I see, so the MIO-Board driver should have been installed with Command Center but wasn't? Is there a way I can get it online or is there a way to check if I have it and Windows is not detecting the board for some reason?
It comes with Command Center.
The appearence of "G2 Desktop" is the way to check for it.
Actually yeah, there's an exclamation point next to the "Nick-PC" device. Nick-PC is the name of my computer (obviously). I right-clicked it and hit "troubleshoot" and it says "The driver for Serial ATA Controller is not installed. Install the latest driver for the device." So i hit "Apply this fix" and it fails to install the driver... not sure where to go from here.
That's exactly what I'm starting to think. My friend who did this for me probably didn't install the drivers in the correct order or something like that. I'll just redo it all again myself. Thanks so much Tesla, I really appreciate it. I just hope I didn't do any permanent damage...
That's why the Linux based bootable Alienware Diagnostics is so cool. Outside of Windows, it will tell you if your hardware is good or not. You said it passed, so you are ok there.
I think we are getting to the root cause of your problems.
It doesn't sound like your machine was setup properly after the clean Windows install.
While you might be able to dig your way out of this hole, there is a chance that you can not ... and the machine will need to be reformatted and setup properly. Right now, you are having this problem. But tomorrow, it might be something else.
This is the only way I know how to do it. I say that from experience because I know this way works.
-
Unplug everything except keyboard, mouse, and monitor.
If the Alienware F12 Diagnostics Partition is missing from boot drive (and you want it) - Restore as first hidden partition on boot drive: Hidden Primary 40mb OEM Partition. - Get Alienware Diagnostics from Dell. Use it to restore partition. - Or, just run it from Bootable-CD when you need it
Install Windows-7 (64 bit) first.
Install latest Dell drivers (from support.dell.com ... for your Service Tag) This order is important:
Intel Chipset Drivers (must be installed first) Video Drivers Realtek Audio Broadcom Gigabit Ethernet (optional if using Microsoft bundled drivers instead) eSATA Driver (SIL-Silicon Image) JMicron Sata Controller (For optical drives - Area51 Only)
Ignore driver updates from Windows Update. Drivers should some from Dell. - Or OEM manufacturer (ie. Creative for X-Fi audio card).
Install AlienWare Command Center
The Intel Storage (RST) software is optional in a single "spinning drive" environment. If running a RAID HDD setup or SSD it's recommended. Install Intel RST 9.6.0.1014. Once installed, it replaces the Microsoft HDD driver and cannot be un-installed or removed.
Install Microsoft Security Essentials (or your favorite Anti-Virus/ Anti-Spyware) Windows Firewall is handling the software firewall duties - If not already done, put machine behind a hardware router/firewall ASAP.
Go ahead and install all the missing Important and Recommended Windows Updates. Use Acronis (or similar) to make a complete Image Backup of your drive or partition.
Now, it should be safe to visit websites other than dell.com and microsoft.com . - To prevent problems stick to legitimate websites.
I just spent a week reinstalling Windows and a ton of software after a Windows crash that wouldn't allow it to reboot. Part of that software was the Command Center from the original resource disk. Guess what - the machine wouldn't reboot. The BIOS screen would come up, the progress bar go about a third of the way, and then hang. I finally got it to reboot by unplugging it for a few minutes to let all charges dissipate, then it would boot up. That was when I found the warning in this forum about not reinstalling CC from the original resource CD. I called Alienware support knowing that my machine is a year out of warranty and explained the whole scenario. Predictably they told me I would have to buy a new board. I complained that I was only following directions in the manual and that it was Dell's fault for not warning me when this became known. They spent considerable time conferring and trying to find a solution. He finally came back and said they were sending me a new board. Talk about surprised! Hope it all works out OK
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
•
17.4K Posts
0
November 1st, 2010 19:00
It comes with Command Center.
The appearence of "G2 Desktop" is the way to check for it.
