Windows 10 Upgrade Killed Headphone Jack Connection, Then I Uninstalled All Audio

Which driver file to install? In this thread the older september version was recommend more recently.. any reason? is that correct?

https://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=73XDP&fileId=3495960806&osCode=WT64A&productCode=alienware-15-r2&languageCode=EN&categoryId=AU

www.dell.com/.../DriversDetails;fileId=3485313880&osCode=WB64A&productCode=alienware-15-r2&languageCode=EN&categoryId=AU

I've been sent 2 different links for different versions of the driver to install.

One came out in November, and that was suggested first.

One came out in September, and that was suggested more recently.

Here are the links for both suggestions:

http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/p/19660605/20843752#20843752

http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/p/19660605/20846900#20846900

I was pm'd to install November.

I did and followed restart, and the computer did not restart with sound.

I tried to update driver in control panel and device manager, but the software would not recognize or switch from the current June to the new November driver software.

I've followed directions very well I believe. I've been without sound for 2 months with constant repair effort.

Have you tried manually installing them via device manager? If so, what occurred?

I right clicked update audio driver, but nothing from any options or drop down menus updated the lists of drivers for me to select via this route.

What are the exact instructions to utilize a newly installed driver getting it to click with the audio device?

I went back and read through the last 2 pages and my advice at this point is the same as my first few posts... clean install Windows 10.

Windows includes a basic sound driver and the fact you have no sound implies something else is going on.  Before clean installing, back up your user folder, as it's best to format the partition prior to clean installing (do not back up the NTuser files).

I would also recommend downloading all required drivers and saving the install files on a thumb drive or external HDD prior to clean installing, as all system drivers must be installed prior to installing Windows Updates or other software (ensure the drivers are listed as Windows 10 drivers, with the exception being Intel Chipset and IMEI drivers).  You can find the driver order install guide on Dell's or Notebook Review Forum's sites.  (Alienware OSD must be installed prior to installing video drivers if you have a GPU installed)

If you have UEFI firmware, it's recommended to convert your HDD from MBR to GPT (doing so wipes the drive, so if you have other partitions on the HDD, back up the files prior to doing so)

A) If I do not have a windows 10 install disc- updated from 8 - how do i do a clean Win10 install?

B) When you say before clean installing, I should back up my user folder, isn't that just a part of backing up the C drive files?

C) How do I format the partition prior to clean installing?

D) How do i not back up the NTuser files?

E) How do I determine what are all of the required drivers so I can then go about saving the install files on a thumb drive or external HDD prior to clean installing?

F) How do I install all system drivers prior to installing Windows Updates or other software?

G) How do I differentiate between Win10 drivers and the Intel Chipset and IMEI drivers?

H) Where can I find the driver order install guide on Dell's or Notebook Review Forum's sites, and what will that do for me?

I) How do I install Alienware OSD prior to installing video drivers?

J) How do I know if I have a GPU installed?

K) How do I know if I have UEFI firmware?

L) How do I convert youHDD from MBR to GPT? 

Can't I just back up my personal files and do a regular wipe/reset?

Might that just knock be back to Win 8 but with sound?

A) Download the Media Creation Tool for Windows 10 and use it to create an ISO or bootable thumb drive.  

• If you have UEFI firmware, I can't remember if the tool creates a UEFI bootable flash drive..
  • If not, download Rufus, which allows you to create EFI bootable media
  • Flash drive must be formated as FAT32 for UEFI installs 

B) The only drive files you'll need are within the user folder, unless you've purposefully saved custom files in other folders (such as custom scripts, custom host file, etc.)

C) This will depend on whether you have UEFI firmware or not:  

1.  If you DO NOT have UEFI Firmware:
   1. You can format it from within the Windows Setup GUI.  It will be the step where it shows you the disks/partitions Windows can be installed to.  
2. If you DO have UEFI firmware:
   1. You'll need to press Shift+F10 to open a command terminal:
      1. Issue command diskpart
      2. Once diskpart has loaded: list disk
      3. Select HDD you'll be installing Windows to: select disk 0
         
         • could be 1, 2, 3, etc., depending how many hdds you have installed
           
      4. Once the disk is selected: clean
         
         • It's extremely important you've backed up any data on the disk that you want saved prior to issuing the clean and convert commands, as it wipes the partition structure and converts the disk from MBR (legacy and obsolete) to GPT (again, this is ONLY if you have UEFI firmware).
      5. Finally: convert gpt
         

D) Simply don't select the NTuser files when you cut and paste your user folders.  

