XPS 8700 Driver Re-install - Conflicting Information from Dell Tech Support

Please provide the hardware IDs in your device manager as instructed here so I can identify the variants and advise:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/downloading-drivers-checking-hardware-ids-and-downloading-and-installing-dell-system-drivers-in-the-correct-order/checking-hardware-ids-in-the-device-manager/

Here is the information obtained by following the instructions from the webpage you cited.

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64 Bit, Windows 8.1, Intel i7-4770

PCI Simple Communications Controller

PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_8C3A&SUBSYS_05B71028&REV_04
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_8C3A&SUBSYS_05B71028
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_8C3A&CC_078000
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_8C3A&CC_0780

SM Bus Controller

PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_8C22&SUBSYS_05B71028&REV_04
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_8C22&SUBSYS_05B71028
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_8C22&CC_0C0500
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_8C22&CC_0C05

Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network)

BTH\MS_BTHPAN

Bluetooth Device (RFCOMM Protocol TDI)

BTH\MS_RFCOMM

Dell Wireless 1703 802.1 b/g/n

PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_0032&SUBSYS_02091028&REV_01
PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_0032&SUBSYS_02091028
PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_0032&CC_028000
PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_0032&CC_0280

Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller

PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8168&SUBSYS_05B71028&REV_0C
PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8168&SUBSYS_05B71028
PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8168&CC_020000
PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8168&CC_0200

Microsoft Basic Display Adapter

PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_11C4&SUBSYS_102910DE&REV_A1
PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_11C4&SUBSYS_102910DE
PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_11C4&CC_030000
PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_11C4&CC_0300

High Definition Audio Device

HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10DE&DEV_0041&SUBSYS_10DE1029&REV_1001
HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10DE&DEV_0041&SUBSYS_10DE1029

High Definition Audeo Device (2)

HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0899&SUBSYS_102805B7&REV_1000
HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0899&SUBSYS_102805B7

Standard SATA AHCI Controller

PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_8C02&SUBSYS_05B71028&REV_04
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_8C02&SUBSYS_05B71028
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_8C02&CC_010601
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_8C02&CC_0106

Generic Bluetooth Adapter

USB\VID_0CF3&PID_E004&REV_0001
USB\VID_0CF3&PID_E004

There are quite a few devices under Disk Drive listed as "Generic". Do I need to get IDs for all of them? This is getting to be quite a pain.

Here is one example:

Generic- Compact Flash USB Device

USBSTOR\DiskGeneric-Compact_Flash___1.00
USBSTOR\DiskGeneric-Compact_Flash___
USBSTOR\DiskGeneric-
USBSTOR\Generic-Compact_Flash___1
Generic-Compact_Flash___1
USBSTOR\GenDisk
GenDisk

Install the following...

BIOS A06:

http://ftp.dell.com/FOLDER01866787M/1/XPS_8700_BIOS_A06.EXE

See Updating the BIOS.

Intel Chipset Device Software:

http://ftp.dell.com/FOLDER01698423M/1/XPS-8700_Chipset_Driver_V2D47_WN_9.4.0.1021_A00.EXE

Latest from Intel:

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/SearchResult.aspx?lang=eng&keyword=intel%20chipset%20Software%20Installation%20Utility

Intel AMT HECI:

http://ftp.dell.com/FOLDER01697010M/2/ME_Intel_WIN8.1_A00_VM876_Setup_ZPE.exe

Intel Rapid Storage Technology:

http://ftp.dell.com/FOLDER01697415M/1/XPS-8700_Serial-ATA_Driver_89G40_WN_12.8.0.1016_A00.EXE

Foxconn Card Reader:

http://ftp.dell.com/FOLDER01697139M/2/CardReader_Realtek_WIN8.1_A00_Setup-0RF55_ZPE.exe

