x64 on 1420?

Has anyone else tried installing x64 on their 1420? Everytime I do, I get a BSOD on first boot...have tried 2 disks, two different download sources - so nothing is corrupted. Does anyone else have experience with this?

Thanks!

 

Is this XP or Vista?

 

Oh, I apologize...Vista x64

 

Dell refuses to help me...so again, anyone tried it? What about you phobos, did you install XP x64 without a hitch?

 

Haven't tried any of the 64-bit OSes yet, I have no reason to. Just figured I'd get the OS question out of the way for someone who knows what they're talking about.

 

Running Vista Ultimate x64 fine on my 1420. What are your specs? The only thing I can think of is a potential hardware/driver conflict.

 

Same as you, but High Contrast Screen and T7300...I actually SOMEHOW got it working, I was trying to pause break the BSOD and after hitting Pause Break when it would BSOD - it booted

Installing drivers now, and gonna restart and see what happens - but please post what drivers you are using and where you got them from, I think that'll help tremendously...

 

Wouldn't you know, after a restart I get it again...I think there might be something wrong with my memory <_<

So did you just pop in the DVD, install it, and that was it?

 

Yes. The only issues I had with installing it was how long it took. The install had a tendency to hang for no apparent reason, but it finished after about 30-40 minutes.

Try taking out the RAM and re-seating it. Sometimes an improperly set stick can cause a BSOD.

If it is memory related, check out this program:

http://www.memtest.org/

Good luck.

 

Ya, I ran the built-in RAM tests and everything passed, then I tried booting and it worked...

I then installed some vital drivers, restarted - BSOD again. When I get home, I'm gonna try setting SINGLE CHANNEL only in BIOS, and if that doesn't work - I'm gonna try installing my aftermarket 4GB of RAM. By chance do you have AIM or MSN or something so we can talk together? PM me please...

 

Okay, I replaced the 2GB of RAM with 4GB of GeIL RAM and now I *think* it works fine...however when going through drivers, I can't seem to find an ethernet controller driver - can you? Again, do you have AIM or MSN or something so we could coordinate together? Please PM me...

 

I give up...this just won't work for me, and I'm getting frustrated...I'm installing x86...

 

Okay, well just tried to install x86 and the SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED. The only thing it'll let me use is the Dell Vista Home Basic Disk...I feel like such a spammer here, but I need some help like ASAP...

I know it's not the Memory, because it works fine with the Dell Vista Home Basic Disk, and I swapped my 2 x 1GB of Dell Samsung RAM out for my 2 x 2GB GeIL RAM and the same thing still happens. I NEED HELP!

 

DoubleBlack, while Dell will only support the operating system that ships with the computer, I don't have a problem helping you troubleshoot to find out where the problem is. If it is a hardware problem (which it is starting to sound like) then that would be covered, regardless of which OS you had installed.

What is the actual STOP error you get when you see the BSOD? That information will be invaluable in determine where the problem is. Also, try running memtest86 in addition to the Dell diagnostics memory test as I have seen it pick up errors the Dell diags missed.

As for drivers for 64-bit Vista, you can check the Dell support site ( http://support.dell.com). If there are any Dell versions they would be listed in the Download section for your model of computer (make sure to select the correct OS once you get to the list of drivers). Unfortunately, if we don't have a driver listed for 64-bit Vista then we don't have a driver and you would need to look for the manufacturers version (e.g., nVidia.com for the video card, etc).

If you have any questions for me I will be happy to answer them as best I can. I haven't messed around with 64-bit Vista, but if nothing else I can try to find someone here that has (and I can think of a couple of coworkers that probably have messed with it).

Larry
Dell Customer Advocate

 

Larry,

Please take note of this and forward it to the approrpiate people. Despite being AHCI compatible and including generic AHCI drivers, the chipset in the 1420 requires the Intel Matrix Management software to be included in the "Load Drivers" function while installing. This tricks many people, because that is for using RAID drivers and the like when it cannot find the drive. It CAN find the drive despite them.

