Windows 7 on M4400

Hi all,

Just a quick one -
When I got my M4400 last week, it had Vista Business installed - wasn't bad and unlike most people, I've NEVER had issues with Vista

Anyway being a Microsoft Gold customer, I got my hands on the Windows 7 Ultimate RTM version and installed this on the laptop

It has transformed the laptop just like it did my PC

MUCH quicker, the graphics seem a lot happier in W7 too
I've installed all my other tools such as SQL2008, Office 07, Virtual PC with VMs, VS 2008 etc etc but it doesnt even flinch under pressure.

If you are happy with M4400 and Vista, you will be even happier with W7 - small mini review but I thought I should give you my quick thoughts on it :- )

 

PS: Out of the box, it needed graphics and Ricoh SD card drvers

You MUST run the Windows Experiance indicator tool from System again once the drivers are installed. Reason being is while the resolution works fine without the driver installed, once you do get it instlled, Aero remains disabled as I'm sure other things in W7 too.

Had be puzzled for a bit but once I ran the tool, I got 5.8 from it and Aero also re-enabled (such as Peek on taskbar etc)

 

How did you get it to install the graphics drivers? Mine refuses to let me install the driver from nvidia, stating that the proper hardware is not identified.

 

I initially used the one found on the Dell website for 64bit (I installed the 64 bit version of W7) however today, I re-formatted and installed the Windows 7 version found again on the Dell website.

http://support.euro.dell.com/suppor...mID=PREC_M4400&hidos=WLH&hidlang=en&TabIndex=

The above link is the list of drivers specifically for W7 (64bit)...Scroll to the bottom to get to the Video and/or change the version of Windows above to suit your requirements.

I had no issue with the video drivers apart from the one that they were not installed by default by Windows - As dell provide this, I didn't mind.

Do let me know if you have further queries

 

I installed these successfully last night on my Win7 RTM installation: Quadro FX Release 186 for Notebooks BETA
Version: 186.03
Release Date: June 09, 2009
Operating System: Windows 7 64-bit
Language: U.S English
File Size: 136 MB

 

Hi guys

I'm also running the 186.03 drivers from nVidia's website with no problems. Everything else works smoothly except for the fingerprint reader, which doesn't work with Windows 7's new biometric framework. Apart from that, though, it's all plain sailing.

 

Thanks for that comment Jonty - I was just going to splash out in adding the fingerprint reader to my M4400 as a retrofit but if it does not work with W7...

 

Yeah, I'd hold off for now, aj84. I've contacted both Dell and UPEK (one of the fingerprint reader manufacturers). Both engineers were very understanding, but basically said there's no way to directly access the fingerprint reader, because it's effectively hidden behind some Broadcom security hardware that Dell use.

Until Broadcom/Dell play ball and update their drivers, Windows 7 and the fingerprint reader manufacturers are left out in the cold.

I should say the fingerprint reader does work in Windows 7 at the BIOS level and with Dell's own Embassy Wave Suite, but it's pretty slow, bloated and useless compared to both Windows 7's native support and UPEK's Windows 7 drivers and software. But such is life ...

 

unfortunately i dont have technet subscription

so i'll have to wait till october to get my hands on a legit win7 copy. cant wait lol. I like vista but from the reviews it seems like Win7 solves the stuff i dont like about it.

not to mention, i have a sneaky suspicion the M4400 was designed for win7 in mind, not vista. after all these business units have longer refresh cycles.

 

Hmm if you're buying one anyway, try and grab a CD - install it and activate it with the licence you get in October
I think it gives you 60 days before you activate

Even though I have technet, I'm not activating it until next week when I can firmly say I have not a single doubt about it. And I don't given that W7 has given me no problems at all since its release to technet.

Just better to be safe than sorry