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New M9700 trouble Enabling SLI

post #1 of 15
11/18/07 at 6:15am
Thread Starter 
Hi, I've received my new alienware M9700 and can't enable SLI, I'm running Vista and the lastest drivers even unistalled them and reinstalled but with no luck.
For starters, straight out of the box only one graphics card was running in the Device Manager after disabling it and enabling a few time it was then running, went to the NVIDIA Control Panel and selected the SLI Configuration to Enable SLI Technology, it go's for a restart once restarted it's not enabled. I completed this many times just going around in circles.
Also under Other Devices within the Device Manager
I have a "! Ethernet Controller" can't seem to find the driver, not even on the disk that i was supplied. Help with this would also be much appreciated.
So does SLI work under Vista? My invoice indicates i received a SLI cable. Spoke to tech support in North America last night as there is no tech support in Australia you can just call for information, he reckoned just remove the drivers and reinstall, as stated I.ve done this.
Please any info would be much appreciated,
mtec
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post #2 of 15
11/18/07 at 10:58am
I had the EXACT same problem with my m9700 under Vista, installed the drivers enabled SLi, restarted PC and back to square one with no tick in SLi enabled -
even went to the forums at slizone to bitch , anyway heres how I fixed it:
I went and downloaded, EDIT: Can't find the link for the 3.18 BIOS, updated my BIOS to 3.18 and after that, voila I could enable SLi, and it would still be ticked after restart.
But don't expect much from SLi in Vista, atleast my machine performed very very crappy.
GL
Btw, make sure you understand that updating the BIOS is risky business etc, follow the instructions carefully and so on, best of luck
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post #3 of 15
11/18/07 at 6:31pm
The new bios for Vista and the m9700 can be found under the "my hive" heading in the support section on AW's website. Sign in, then click on the invoice number for the laptop, and the laptop title will be highlighted in blue. Clidk that link, and all the new drivers should be listed. The bios is at the end of the list.

You should call tech support before flashing any bios. Improper bios flash can render the machine inoperable, and if you have an issue with the bios on your own, it'll void your warranty. Call tech support, tell them your issue, and if you don't already have bios 3.18 tell them you want to move up.

Make sure the driver is loaded on both cards also. If you have different drivers on each card, it won't work right...

The SLI drivers on AW's website should work for you. If they don't, you may have a loose connection or a card issue.

As you probably know, Vista has had a lot of issues with SLI systems and drivers. Probably an issue they'll be working on for a while yet. Hopefully it's just software causing your issues.
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post #4 of 15
11/19/07 at 9:23am
Thread Starter 
So, I rang Alienware in America again and lucky enough, the bloke that answered the phone really wanted to help! First had me pull the graphics card s to ensure they were seated correctly ( Nothing like spending $5600+ then pull it apart within 2 days ). also swapping them around. Then he sent me the bios update, and just like SunkSat suggested all was good on the restart. Now if I can get the wireless working all should be fine, Thanks for the advice!
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post #5 of 15
11/19/07 at 11:05am
Not sure about your wireless issue. There should be an option to let Windows manage the wireless connection (sorry, can't be more specific, as I don't have my m9700 with me at the moment). I think the ethernet controller is for controlling your LAN connection when hooked up to your router or modem by cable.

Have you downloaded the various drivers available on the AW site?
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post #6 of 15
11/20/07 at 3:03am
Thread Starter 
The LAN work's fine, and the wireless work fine before the format. Also download the latest drivers from AW Maybe I needed the wireless turned on during the OS install process, that all I can think of. Another thread had the same issue and he used his respawn disc, http://www.notebookforums.com/thread207826.html I'll chase it up there thanks for all the help.
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post #7 of 15
11/21/07 at 12:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MTeC View Post
So, I rang Alienware in America again and lucky enough, the bloke that answered the phone really wanted to help! First had me pull the graphics card s to ensure they were seated correctly ( Nothing like spending $5600+ then pull it apart within 2 days ). also swapping them around. Then he sent me the bios update, and just like SunkSat suggested all was good on the restart. Now if I can get the wireless working all should be fine, Thanks for the advice!
since when does a m9700 cost 5600+...
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post #8 of 15
11/21/07 at 1:50am
Thread Starter 
well it the quote was $5628Au then i upgrade the hard drives to dual 250gb so that was another $116Au.
but $100 of that was a briefcase.
Lucky I received it tax free I spose.
A week after they released the m9750.
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post #9 of 15
11/21/07 at 1:53am
ok thats makes more sense...
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post #10 of 15
11/21/07 at 2:05am
Thread Starter 
it's green and I dig it!
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post #11 of 15
11/24/07 at 11:53am
Can you test something on your m9700 for me while running Vista?
Its a quick thing shouldnt take long
Can you try and use your inbuild memory card reader and enable Ready Boost on it?
Everytime I do that on my m9700 it freezes completely and I have to Hard Reset it -battery out etc.
Spoke with Alienware tech about it and they said its something todo with Vista and my laptop. They just said, wait for SP1, that should fix it.
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post #12 of 15
11/29/07 at 5:34am
Thread Starter 
I put a SD card in and it didn't even pick it up, strange?
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post #13 of 15
11/29/07 at 7:08am
And drivers for the reader etc are installed? Sorry for asking stupidly hehe, just need to make sure, sounds weird
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post #14 of 15
11/29/07 at 8:10am
Thread Starter 
yep, SD host adapters present and installed under the device manager, but plug a SD card in and it's not there.
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post #15 of 15
11/29/07 at 5:37pm
Hi
I need to see if my crappy gericom hollywood sli will take the alienware bios 3.18, can you please give or sell me a copy, the piece of crap runs vista very well, both card are loaded but try and you may no sli, before I set fire to it, I would like to see if the bios update works....
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