So this problem appeared using my RTM x86 and x64 BOTH, because they didn't have the Dell Drivers like the Home Basic disk did. The STOP message was "inaccessible boot device"

Another alternative would be to set the BIOS setting for HDD's from AHCI to ATA which also fixed this problem, but that would have to be set from the beginning when installing the OS because you cannot switch back and forth on a single install. I actually ended up siding with the x86 version, because I wanted to keep AHCI support (there is no Matrix driver for x64) and there is no Ethernet Driver for x64 as well.

I understand while you may not be Michael Dell, please forward this information on as well:

x64 is the future, x86 is NOT. There are so many advantages of x64, especially RAM increases. I got 4GB of RAM specifically for x64, but now I'm on x86 and can only see 3.5GB. There is much speculation that the next version of Windows will be x64 only, but there is no guarantee of anything in regards to that. Dell really needs to lead the front line with this, and push for x64 support.

 

DoubleBlack, I'm glad to hear you got things working and I will be sure to pass on your feedback. Collecting feedback like this is part of my job, and customer feedback is the best way for Dell to know how it is doing, and what it needs to work on.

For the hard drive problem, did you have RAID enabled in the BIOS? It is possible that may be what was causing the requirement for the Intel Matrix Management software. From talking with a coworker that was dealing with a similar problem on another Dell system, the RAID setting seems to have played a part.

I'm not sure whether or not changes will be made to the memory I/O mapping on older model Dell systems. There are people are looking at what it would take to get the I/O mapping changed, and whether that is something that can be reasonably done, so they can see more than 3.x Gb of memory. I do know, hoewver, that the next generation of Intel boards from Dell will have support for the full 4Gb of memory.

If you have other questions or feedback just let me know.

Larry
Dell Customer Advocate

 

I'm on the 1420, which doesn't have RAID - only the ATA and AHCI settings as previously mentioned. As for x64, it isn't only the memory upgrades that are possible - it's much more secure as well. Dell really needs to pick up more x64 support for personal users. For years x86 has been the standard, and it can still be offered and provided by default maybe for all new systems. But Dell needs to provide customers the OPTION of going x64 and/or at least FULLY SUPPORTING x64 systems with drivers and downloads, etc.

With the recent offerings of Ubuntu and Dell's new customer feedback site they want to provide more options to the customer. While SOMETIMES more options than necessary are not a good thing, these options would only be available to people actively looking for them. Like support.dell.com has a x64 section, but after selecting it you are only given a small selection. Also understandably, Dell doesn't create those drivers - but they have the power to persuade those who make them to actually get off their asses and do something.

 

To the best of my knowledge, the primary reason we don't currently sell systems with Windows x64 installed is due to the lack of drivers for all of the hardware. Similar driver limitations are why the Ubuntu option is only available for a small number of Dell systems. Basically, we don't want to sell computers that don't have drivers for all of the hardware.

On the bright side, feedback such as this can only help convince the decision makers that there are people out there that are looking to get systems with Windows x64. The more people that say they want it, the more likely it will come out (from Dell or someone else). I can't give a more direct answer, as I don't want to promise something I can't deliver on, but I will make sure all of your feedback gets to the correct people.

Larry
Dell Customer Advocate

 

On the 1420, the only drivers I don't have for x64 (which are essential) are the Ethernet Drivers, Touchpad Drivers, and Intel Matrix Storage drivers (for AHCI). Not being able to plug my laptop into my network is annoying, not being able to use the scrolling lines on the touchpad is unusable, and AHCI is preferred (however can be disabled in the BIOS). Is there anyway someone can get ahold of you Customer Advocates, like extention numbers to call or something? Maybe if you do, PM me so you don't need to make it public?

 

You can send me a PM or email me at [email protected] (just add 'ATTN: Larry (64bit)' to the subject line to ensure it gets to me) if you need to. I double checked and do not see those drivers, or a few others that I would consider required in order to get full functionality from the 1420.

