Dell Inspirion 7577

I wish I had known this prior to ordering my 7577. I wonder if it's too late to change?

If it's too late, I now think I need to leave the BIOS set to RAID. s@#$!

And if so, how do I dump all the bloat? After reading that thread, I'm afraid to wipe and reinstall.

 

Go to BIOS, change it to AHCI and install new w10 w/o any bloat.
Refer Gonzo signature for bloatfree windows 10 install guide.

 

That was my plan until I read that thread. Did you read it?

And btw, his signature links are for the XPS, not the Inspiron.

Here's a guide for the 7577:
http://tripsintech.com/perform-clean-install-of-windows-10-on-dell-inspiron-gaming-7000-7577/

But that thread has me spooked now.

 

Can you get a windows iso and try to reset windows. I think this will wipe all the bloat.



Sent from my Z2 Plus using Tapatalk

 

I have a Win 10 USB drive I created a couple of years ago.. back when I knew what I was doing. Lol. I don't remember how I created it now. I don't remember if it's an x86 or x64 bootable USB drive or not as I have both versions of Win 10 pro installed.

I used to be a big fan of Win 7. When Win 8 came out, I hated the metro interface. But with the advent of Win 8.1 and using Classic Shell, I really grew to like Win 8.1. It quickly became my favorite.

Windows 10 has never grown on me, but I moved to it anyway as it was inevitable. Sigh.

So yeah, I'm sure I can figure out how to create a fresh copy of a bootable USB drive with Win 10 pro x64 on it.

I found this YouTube video on killing Win 10 bloatware. Does this look legit?

 

I download w10 directly using this link https://tb.rg-adguard.net/public.php
Clean install guide from Snappy Phoenix http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/nbr-windows-10-clean-installation-guide.781178/

 

Thanks for that. Bookmarked.

Now the question. Has anyone here wiped the drives on the 7577 and gone through the reinstallation of Windows 10 and NOT run into the issues I linked above from the Dell support site? Specifically, the 256GB NVMe drive (that I ordered)?

 

Hmm. Toshiba XG3/5,950pro/PM951/961/981/960 EVO/PRO can be detected by Win 10 and use standard nvme driver for them to work correctly.
If you're using Samsung 950/960 EVO/Pro use samsung NVme driver after installation of w10 to get amazing speeds rated for your drive.

 

Until the laptop arrives, I have no idea what NVMe m.2 drive Dell installs. I suspect it will be the Toshiba drive. But if you read that support thread, guys were having all kinds of issues attempting a clean install of Win 10 using either AHCI (or RAID as configured from the factory). I had planned to jump right into BIOS and change it to AHCI, but the last thing I want to do is create a perpetual support project that even Dell support cannot fix that leaves me with a brand new $1250 door stop.

Edit: for instance, 2nd post (admittedly, these are a variety of Dell laptops including Alienware):

"I was wondering if you could help me with the following regarding the use of a Samsung SSD Pro 960 for my XPS 8920 systems.

It has been known for awhile in the Community that RAID must be set to boot Windows 10 from this SSD. If AHCI is on, the system refuses to boot."

In fairness, I believe there are 2 issues being discussed in this thread... the reinstallation issue on various Dell laptops (I'm not sure if the 7577 is included here or not), and slow performance of the m.2 drive in the 7577.

 

Do you have service tag with you? You can check which drive and what parts you're getting shipped? Are you from US or UK?

 

I didn't think a service tag was available until the laptop arrives. Where would I find that information during the build process?

Edit: I'm in the USA.

 

A 7920HQ being sent in, that's brilliant. Do you have any details on modifying the BIOS?

 

Idk what you/everyone is talking about... My first 7577 came with the 512GB Toshiba M.2 NVMe and I clean installed Win10 just fine. My replacement 7577 came with the Samsung PM961 M.2 and it's all good too. You should be able to switch between AHCI and RAID without issue in my experience.

Here are my results from Win7 and Win10 on my Samsung PM961 512GB NVMe SSD in AHCI on a UEFI boot. Win7 is using Samsung drivers and Win10 is using Microsoft Storage Spaces Controller (Standard NVMe Express Controller).

Windows 7 (Samsung NVMe driver in AHCI mode):


Windows 10 (Microsoft NVMe Driver in AHCI mode):


Oh, and also, as I mentioned once before somewhere on here, when I was running into strange issues getting my laptop to boot (while setting up my clean triple boot install) it ended up being caused by not having Legacy Boot set to 'ENABLED' even though I wasn't actually intending to boot using legacy BIOS. Also of note, some of these issues *might* have been addressed in the most recent BIOS patch Dell released.

 

You can check Dell account for anything called Express service Code or service tag if they actually logged/updated your order to ur account.