NVIDIA Video - GTX 645:

http://ftp.dell.com/FOLDER01694488M/1/Video_Driver_N9CF0_WN_9.18.13.2660_A00.EXE

Latest from NVIDIA:

http://www.nvidia.co.uk/download/driverResults.aspx/76094/en-uk

Realtek Ethernet:

http://ftp.dell.com/FOLDER01696934M/2/LOM_Realtek_WIN8.1_A00_78K1K-Setup_ZPE.exe

Dell Wireless 1703:

http://ftp.dell.com/FOLDER01697458M/1/XPS-8700_Network_Driver_P84MY_WN_10.0.0.260_A00.EXE

Realtek Audio:

http://ftp.dell.com/FOLDER01697399M/1/XPS-8700_Audio_Driver_N4TKF_WN_6.0.1.7016_A00.EXE

Most the generic devices will be from the card reader however its worth checking to see if you have a SSD cache drive, if so you can update the drives firmware and change the settings in Intel Rapid Storage Technology to speed up your system. The hardware Ids should contain LMT-32L3M or LMT-256M3M and state the firmware version at the end.

As for your questions, hopefully I can explain a little better.

1. I have included the driver for the card reader and then Intel Rapid Storage Technology. The later may be important if you have a SSD cache drive but you need to check the hardware IDs regarding the cache drive. You definitely will have the card reader.

2. You should install both, you have the PCI communications device showing up with an Intel hardware ID.

3&4. Both formats will install the driver. One is "Hard Drive" format and the other "Update Package for Microsoft Windows". Essentially they are the same driver just bundled different. Dell lack proper explanation as to why there are both and I have been querying this as many customers are getting confused over this unnecessarily. Essentially you can pick one or the other, make sure the driver extracts and installs and not only extracts. See here (video at the end):

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/downloading-drivers-checking-hardware-ids-and-downloading-and-installing-dell-system-drivers-in-the-correct-order/driver-installation/

5. Usually that's just for switchable graphics (which most laptops have) and require both the Intel and NVIDIA driver. An XPS 8700 desktop on the other hand will have complete dedicated graphics moreover you have listed no Intel video hardware ID listed meaning the onboard graphics adapter is disabled in BIOS and the Intel driver will fail to install within Windows as it cannot find the hardware.

6. NVIDIA drivers can be used and usually perform better as they are updated frequently. I usually use the latest from NVIDIA. With laptops and switchable graphics there may be some issues using the drivers direct from NVIDIAas the drivers tend to work in pairs. However as mentioned you have dedicated desktop graphics. This is a grey area in terms of Dell support as officially you should use Dell drivers because Dell have tested them... but at the same time they know that NVIDIA may have fixed some issues and Dell rarely update their drivers.

7. From the hardware ID you have a GTX 645 the driver is a package for multiple products e.g. if you look at NVIDIA:

http://www.nvidia.co.uk/download/driverResults.aspx/76094/en-uk

The Dell driver "nVIDIA GeForce GTX 5xx/GTX 6xx/GTX 7xx Desktop Graphics Driver"? doesn't list all the supported cards but since its a rebundled NVIDIA driver you can imagine something similar.

Supported Product tab...

GeForce 700 Series:

GeForce GTX TITAN Black, GeForce GTX TITAN, GeForce GTX 780 Ti, GeForce GTX 780, GeForce GTX 770, GeForce GTX 760, GeForce GTX 760 Ti (OEM), GeForce GTX 750 Ti, GeForce GTX 750, GeForce GTX 745, GeForce GT 740, GeForce GT 730

GeForce 600 Series:

GeForce GTX 690, GeForce GTX 680, GeForce GTX 670, GeForce GTX 660 Ti, GeForce GTX 660, GeForce GTX 650 Ti BOOST, GeForce GTX 650 Ti, GeForce GTX 650, GeForce GTX 645, GeForce GT 645, GeForce GT 640, GeForce GT 630, GeForce GT 620, GeForce GT 610, GeForce 605

GeForce 500 Series:

