fix for the battery whine. My original laptop and my replacement both have it

 

does it stop the CPU whine? This might be why it reduces battery, it might disable C4?

 

I would accept a little less battery life if I could get rid of that CPU whine... Anybody give the bios upgrade a shot and see any benefits?

 

I took the risk and updated to A06. So far, I really don't see too much of a difference, the CPU whine at first seemed to have gone away, but it's still here. I'm pretty sure the apparent loss of CPU whine was purely physiological. I did see something about A06 updating the bios of the NVidia card...

 

Yes it does update the bios of the vidoe card... I'm not sure if it gives any bonus or improvements (I haven't had time to test out the games yet) but I would imagine it's a minor update.

When I got my replacement I was already at A05 and even then I didn't have CPU whine so I don't think firmware will fix the issue unless the firmware allows disabling of C4 state (like HP laptops).

 

I upgraded my replacement M1330 from A05 to A06. I notice no difference in battery life. The fan seems to run less, but that's about it.

 

wow did you just say the fan seems to run less often? i'd go for that. dont care about heat. noise (or the lack of) is much more important

 

I updated my video driver from stock to 163.67 and my 3DMark06 jumped from 1420 to 1533. Nice Upgrade on that .

 

When I got my replacement M1330 with A05, it seemed very hot and the fan ran all the time. It's behavior was also very erratic. Sometimes the fan would come on and never go off even when the notebook cooled down. When I went to A06, the fan was normal. It came on, went off as it should have and the notebook felt cooler. My CPU temps used to peak at 58 or 60 celcius just during normal usage. With A06, temps would peak at 53-54 and fan would come on. I have since sent that replacement back. I loved it, but it wobbled I couldnt find any way to fix that. There was a good 1/4" gap under the left corner

 

I must be being thick, when I try and install them it tells me I don't have a valid operating system.. win32 bit vista??? Oh and first time I tried it said I didn't have a compatible card. Where did you download from?


edit: - ok no prbs, found out the problem.

 

Can the OP perhaps post all the latest drivers that would be needed for a clean reinstall? Note which ones can be used from the disk and which ones we should download?

 

I hear you so I'll do just that... I'll grab all the links into the first page gimme a few mins and you should see the updates

 

couldn't find this driver, please post thnkx

 

follow made. Please refer to pg 1.

 

Nice job Murdoc, repped.

A few issues though. A06 BIOS is a dead link. It might be helpful to tell us how to flash it as well, because I don't know if it is the same process as on a desktop or not.

Intel Matrix Storage Driver - What do you mean a RAID HDD setup? I don't think anyone is running their m1330 with 2 HDD's. So I'm a bit confused.

What the heck are Ricoh drivers?

Might want to put Intel wireless card drivers in the category above it.

All in all though, thanks for compiling everything into one location.

 

AO6 is available right on the Dell driver site. I installed it yesterday. It flashed automatically; just click on the file to install.

The Matrix Storage driver is required to run your system in AHCI mode which most are if they are newer. It is much quicker than ATA mode.

Ricoh drivers are for reading/writing from external mini disks.

 

Newest working nvidia drivers are the 163.71 drivers, http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=15115

Newest Synaptics touchpad drivers are the new v10 ones. 10.0.11.1 (these actually decreased my boot times)

http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=15103

 

Thanks for the update. Reped you + updated front page.

 

I second flamenko on the Intel Matrix Storage driver. You need to install it if you're running AHCI mode and most people are. Dell doesn't even offer a RAID setup so the driver wouldn't be there if it was only for RAID.

 

Thank for the info (front page updated)

 

Hi everyone,

I just upgraded to the Nvidia 163.71 drivers and they work great. My only problem now is that I can't adjust the brightness anymore with the up arrow and down arrow. How can I fix this? Is anyone having this same problem with the new drivers? Thanks

 

re-install quickset,
As for the Intel Matrix storage driver:
This one is not neccecary. You insert your driver CD during the Vista install (to load custom driver) but do run run de full setup after Vista is installed. The Matrix setup will be invoked via the Turbo Memory Driver setup (if you have Turbo Memory installed that is....)

Without turbo memory and when provided the driver DVD during Vista setup (to avoid BSOD in AHCI mode) there is no reason install storage matrix drivers

 

also note that www.laptopvideo2go.com also offers the latest mobile drivers (even more recent than 163.71)

156.09 (WHQL) and 156.64 (non WHQL) these have the mobile extensins enabled and both work fine as well

 

Please note an update on the video drivers has been made on the front page

 

Another update that I just installed (you have to do the manual install-read the text), is the Intel 965 Express graphics driver update, 15.6. It is on Intel's website. This lets you run many games you couldn't before (if you opted for integrated graphics). Awesome update! How bout that, my first post. Love this forum!