 

You were going to comapre BIOS 1.2 and 1.4.
What about that?
Should i install 1.4 bios? I am currently on 1.2

Sent from my Z2 Plus using Tapatalk

 

Apparently this laptop's SATA port can only accept SSD drives up to 256GB. Has anyone had any luck with an SSD larger than 256 in the SATA port?

Thank you

 

Where are you getting this information from? I would be extremely surprised if this were the case.

 

Where the hell is everyone reading that the 7577 is a crippled machine? The SATA slot that holds the spinner HDD supports whatever SSD you can fit in there. I have a 500GB Samsung EVO in my SATA slot. What may be somewhat true is if you get the lesser model 7577 apparently the PCIe Lanes are limited to 2x instead of 4x on the models that ship with the smaller SSDs.

My page has lots of useful info on this stuff.:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...-details-pics-of-internals-optimizing.811380/

Check out the last two reviews from NotebookCheck I have listed in the first section.

 

It'll be a while. I'm still dialng in my O/S's. I have a family, school that I'm behind on, our whole family got sick with the flu the past 2 weeks, and I smoke way too much sweet sticky green herb since the New Year, haha.

The good news is I managed to play Pikmin 3 on Cemu in 2k resolution pretty smoothly all things considered.

 

Btw in case anybody was wondering...

https://www.amazon.com/ProCase-14-U...Format=grid&impressionTimestamp=1521143184822

That case just barely barely barely fits my 7577. I love the handle.

 

https://www.dell.com/community/Insp...-5-quot-SSD/m-p/6034166/highlight/true#M15786

 

That tech doesn't know what he/she is talking about. There are no limitations on size outside of physical size.

 

Good Morning,

I just received my 7577 yesterday afternoon. It's a refurb.

It came in a basic box w/a slide in cardboard piece w/some kind of a plastic bag enclosure attached in which the laptop was put into. Other than the power supply, it included no paperwork or manuals of any kind

The first thing I did to the laptop was to do a visual on it. Not a scratch or finger print on it, including on the display.

I then plug the power supply in and turned it on.

It booted up fast, and the very first thing I noticed on boot up was the display. In the upper right corner, was faint patch of lighter than black, a grayish shade of color. No other colors seem to be effected other than the black. If I flex the corner a little, it would disappear. With the screen assembly being so flexible, it doesn't take much to change the colors. The display is the 3840 x 2160 IPS UHD Anti-Glare Backlit Display, and other than the corner, looks great from every angle. The screen display is set at 250%, and if I set it to 100%, you can barely read anything, w/everything being so small.

Other than that, it booted up fine, and after going through the setup, went into Windows. I do intend to do a fresh install of Windows, but for now I wanted to check things out.

Have other 7577 owners here had a similar issue w/their display, be it the standard one, the 1920 x 1080, or the optional 3840 x 2160?

Thanks.

.

 

Did you knowingly buy a refurb? Just curious since I don't know if you ordered direct from Dell or from Amazon (who I've heard can send out refurbs instead of new).

 

Thanks for confirming no issues switching from RAID to AHCI and also no issues clean installing Win 10 on the m.2 NVMe drive. Did you create a bootable USB drive to accomplish the clean install?

 

Yes.

I ordered directly from Dell.

 

The limitation is an pure BS. I didnt buy it. And this is not an bandwidth issue. Our Intel 7th CPU has 16 lanes PCIE. GPU using x8, and the rest split up to 2 x4, one for M.2 and one for PCIE slot/ Wifi card. SATA not using PCIE, not at all....and it should pick up any SSD compatible with SATA3, regardless of size...And also our BIOS support GPT, and it pickup big HDD fine....

 

Yeah just use Rufus. the format type matters depending if you are completely wiping your drive or not and whether you want to install as GPT (new way) or MBR (old way).

 

Anybody know a way to make front led work as disk indicator permanently? After shutdown, led works as charging indicator again.

 

I totally agree. I ask as i'm thinking about buying a larger drive and want to confirm that someone has had success with the SATA port within a SSD drive > 500GB.

 

I don't have the 7757 but im sure that it will pick up the SSD on the sata port.

 

I received notification that my 7577 is shipping, so I expect to get it sometime next week. In preparation, I want to get all my files in order so I can wipe and reinstall Win 10 pro x64. I'd like to post the process here so that anyone else wanting to clean install can have a guide.
(7577 with 256GB NVMe m.2 drive and 1TB HDD)

Questions:
1) Does Windows already come activated?
2) Is Dell configuring these with GPT or MBR?

