Alienware M9700 problems..

[Punkgi]

Hey whats up everyone? Been around here before, just not signed up.

I have an Alienware M9700. I just upgraded to Windows 7 last night and I can't get all the drivers for this machiene. My prior OS was Vista 32 bit, and I had the same troubles, but I did manage to find everything.. I just don't remember what they were.

I don't have wireless internet. I think it is an Airgo adapter, I am not certain. I can't find anything on it.

What is PCI Modem? In my Device Manager it has an explination mark next to it. any help is needed, thanks.

 

[Lemur]

Welcome to SF.

Since your computer was purchased prior to September 2009, you will need to go to the following site for drivers:

Alienware : The Ultimate Gaming Machine

If this computer was released in 2006 (not sure of this), you might have problems with Win 7.

A PCI modem is an internal modem, fitting in the PCI slot.

 

[Punkgi]

Welcome to SF.

Since your computer was purchased prior to September 2009, you will need to go to the following site for drivers:

Alienware : The Ultimate Gaming Machine

If this computer was released in 2006 (not sure of this), you might have problems with Win 7.

A PCI modem is an internal modem, fitting in the PCI slot.

Yeah I figured out the PCI thing.. but anyone with the M9700, what wireless adapter do you have? I have everything else, I don't remember what adapter I had, to get the driver for it.

 

[Lemur]

Educated guess:

Realtek RTL8185

 

[Ageeb]

is there a listing for wireless adapter in the device manager, but no driver for it?
If so, we may be able to figure out the vendor for it...

when was the machine bought? Does it have a dell service tag to it?

Do you have a restore/drivers disc for the machine?

 

[Lemur]

Ageeb, good idea on the device manager info.

This computer was made around 2006. Dell was not involved with this model.

Take care.

 

[Punkgi]

is there a listing for wireless adapter in the device manager, but no driver for it?
If so, we may be able to figure out the vendor for it...

when was the machine bought? Does it have a dell service tag to it?

Do you have a restore/drivers disc for the machine?

Yeah the listing for the wireless Adapter is actually my ethernet cable. I uninstalled it and tried to put other drivers in but it wouldn't let me.

It was bought around 2006. It has the tag but is unreadable anymore.
I don't have the disk either.

 

[Ageeb]

Write down, or screenshot the following for us:

Device Manager > Network Adapters > Right-Click the adapter listed and choose properties > Details Tab > Hardware Ids in the drop down menu

EDIT:
Get the same information for ALL cards listed in Network adapters please

example:

 

[Punkgi]

Write down, or screenshot the following for us:

Device Manager > Network Adapters > Right-Click the adapter listed and choose properties > Details Tab > Hardware Ids in the drop down menu

EDIT:
Get the same information for ALL cards listed in Network adapters please

example:
View attachment 123924

Okay, I only have 1 driver and here it is:

My whole device manager and my missing (unkown) drivers:

 

[Ageeb]

I'm sorry... do the same thing for 'Ethernet Controller' under 'other devices'. I was under the impression it was being recognized and installed improperly.

 

[Punkgi]

okay.. here it is.

 

[Ageeb]

Update:

So why I had you post that particular information, is because out of the first line it's possible to extract the vendor and device to narrow down your driver search (and applies to most devices that may not be automatically discovered by Windows)



In that line you need to look at two parts:
1) The part after Ven_ (up to ampersand)
2) The part after Dev_ (up to ampersand)

Using a site like pcidatabase you can usually track down what device you're looking at in device manager. In your case we'd plug in 17CB for Vendor, or 0002 for Device. You have a device that wasn't able to return anything (first time i've seen that).

Using google and searching 'pci vendor 17CB' I was able to find:



So it seems we're looking for Airgo AGN300 True MIMO WLAN drivers.

Another dive into google ('airgo agn300 drivers') led me back to Sevenforums.
Airgo drivers
So at this point we have some research to do as to whether or not, any exist.