• You will not see the NTuser files unless you've manually selected to view hidden and system files in folder options, as they're hidden by default.

E) Go to the Dell support page for your laptop and select Drivers and Downloads. 

• With the exception of the Intel Chipset and IMEI drivers, DO NOT download any drivers that are not for Windows 10 
  • There will be a drop down at the top of the page that allows you to select the OS.

1. There are a few caveats you need to be aware of (the following assumes Windows 10 drivers are made available by Dell)...

1. 1. IF you have a GPU:
      1. Alienware OSD (On Screen Display) drivers must be installed prior to installing video drivers  
         1. Once install finishes, reboot. 

   2. Upon rebooting, hold down F2 to load the BIOS/UEFI firmware settings page and verify what graphics the system is booted to.
      1. If it shows integrated graphics as being active:
         1. Once Windows has loaded, install the integrated graphics drivers from Dell, reboot, then install the most recent display drivers from Intel's site
            1. It's crucial Dell's drivers are installed prior to the most recent ones from Intel

      2. If it shows the GPU as being active: 
         1. Once booted into Windows press FN+F5 to boot into the integrated graphics
            1. F key may vary, so verify prior to doing so - correct output from the key combo should be a small window that pops up stating you need to reboot in order to switch graphics.  
         2. Once rebooted, proceed with the the integrated graphics install laid out in the previous step [1.b.A.i]

   3. Once you've installed both driver packages for the integrated graphics, and are booted into Windows, press FN+F5 again to boot to the GPU.
      1. Install Dell's drivers first, reboot, then install the most recent WHQL drivers from Nvidia or AMD.  

   4. Touchpad drivers must be pulled only from Dell's site, especially if Synaptics, as Synaptics drivers pulled from the Synaptics website will not work properly due to the customizations Dell has made to the drivers.

   5. Network drivers (LAN, WiFi, & BT) should always be pulled directly from the individual component manufacturers and not from Dell's site.  

   6. Intel RST drivers should be pulled from Intel's site, not Dell's
      1. Even if you don't utilize RAID, as they're required if you have integrated graphics

F) By not allowing the PC to connect to the internet prior to installing all system drivers.  Sequence of events should be:

1. Remove LAN cable if one is connected
2. Boot from Windows install media
3. Install Windows
   1. Skip entering product key during OOBE
   2. Create a Local account
      • You can convert it to an email login after drivers are installed and you're connected to the internet
   3. Install drivers
      • Rebooting after each one
   4. Driver Install Order
      1. Intel Chipset ->
      2. Intel IMEI  ->
      3. Card Reader ->
      4. Intel RST ->
      5. Alienware OSD ->
      6. Dell's Integrated graphics drivers ->
      7. Intel's most recent integrated graphics driver from their support page ->
      8. Dell's GPU drivers ->
      9. Most recent GPU drivers from AMD/Nvidia's site ->
      10. Audio ->
      11. LAN ->
      12. WiFi ->
      13. BT ->
      14. Touchpad ->
      15. HDD shock protection driver (if offered for the Alienware 15) ->
      16. Alienware Command Center
   5. Connect to WiFi or LAN cable
   6. Run Windows Update, rebooting when told to do so.  After each reboot, check for updates again, until no more are found.
   7. Install software and peripheral drivers (such as Logitech mice drivers, etc.)

G) See E

• Basically, if they're not listed under the Windows 10 x64 drop down, select the Windows 8 x64 drop down to download them.

H) I listed the install order in F.3.d

1. You can find a true step by step tutorial by googling:
   • Alienware 15 driver install guide
   • Alienware 15 driver install order
   • Alienware 15 driver install tutorial

I) See E.2

J) The easiest way would probably be to go to Dell's support page for your device (i.e. by entering your service tag), and clicking to view the original system configuration.

K) Enter BIOS/UEFI Firmware Settings by holding down F2 during POST (i.e. immediately following a reboot or power on) and navigate to the Boot tab.  If you have UEFI firmware you should see an option that says Secure Boot

L) See section C.2

No, you must clean install.