Windows 10 Drivers [M18xR2]

Took the plunge... went clean install. I did the chipset driver, thermal frame work and freefall to clear all the !'s from the device manager. Straight Windows 10 drivers, it installed NVIDIA 388.13 in SLI on its own.

I got the OSD to install but cannot get the ACC to install. This version, Application_X6VV1_WN_2.8.10.0_A02, comes up as failed. Poked around for suggestion like compatibility mode and safe mode but no joy.

Homer

 

Is this the version listed on the Dell Support page for you machine? If not, I'd suggest to try that first.
My M18x R2 is currently in pieces so I can't check which version I'm running.

.

 

Yes it is... for Windows 8 x64.

Homer

 

I'd try the 2.8.8.0 A01 for Windows 7 and see how you go

 

Also best to deactivate the "Auto Driver Update" in Win 10 straight from the beginning, may cause you sm headaches in the future.

 

Any more on this? I need resolution!

 

I aim to please... success!

Answer: I used the Windows 8 x64 version listed above and extracted using 7-zip to a separate folder and ran setup from there. It starts right away asking the usual setup type questions. It then grinds away for an "Oops what have I done??" amount of time. Finally it asks to reboot. After reboot, the usual icons are in the tray: the one for the active set for the stack-of-6 and the main one. I tried changing from the Alienware theme to one of the others and back with complete success.

Homer

 

Ahh I can relax now. Good job!

 

Nevermind... still haven't gotten the video drivers to update.

Homer

 

What GPU's are you running?

 

I've been running 10 for quite a while: http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/windows-10-driver-guide-m18xr2-and-alienware-18.762513/

Windows 8 AWCC version works fine for me every time without the need for any compatibility stuff even on latest build.

 

SLI GTX 980M's. They were working perfectly, as they ever do, under Windows 7 Pro. I tried modding the drivers after confirming that while the device 13d7 is there, it is not associated with the subsys of 05501028. I think I was partially successful in that the install seemed to run but then failed. I must have missed the parts for the 2nd GPU.

Homer

 

Yeah, I tried following your post. It seemed like the ACC installer didn't like the latest build (May 2019 actually). It worked without compatibility once I extracted it first.

I suppose I should confirm that the card reader works. All the other drivers are straight from Windows Update. The Bluetooth works better than it did under Windows 7 in terms of pairing without effort.

On the video drivers, do you think you can point me at the right INF and what to change to take control of the video driver? I will eventually get to a game that will need it. I'm currently replaying every AD&D game, starting with the Goldbox ones.... ah nostalgia.

Homer

 

There actually is no part for the second GPU.
You just assign the GPU ID to your laptop model. You may have missed to add a line smwhere.

 

UPDATE: Installer runs then exits with drivers noted as failure... hmmm.

I think this is the answer, I have to wait until I'm home to try.

Following the roadmap from Mr. Fox -
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/driver-inf-modification-help.734895/page-2#post-9411192

Look in ListDevices.txt to find the 980M and in that file, for combinations of 13D7 (980M) and 05AB (AW 18), replace 05AB with 0550 (AW M18xR2).

Code:

In file ListDevices.txt

Under nvdm.inf:

Changed

DEV_13D7&SUBSYS_05AB1028 "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M" to

DEV_13D7&SUBSYS_05501028 "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M"

Probably not needed but what the heck.


In file nvdmi.inf:

Changed

[NVIDIA_Devices.NTamd64.10.0...14310]

%NVIDIA_DEV.13D7.05AB.1028% = Section090, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_13D7&SUBSYS_05AB1028 to

%NVIDIA_DEV.13D7.0550.1028% = Section090, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_13D7&SUBSYS_05501028

[NVIDIA_Devices.NTamd64.10.0...16299]

%NVIDIA_DEV.13D7.05AB.1028% = Section090, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_13D7&SUBSYS_05AB1028 to

%NVIDIA_DEV.13D7.0550.1028% = Section090, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_13D7&SUBSYS_05501028

[NVIDIA_Devices.NTamd64.10.0]

%NVIDIA_DEV.13D7.05AB.1028% = Section089, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_13D7&SUBSYS_05AB1028 to

%NVIDIA_DEV.13D7.0550.1028% = Section089, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_13D7&SUBSYS_05501028

[Strings]

NVIDIA_DEV.13D7.05AB.1028 = "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M" to

NVIDIA_DEV.13D7.0550.1028 = "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M"

Homer

 

Try these drivers for nVidia GPU:

Spoiler

https://mega.nz/#!YvJEhIgZ!z1DcBrrM7EkVmkC1i9ZsrJbdtOB9Z-bHWhxTv5ibvM8

 

Thanks!