 

[Punkgi]

Update:

So why I had you post that particular information, is because out of the first line it's possible to extract the vendor and device to narrow down your driver search (and applies to most devices that may not be automatically discovered by Windows)

View attachment 124001

In that line you need to look at two parts:
1) The part after Ven_ (up to ampersand)
2) The part after Dev_ (up to ampersand)

Using a site like pcidatabase you can usually track down what device you're looking at in device manager. In your case we'd plug in 17CB for Vendor, or 0002 for Device. You have a device that wasn't able to return anything (first time i've seen that).

Using google and searching 'pci vendor 17CB' I was able to find:

View attachment 124003

So it seems we're looking for Airgo AGN300 True MIMO WLAN drivers.

Another dive into google ('airgo agn300 drivers') led me back to Sevenforums.
Airgo drivers
So at this point we have some research to do as to whether or not, any exist.

Not only are you helping me find the drivers, thank you for explaining everything on how to do that. Ypu really are a huge help// Now I know there is a driver out there because I had the driver before my install onto windows 7.

 

[Ageeb]

Not only are you helping me find the drivers, thank you for explaining everything on how to do that. Ypu really are a huge help// Now I know there is a driver out there because I had the driver before my install onto windows 7.

You're welcome!

I'm not seeing Windows 7 drivers jump out at me yet, but if i HAD to try one right now, i probably try this. If you a have working system you're happy with right now, I suggest creating a restore point before you venture into experiments.

I'll keep poking around.

 

[Punkgi]

Not only are you helping me find the drivers, thank you for explaining everything on how to do that. Ypu really are a huge help// Now I know there is a driver out there because I had the driver before my install onto windows 7.

You're welcome!

I'm not seeing Windows 7 drivers jump out at me yet, but if i HAD to try one right now, i probably try this. If you a have working system you're happy with right now, I suggest creating a restore point before you venture into experiments.

I'll keep poking around.

that link you gave me was the program DriverDetector, which I have installed in my computer already. that one doesn't work.

I'm poking around also.

 

[Ageeb]

that link you gave me was the program DriverDetector, which I have installed in my computer already. that one doesn't work.

Sorry about that. I didn't realize it was a program. I haven't used it and can not vouche for it. I'd personally remove it.

How about this? *knocks on wood*

 

[Punkgi]

that link you gave me was the program DriverDetector, which I have installed in my computer already. that one doesn't work.

Sorry about that. I didn't realize it was a program. I haven't used it and can not vouche for it. I'd personally remove it.

How about this? *knocks on wood*

Okay I downloaded and installed with Vista Service Pack 2. I restarted my computer after completion and I haven't noticed a difference. That 'driver' didnt even change my device manager any. Unless I'm not supposed to just double click on setup, and Manually supposed to do it.

 

[Ageeb]

Ok, we need a clean slate here.

What OS do you have installed right now?
32bit or 64bit?

Edit:
Also, how much RAM do you have installed?

 

[Punkgi]

Ok, we need a clean slate here.

What OS do you have installed right now?
32bit or 64bit?

Edit:
Also, how much RAM do you have installed?

64-bit and 2gig

 

[Ageeb]

Okay I downloaded and installed with Vista Service Pack 2. I restarted my computer after completion and I haven't noticed a difference. That 'driver' didnt even change my device manager any. Unless I'm not supposed to just double click on setup, and Manually supposed to do it.

I was wondering about 7 or Vista also.

Here's the thing. You aren't going to see much of an advantage (if any) by installing a 64 bit OS of Vista or 7 vs. 32 bit because of the fact you have 2 Gigs of RAM installed. 32 bit OS's can only address ~3.4GB of memory and it's an advantage for people with 4GB of RAM installed, or more, to migrate to a 64 bit OS.

In addition, a 64 bit OS with hardware pre-vista can be painstaking to find driver support for. I think your particular situation of downloading my last link, but it not working was based on it being a driver designed for 32bit OS. On alienware's website, there are VERY few x64 drivers available (for your model)

In my humble opinion, if you're interested in migrating to 7, you have a good chance to by using a 32bit option. Also, saying you had full driver support with 32bit Vista only adds more support to that idea.

So... in short (and without proofreading (sorry getting tired)), you need to choose 1 of the following:

1) Vista 32 bit
2) 7 32 bit

My appologies if you're not satisfied. I'm just out of ideas at this point.

Whichever you choose, I'd be more than happy to help further if you'd prefer.