I got a fresh copy of Win 10 and used Rufus to create a bootable USB drive with GPT (assuming UEFI on the 7577).
https://tb.rg-adguard.net/public.php
https://rufus.akeo.ie/

I like to create individual folders to store all the drivers. When looking at the Dell page for the 7577, I see there are a ton of drivers, many of which I suspect I won't need. But it's hard to sort what I need from the fluff/bloat I'm trying to eliminate:
http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/product-support/product/inspiron-15-7577-laptop/drivers

Many that I'll need are recognizable, but many are pretty non-descript such as Dell Mobile Connect Driver. Is that needed?

I assume I'll need:
Realtek Audio ALC3246 (newer driver on Realtek site?)
7577 system BIOS (unless it already has the latest)
Thunderbolt3 firmware update (newer driver on Intel site?)
Intel HID Event Filter Driver (?)
Intel serial IO driver
Intel dynamic platform and thermal framework (?)
IME 11.x firmware updater (?)
IME interface driver (?)
Realtek USB memory card reader driver
Intel Chipset device software driver
Intel Thunderbird controller driver
Intel Bluetooth and WiFI drivers
Realtek PCIe ethernet controller driver
Goodix Fingerprint sensor driver
Dell power manager service
nVidia 1060 driver

I picked up the Intel SSD driver (f6flpy-x64) from:
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/27400?v=t

Do I need the Intel RST driver and management console?

Do I need the Intel HD graphics 630 driver? Did I overlook any drivers I'll need?

I assume I will *not* need drivers on the Dell page prior to the Realtek Audio ALC3246 driver (no mobile connect, no digital delivery, no update application, no help and support app, no smartbyte, no OTB survey).

I left several drivers with a ? at the end in the list above. Are those needed? Is it safe to assume I can likely get the latest device drivers from Realtek, Goodix, nvidia, etc?

Now for the process, I assume I'll need to verify Windows has been activated and try to find the key, if available in UEFI.

Then change from raid to AHCI and shutdown. Insert my bootable USB drive (with drivers in appropriate folders) and restart the 7577 and begin the clean install process. Format and clear all partitions. (I have no idea how it will come from the factory)

Have I missed anything?

 

1) Windows comes activated, the key is programmed into BIOS. You don't need to type any key or activate Windows during installation (if you want to make a format), it just activates automatically.
2) It is configured with GPT as it is UEFI-based machine with secure boot and Windows 10.

If you will reinstall Windows and connect to WiFi during setup, it will install all the drivers automatically. If you want to install drivers by yourself, you can install everything you listed expect firmware updates. You can try them, but probably all firmwares are up to date. You don't need Intel RST drivers if you will change RAID to AHCI before clean installation. SSD will contain some recovery partitions, which you can use to restore factory system. In BIOS, there is a setting which will start recovery if system will fail to boot x times (x can be set). HD 630 driver is needed, it is integrated graphics card built in Intel processor - it is responsible for image most of the time (when you do not play games) - basic Windows driver will work with it, but it will not use all capabilities and even dragging any window will stutter. Every missing driver will be updated by Windows when you connect to Internet, anyway.
Dell power manager lets you see battery condition and set charging mode - you can do the same in BIOS.

 

Hey thanks a lot for the info!

I assume that when I begin the fresh install, I'll have the option to delete existing partitions and create new ones. If so, won't I delete the recovery partition?

It's been a few years since I last did a wipe and reinstall, so it sounds like the process has changed some in that interval if the drivers automatically install after a wipe and clean install. But it sounds like I'll at least need the Intel SSD drivers when doing a clean install, true?

(according to this site: http://tripsintech.com/perform-clean-install-of-windows-10-on-dell-inspiron-gaming-7000-7577/)

 

Anyone else have issues with NVIDIA GPU being used to run Chrome despite NVIDIA program settings being set to explicitly use the integrated GPU?

It happens occasionally with other programs and executables as well. I'm also getting desynchronization of audio and YouTube playback issues while using an external monitor plugged in with 15 or so chrome tabs on my external monitor and a YouTube video playing full screen on my laptop's 4k screen in a second window (yes, my power plan is set to max performance). I think this is more an issue with Chrome in general being resource intensive and the number of extensions etc I like to use, but was wondering if anyone else notices this sort of stuff too? I know it is NOT my internet connection too so don't bother.

Also, has anyone figured out a good way to keep the fans off most of the time? Mine stay on at around 3k rpm (50% ish) just using Chrome and never want to shut off or slow down too often...and my CPU temps are ~45 - 48C. I am already undervolted by (-) 0.160V

Either way, I love my laptop and none of these issues are anything serious to me, just thought I'd ask.

