Windows 7 64-Bit divers for m17x-r1 predell

i'm having many issues for getting drivers to work on my m17x. i'm trying to get drivers for windows 7 64-bit. i've downloaded an image of the resource cd for the m15x/m17x, but half of the drivers don't work right or don't work at all. like the Command Center keeps thinking i have an older area 51 desktop, and only half the keyboard lights up, and the light around the trackpad is just off. i cannot get synaptics touchpad drivers of any sort to install at all, which is a complete pain, as i often use the scroll function, and absolutely hate how it taps to click when i'm typing and messing me up.

most importantly, the video card drivers just downright refuse to install. i have dual 9800m GT cards in this, and would love to actually use them. trying to download them from the nvidia site has been completely useless, as they say i don't have any compatible hardware, and i clearly do. trying the nvidia auto detect on the site says that i need to download the drivers from the manufactures website. when i try to download driver version 180.xx (most recent on the old alienware page), it says it cannot install. i tried putting a Vista SP2 compatibility setting on all these issues, with no success. i would love to use this computer, but i refuse to put Vista on this for obvious reasons. with windows 10 out now, do you think i'll have any luck on that?

also, windows can't update. i keep trying the check for updates button, but it just keeps checking forever and ever, never giving me any new updates. this is a fresh install of windows 7 64, so i don't know why it won't find them. i installed java and .net framework 4.5.2, but still nothing.

the current system's specs are as follows:

Intel Core 2 Extreme X9000 2.8ghz
4gb DDR2 Ram
2x NVidia GT 9800m gpus
500gb 7200rpm SSHD Seagate Hybrid Drive (8gb ssd cache)
the Alienware Edition of Windows 7 Professional 64-Bit

 

Have you tried removing the slave 9800 and just trying the install with one of them?

For the drivers you found are you positive they are for your model? You mentioned CC thinks it's a desktop or something.

For the update issue I have also run into this on computers. To solve it I have literally just let it check. Make sure the computer doesn't go to sleep and let it check all night if it needs it. There are a lot of Win 7 updates now so if you are using an older install CD it can take a while to check and compile a list of whats needed for your laptop. To speed tings along, if 7 already is NOT updated to SP1 you can download the offline installer to run manually and then check for updates after.

 

is there a manual to help refer what to take apart? i haven't removed anything yet. right now i have it set up to have 2 partitions. one with vista, one with 7. i'm going to install the drivers on the vista one, and see if the 7 one can copy them over. ive had that work before with 2 windows 7 partitions installing drivers from one to another through the device manager and having it search for it from the other partition. so perhaps it will work here to, since vista and 7 are pretty similar.

 

i got vista to install, but i'm still having issues. it still wont install the video card drivers, touchpad driver, or alienware command center for the life of me. it still sees the laptop as an area 51 desktop form 2009-ish. if anyone has the original resource cd for the area-51 m17x, please post it. i saw a post about it before, and downloaded the m15x/m17x one. it worked for some things, but was completely useless for trying to get any of my issues solved. it didn't even have all the drivers for it (no wireless, no nvidia drivers {onlyhad an ati driver [wtf. only the m17 r1 used ati cards]}, etc).

 

Taking the cars out should not be hard, have you popped the back cover off to look? Most likely one will have an 'M' sticker and the other an 'S'. You want to take out the slave ('S') card and see if the driver install works with that.

Does windows update work now? Have you tried letting it find your drivers?

Have you tried creating a new theme in command center? On an M15x I worked on it would not identify components until I created a new theme and went from there.

 

i got windows update to work yes. took 2 days. i'll pop it off an take a look.

 

i can't quite figure out how to remove the gpus. if you could please link me to a video or manual of how to do this, i would be very thankful. i took off the sli bridge just for the heck of it, and it didn't work. neither an nvidia driver or alienwrare forceware driver worked. they both said no hardware detected.

 

I don't have an M17x but if you post a high res pic of the back cover off I can try to help you. Best way to share is to upload into Dropbox or something similar and share the public link from there.

 

i found out how to remove them. it turns out that at least one of the cards died. and the inside was brown as hell. probably belonged to a smoker before i got it. i just resold it online. i'll get another one whenever i can.

 

just seen your post.. i have the m15x ripply install zipped in my dropbox.. my m15x had the 8600mgt nvida card..
sorry you gave up and sold it on

 

Can I ask where you downloaded the resource disk for your m17x. I have received one which I need to load Windows 7 64bit on and have no drivers for the system. A link would be very helpful.