Dell drivers???

Question

I'm getting ready to upgrade to Vista Home Premium, in preperation I ran Dell readiness advisor. The advisor stated I have several items that need device driver updates ie; Radeon X300, Intel 82801FB/FBM Ultra ATA storage controller, Intel 82801FR SATA AHCI controller, and BroadcommNetxtreme 57xx Gigabit controller. After each of these items it states 'A windows vista driver is available for this device. Dell recommends you download the latest driver from http//:support.dell.com'. I have searched dell support for these drivers and cannot find them anywhere. I have a Dell Dimension 8400 and when I enter that and search drivers for vista 32 bit none of these driver updates is there. Am I looking in the wrong place or do the current XP drivers work with Vista?

drummerchick · Answer

I am in pretty much the same position as you are. I have an 8400 Media Center Edition. I bought a new Radeon Graphics card (X1300)and installed it. I picked it up for $100CDN which was a great deal. I recommend getting the card first. I was able to update the Broadcomm NetXtreme on the Dell site. Double check that one.   As far as the 82801FB/FBM Ultra ATA Storage Controllers and the 82801 FR SATA AHCI controller go: I can't find anything either. I find no way to contact Dell other than calling them and I don't have the time to sit and wait on the phone.   If I find anything I will post back here to let you know. Please do the same.   Thanks and good luck.

The WheelMan · Answer

I just installed Vista on my two year old Dell 8400 yesterday, and it recognized and installed drivers for my X300 graphics card, Broadcom NetXtreme, and my hard drive, automatically. But here are links for a few drivers:

Radeon X1300 (same driver I successfully installed for my X300):

http://ati.amd.com/support/drivers/vista32/common-vista32.html

Audigy sound card (also installed this successfully):
http://us.creative.com/support/downloads/download.asp?MainCategory=1&nRegionFK=&nCountryFK=&nLanguageFK=&sOSName=Windows+Vista+32-bit&region=1&Product_Name=Audigy&Product_ID=4847&modelnumber=&driverlang=1033&OS=26&drivertype=0&x=40&y=12

Broadcom NetXtreme:
http://www.broadcom.com/support/ethernet_nic/netxtreme_desktop.php

Anyone looking for drivers for their 1905FP LCD, or others, should try the latest XP drivers. That's what I did, and it seems to be working fine.

Message Edited by The WheelMan on 02-09-2007 02:24 PM

Message Edited by The WheelMan on 02-09-2007 02:24 PM

drummerchick · Answer

Did you run the Microsoft Vista scan? It tells me that the video card (Radeon X300) is ok for the Aero experience. Dell's says that I needed a new one so I bought and installed it. It also says that the 82801 Ultra ATI and SATA controllers are ok to run with Vista.   I am not sure if I trust the information but I am still going to look for those drivers before I upgrade.

MV2 · Answer

I am trying to get a Dimension 8400 Vista-ready. I ran Dell's Readiness Advisor,
and got the same things others have reported. Thanks to your suggestions, I am a bit better now.

*) The driver from Broadcom (http://www.broadcom.com/support/ethernet_nic/netxtreme_desktop.php)
solves that problem. Microsoft Vista Upgrade Advisor agrees.

*) The Radeon X300 Vista-ready driver (http://ati.amd.com/support/drivers/vista32/common-vista32.html)
loaded and runs fine, but Dell's Readiness Advisor still gripes. Does this quiet the Advisor
for the rest of you, or is it just that it is known to work with Vista? Is there really a problem (the
Microsoft Vista Upgrade Advisor says it is fine as is)?

*) Has anyone yet figured out how to update the drivers for the Intel 82801FB/FBM Ultra ATA Storage Controller
and the Intel 82801FR SATA AHCI Controller? Or perhaps we do not need to -- the Microsoft Vista Upgrade
Advisor says they are fine as is.

*) Dell says to upgrade the Intel® 537EP V9x DF PCI Modem -- the Microsoft Vista Upgrade Advisor says it is
fine as is, because when you install Vista you can get an upgrade for it from Windows Update.

*) I tried Dell's URL to the Sonic Vista-ready DLA -- got BSOD every time after that until I went
to the RW CDROM and turned off drag-and-drop. (I did that because of a lot of google hits on the same
problem / solution.)

Microsoft recommends Vista Basic -- any idea what is keeping it from recommending anything else? Perhaps
the graphics card?

Thanks,
Bob

MV2 · Answer

Right -- I only have one GB RAM. You have a good point saying that may be the reason.

The WheelMan · Answer

I've had no problems with the X300 driver, so I say that until you actually experience problems, assume that it's fine. I never ran the upgrade advisor after I installed Vista. I don't think you're supposed to anyway.

The controller drivers have seemed fine since I installed Vista, so I assume they are fine as well.

My modem (the same as yours) is the only thing I've been unable to get working since installing Vista. I haven't checked lately to see if there is a new driver out there. I ran into a similar problem with XP Service Pack II on my sister's notebook, so it's possible that the modem will never receive upgraded software. Because of the prevalence of broadband, modems seem to get low priority once they get "old" now.

I never bothered reinstalling my Sonic software because it gave me so much trouble under XP.

I have the same graphics card and it recommended that I could run Vista Business. I have to Gigs of RAM, though. I'm guessing that you have less?

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Dell drivers???

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