Del XPS m1330 Vista SP1 issues

Hi all,

I've been trying to update to Vista service pack 1 for an awfully long time now. I've tried everything, have been in touch with Microsoft and still no luck. Has anyone had specific issues with the dell xps m1330? I'll tell you some of the things I've tried:

1. Uninstalled McAfee and tried to install the update without McAfee.
2. Tried installing in Safe Mode (thus essentially no services running)
3. Updated the fingerprint reader drivers
4. Updated the "Urgent" drivers from Dell (there were ~50 drivers, I didn't update all of them.)
5. Tried downloading the service pack individally so that if the problem was with Windows Update I could circumvent it.
That's all I can think of at the moment, but nothing has worked.

Without fail, I get an error code 80070490 before the update has even begun to be installed. Microsoft offers little support. I feel like it must be a problem specific to this laptop, please let me know if you have any advice!!! Thanks,
Allison

 

Sounds like a software problem to me. I have an XPS M1330 and Vista SP1 works without problem.

Drivers are the big thing. You really are going to need to update them all, as some drivers will activly not work with SP1 and could be giving you the error.

So update every tiny thing Windows Update tells you to update and then try again

 

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/windows/en-us/Help/133c8953-c9cd-4fa5-8883-03e91bb6f2021033.mspx

Checked there ^ ?

 

Yep, tried both of the above suggestions, still no luck. When I use the windows standalone installer (through the windows update readiness tool) it installs update kb947821, but sp1 is update kb936330.

 

Have you tried downloading SP1 from microsoft.com and running that?

 

Did you try contacting MS regarding this issue ? What do you mean by MS offers Little Support ??

Try this if you haven't

 

Yep, I've tried downloading SP1 from the website and installing it. I've been working with Microsoft since August on this... they give me a suggestion, I try it, it doesn't work, I wait weeks to hear back from them for a new idea. Nothing they've yet suggested is something unusual; it's all the things that I've tried anyway, like disabling McAfee, etc.

 

One more M1330 user here, with Vista SP1 and no issues.

There are so many forum posts, news groups, blog and website hits for the error code 80070490. Did you go through them ? There are few suggestions like this one for instance, don't know if that works or not, I guess you'll have to try them all till you hit gold..

 

I had the same problem. You have to install SP1 the right way, through Windows Updates. On a side note, the last Dell tech I talked to told me I couldn't accept any Windows Updates or he wouldn't guarantee the machine would work.

Here is a great post from an expert regarding the SP1 issue.

I find it incredible and ludicrous that Dell or any other OEM would tell you not to install Vista SP1 - it came out about 11 months ago! Vista SP1 is nothing more than a roll-up of prior Windows Updates plus additional hot-fixes. BSODs have occurred b/c of SP1 NOT being installed.

One problem with not installing Vista SP1 or Windows Updates is that Dell driver updates continue to update expecting WU to be updated. Otherwise you end up having newer Dell drivers and older MS drivers. This in itself is a recipe for BSODs.

I would advise my prior post course of action - re-install Vista and let ALL Windows Updates and Dell OEM updates in. The problem w/ SP1 is that there are pre-requisite Windows Updates that must be in place 1st before SP1 will make itself available to you in Windows Updates. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THAT YOU DOWNLOAD SP1 directly from MS and install - let it come to you.

Personally, I would bug the hell out of Dell until they replace the hardware they say they need to. After that, the only test of a fully functioning system is the introduction of all outstanding WU and Dell driver updates. Then let the system run for a few days - surfing the Web, but wait for 24-48 hours before installing any new programs. Run the batch script again b4 installing new programs so I have a reference point and will be able to tell you the status of a "pristine" Dell Vista SP1 system. I can check Event logs, WERCON, Vista system health report and see just how well it is doing prior to the introduction of 3ed party program installs. This is how I troubleshoot.

Your call here, of course, but I can tell you that I have advised the same with 1000's of users and have not run into trouble yet. This is the same method that I employ for the 7 Vista systems here - a combination of pre-SP1 x86, post-SP1 x86, pre-SP1 x64 and post SP1 x64 and have never had issues in doing so.

I certainly welcome comments from anyone on my methodology.

Again, it is absurd for Dell or any other OEM to tell you not to install updates --- as the first thing they usually do is to re-install Vista in order to place the blame on Microsoft.

Regards. . .

JC

http://www.vistax64.com/general-discussion/199640-repeated-bsod-6.html