Vista 64-bit on XPS M1330

[trebuin]

***64-Bit drivers links here***

***Updated 14 Aug 08***
***New: Updated fingerprint scanner software install instructions.

***older: Added SRS as an alternate to soundblaster and new codec information. Also, switching WMP to 64 bit should solve some sound issues. ***

***Tested M1330 with XP Pro (32 bit) XP 64 bit, Vista 32 and 64. Due to my configuration, Vista 64 actually tops the performance between all of these. XP Pro comes next. XP 64 bit is actually faster, but has severe compatibility issues with some of the software I use...like the Gov't version of Office. Vista 32 is of course the worst. For my wife's computer, HP DV2000, the performance order is XP, Vista 64, Vista 32. It's a much less powerful computer so Vista is picky.

***ATA/AHCI***************************************
Ok, AHCI is a hard drive file access driver. Essentially, it's one step up from ATA and provides better performance when calling multiple files. The operation method is set up via the BIOS. There are three common methods of setting it up: install vista with AHCI enabled, install vista with AHCI enabled with current drivers on USB, and install as ATA then upgrade to ACHI.

-If you install vista with AHCI enabled, more than likely you will not be able to use ATA again since those drivers are not installed
-If you install Vista with AHCI, you may start with the BSOD and won't be able to fix it without another install...I encounter this with my installs.
-If you change from AHCI to ATA or vice versa, you will need to reactivate Vista...set it as AHCI and then activate Vista.
-If you use my ATA install method, download the AHCI drivers before changing it. You will get one good boot and you HAVE to install those Intel drivers or on your next boot you will go BSOD and will have to do a fresh install and try again.

Instructions:

There have been a few who have seen this when reinstalling:
1) In some random install, you receive a blue screen of death, go into Bios and under installed deviced, look at SATA. If it says it is set as AHCI, change it to ATA. You'll have to disable one other device...it tells you...and then come back to this and disable it. Save and exit.
2) If you can boot now, you are running in ATA mode which is slower than AHCI (25 sec boot as opposed to 15 secs). This is fixable.
3) hit start, enter in the search/run "regedit" without the quotes.
4) Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\msahci
5) Double click on "start" and change the setting from 4 to 0
6) reboot, go back into bios and reverse your settings. Windows should continue to boot correctly now.
7) INSTALL Serial ATA: Intel Matrix Storage Manager (on your driver cd) R154198
DON'T REBOOT UNTIL YOU DO THIS!!!!!!! If you reboot, you will be stuck at the BSOD.

I attached some benches...the last two pictures...and can't really see a difference there. The only place I notice anything is during boot and normal program calls. AHCI seems to be quite a bit faster.

USB Method:
1. Go to Intel and download the latest version of the AHCI File;
2. Download and expand it to a flash drive;

Download the Intel Matrix Storage Manager
Run the program with the extention -a
IATA50_ENU.EXE -a
Let it do the install...it's really just extracting.
Go to your program files or (x86) if you are running 64-bit. In there will be a folder Intel, and in that, driver64. Copy everything there onto your thumbdrive.

3. Start the installation and follow it through to the part where you elect the partition to install the OS on;
4. Select the option of 'Install Drivers' bottom left of that screen and direct it to your flash drive;
5. Select 'ok' to the AHCI driver when it is identified and complete the installation.
(documentation not available yet)
********************************************************
New Driver Section
_______________________________________________________


********************************************************
Driver Files: http://depositfiles.com/files/1653389
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1. Windows Vista 64
- From Dell http://www.dellcommunity.com/support...d=60095#M60095
- http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/content.aspx?ctId=444
- Microsoft: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvist...a/default.mspx


