Tweaking Windows 7 Guide

Eric over @ Tweakhound.com has completed his Tweaking Windows 7 Guide. Eric has published several worthy guides and tips on Windows XP and Vista over the years and continues to do so with Windows 7.

Take a moment and check out his guide, I'm sure you will find it useful.

[LINK]

NVIDIA posts beta driver 195.55 - EPIC FAIL

Today NVIDIA posted the 195.55 Beta. For the M17x it will not install - no small surprise. C'mon NVIDIA - time to get your game on and NOT leave out the Alienware M17x.

Adds GPU-acceleration for smoother online HD videos with the new Adobe Flash 10.1 beta.

Adds support for DirectCompute with Windows 7.

Adds support for OpenGL 3.2.

Adds support for OpenCL 1.0 (Open Computing Language).

Adds support for CUDA Toolkit 3.0 features and performance enhancements.

Adds SLI and multi-GPU support for many top new gaming titles including Borderlands, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, FIFA Soccer 10, and more.

Includes numerous bug fixes including improved performance for Need for Speed: Shift.

Installs NVIDIA PhysX System Software v9.09.0814.

TESTING NOTES:

HybridSLI is functional and pulling the AC Power Cord will automatically kick you into 9400M G mode only (if you have Hybrid and Integrated Graphics enabled in the BIOS of course).

L4D2, TF2, MW2 and others are running fine in SLI with this driver.

ISSUE #1: BluRay playback is again not functional. Same issue was present with 187.xx. You can work around this issue by unchecking the option in PowerDVD to disable Aero for BluRay Playback.

ISSUE #2: If you are running SLI your second GPU will not downclock properly after ending a 3D Gaming session. Clocks for GPU #2 will remain @ default (583/950/1450) whereas GPU #1 will return to 200/100.

ISSUE #3: Uninstaller is broken. When accessing the Programs & Features Control Panel to uninstall, the display driver option is missing. You will need to uninstall each display adapter via the Device Manager.

The only + side to this release so far has been the updated SLI Profiles. Given the issues found, I cannot recommend this driver for use with the M17x. I will not be adding it to the lists. Back to 186.82 for me.

If you are as tired as I of these sub-par drivers NVIDIA has been churning out or tired of the fact that 186.81, 195.39 and now 195.55 (which are all part of the NVIDIA Verde Driver Project) have NOT installed properly on the M17x, I ask all of you to provide feedback on these issues. In fact, since the M17x has been released, not one driver NVIDIA has published has worked correctly. Please take a moment and report the issues - HERE.

Restoring the AlienRespawn Option after updating to Win7

Dell released an update today which will update the MBR to restore the "Press F10 for AlienRespawn v2.0 System Recovery" message while booting up the system after installing Win7.

This patch is for Windows 7 upgraded from Vista only. Please run this patch while on the Windows 7 OS (after Vista upgrade). Once the confirmation dialog box appears, restart your system.

Download Link

Win7 Drivers Updated!

Just came across a few updates for Win7 and the M17x. Dell posted the following:

- NVIDIA MCP79 Chipset v2.05
- Dell/AW Broadcom 1510 Wireless v5.30.21.0
- Synaptics v13.2.4.12
- ITE IT8512 CIR Receiver v5.1.0.1

*Also posted (for another system but will work with the M17x):
- Dell Wireless 370 Bluetooth Module v6.2.0.9600 A01, Last Updated: 10/15/2009

I have updated the Win7 Driver page with these new versions. Currently, we are still waiting for an official Win7 Display driver and Webcam driver. I'm guessing we should see these posted shortly so check back often.

Side note: The Broadcom Wireless driver includes support for Vista 64 so I have updated the Vista Driver page as well.

Enjoy!

M17x Win7 Drivers

As we are fast approaching the release of Windows 7, I have added and will maintain a list of Win7 drivers for the M17x. All drivers listed will be tested and verified prior to posting. I have also updated the Important Links section (side bar, top right). More to follow as they are released.

Current Win7 64 Drivers

Current Win7 64 Drivers

Listed here you will find the most current available drivers for use with the Alienware M17x and Windows 7 64-bit. Some drivers were released by Dell for other systems, however they are applicable for the listed device used in the M17x.

Drivers appear in the order in which they should be installed as recommended by Alienware.

CURRENT BIOS
Alienware M17X System BIOS vA03, Last Updated 08/28/2009

Chipset Driver
NVIDIA MCP79 Chipset v2.05 A00, Last Updated: 10/14/2009

On-Screen Display Manager Software
Alienware OSD
v2.21 A03, Last Updated: 09/18/2009

Geforce 9400M G/260M/280M FORCEWARE DRIVERS
Dell Released Display Driver
v186.64(WHQL) A02, Last Updated: 10/26/2009
Note: This Dell installer will also install PhysX if you don't have it installed. To grab the current version of PhysX, see directly below.

*DPC Fix Beta NV Display Driver (VIEW 'Additional Information' section)
v196.86, Last Updated: 03/04/2010

SLI Profile Updater - MODDED
Last Updated: 03/22/2010

NVIDIA PhysX System Software
v9.09.1112, Last Updated: 12/09/2009
Note: DO NOT uninstall previous version. NVIDIA PhysX software should be installed over your existing install.

ATI/AMD Mobility Radeon HD 4870 Driver
v8.68.2-091125a1-092358C-Dell.2 A00, Last Updated: 01/20/2010

Wireless Network Card
Dell Broadcom Multi-Device Wireless Card Driver (Dell/AW 1510)
v5.30.21.0 A02, Last Updated: 10/14/2009

Audio Adapter
IDT 92HD73C1 Audio Chipset
v6.10.0.6261 A01, Last Updated: 01/20/2010

Bluetooth Module
Dell Wireless 370 Bluetooth Module
v6.2.0.9603, A02-1, Last Updated: 01/19/2010
NOTE: It is not necessary to uninstall your current Bluetooth driver prior to update. Just download the installer and run it.

Touchpad Driver
Synaptics TouchPad
v14.0.19 A00, Last Updated: 02/05/2010

Media Card Driver
RICOH R5C833 Card Reader
v3.62.02 A01, Last Updated: 10/14/2009

Infrared Receiver Driver
ITE IT8512 CIR Receiver
v5.1.0.1 A00, Last Updated: 10/14/2009

Alienware Command Center
v2.0.10 A03, Last Updated: 10/09/2009

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Addtional Downloads

Alienware Respawn V 2.0 MBR Patch
Alienware Respawn V 2.0 v1.00 A00, Last Updated: 10/20/2009
Note: This patch must be run after upgrading to Windows 7 from Vista. This will restore the AlienRespawn Master Boot Record and enabled the "Press F10 for AlienRespawn v2.0 System Recovery" message while booting up the system. This patch is for Windows 7 upgraded from Vista only. Please run this patch while on the Windows 7 OS (after Vista upgrade). Once the confirmation dialog box appears, restart your system.

Alienware 32-Bit Diagnostics
vA1354A1, Last Updated: 06/15/2009
Install to a USB Flash Drive for quick booting into the Dell Diagnostic Suite designed for the M17x. Much more detailed than the basic tests offered via the BIOS Diag Boot option.

Dell Branded Video Chat
Dell Video Chat by SightSpeed

NOTE: If you need the AverMedia TV Tuner driver check the M17x support page @ support.dell.com. I am choosing not to list it here since I don't have it and cannot test each updated driver released by Dell.