GeForce GTX 590, GeForce GTX 580, GeForce GTX 570, GeForce GTX 560 Ti, GeForce GTX 560 SE, GeForce GTX 560, GeForce GTX 555, GeForce GTX 550 Ti, GeForce GT 545, GeForce GT 530, GeForce GT 520, GeForce 510

GeForce 400 Series:

GeForce GTX 480, GeForce GTX 470, GeForce GTX 465, GeForce GTX 460 SE v2, GeForce GTX 460 SE, GeForce GTX 460, GeForce GTS 450, GeForce GT 440, GeForce GT 430, GeForce GT 420, GeForce 405

GeForce 300 Series:

GeForce GT 340, GeForce GT 330, GeForce GT 320, GeForce 315, GeForce 310

GeForce 200 Series:

GeForce GTX 295, GeForce GTX 285, GeForce GTX 280, GeForce GTX 275, GeForce GTX 260, GeForce GTS 250, GeForce GTS 240, GeForce GT 230, GeForce GT 240, GeForce GT 220, GeForce G210, GeForce 210, GeForce 205

GeForce 100 Series:

GeForce GT 140, GeForce GT 130, GeForce GT 120, GeForce G100

GeForce 9 Series:

GeForce 9800 GX2, GeForce 9800 GTX/GTX+, GeForce 9800 GT, GeForce 9600 GT, GeForce 9600 GSO, GeForce 9600 GSO 512, GeForce 9600 GS, GeForce 9500 GT, GeForce 9500 GS, GeForce 9400 GT, GeForce 9400, GeForce 9300 GS, GeForce 9300 GE, GeForce 9300 SE, GeForce 9300, GeForce 9200, GeForce 9100

GeForce 8 Series:

GeForce 8800 Ultra, GeForce 8800 GTX, GeForce 8800 GTS 512, GeForce 8800 GTS, GeForce 8800 GT, GeForce 8800 GS, GeForce 8600 GTS, GeForce 8600 GT, GeForce 8600 GS, GeForce 8500 GT, GeForce 8400 GS, GeForce 8400 SE, GeForce 8400, GeForce 8300 GS, GeForce 8300, GeForce 8200, GeForce 8200 /nForce 730a, GeForce 8100 /nForce 720a

ION (Desktops):

ION

ION LE (Desktops):

ION LE

Install the following... BIOS A06: http://ftp.dell.com/FOLDER01866787M/1/XPS_8700_BIOS_A06.EXE See Updating the BIOS.

Is there a reason the latest BIOS, A08, was not suggested? Something wrong with it and the files updated at the same time as well?

Thank you Philip. You are indeed a rockstar!! This is the kind of knowledge that Dell tech support technicians should have and provide.

A few follow up questions if I may:

1. As per the previous post, I too was going to ask your opinion on BIOS A8. I upgraded to BIOS A06 several months ago. Wondering if you recommend waiting to upgrade to A08 for a few months just to make sure no bugs or issues show up or if it is safe to upgrade to A08 now.

2. What is the Intel Rapid Storage Technology: driver for? I seem to vaguely remember it is for systems that have a SSD cache. My Dell does NOT have a SSD cache (as far as I can tell). Should I still install/update it?

3. Here are the entries under my Disk Drives section of Device Manager. I assume none of these are a cache SSD

Thanks again for all your help. You are a lifesaver!

Oops, forgot one more question.

5. If both formats of the device drivers will work, is one format easier/quicker to use/install? Which format would you recommend? Or to put it another way, which format do you use?

1. Use A08, I got the drivers from the Dell FTP site as its much quicker to navigate but it seems like Dell haven't yet added A08 to the XPS 8700 Dell FTP page: http://ftp.dell.com/published/Pages/xps-8700.html Heres the direct link to A08: http://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER02160177M/1/XPS_8700_BIOS_A08.EXE A08 is meant to fix some issues other users were having.

A08 fixed my USB 3.0 problems along with the Foxconn Icon file.