Also, you can obtain an 64 Bit OEM Key from the bottom of your laptop. Just make sure you select the 64 bit home premium or whatever you purchased as x64 and you're good to go. I've confirmed this has worked.
_________________________________________________________
1. Install AHCI drivers to USB Drive
- http://support.intel.com/support/chipsets/imsm/
2. Install MediaDirect if required:
- Disk included with m1330
- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=157838
3. Install Windows Vista 64
- Vlite causes update bugs…try to avoid this for now
4. If Vista will not boot: go into the BIOS and set the SATA to ATA mode (if required)
- This will reduce performance but not noticeable.
5. Install Intel Chipset and reboot http://support.dell.com/support/down...WLH&hidlang=en
6. Install Drivers:
- Network: Broadcom installs via Windows Update as of SP1
- Wireless: http://support.dell.com/support/down...WLH&hidlang=en
7. Install Dell Notebook System Software Utility:
- This is R143625, but is incompatible with 64-bit, so I opened it up and found the patches form within and am providing the 64-bit patches
- Make sure you install these:
- KB927084 http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en
- KB929550 http://thehotfixshare.net/board/inde...30&hl=KB929550
- KB929577 http://thehotfixshare.net/board/inde...32&hl=KB929577
- KB940059 (dell’s KB929731 is not available for vista 64 and this is more current) http://thehotfixshare.net/board/inde...38&hl=KB940059
- Use microsoft’s update for any remaining updates
8. Install Remaining drivers
- Video Drivers
-- http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/forum/
-- V174.74 is the newest overclockable driver I currently use. I need to check if there's newer
- Ricoh Cardreader http://support.dell.com/support/down...WLH&hidlang=en
- Bluetooth: http://support.dell.com/support/down...WLH&hidlang=en
-- If you have some trouble, check in BIOS to see that your wireless is set up to control “All” otherwise BT is off by default
- Synaptics or Alps Touchpad
-- Synaptics http://www.synaptics.com/support/drive.cfm
-- Alps http://ftp.us.dell.com/input/R157047.EXE
- Webcam (if applicable) under "mouse and keyboard" drivers http://support.dell.com/support/down...WLH&hidlang=en
- Fingerprint Reader install:
Install 64-bit software first from this link:
http://www.powernotebooks.com/suppor...2Build4414.zip
now open explorer up (firefox doesn't work for me) and go to this website to get the latest version:
http://www.upek.com/support/download...ql_upgrade.asp
You have to have the older version installed for the next link to show the update download.
--
-- This supports logon and web passwords. Thank you Samuel613 for providing this link
- Soundcard Drivers: http://support.dell.com/support/down...WLH&hidlang=en
- Audigy MB is not compatible as of yet. I'd recommend SRS Audio Sandbox as an alternative. Trial is available and recommended to see if you like what it does. Use the 64-bit link found on this page: http://www.srs-store.com/store-plugi...upport_sas.asp
- Any remaining drivers you require on Dell’s site
9. Install Quickset (provides display feedback for sound, brightness, and wireless)
10. Install Mediadirect’s Vista application
- DVD Drive:\WindowsMD3\setup.exe

________________________________________________________
Post install stuff/tweaks:
TuneXP 1.5: Do one ultrafast booting with this and don't touch it again.
Select "Memory and file system"
Then select "ultra-fast booting (rearrange boot files)"
It may appear to crash for a mine...just wait
It will bring up a blue bar, that's part 1 of 2
When the bar goes away:
press clt-alt-del and open your taskmanager
look for the defrag process. It will be there for about 30 mins...don't reboot until that disappears.

Video Codec:
I now use "Vista codec pack" because the 64-bit side is updated much more. It also includes two shortcuts that turn windows media player to run in 64-bit as default, the old method is shown below. Uninstall all previous codecs prior to installing this and for each update. Install both the 32-bit and then the 64-bit packs.
32-bit: http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail...e/1159994557/1
64-bit:http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail...s/1159994557/2

Older codec info:
Video Codec: I use K-lite's 64 bit & 32 bit Standard after Mediadirect is installed (Vista side)
Set windows media play to default 64 bit:
To switch and change to x64 or 64-bit of WMP11, open an elevated command prompt as administrator and type the following command:
%windir%\system32\unregmp2.exe /SwapTo:64
Then, open Registry Editor (regedit), then navigate to the the registry key of “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\wmplayer.exe”. Then set the registry subkey “Path” to be “%Programfiles%\Windows Media Player” (without quotes), and “(Default)” subkey (normally the first entry) to “%ProgramFiles%\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe” (include quotes).
_____________________________

Ok, I've been working on this for about a few days now and I have my M1330 about 98% compatible on Vista 64-bit; for those of you who didn't order the the Soundblaster Audigy MB, it is 100% compatible. Congrats Dell!