It looks like the desktop modded drivers just go by the 13D7 card and any hardware ID with 1028 (Dell?).

I'll try these when I get home. I think I should take the precautions of blocking the hardware combo from Windows Update and uninstalling the current drivers. DDU seemed to miss the 2nd card but I can try to uninstall that one manually if I have to. Then I'll fire in your drivers.

Out of curiosity... what was modded?

Homer

 

Passed compatibility but fails to install. I tried as is and I tried booting into safe mode and running DDU first. Back to Windows with 399.24 in SLI.

Homer

 

Did you disable driver signature enforcement?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

D'oh!!!

That was the issue. Cooking with gas now. I suppose it was too much to ask for it to, say, tell me that... like a security window that stated this could not install as it was not signed.

Homer

 

Don’t worry. I’ve done it a few times too.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Hijacking my own thread here...

On a 1070 upgrade, would this one work? It looks to line up exactly with the 980M in terms of heat sink. I don't have profiles to see if heights need to change...

I ask because when I get to replaying Witcher 3, I remember the first time I had to either dial a few things down or reset my single PSU periodically. So it is either do a dual PSU mod or swap to a 1070. I would not pursue a P5000, I'd go buy an Area 51-M and give up the 18" first.

Homer

 

Yes it will fit, but so will this and is probably the same card but cheaper:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-Dell-H...248714?hash=item2abc16f98a:g:mPQAAOSwkR5c64Og

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nvidia-GeF...461196?hash=item3b358c5acc:g:VgYAAOSwNo9b0ulz

I've ran 1060 in a M18xR2 so that 1070 shouldn't have any issue. I recommend using the vBIOS it comes with first and see how it performs.

 

Thanks for the tips!

I'm in the US and am curious as to how to approach this statement in the listing: "International buyers are responsible for customs duties incurred.Please determine these fees prior to purchase as they may be charges by your local authority."

Not sure where to go with that...

Homer

 

I've never been charged any customs here in US, I order from China all the time. Idk about a $500+ item though.

 

Almost every country has import duties/taxes on international purchases. I'm in Australia and I usually have to pay an additional 10% GST but sometimes the seller includes this cost in the price and it will state that no further duties are required.
You guys have different taxes for different states so this makes it difficult for overseas sellers. You will most likely have to pay your local sales tax % plus any additional import duty tax (here in Aust it's usually 5% depending on the product and the cost of the product).

EDIT: Here in Aust customs will hold your item until you pay the additional fees. The seller can often label the goods in a certain way so they don't incur any extra duties but it doesn't always work.

 

Alright... silly me I bought one of these: OKN Wi-Fi 6 11AX WiFi Module Intel AX200NGW. I didn't find a direct slot for this. I'm pretty sure I have the C9XMR motherboard.

Two observations:

1) I don't see the mSATA slot where the manual shows it, I see that plate under the CPU.
2) I see some type of connector on the right side just left of the mini-PCI WiFi card.

and two questions:

1) Is there an adapter I can get for the AX200NGW to fit either the mSATA, mini-PCI or its neighbor?
2) The antenna connections are dinky compared to the mini-PCI card. Does this require another antenna?

UPDATE: Partly answered my own question, the mSATA is on a daughter board.

This brings up question

3) Where can I get the screws and standoffs to mount the daughter board and the mSATA card?

UPDATE 2: I guess these are the antennae. Do i have to disassemble the display to add these?

Homer

 

Yeah the antenna are inside the display. There should be teardown videos showing you how to pull it apart. I pulled an M17x display apart many years ago but I don't think I've ever done it on an M18x.

 

You are basically doing what I was going to do last year and that is added a new style NGFF M.2 Wi-Fi card that uses the newer micro sized antenna connectors in place of the original Mini PCIe Wi-FI card with bigger antenna connectors.

If you want to go through with it, let me know if it works. Here's the plan I had to make this work...

1) You need a Mini PCIe to NGFF adapter. This one can be cut and might fit in the DMC slot or you could try the Mini PCIe slot but idk if it will fit in that one: https://www.ebay.com/itm/M-2-NGFF-t...cd75ea73a:g:mQIAAOSw1MhdUWym&autorefresh=true

2) You need to convert the NGFF antennas to the ones already in your laptop unless you really really wanna go through the trouble to disassemble the display panel and add the antenna you showed us. I THINK these were the correct ones: https://www.ebay.com/itm/U-FL-femal...a545e4267:g:DNYAAOSwPcVVr6Sg&autorefresh=true

You cannot use the mSATA slot for anything else besides an mSATA drive. It's only wired for SATA.

So either try fitting that in the original Mini PCIe slot where the current Wi-FI card is OR try doing what I was gonna do and put it in the DMC slot (The slot right next to the MINI PCIe slot but is slightly bigger)

 

Thanks!