If you look at the list of files using your Service Tag you'll see different files. Problem is the dates are newer but not the file versions, you'll see this for instance:

Now look for instance at the details for the Z87 chipset, same version as the OLDER file:

Making matters worse for me, that particular file when I executed it told me I had a NEWER install and did I want to replace it?

None of the files detail WHAT FIXES if any are contained, all have this 'cryptic' description :

Not a lot of real help there? I'm assuming if you put down A08 you NEED to get these, but why would one say I had newer files down?

Confusing, seems like this stuff was released either haphazardly or in a hurry with no checking it?

1. Use A08, I got the drivers from the Dell FTP site as its much quicker to navigate but it seems like Dell haven't yet added A08 to the XPS 8700 Dell FTP page:

http://ftp.dell.com/published/Pages/xps-8700.html

Heres the direct link to A08:

http://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER02160177M/1/XPS_8700_BIOS_A08.EXE

A08 is meant to fix some issues other users were having.

2. The Intel Rapid Storage Technology is for management of the Cache Drive and for overall Hard Drive performance, you can see Intel's description here:

http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/imsm/sb/CS-020784.htm

Thus I would install it anyway.

3. I can't see the image. However quickly SeaTools will identify all your drives:

http://www.seagate.com/gb/en/support/downloads/seatools/

4. If you are happy with your system theres no need. Clean installation on a SSD will make the system significantly faster though. Its always something you can look into alter. The drive prices are always falling with respect to time.

5. I prefer "hard drive format" but the way Dell have things its hard to tell which one is which. As both should work I usually just install the first link of the driver I download and use the second if theres a broken link.

When I tried to install A08, I got the following error: "Fail to get Current ME version, process aborted!". I shutdown and went into my BIOS settings and it showed the version as A08. I restarted and re-tried to install A08. This time I received a warning that the version was the same or lower as the installed version, but it let me update anyway. I then received the same error.

Is this something I need to worry about?

It should update the Intel Management Engine Interface firmware as part of the BIOS update however I'm not sure why you get the error. I asked on the Rockstar board, if I hear anything about it I'll let you know.

FYI: I tried re-installing the BIOS A08 update again after installing the two chipset drivers and this time the install went fine with no errors (the Intel MEI upgraded as well).

I thought to re-try the BIOS update as I noticed the chipset driver seemed to install the MEI software.

I'm in process of installing the other drivers. Thanks again for all your help!

That's strange, glad you got it to work correctly though...

I just want to clarify the error with the BIOS update was it during the BIOS update itself or when you logged into Windows? i.e. does the BIOS update prompt the IME application to launch and if its not there flag up an error or was it with the actual BIOS update?

I"m not sure I understand exactly what you are asking. I obtained the error when I installed/ran the the BIOS update. The update runs under windows and shows dialog boxes saying things like (from memory, so very roughly) "do not power off computer" "clearing flash" "writing", etc. At the end, it gave me the error I spoke of. It seems to be a separate part of the update, but I don't believe it is calling or executing another windows app to run if that's what you mean when you say "IME application to launch.".

Most BIOS updates launch in Windows then restart the computer and proceed to update the BIOS in BIOS. The updates should not be dependant on the version of Windows and drivers installed as the update should only launch in Windows and then update in BIOS. In was that case in the OptiPlex 790 I last updated and there was a stage for updating Intel Management Engine Interface firmware which by without a hitch.

I was just wondering if the error message came up after the first log into Windows (after updating the BIOS) i.e. if its looking for the Intel management Engine Interface application, can't find it and hence gives an error message.

Anyway you have successfully updated it and its best to leave it as is as messing about with BIOS updates can break a system. particular reflashing the same update (which you shouldn't of had to do) or trying to downgrade the update (which the BIOS .exe installer should prevent you from doing). Unless Dell release an A09 update in the future.

Hopefully others will comment in the thread whether or not they had the same issues with the A08 update or whether it went by without a hitch for them.