1330 My First Laptop--some general questions

First off, gotta say the laptop looks lovely. No clicks, clanks, or clunks. LED screen is gorgeous. No wobble, no excessive heat (so far) and just a first class job. But questions I hope those who are more experienced can help with.

1. I'm not offered the Vista SP1 upgrade after doing all the upgrades offered at Windows Update. I read another post that said I need to uninstall the sigmatel driver, then I'll be offered the upgrade, and then I can reinstall the newer sigmatel driver. But exactly which program is this? I have the Sound Blaster Audigy Advanced and don't see a mention of a sigmatel driver on the Uninstall Programs menu.

2. Like I said, no excessive heat by the hard drive (although it can certainly get warm). However, is it normal to FEEL the hard drive movement when you rest your palm on the left side? It's not the tingle I've read about. I can just feel it through the palm rest, just whirring a little (but don't hear it). Is that right? Guess I'll get used to it; just want to make sure everyone has that, too.

3. On the Windows Experience thingie (forget where to find it now) everything has a high rating except for the video card, which is a 4. Is everyone with a video card also at 4?

I'm sure I'll have more questions as time goes on, but would appreciate help with SP1 for sure!

 

1. I have the Sound Blaster too. I just downloaded SP1 standalone for 32 bit and installed it. Everything works fine..

2. Yes, it is a bit loud (er than my old compaq nc6230.)

3. Yes. A 256 MB 8600GT would give you a better score. But sadly, the 1330 doesn't come with it. I think that the score for my Aero performance was 4 and the gaming performance was 4.7 or something. But it doesn't really matter.

 

1) the driver is in device manager

2) sorry don't know (ordered my 1330 on the 25th, not here yet)

3) No, the Experience rates stuff differently for different hardware. The 1330 with the Nvidia 8400 GS 128Mb card is rated that, my 1520, which has the Nvidia 8600M GT 256MB card scores higher.

Alemaker

 

Thanks for the reply, guys.

Still can't get SP1. Thanks, Alemaker for directing me to device manager. I uninstalled it, rebooted (which froze and bluescreened me but eventually got back to desktop). Vista automatically loaded its device driver and made me reboot again. Still nothing offered at Windows update. Any other drivers I need to uninstall?

 

4.2 on a small OC.. I managed to get a 4.7 once, at 900/750, but can't find that pic... Mad OCs....

Check out the 3dMark score, though.. It was at 875/725..

 

SP1 doesnt show via Windows Update for a lot of people, for some reason. Had the same issue with my M1730.
Its much easier downloading the full SP1 package via Microsoft directly

My M1330 is coming soon, cant wait

 

I'll have to download 3D Mark. It's a handy tool just to know where you stand (though with my desktop getting 12,000+ I'm not too concerned where the 1330 would fall; I just questioned the video card as I was surprised it was such a low windows experience score in comparison to everything else).

ifti, it does seem like many folks are having a problem getting the Update to show up. I'm thinking there's some driver there that Microsoft feels would conflict with the upgrade. Guess I could download the full package, as you say, just thought I'd avoid future conflicts if I waited until it was actually offered. When is your 1330 coming in? Were you going to keep both the 1730 and the 1330 as complementary units?

 

Downloading the full version wont cause any conflicts, its the same as the Windows Update version.

What the Windows Update version does, is download a smaller file. This file then scans your computer and then only downloads the necessary hotfixes and updates required in order to install SP1.

The full update contains all the hotfixes and updates etc within it, in one large file. Hence it wont need to connect to the Internet again to download anything, and the update can be performed completely offline.

Hence, the Windows Update way is only better if download times are slow etc, since it will only download what it needs. Other then this, theres no difference between them.


I'll probably keep both units. Although the M1330 is max spec, it will be used as a portable unit around the house via wireless etc, and when I need to take it on the road. My M1730 is my desktop replacement, which I also use occasionally for playing games, and watching BluRays etc. I'll also use it for any work that needs more screen space etc

 

If you really want SP1, just download the full package from MS and install it manually.

Also, if you have Vista Ultimate, MS is not making SP1 available through Windows Update until all the localized language packs are done (31 different languages I believe!). Don't ask me why However, I have Ultimate and did the manual install no problem since it's a standard US english package.

I get 4.1 for Window Experience desktop aero performance and 4.7 gaming performance. My base score is 4.1 since all the other categories are in the 5-6 range.

 

In order to get SP1 to show up in the update, I updated the fingerprint reader using drivers on the UPEK website, and I uninstalled the Sigmatel drivers. The "Audigy" you have is just software tweaking the sound, like an equalizer. It isn't the drivers. All M1330's have the Sigmatel audio.

You can get the UPEK drivers here
http://www.upek.com/support/downloads/drivers/windows.asp


After you uninstall the Sigmatel audio driver, Vista will reinstall some sort of generic "High Definition Audio" driver. It isn't the Sigmatel driver though, and won't block Windows Update from offering you SP1. You can put the Sigmatel driver back after getting SP1.

 

READ THIS: CHELET IS CORRECT. But, you don't need to uninstall anything! Just download and install the new UPEK driver (chelet's link is correct). Then restart. Once you do, go to windows update and search for new updates. SP1 will be there. I have fixed this now on two different 1330's and worked both times.

 

ALSO, the audiology software on the 1330 is not an issue. It WILL NOT stop SP1 from showing up or installing. I wouldn't recommend uninstalling things unless you have to, and you DO NOT have to uninstall this.

 

You do need to uninstall the Sigamtel driver if it's a version deemed "problematic" by Microsoft. You can either install a later version or uninstall the old one and reinstall it after you've installed SP1.

 

The easiest way is to just download the full SP1!
No other messing about needed!

 

I downloaded and installed Vista SP1 on my XPS M1330 without any problem at all. I didn't remove any drivers befor the installation and everything works fine.

 

Chelet, I just added to your reputation. You are totally awesome. The UPEK driver was what I needed, but I did indeed need to also uninstall the sigmatel, as well. Once the UPEK was updated and Dell sigmatel gone, SP1 was offered for download and is downloading as we speak.

Once SP1 is installed and life is back to normal, I'll reinstall Dell's sigmatel driver. Do I need to reinstall Dell's UPEK driver or is this one good to go?

 

Try updating your drivers for your graphics card you can do so through the device manager.You should be getting at least a 4.1.

 

The UPEK from the site is good. No need to change it. It's actually a newer version than comes with the 1330. Sorry about the sound driver. I haven't run into that - it didn't come up as "problematic" on any of my 1330's, nor inhibit SP1 from showing up.