I think these cables ( MHF4 female To U.FL male Cable: 2-Inch) will work as well in a lower profile.

I'm going to pull the trigger on the card adapter and the cable converters. I'll let you know if I get it working. I think it will only fit on the DMC slot. I guess they share pin outs for the first part based on this pub.

Homer

 

What would be the benefit of such a card upgrade at all?

 

WiFi 6? and I had to get a new router so I grabbed this one.

Homer

 

Thanks!
Obviously nothing for me not yet.

 

OK,

Partial progress. I got the adapter card, fitted the AX200 and installed it in the DMC slot. To get it to boot to Windows, I had to disable the BT and Wireless cards, leaving the DMC enabled in BIOS. It booted and something installed. I see a globe in the tray in place of the usual wireless icon. Device Manager shows everything installed. I can't seem to turn the WiFI 2 on. I get a slider to turn it on but it doesn't seem to stick. I wonder if Windows is confused thinking it should be finding a cellular modem.

I left the original WiFi card in it's slot and switched back. I think I'll try again and see if the BT on the card is working. It shows as installed in Windows.

UPDATE: I couldn't get to connect BT either. I'm thinking I have to pull out the old WiFI card and leave all three turned on in the BIOS. I'll wait until Monday when the antennae connectors arrive.

Homer

 

You will need the antenna to see any networks probably. Also remove the old cards. Make sure to install the latest driver

 

Alrighty!

I got the antennae adapters in and stripped it down to the motherboard, I left the memory and BIOS battery connected. Installed the card with it's adapter in the slot, added the antennae adapters and reassembled. The fit was pretty tight. I had to make sure one lead went left and one went right to make sure everything cleared. Put it all back together. Posted right away and booted into Windows 10. The new card connected to the router and I verified that I could pair with a bluetooth headset. All good. Last check was to put one channel of the new router into ax mode and reconnect. Windows reports it is connected to WiFi 6 (802.11ax). All seems to be working as advertised. I do have one item in the device manager that appears like it is not working, not sure what that is since I can connect to BT and there is only one WiFi/BT card installed now.

Homer

 

Could you post a pic of the installed card?

Sounds good, maybe if I ever get an AX router I may upgrade my card as well.

 

Here you go, some pics.


Before installation (I was a bit aggressive with removing the side parts of the board. Should have supported them to snap more cleanly, like the top one. I replaced the HD board clip at the same time, that is it peeking out)


In the board (I was optimistic that the leads could be on the same side.)


Back together (Note there is one lead to each side now.)

Homer

 

I'm pulling the trigger on the 1070 MXM for my M18xR2. Looking forward to having some headroom on my single PSU. While I'm waiting on the delivery... some questions.

I'm getting a "new" 100W NVIDIA heat sink for the left side if you were facing the open screen. Is that the correct one? The card is a "Dell" rectangular card, will I need to modify the heat sink or is that only for the MSI or Clevo versions with the extra side bits.

I already have the unlocked BIOS (Raidriar) and I'm on Windows 10. What driver version do I need with the right mix of laptop identifier and 1070?

BTW Once I'm done and stable, I'll have two 980Ms with heat sinks available if there is anyone looking. Just sayin'...

Homer

 

Facing the screen, you'd need the right one. That's the position of the primary port.
Post a pic of the one you're talking about.

 

This one?



Homer

 

Yeah that's the primary one.

 

Whew!

'cause one is on the way. I think we each had our own idea of facing the screen. I meant while using the laptop, you must have meant where the screen was once it was apart. LOL

Homer

 

Let us know how it goes! I was thinking of doing 1070 in my M18xR2 as well as final upgrade but it's a bit pricey especially when I already have my Area-51m.

 

No Area-51M here yet... I'm holding out a year to three for at least an R2 and a 30xx upgrade card!

Another tangent: anyone explore this festival to avoid SG? I guess we need the flip but you get the idea.

Homer

 

Try to ask if they got the opposite.

Idk if those would work but if they do we basically have internal display using 10+ series.

 

I'm with you on this one. I always considered it the left hand card while looking at the screen. I was a little confused for a second.

 

Digging deeper... I wonder if the issue is there are no outputs on the card, only the edge connector? But I did find this one... if anyone sells it.

Homer

 

The question is....how would we use it?

There are no outputs on the GPU. We only have the MB connector and the display

 

Congrats on the decision, you will not regret it Assuming you have the MSI variant of 1070 you will need to mod the heatsink in two places, there is a great tutorial on how to do it by @DaMafiaGamer, it worked well for me.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/successful-alienware-18-msi-gtx-1070-mxm.818900/

Let us know how you get on.