M18XR2 + Windows 8 + Secure Boot UEFI = Disabled Discrete Graphics

Question

I have been experimenting with Windows 8 installs to get Secure Boot and Windows 8 Fast Boot functionality on the M18XR2 and have discovered a bug that needs looking into ASAP.

You cannot enable Secure Boot / Windows 8 Fast Boot when you access the BIOS settings using the Discrete Graphics Cards i.e. NVidia 680m SLI / 7970 Crossfire as you will get an error about No MXM GOP Driver installed and the BIOS options will be greyed out.

If you access the BIOS using the Ivy Bridge Integrated graphics you no longer get the No MXM driver error as you are no longer using the discrete cards and you can Enable both Secure Boot and Windows 8 Fast Boot (And boy does the system Fast boot!) however, the consequence is that you can no longer get access to your Discrete graphics cards which is a huge issue. No matter how many times you try Fn+F7 to switch between the Binary Graphics you will always boot with the Integrated Graphics card.

I have tried reflashing the BIOS, booting without the battery, Resetting CMOS, etc to no avail. The only solution to get my cards back was to reinstall Windows 7.

I'm not sure how many people have come across this issue as most are probably still booting using the legacy BIOS and don't know too much about UEFI and the requirement to ensure the disk is set to GPT and not MBR or how to prepare UEFI compatible install media. A Guide for this would be really useful to the community as a whole. Another issue is that this may not be evident on other models that use NVidia Optimus or ATI's Enduro functionality as they will enable booting using the Integrated Graphics and switch on the fly to the high performance option within windows, whereas this is not the case on the M18x.

I'd also like to point out an issue that's affecting a huge number of users that seems to be getting overlooked and that is that your Drivers and Downloads website keeps blocking user downloads telling them that the file is no longer available. This is happening over a wide range of files and models and has been occurring for several weeks. I first noticed it when I found out about the release of the A07 BIOS for the M18X R2 and couldn't access it. A workaround that seems to work is to change the isUSDownload=False to True in the Address bar before re-attempting downloads. Hopefully that is useful to whoever can fix the issue.

BrickTop1 · Answer

As a long time customer it is extremely frustrating how difficult it is to get anyone to acknowledge this issue. It's just about impossible to get to speak to someone at a high enough level to understand this issue through Asia Pacific support having just been shuffled through 5 or so techs over the last hour. I have had to give up.

Can a dell rep here, please forward the pertinent information to the relevant engineering department? I really don't want to reinstall everything again if it can be fixed through a BIOS update.

DELL-Chris M · Answer

BrickTop1, Very confusing. I didn't think we were shipping the M18x-R2 with a UEFI setup? What Bios was loaded when it was working? What Bios is loaded now?

Prasad1337 · Answer

The issue persists with the M17x R4 as well. We're talking about updated after-market BIOSes published by Dell on the download portal. This BUG (and no less) is briefly detailed here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/694566-r4-a09-efi-bug-cant-disable-legacy-boot-when-enduro-off.html Please have a look and help bring us a fix soon! Thanks. :)

Prasad.

BrickTop1 · Answer

Hi Chris - I have updated my BIOS to A08 that is released on your website. I thought i'd try to make use of the new UEFI / Secure Boot / Windows 8 Fast Boot functionality in the new BIOS whilst installing Windows 8.

If you need clarification regarding anything here, please let me know - I have also replied to your post @ notebookreview

Thanks.

skipperbog · Answer

I would really like to get secure boot working on my m18x too. This is a significant new feature and not having it is frustrating.

I don't know if it is feasible, but at one time I could decide what HD's were Drive 0, 1, 2 etc for the purposes of OS installation. My machine is set up with a pair of Crucial M4's in Raid 0 on the sata 3 ports, an intel 320 on the sata 2 port and an Adata mSata drive. For the purposes on the install, the intel Raid 0 comes up as Drive 0 and I have to install system drives here. My intention was always to install the OS on the Intel 320 since it has some nice data protection features and Raid 0 can be fragile.

I have not discovered how to do this right now on Win 8 without disassembling the machine and removing the M4's Seems pretty drastic.

I love the machine, I hope to have secure boot soon

DELL-Chris M · Answer

Prasad1337, So on the previous M17x-R4 Bios A08 you did NOT have the UEFI option correct?

Prasad1337 · Answer

Not sure. I jumped from A05 -> A09. Never used UEFI before, and skipped A08.

BrickTop1 · Answer

Chris - The issue is that the vBIOS on the 7970 / 680m SLI support legacy mode only and do not currently have support for Graphics Output Protocol required for Secure Boot to function. This presentation www.uefi.org/.../UPFS11_P4_UEFI_GOP_AMD.pdf provides good information about the issue.

StarSeeker · Answer

I got pre-installed Windows 8 of Alienware M18X R2 in Japan. This has AMD Radeon HD 7970M CrossFireX.

BIOS is A08 (UEFI Secure Boot enabled)

This is also working for Fast Boot so I think AMD Radeon HD 7970M is already supported for Windows 8.

However, I don't know how to get new vBIOS for 7970M

heywheelie · Answer

There is a solution which Dell hopefully will adopt. Check out these 2 threads:

forum.notebookreview.com/.../694566-r4-a09-efi-bug-cant-disable-legacy-boot-when-enduro-off.html

forum.techinferno.com/.../2658-%5Bm14x-r2%5D-%5Bm17x-r4%5D-%5Bm18x-r2%5D-uefi-fast-boot-secure-boot-gpu-issues-*solved*.html

Prasad1337 · Answer

For those still trying, I've found a solution for the same issue on the M17x R4. The idea is to use the latest BIOS from Dell and the latest vBIOS for your AMD 7970M from T|I. This eliminates the UEFI + Secure Boot vs. discrete graphics only deadlock.

heywheelie · Answer

I'm using the latest A10 bios for my M18xR2 with 2 x 680m video cards and I still have the problem.  I think the vBios from T|I is also needed for the NVidia 680m as well.  I haven't tried the T|I vbios yet but may do so

Bruce in LA · Answer

I am not a Dell rep, but I did solve this issue by starting up in Safe Mode and selecting 'Legacy Boot'.. When I restarted, the Watermark warning disappeared

Shredhead2 · Answer

I have had the very same problem on my M18X R2 on Windows 8.1. When using the onboard graphics I was able to enable secure and fast boot in the BIOS menu. However then unable to use my GFX675M Binary Graphics cards. In fact the only way for the system to see them again was to swap between UEFI to Legacy and back to UEFI boot options, reflashing optimal BIOS settings each time, with secureboot disabled again. A rather stressful kerfuffle, in which I genuinely did not know if the sytem would EVER see my graphics again. Come on Nvidia and Dell, you're both huge corporations who had plenty of warning on the Windows 8.1 release.

Shredhead2 · Answer

I think the issue being discussed is not just how to remover the watermark. That's just cosmetics. The real issue is that Windows 8.1 Secureboot / fastboot  can not be activated when using discrete graphics cards. It can be selected when using on-board graphics, but then it is not possible for the system to even see the discrete graphics cards. Obviously one does not buy a high powered gaming laptop just to only be able to using it with on-board graphic provide by the CPU. One would think that Alienware (Dell)  would be able to produce suitable a BIOS update and Graphic Driver to get round this. My laptop only cost me £2800 after all!!!

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M18XR2 + Windows 8 + Secure Boot UEFI = Disabled Discrete Graphics

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