Area 51 ALX - Windows 8 drivers

So far I have everything working except the Bluetooth. Is Dell planning on releasing any new drivers for this system? I really hope so.   Also, the TactX software doesn't want to install by default. It works fine using compatibility mode.

I would say no because they don't sell it anymore and so vista/W7 will be the only drivers.

Which BT do you have the 365? There are two drivers for it, here are links to both:

http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/DriverDetails/DriverFileFormats/Product/alienware-area51?DriverId=TTW58&FileId=2939863973&urlProductCode=False

http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/DriverDetails/DriverFileFormats/Product/alienware-area51-alx?DriverId=HKG63&FileId=2939805352&urlProductCode=False

Also, there may be more seeing that there is a A02 and a A13...kinda makes you think there is a A03-A12 somewhere.

Edit: oh one more tip. Don't use the drivers listed for the Area 51 ALX. The download section is really messed up and the ALX page is missing all kinds of stuff. Stick to the non-ALX page for your downloads. It is far more complete with newer drivers. Only go back to the ALX page if you are looking for another version like I just did for the 365 driver

Sorry for the super late response...I actually found a way to get the BT working, and thats by navigating to the Win64 folder and running inst.exe. I'm going to try it on my m11x later.

I'v read someone else doing that too.

This driver ( and installer) works just fine in my Area 51 with my Bluetooth 365 module. ftp1.dell.com/.../1

So far I have everything working except the Bluetooth. Is Dell planning on releasing any new drivers for this system? I really hope so.   Also, the TactX software doesn't want to install by default. It works fine using compatibility mode.

Hi, would you mind sharing the steps you took to upgrade your Area 51 to win8? Which drivers you used, and a step by step. Any help would greatly be appreciated.   

thanks

The only drivers I needed were Nvidias (for my GTX 560), Creatives (for my Recon3D), the latest Command Center, and Bluetooth. All of those have Windows 8 versions, except the Bluetooth, which you will need to use the workaround I mentioned above. It was actually easier to install than Windows 7 is, I guess.

If your doing a straight up in place upgrade, you really don't need anything different other than Win 8 versions of stuff and drivers. I did an in place on my m11x and it's been awesome (usually I never do anything but clean installations). Really digging Windows 8.

I put Windows 8 Pro 64-bit back into my Area 51 today. Here is a list of drivers I used.

For the Bluetooth 365 I used this one that I had posted before. It's for the 380 but works just fine: http://ftp1.dell.com/folder00865420m/1/Network_Application_VY4F2_WN_12.0_A01.EXE 

For the SoundBlaster XFI I used the CD to install the volume panel, control panel, Dolby Digital live. Use anything you want from the disk just don't install the driver. For the driver I used this: http://support.creative.com/downloads/download.aspx?nDownloadId=12448 

For Command Center I used this. The current version would not turn off the lights or close the vents on shutdown so I had to do some testing to find a version that worked. If you install this one you need to make sure you uninstall any version you may have on the system first. Also, make sure you do not shut off the system or run other programs while installing. There is a very small chance that flashing backwards could brick your MIO board. I can say that I've done it many times over the years and never bricked one. The one on the CD WILL BRICK your MIO so never use that version. Install at own risk: http://ftp.dell.com/app/Alienware_Command-Center_A07_R258180.exe 

For the Chipset driver I didn't want to use the old one from Dell for Win7. I installed the Intel RST driver here and that's it. Windows 8 seemed to have everything that was needed. This is the intel RST chipset software for RAID. They have one for ACHI too but I don't use that so I didn't install it. Yes, they call it chipset software. Intel has NO chipset drivers for the x58 like we have been used to. They are all gone. http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=22194&ProdId=2101&lang=eng&OSVersion=Windows%208*&DownloadType=Drivers 

Everything else was pretty much cut and dry. Nvidia for my GPU, Logitech for my keyboard etc.