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.

RICOH R5C833 Driver Updated to v3.62.02 (Media Card Reader)

Today Dell posted an update for the RICOH R5C833 chipset. This driver update is for Vista/Win7. Originally posted for the Inspiron 1318, it is 100% compatible with the M17x since they use the same RICOH chipset (R5C833).

I have updated the Driver page with this new version. You can grab it directly HERE.

M17x COM SURROGATE with Futuremark bench apps

Earlier this week I decided to run some benches using 3DMark06 and Vantage. When I launched the apps I received a wonderful error message stating COM SURROGATE had failed.

Resolution:
After coming across a few suggestions via Google to remove any Nero apps, I decided to uninstall the Nero Suite installed by Dell/AW. Process used:

1. Uninstalled the Nero package which came with the M17x
2. Ran CCleaner's Registry clean and removed all entries found from the uninstall
3. Downloaded and ran Nero's General Clean Tool which found leftover files from the uninstall
4. Rebooted
5. Installed 3DMark06 and Vantage

This corrected the issue. As to why I was able to run 3DMark06 and Vantage previously *with* Nero installed I really have no clue.

Konig over @ NBR mentioned he was able to work-around this on his m15x by doing the following:

Fixed it by renaming NeVideo.ax and NeVideoHD.ax to NeVideo.ax.bak and to NeVideoHD.bak respectively. You can find these files in C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\DSFilter\

Either way, it certainly appears there is an incompatibility with Futuremark's SysInfo and Nero. Something may have changed with the MS Windows updates which were released on 9/8 - I have no idea. Oh well.