The full list of drivers for the 32bit side (and the order they should be installed) are:
* Dell™ Notebook System Software
* Intel® Mobile Chipset Driver
* Mobile Intel® GMA X3100 Video Controller
* O2Micro® Cardbus/Smart Card Controller
* Intel Flash Cache Logic Chip (Intel Turbo Memory)
* Broadcom® NetXtreme™ 5755 Gigabit Integrated Network Controller
* Wireless driver (if applicable)
* IDT® STAC 9205 Audio Driver
* Modem Daughter Card (MDC) driver
* Dell Touch Pad Driver
* Bluetooth® driver and stack

I would assume the same list would apply to 64bit Windows in order to get everything working. Some drivers you could skip if you didn't need the functionality, of course. As I said before, however, Dell would not ship a system with a 64bit OS unless we have all the drivers for it.

Larry
Dell Customer Advocate

 

Well the only drivers I'm missing for ESSENTIAL x64 support is:

Intel Matrix Storage Manager (for AHCI support)
Broadcom Ethernet Controller
Dell Touch Pad

That's all we need for full x64 support, the only other thing missing are the nVidia drivers which we could EASILY get from somewhere else...but those other things, just can't

 

I *think* I found a x64 driver for the touchpad...I only have x86 installed at the moment, so I won't be able to try this for another day or two - but if anyone else can. It's for a precision, that has a pointing stick too...but if anyone is feeling dangerous:

http://support.us.dell.com/support/...eid=R157047&formatcnt=1&libid=0&fileid=209648

 

I have CONFIRMED that the driver listed above works on the 1420, and assuming the 1520 and 1720 as well for a x64 Touchpad Driver...

 

I am ALSO happy to confirm:

Intel Matrix Storage Manager

http://support.us.dell.com/support/...eid=R154201&formatcnt=1&libid=0&fileid=205616

AND

Broadcom Ethernet Driver

http://www.broadcom.com/support/ethernet_nic/netxtreme_desktop.php and download the Windows Vista (x86 64) Driver

 

HEAVILY EDITED:


I'm trying to install Windows XP Professional 64bit Edition on my M1330 with the SATA driver you found. I had some trouble with corrupted "iastor.sys" file, but managed to install SATA driver later. I used "SATA AHCI Notebook" to gain access to my HDD. Partitioned and installed OS without problems.

Fresh Windows install can't find drivers for ethernet controller, fingerprint reader, SMbus controller, wireless card, Microsoft UAA bus drive for hi-def audio. I downloaded SP2 (475MB) with other computer and it updated some drivers... Sorry, I didn't pay attention what was updated!

Chipset driver at Dell's site will cover SMbus controller and Microsoft UAA bus drive for high definition audio. For audio itself I used driver from Vostro 1500 ( R158235) since it uses the same chip.

Working XP x64 VGA driver 163.15 can be found at laptopvideo2go and fingerprint reader's driver at UPEK. Dell 1505 Draft 802.11n can be used with R151517 driver.

I'm still missing ethernet controller and BCM2045 (blutooth?) driver.

 

And voila! My M1330 is currently acquiring updates from M$. I just couldn't go to bed without completing installation. Anyway, I installed R151326 (found under M4300 network) to be able to use LAN. I still need the driver for "bmc2045" and software suite for fingerprint reader and then I am done!

Anyway, tomorrow or Sunday I'll try to install Vista to my 2nd partition. Hopefully it'll be less painful than this.

 

Im trying to install XP x64 on the m1330, which is pretty similar to the 1420.
I managed to get the driver for most things, expect for the camera, bluetooth and the card readers...
Anyone had any luck with those?

Thanks...

 

Im glad to report that I found all the x64 drivers for my m1330... Device manager is 100% happy
I dont have a fingerprint reader on my laptop though, so I did not try to find drivers for that....
Anyway, it can be done guys
I've got the webcam, bluetooth, broadcom etc, all working...
I can now kiss x86 goodbye...

 

Sorry to up an old post, but can you link to the Bluetooth x64 drivers?
Also the webcam. Thanks.