J95 Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 The USB FAT32 flash drive default upgrade is faster and smoother, update System Bios to unlocked A12 (Sata III fix) http://forum.techinferno.com/alienware-m17x/2279-%5Bm17x-r3%5D-bios-a12-unlocked-sata-tweak.html WIndows 8 is not officially supported "....a new BIOS came out just a few days ago but I believe it was meant to enhance windows 8 and provide working switchable graphics with Fn+F7." Alienware Staff member referring to A12 release. Windows 8 upgrade. After downloading Win 8 Upgrade with "Keep Nothing" option search for folder options>show hidden folders> browse C:\ESD>open it>copy all the contents to a formatted FAT32 USB flash drive and back it up somewhere else, use this tool to format Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way + very useful for firmware/bios updates. Windows 8 already installed("Keep Settings/Files" want to perform a clean install). Microsoft confirmation email download link with product key, when finished it formats the USB flash drive to default FAT32. SSD AHCI MODE (middle bay 1 aka drive 1 SATA III 6GB/s) 1- Enter the Bios, set AHCI mode. 2- Install windows> select custom Install (Advanced)>Drive Options (advanced)>>Delete all partitions SSD Drive 1 (including system reserved 350MB) until it is only unallocated space>Select Drive 1 unallocated space (SSD)>Next. 3- Follow these instructions "System Setup after Installation" Sean's Windows 8 Install & Optimization Guide for SSDs & HDDs Shrink System Protection 1% 1.19GB and don't Turn Off page file. 4- Shrink Page file>Windows Key + Pause|Break Key>Advanced system settings>under Performance click Settings>Advanced>Virtual memory click Change>uncheck "Automatically manage paging file size for all drives">Select the C: drive>check custom size> initial / Maximum size set both to 2048MB>click set>apply>reboot when prompted. Latest Windows 8 drivers. Chipset. Native driver. Intel Management Engine. http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/DriverDetails/Product/alienware-m18x?driverId=H0P3V&osCode=W764&fileId=2731100829&languageCode=en&categoryId=CS Intel Rapid Storage Technology (Raid) http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/DriverDetails/Product/alienware-m17x-r3?driverId=R302553&osCode=W764&fileId=2731118169&languageCode=en&categoryId=SA Standard SATA AHCI Controller (SSD) https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=22271&lang=eng Intel® Rapid Storage Technology Release 12.5.0.1066 is designed to provide functionality for the following Storage Controllers: • Intel® 8 Series/C220 Series Chipset Family SATA AHCI/RAID Controller • Intel® 7 Series/C210 Series Chipset Family SATA AHCI/RAID Controller • Intel® 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family SATA AHCI/RAID Controller • Intel® 5 Series/3400 Series SATA AHCI/RAID Controller • Intel® X79 Express Chipset TRIM check tool TRIMcheck: A FREEWARE TRIM TESTER Realtek card reader RTS5209 Realtek Qualcomm Atheros AR8151 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller http://www.qca.qualcomm.com/download.php?type=driver&id=73 Wi-fi Intel 64-bit https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=22741&lang=eng BigFoot Networks Killer Wireless 1103 Killer Gaming :: Support :: Driver Downloads Dell Bluetooth 375 (driver only) Windows Update Catalog (AMD64) Microsoft Update Catalog Bluetooth on - 7Zip extract to desktop>right click .inf(bcbtums-win8x64-brcm.inf)>install Dell Bluetooth 375 Software http://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER01052616M/1/Network_Application_C71DK_WN_12.0_A02.EXE Touchpad Drivers | Synaptics USB 3 Microsoft Renesas driver device manager>universal serial bus controllers>USB Root Hub (xHCI)>uncheck power management. IDT 92HD73 Audio updated Windows 8 Driver http://forum.techinferno.com/alienware-m17x/3549-m17xr3-m18xr1-idt-windows-8-driver-v-6-10-0-6421-maxx-audio-3-quality.html OSD R3 version is the only one with no compatibility issues, even for R4 and M18XR2 users Driver Details | Dell United States Command Center grab R4 A02 (Win8) it works both M17XR3 / M18XR1(installation issues fixed)Driver Details | Dell United States Title: Application: Alienware Command Center Application Version: A02-00 OEM Name: OEM Version: 2.8.10.0 Computers: Alienware Notebook: M14x, M17xR4, M14xR2, M18xR2, M11xR3, M18X, M17xR3 OS: Windows 8 64-bit - Pro, Windows 8 64-bit - ALL Languages: Chinese Simplified,Japanese,Spanish,Danish,French,Portuguese (Portugal),Finnish,English,Br Portuguese,Norwegian,Turkish,Korean,Arabic,Russian,Greek,Polish,Italian,Chinese Traditional,German,Swedish Created: 11/28/2012 Edit: Dell fixed command center installation issues. Different packaging, previous oneDriver Details | Dell United States(both are 2.8.10.0 A2) 1 -Obs.before installing IDT/OSD/Command Center enable .Net framework 3.5. Program and Features>turn windows features on and off>check .net framework 3.5>ok>download/install>reboot>install IDT/OSD/Command Center same order. 2 -Important extract all downloaded DELL files with 7Zip, install from the extracted folders. This will prevent install errors and windows compatibility settings due to packaging. 3 -Windows 8 System image backup. To enable custom backup instead of all or nothing, Control Panel>Windows 7 File Recovery>Set up backup>select media>Next>let me choose. 4 -Nvidia GTX 680M modded .inf http://forum.techinferno.com/nvidia/3201-%5Bmobile%5D-modded-nvdmn-inf-v314-22-alienware-m17xr3-r2-m18x-nvidia-gtx-680m.html 5 -Optimizing GPU FPS rendering http://forum.techinferno.com/pc-gaming/3066-gpu-rendering-optimazation-fps.html#post42540 6 -CPU OC. http://forum.techinferno.com/alienware-m17x/2285-unlocked-throttlestop-alienware-m17x-r3-r4-m18x-r1-r2.html 7 -Start menu. Try StartisBack fully native StartIsBack - real start menu in Windows 8 8 -Windows 8 Dark themes fix AeroByDesign For Windows 8 by ~LiveOrDieTM on deviantART uxstyle X64 beta for Win8 UxStyle - no more patching. (Reduced black color w/ intensity slider) Obs.Install uxstyle core beta only after there are no windows updates left, future updates>task manager>processes>end task "UnsignedThemesSvc" ( theme binaries updates icon fix KB2751352/IE KB2761465 ) personalize>change to windows 8 default themes. This is to prevent black screen with flickering backlight after reboot and sfc /scannow is useless, create restore points/backups:mad:win 8 dec updates failed [Archive] - My Digital Life Forums Thanks Ballmer for Windows 8 design flaws. 9 -Windows 8 Dark themes fix 2 (Aero)Dark theme for Windows8 RTM by ~Nighthawk-F22 on deviantART (Themes only, don't use Aero Glass fixes) AeroByDesignSignature Windows 8 dark themes fix 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Founder Michael Posted January 28, 2013 Founder Share Posted January 28, 2013 nice guide, be sure to update it with latest drivers if and when they come out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J95 Posted January 28, 2013 Author Share Posted January 28, 2013 Thanks, I'LL do that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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