Can I upgrade my ageing Clevo M57RU to use Win8? Oh, and then there is the fan problem too.

Hi ,

I have a Clevo Model M57RU (Product code M571RU on the label) that currently runs XP Pro SP3. For some time now it has also had an issue where after booting up, within a minute or two the fan starts to run hard and continuously.

The machine is not used daily as I use a desktop for my work but do have to use SolidWorks CAD when I visit customers. SolidWorks 13 (current release) will not install on a machine using XP so I had contemplated installing Win 7 but was put off by the price. Now of course, Win 8 Pro is out and it's currently much cheaper.

I wanted to make a fresh start and had planned to reformat the hard drive before reinstalling XP through to SP3 so the Win 8 Pro upgrade will install rather than just installing Win 8 without the reformat first. I have been reading here about issues with BIOS etc but would feel more comfortable with informed comments before I start. I have read of issues with Win 8 but also read somewhere tthe fan problem might be to do with BIOS version or something. The people who sold me the laptop have responded to the problem with the fan by saying the heatsink probably needs removing and the compound replensished. I could do that but does that sound valid given what I have read about the BIOS effecting the fan speed??

I have obtained the following info for those that may wish to comment:

BIOS Revision: 1.00.07
VGA Card: nVidia FX 1600M
VBIOS Revision: 60.84.5B.00.21
VBIOS Build date: 10/15/07

All feedback or advice welcomed and appreciated.

Les

 

Windows 8 should install fine. You just may not have EFI/Secure Boot is all, which isn't needed, just an added feature of Win7/Win8. You can check in your BIOS if you have a boot UEFI option, if you don't, out of luck.

But is Windows 8 really needed? No. If you want to stay on Win 7, go ahead.

 

You will have driver problems, just like I did.

 

Which drivers do you need?

 

Thanks for the replies to date. What driver problems are likely?

Hulawafu77, the main issue is that I am currently on XP Pro and have to update from that to run SolidWorks. Win 8 because it's much, much cheaper than Win 7.

Any comments about the fan issue??

 

No idea about fan, but don't see why not go for Win8

 

Thanks Hulawafu77. I notice that Win 8 comes with disks for 32 and 64 bit versions. I'm assuming I need the 32 version?

 

Since you are on XP, I recommend doing a clean install. In that case go with 64 bit. 64bit support on x86 has been available for a long time. Any 32bit application can run on 64bit OS, but you have the option to run 64bit apps. I'd be surprised if there aren't 64bit versions of your software you use for work. Really the two biggest differences between Win7 and Win8 is the metro and the hybrid hibernation kernel. Then for hardware support is DX 11.1 and WDDM 1.2. I'm sure there are others I don't know about yet.

But overall for feel and using it on desktop, it's just like Windows 7. There are ways to get your start button back, and load directly to desktop, so that's a non-issue. Anyone who complains about using Win8 on laptop/desktop, then ought to spend more time with it. It's faster and just as easy.

 

Missing Drivers (from my machine):
http://imageshack.us/a/img502/29/captureit.png

 

Hi again,

Any comment on the BIOS revisions I have as stated in my first post above. Are they ok or should I update them. If so, how do I get them and how do I update? Sorry for all the help requests but this is out of my area.

Les

 

Use search function of this forum. There is a thread called Clevo BIOS (older models).
But I am not sure if you have M570RU or M57RU.

 

Maybe it's stupid of me to think this, but did you try running Intel INF setup with -overall?

 

The label on the underside says:

Model: M57RU
Product code: M571RU

Does that clarify anything??

 

Nope, will next time I get Win 8. I expect more drivers to pop-up until then and probably will get them from some third party source.
Don't worry, I am not the only to have driver problems, my friend has a RAID array and a SSD from which he boots, he could never get Win8 to see both the SSD and the array at the same time and had to revert to Win 7.

I think it's a M570RU your model. You can find the latest BIOS in the thread a told you about earlier.

 

Thanks Blacky.

I had a reply from the vendor of my laptop and he has said that if it isn't broke (BIOS) don't fix it. I know what he means but the fan issue concerns me and I have read here that the fan can be related (?). I may leave the Bios for now just in case. He also advisesd that the laptop was not designed to run Win 8 and I'll probably have problems with drivers. Maybe I'll try it anyway.

When I do I'll describe the outcome.

Les

 

Mmmm..... that was not what I was expecting. I decided that instead of reformatting and starting from scratch I'd just try an update first from XP Pro SP3. I put in the Win 8 disk and it responded by running through it's initial checks 0 to 100%, and then stating that it could not determine if the PC can take Win8 - "try again". Trying again, the only offered option, i.e. ejecting the disk and starting over, just results in the same.

Thinking now that I must go the whole way and reformat, install XP through to SP3 and try Win 8 after that. I'm worried about trying the BIOS update as I don't want to permenantly trash the machine if something goes wrong.

By the way, and in case it's relevant, first time I tried the upgrade I forgot my system drive was encrypted with Truecrypt. I did permenantly decrypt the drive and reboot before trying again but the same result as detailed above. Oh, and yes, I have backed up all my data!

All comments invited and welcomed.

Les

 

I found an article on the Web about doing a clean install of Win 8. First of all it states to run "Windows8-UpgradeAssistant.exe" available from the Microsoft site to check your machine. I did that but it effectively crashes and says there was an error and can't determine compatability of my machine to Win 8.

Great! Now I am stumped.

Help!!!

 

I can't help you mate. I just formated the C driver when I installed Win 8. I never do upgrades.
Maybe you need a newer BIOS.

 

I finally found time for another install of Win 8. I formatted the drive and then installed Win 7. Then went on to install Win 8 and had no issues at all. I have now installed Solidworks too so all I now have to deal with is that fan issue. The fan runs flat out all the time. I'm told it's probably a heatsink compaound problem so I'll look into that.

Anyone had the heatsink off?

 

As said, my fan ran flat out and very noisily. I've had it to bits and don't think this was helping.

Both heatsink exchangers were completely blocked. Cleaned it all out and refitted cleaned heasinks using Dow Corning 340. It's already quieter (not silent) but I'll see how it goes!