Updating 7970M drivers on my P150EM/NP9150 is always a clusterf- ..nightmare. Is there a tried and true method to this?

I'm trying to upgrade my Clevo P150EM's drivers for the third time since owning it. Each time has required multiple attempts, and is usually a long process of troubleshooting. I've tried a lot of different combinations from guides online in the past, including the official AMD uninstaller, deleting registry entries, safe mode, ccleaner, driver sweeper, etc. etc.

Can anyone with a 7970M and NP9150/P150EM give me some advice on a mostly fail proof method of doing this?

As for the current state of my drivers, since that may be helpful for your advice: I'm in limbo with nonworking drivers/CCC. I attempted uninstalling with the AMD uninstaller, which resulted in my computer failing to start and bluescreening while loading Windows. I then went into safe mode and did a system restore to before the uninstallation. After the system restore, CCC does not load when clicked and all games default to using the integrated GPU.

 

One particular method that never let me down:
- Uninstall current drivers (using the AMD Tool for that)
- Reboot
- Install stock Clevo Drivers
- Reboot
- Install your version of the drivers.

Quite honestly, the only times I had the issue you said was when I didn't use this method. Sometimes you can even update your drivers without following that method.

 

Unfortunately for me, that method let me down with the first step. After using the AMD Uninstaller Tool, my computer bluescreened at the Windows 7 loading screen. After a system restore none my computer starts up fine, but no AMD drivers/software is working. Now I'm looking around online some more to find out where to go from here, since I know from previous experience that any further steps may compound the problem.

 

Enduro is a pain in the butt isn't it? I have the same laptop as you and I would have never purchased it if I had known the hoops required to jump through to make it work semi-properly.

I ran into the same blue screen issues as you and was pissed about it. Be sure to have some save points made just to be careful.

But yes, I do have a good system of removing old drivers and installing new ones. I do it this way every time and it works fine, it's just a long, drawn-out mess.

This is for Windows 7 64 Bit. (Note, it's a good idea to have all your cleaning software and drivers downloaded and extracted before you begin. Read ahead for what to download before you begin.)

1.) Uninstall both AMD and Intel drivers from the Programs & Features section in the control panel. DO NOT REBOOT AT ANY POINT IN THE PROCESS. Don't reboot until I say to.

2.) Run the AMD driver Un-Install Utility, located here;
AMD Catalyst Un-install Utility

3.) Follow as many of the steps as you can here; (Remember, don't reboot yet.)
Guide: How To Completely Uninstall AMD Graphics Drivers - Bright Side Of News*

4.) At this point I run Driver Sweeper 3.2.0 and CCleaner. I think it's a good idea to run it because Driver Sweeper still finds leftovers. DON'T REBOOT even though it will ask you to.

5.) Right now your computer should be nearly completely clean of AMD drivers and mostly clean of the Intel driver.

6.) Now it's time to reboot. This is really what it all comes down to because your computer will blue screen now. Here's the trick, right after the BIOS splash screen start repeatedly pressing the F8 button until the Safe Mode selection screen pops up. However, you never want to go into Safe Mode. It's hard to recover once you do. Instead select the option that says something like Boot to Last Known Working Configuration. I can't recall the exact verbiage but you will see it on the list. Select that option and you should go into Windows 7 just fine, and not in Safe Mode.

7.) If you check your drivers in Device Manager both GPU's should have Standard VGA drivers installed and both should not be flagged with any issues. If this is the case for you then continue to step 8. If you don't then reboot and let it boot as normal. If it still blue screens then boot again, press F8 and again tell it to load the last known good configuration. You should absolutely now have Standard VGA Drivers loaded for both display adapters. If not, well then it isn't going to happen, it should still be OK though so you can go on to step 8 anyway.

8.) Install the Intel driver first. There's only one Intel driver you want to use, and only one. I've tried them all and they all suck with Enduro. The one I'm going to link will give you the maximum GPU usage when on the AMD chip. The one I'm linking will switch graphics to AMD the best. Don't bother with any other Intel driver... EVER. Here it is;
(Note: This is 64 bit, Save a copy of it somewhere permanently. You WILL be using it in the future and Gigabyte might take it down at some point. I have it on my NAS.)
http://download.gigabyte.us/FileList/Driver/mb_driver_intel_hd_vga_64bit.exe

9.) Go ahead and do a normal reboot with this Intel driver installed and it should reboot as normal. Go ahead and turn the computer all the way off for this reboot and then do a complete powered-down restart. You should now be in Windows 7 with a working Intel driver and the Standared VGA driver for your 7970M.

10.) Download the AMD driver of your choice, whatever the latest beta driver is available is usually what I run. Install the AMD driver as you normally would, the hard part is behind you. This will be a typical install and reboot when done. No tricks needed here.

11.) Now get the DX9 fix, at least for current drivers it's needed. This may not be needed for future drivers. Save this fix on your computer as well. Reboot again. The link is here;
http://goo.gl/po5mP
(This application is courtesy of forum Member MacHater's excellent work. He has a thread on it in this section somewhere.)

12.) Now this part is my choice, you can do this if you want. I don't use CCC and I don't use Intel driver software. So I go into MSCONFIG in the start-up tab and disable CCC and all three Intel entries for the GPU that were just installed. This causes no issues and just removes resource-stealing fluff from the background. I've always done this, your choice though.

13.) Run Windows Experience Index, try some games, see how it works. If it's like mine then everything should be golden.

Good luck.

 

If you getting BSOD your vbios may be the issue. Can you post a gpu-z screenshot of the bios on your 7970m?

 

He's only getting it when drivers are removed in a certain order and then rebooting into windows. It's a windows issue with Enduro and not uncommon at all. His VBIOS is fine, I know several of these laptops that react the exact same way. Mine did it when brand new.

 

Is that Intel driver like against the rules or something, as you said Gigabyte might take it down at some point. And if not, what version is it so I can find it on Intel's website?

 

My friend had a similar problem, he now uses atiman uninstaller 7.02 every new amd driver he installs and hasn't had a problem since, disabling any antivirus software you have installed whilst installing new drivers may also help

 

I have no reason to believe a driver is against any type of rules but I know I've gone to look for files on some web sites in the past only to find them having been removed for whatever reason. Maybe Gigabyte will put up a newer Intel driver that doesn't work with Enduro. It's just a safety precaution so you always have it.

The Intel driver version number is 9.17.10.2963

 

His problem isn't with adequate driver removal. The issue is Windows rebooting on an Enduro computer with no AMD driver installed and it not recognizing the Intel driver at some point in the boot process. This can, and often does, cause blue screens. Doing an even better job of removing AMD drivers, if even possible, would not eliminate that issue for Enduro users experiencing this issue.

 

I've never had a problem just installing the new drivers right over the old ones.................sometimes the simplest answer is the best. Also, I'm using the new leaked beta drivers which are AMAZING!!!!.........I just installed them directly over the WHQL and haven't had any issues.

 

Are these the Windows 8.1 preview drivers that were adapter do Windows 7? I'm using those and I think they're good also.

 

Gonna give this a shot today. I am oh so nervous. lol. All the file links are still working which is nice.


And, I wanted to ask, why is this Intel driver special? Is it just really compatible/forgiving or what?

 

If it is ok to ask, may i enquire about what these drivers are and where i can get them? Are they for Windows 7 64 bit?

Btw, your post on the first page was amazing balane.

 

AMD 13.2 drivers + 3dmark11 score 6500-6550 avg

13.10 beta + 3dmark11 score 6400.

And fps is more unstable... looks like I didn't need to update, lol.