Basically the only issue I'm having is the Audigy MB software will not install. For those of you not familiar with it, if you order the soundblaster audigy option on the M1330 that is built in, you will receive a M1330 with the Sigmatel Card and an Audigy disk that installs basically a software version of the EAX capiblities on the Audigy card. The software is not supported by creative, but by Dell. There is basically a Creative chip on the sigmatel card that is software activated, and that's done through Creative.

If you are in my shoes, please send Dell an email and/or write something about this on the direct2dell blog site http://www.direct2dell.com


***

I'm linking to my overclocking and random FPS slowdown fix.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=160545

[smagdy]

Shouldn't the laptop have 4GB of RAM to get use of the 64Bit as I read here in the forum?

Do you feel its much faster now ?

[trebuin]

Originally Posted by smagdy

Shouldn't the laptop have 4GB of RAM to get use of the 64Bit as I read here in the forum?

Do you feel its much faster now ?

There's a lot more than just the Memory in Vista 64. I'll explain tomorrow and post some benchmarks so you can actually see it. As far as a simple explanation:

1) Total ram limit (system, video, hardware) lifted past 4 gigs
2) Hardware throughput doubled: I can actually see this in the Lan, the 2d graphics, Video encoding, audio encoding. A lot of functionality is greatly improved...I'll post the benches tomorrow.
3) Random memory loading, this is how Macs have been avoiding viruses. Only implemented in Vista 64
4) 64 bit software performance greatly increased:
I have a few 64 bit software out there where it counts: Video encoding, audio encoding , my work's world map database...and 64 bit is a Godsend being that it cut the load to 1/2 the time it originally took...the programmer in our office told us basically he now has 64 bit field to cram data through. He then went into more details and I almost fell to sleep.
5) for me, less lag on my games!!!!!! this falls under point 2

Benchmarks are going up tomorrow, that's tonight for those of you in the US.

[staffsMike]

64bit can address 4gb of ram which 32bit can't (even though it should)

But the benefit of 64bit comes from the CPU which is a 64bit processor..ram isnt a limiting factor of 64bit OS's and more than it is on 32bit programs

[Mr. Cameltoe]

I can't really understand why Dell is not pulling out their fingers of some body holes and offering the M1330 (and all the other new notebooks with 64-bit processors) right away with the corresponding operating system the CPU deserves.

So there is some sort of special hardware sound-chip included in every M1330 but just not activated? Please elaborate.

[trebuin]

Originally Posted by Mr. Cameltoe

I can't really understand why Dell is not pulling out their fingers of some body holes and offering the M1330 (and all the other new notebooks with 64-bit processors) right away with the corresponding operating system the CPU deserves.

So there is some sort of special hardware sound-chip included in every M1330 but just not activated? Please elaborate.

You said it exactly. It is run by software, which is incompatible at this time.

[trebuin]

Vista 64 vs Vista 32 benchmark is now posted on the first post. Same computer, same config, same drivers; but this is my Sony, not the m1330

[jaebaby]

wow. i can't believe what a diff it makes even without 64bit specific software. cool.

[trebuin]

Originally Posted by jaebaby

wow. i can't believe what a diff it makes even without 64bit specific software. cool.

What you're seeing is the advantage of using 64-bit data pipeline over 32 bit, so theoretically, you should see twice the performance.

With this said, if the benchmark is specific to the hardware, you should see double on supported hardware, like the memory. However, if the benchmark is software based, the software will have to be 64-bit to see the results. Vista pipes the 2d graphics and that's why you see double there. The graphics benchmarks are all 32 bit on the program I used for this, but Vista piped a lot of the 2d graphics for the program, giving the full benefit (the program calls vista for the work).

For the 3d graphics testing, you just see a difference between 64-bit drivers, 64-bit OS and a blended 32/64-bit benchmark. Again, the benchmark calls for vista to do some of the work, giving some boost. 3dMark is different where it does all the work in vista. It is Vista compatible, but 32-bit build.

The hard drive you can probably ignore being that there are drastic differences of where the bench actually tests on the surface of the disk.

[trebuin]

I'll start putting together the driver links and post them here either tonight my time or tomorrow.