How does Windows 8.1 work on M4700

My computer originally came shipped with Windows 7 Pro

Considering that I can get a Windows 8.1 Pro for $70 with student discount, I would like to give it a try sometime in the future.


Has anyone performed the upgrade procedure before? Have you encountered any issues?

Thanks!

 

On M6700, everything works fine. I upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 8 to Windows 8.1. (I don't think a direct upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8.1 is possible, though it will do a clean install but keep your user accounts and files for you.)

Most of the drivers are included out-of-the-box or on Windows Update. The only things you might need to install from Dell to have a fully functional system are the drivers for the fingerprint reader (if you have one) and for the touchpad.

 

Why isn't the direct upgrade to windows 8.1 possible?

I am okay with reinstalling the programs, and I take it all the personal files transfer over from 7 to 8.1 as well?

Otherwise, thanks for your reply!

 

Not sure why they don't allow it, they're half treating Windows 8.1 as a "new release" and half treating it as an "update" (like a service pack would be). This issue lands on the "new release" side, and since they lately only allow direct upgrades from the immediately preceding version of Windows, only Windows 8 qualifies for the direct upgrade which keeps your programs installed.

(There's some other confusing issues relating to installation with Windows 8.1 vs. Windows 8; for instance, you can't install Windows 8.1 with a Windows 8 key even though the 8->8.1 upgrade is free. But you can *activate* Windows 8.1 with a Windows 8 key if you manage to get it installed without one.)

In any case, if you start the Windows 8.1 media from Windows 7 you get only the option to keep your personal files. I haven't actually done one of these upgrades, but if it works as advertised, you should keep all of your files and just need to reinstall programs. (Run a backup first.)

If you want the full upgrade that keeps your programs, you'll need to find a copy of Windows 8 and follow the 7->8->8.1 upgrade chain.

 

Has anyone had any luck setting up the fingerprint reader with Windows 8.1. I do not see the Control Vault download for 8.1, but it looks like 8.1 has built in fingerprint recognition software. As I use the fingerprint reader, this is one item that has held me back from upgrading.

 

Working fine on Windows 8.1. I installed the control vault software (got from the driver page for the M6800), which also installs the driver. (There's also a firmware update available which I have installed.) Once the driver is installed, the fingerprint reader works with Windows 8.1's built-in support.

 

Hi Aaron, thanks for the reply. I assume you are referring to the Dell ControlVault Driver here:

Driver Details | Dell US

 

Looking at it, there's actually a newer one available specifically for M4700/M6700. I installed this about two weeks ago. (Though it was working fine on the driver you linked above prior to that.)

Driver Details | Dell US

Also a firmware update.

Driver Details | Dell US

Note, I installed the driver update first and an error showed in the device manager until I also installed the firmware update.

 

Thanks for the reply, I think I will give it a shot this week.