 

With the new touchpad drivers, are you able to get it to do a middle-click when both buttons are pressed simultaneously? I haven't been able to get that to work since upgrading.

 

Just to confirm before I post this on the front page... Does this driver apply to Intel x3100?? This maybe a stupid question, but I need to make sure or I'd get hammered by the people.

 

I'm suspecting that it is not an offical "dell" driver. This means that it's not configured by dell for our laptop use.

 

I am having problem with running an external monitor so hoping that this new driver would help. The only file format I see on Intel web site is the .exe format. I read through the release note after clicking on the .exe file know what I need to do to manually install the driver. My problem is that the program then extract the package content to somewhere and then refused to install the driver automatically. I guess since you did it, you must know where the files are extracted to. Thanks in advance

 

When you're extracting does intel allow you to select a specific location to extract your files to?

 

nope, it's doesn't give you any option where to extract it to. I did a search for the file I want after the failed automatic installation, but I think the installer delete all the extracted files after a failed attempt.

 

quick update, I paused the extraction process toward the end of the progress bar, then went to search for the driver inf file. The name is given in the preceding screen of the installation package. And I was able to install the intel version 15.6 for the integrated graphics. On the driver page, the version is listed as 7.14.10.1332. The current version on Dell web is 7.14.10.1253, and the version that shipped was 7.14.10.1295.

The new version give more option in the video control panel, such as adjusting 3D and other stuffs. It's very unstable however, the screen flicker and change brightness every second or so. And when I turn down the brightness using FN arrow down, it would go to almost darkness. Can't turn it back up unless I close the lid to put it in sleep and then wake. CPUs intermittently max out at 100% without any additional processes. Thus I would not recommend installing this new driver. Unless I'm doing it all wrong which might not be surprising consider the roundabout way I have to do it. The only reason I'm trying so hard is that I want to use external monitor and my current machine keep on giving me BSOD

 

Here's a suggestion:

since you've caught 1 of the files being loaded to your computer "HDMIcht.dll" try searching for this file on your computer and see where it went.

 

unfortunately that function is gone along with the dell little utility to control the touch pad. When I installed the last version of Synaptics, that utility was still there, but the Synaptic driver did not allowed for programming a tap zone to run a series of recorded keystroke such as Ctrl F4 to close a tab in the browser. The new driver from Synaptics does that so I'm happy with it. I don't care for losing the dell utility and loss function of left+right button = middle button. I set my top left to browse a page back, top right to browse forward, bottom left to start menu, and bottom right to close a tab. Can't live without them

 

interesting... can you share how you programmed these keystrokes? I'm interested.

 

With the new touchpad drivers, there is an option to set the zones to perform different functions on the touchpad. I did not actually try it out, as I went back to the original drivers to get back the middle button function. I use that middle-click too much to give it up.

 

right click on the touchpad icon on the task bar and choose property or go into control panel and click on mouse. On the property, choose the last tab "device setting," then click on "settings" then expand "tapping" then "tap zone" then pick the corner you would like to program, then choose the function you would like to be associated with that corner when tapped.

 

Just a note: I upgraded to the A06 bios and it had the opposite effect on my fan noise. Where my fan used to run only rarely, it now runs constantly at a low level.

 

New sigmatel driver available on Dell Support. Released Sep 27.

 

Thank you for the update

 

Ah! I see it.. thanks.

 

i can't change my screen brightness at all. When I press FN+arrows the icon doesn't show up and once I press it the 4th or 5th time, the screen goes to complete darkness then I can't get the screen brightness to come back up unless I put it to sleep or unplug it then plug it back in. Then it goes back to full brightness so my options are basically all or nothing. I updated the dell quickset driver and still no change. Anyone know how to fix this?

 

Alright..uhmm.. is your keyboard doing ok? Like.. will it do weird things if you pushed up/down arrow without holding fn key? What about your fn key itself? Are you able to type on the "numpad" properly holding down the fn key?

The reason I'm asking is cause I suspect your keyboard might be wacked. Lets see if this will be the case.

 

did you update your video driver recently? I know it's sound unlikely to be related, but go back and read my adventure with the new video driver from intel for the integrated graphic

 

is quick set even needed? I currently use NHC.

 

Anyone having troubles with the 163.69 nvidia driver?
I installed it. Having trouble playing madden 08. The player's colour will be all shiny and reflective. The problem switches on and off throughout the game.