 

If you set disk mode in BIOS to AHCI, you won't need any additional drivers. Intel driver will only be needed in RAID mode (else Windows installer won't "see" any hard disk). You will see all partitions avaible at disk (6 or 7) and you can choose, which ones you want to delete. If you want to leave recovery at disk, just wipe all partitions from the first one to the system one (in my Dell recovery takes 3 last partitions) and use that space to make clean installation. Windows is going to make 3 or 4 partitions, 1 for system and 3 or 2 for boot etc (depends on build version, but it shouldn't bother you). As long as you will connect to internet during initialization, all (or almost all) drivers will install themselves. Just leave your machine for a couple of minutes and Windows 10 will take care of everything. You can start configuration, but it will stutter during drivers installation, screen will be blinking (graphics drivers) etc. Just make sure it won't go to sleep (it shouldn't during installation, but things just happen sometimes). Some reboots will be required, you'll be notified of this by Windows. It will also take some of your internet bandwidth to download all the drivers.

Try different browser, ex. Firefox. I don't use external monitor, but you should check if that's Chrome issue or driver/hardware. I'm not sure, but external monitor should be running on Nvidia graphics and probably that's the culprit.

 

So change to AHCI, then begin the wipe and clean install.

Wow. They've made this pretty much a hands off operation then. I'm not quite used to that.

I've snagged all the drivers I think I'll need... just in case.

 

I think you would be ok speedlever!

 

It just sounds too simple! Have installs changed this much in a few years?

 

Yep, mostly since 10.

 

For Chrome, I think there is (or at least there used to be) a setting inside of chrome called "use hardware acceleration" or something along those lines. Turn it off if you don't want it using dGPU.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

Is there any way to turn Nvidia's g sync off on the 7577?

Normally you can go into the Nvidia Control Panel, click "Setup G-Sync", and uncheck the box that says "Enable G-Sync", but I don't see it there.

Thanks.

 

The 7577 doesn't have a g-sync panel. Can't turn it off because it's not on...

 

According to 3DMark, it is on, and that it can lower the benchmark results if left on.

 

It doesn't have g-sync so I don't see how it could be on. If it is somehow "on" then it's an nVidia bug and not a Dell issue. A quick google search for "3mark shows g-sync on" shows that many people have the same issue and there are a few work-a-rounds. It also shows that there are 0 changes to the score when "fixed"

 

Thanks

 

That will prevent chrome from using the iGPU as well though. I think the heart of what was happening had to do with running chrome on two different resolution screens simultaneously while also using both GPUs to render Chrome. The iGPU was at about 65% usage just streaming a HD YouTube video full screen at 4k res.

 

Hm I wouldn't know then @Maleko48

Did anyone contact dell regarding their laptops when you ran into their pro problems?
I've been literally told that the repair service wont repair my laptop, cause "they probally wont get the mobo". So I need to get in contact with dell but I don't know if the call center is the best idea. I can't for the love of me some live chat or direct contact and going to the direct Service Code site and going to "Technical/Warranty Support" gives me a message saying I should go to the repair service that told me that they won't repair my laptop. Asking them that happens after their 45 days are done I was told that I'll need to contact dell... So yeah...

I mean please look at this ****:
"Warranty page":


And apparently I can't even do call in support )))

 

Update to the clean install process: I received my 7577 today and here's what I did to initiate a clean install of Windows 10.
EUFI/BIOS
1) under system configuration/sata operations: change from RAID to AHCI
2) boot into safe mode (else it won't boot the first time after the above change)
3) in EUFI, change the boot drive to the USB drive and restart with the USB drive connected (Win 10 bootable created by Rufus)
4) as part of the install process, I deleted all partitions on the 256GB m.2 NVMe (destination) drive. The installer recreates the partitions it needs.

It might be a little tricky sorting out all the partitions to determine which drive to install to. You need to know which drive is #0 and which drive is #1.

My NVMe drive was #1 in my system and the HDD was #0. You should be able to figure out what drive to delete the partitions on by adding up the space in each partition. The 1TB HDD was readily apparent (just 2 partitions, the largest being something like 931GB).

As an option, I also disabled UEFI capsule firmware updates. It took some time, but the system gradually d/l and installed the various drivers it needed. I updated the nvidia driver to the latest from their website as the one that d/l automatically was a few versions old.

I was a bit surprised to find my laptop had an older BIOS (1.2.0). BIOS 1.4.2 is out and I have a copy, but am curious what changes 1.4.2 brings to the table. I haven't installed it yet. Anyone know what changes it brings?

 

Spectre/Meltdown patch, I guess. You might want to make clean installation once again, with HDD removed. Windows 10 has tendency to make boot and recovery partitions on HDD drive despite creating system partition on an SSD and that may cause longer boot times. You can check that in diskmgmt.msc tool (open via Windows+R keystroke).