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
•
17.4K Posts
0
November 1st, 2010 20:00
In Control Panel / Device Manager ... is any category "unfolded or open" and the device's icon shows an error (? or !).
ncody14
21 Posts
0
November 1st, 2010 20:00
Actually yeah, there's an exclamation point next to the "Nick-PC" device. Nick-PC is the name of my computer (obviously). I right-clicked it and hit "troubleshoot" and it says "The driver for Serial ATA Controller is not installed. Install the latest driver for the device." So i hit "Apply this fix" and it fails to install the driver... not sure where to go from here.
ncody14
21 Posts
0
November 1st, 2010 20:00
But I have Command Center and G2 desktop isn't there. What could that mean?
ncody14
21 Posts
0
November 1st, 2010 21:00
That's exactly what I'm starting to think. My friend who did this for me probably didn't install the drivers in the correct order or something like that. I'll just redo it all again myself. Thanks so much Tesla, I really appreciate it. I just hope I didn't do any permanent damage...
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
•
17.4K Posts
0
November 1st, 2010 21:00
That's why the Linux based bootable Alienware Diagnostics is so cool. Outside of Windows, it will tell you if your hardware is good or not. You said it passed, so you are ok there.
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
•
17.4K Posts
0
November 1st, 2010 21:00
I think we are getting to the root cause of your problems.
It doesn't sound like your machine was setup properly after the clean Windows install.
While you might be able to dig your way out of this hole, there is a chance that you can not ... and the machine will need to be reformatted and setup properly. Right now, you are having this problem. But tomorrow, it might be something else.
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
•
17.4K Posts
0
November 1st, 2010 21:00
This is the only way I know how to do it. I say that from experience because I know this way works.
-
Unplug everything except keyboard, mouse, and monitor.
If the Alienware F12 Diagnostics Partition is missing from boot drive (and you want it)
- Restore as first hidden partition on boot drive: Hidden Primary 40mb OEM Partition.
- Get Alienware Diagnostics from Dell. Use it to restore partition.
- Or, just run it from Bootable-CD when you need it
Install Windows-7 (64 bit) first.
Install latest Dell drivers (from support.dell.com ... for your Service Tag)
This order is important:
Intel Chipset Drivers (must be installed first)
Video Drivers
Realtek Audio
Broadcom Gigabit Ethernet (optional if using Microsoft bundled drivers instead)
eSATA Driver (SIL-Silicon Image)
JMicron Sata Controller (For optical drives - Area51 Only)
Install Microsoft .Net Frameworks versions 1.1, 2.0, 3.0, and 3.5 (just Frameworks not SDKs)
- Use Microsoft Update. If you need them, they will be offered. Also get the .Net Service Packs.
- Or, see http://webtrickz.com/checking-net-framework-version-installed-on-your-windows/
Ignore driver updates from Windows Update. Drivers should some from Dell.
- Or OEM manufacturer (ie. Creative for X-Fi audio card).
Install AlienWare Command Center
The Intel Storage (RST) software is optional in a single "spinning drive" environment.
If running a RAID HDD setup or SSD it's recommended. Install Intel RST 9.6.0.1014.
Once installed, it replaces the Microsoft HDD driver and cannot be un-installed or removed.
Install Microsoft Security Essentials (or your favorite Anti-Virus/ Anti-Spyware)
Windows Firewall is handling the software firewall duties
- If not already done, put machine behind a hardware router/firewall ASAP.
Go ahead and install all the missing Important and Recommended Windows Updates.
Use Acronis (or similar) to make a complete Image Backup of your drive or partition.
Now, it should be safe to visit websites other than dell.com and microsoft.com .
- To prevent problems stick to legitimate websites.
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
•
17.4K Posts
0
November 19th, 2010 12:00
How did it turn out? Did you get it working?
cpu_jockey
3 Posts
0
October 22nd, 2011 14:00
I just spent a week reinstalling Windows and a ton of software after a Windows crash that wouldn't allow it to reboot. Part of that software was the Command Center from the original resource disk. Guess what - the machine wouldn't reboot. The BIOS screen would come up, the progress bar go about a third of the way, and then hang. I finally got it to reboot by unplugging it for a few minutes to let all charges dissipate, then it would boot up. That was when I found the warning in this forum about not reinstalling CC from the original resource CD. I called Alienware support knowing that my machine is a year out of warranty and explained the whole scenario. Predictably they told me I would have to buy a new board. I complained that I was only following directions in the manual and that it was Dell's fault for not warning me when this became known. They spent considerable time conferring and trying to find a solution. He finally came back and said they were sending me a new board. Talk about surprised! Hope it all works out OK
Aurora Desktop
I7 920 6Gb Ram
875w PS GTX260