Does Intel Viiv Software work with Vista?

Hi Scott.

 

Yes, the VIIV software does work on Vista but only Ultimate and Home Premium editions.  Version 1.5 of VIIV probably came with your system, you need to upgrade it to 1.6 for Vista.  The larger problem, and what I'm fighting right now is how to get it installed.

 

Intel's VIIV installer for 1.6 insists on verifying that you already have 1.5 loaded.  If you loaded Vista clean rather than upgrading XP (as I did), you don't have 1.5 on it anymore.  Ah ha, the solution is to re-install 1.5 and then upgrade to 1.6.  No, that doesn't work either.  Their 1.5 installation insists that the o/s be Windows XP Media Center rollup 2.

 

So, you are basically stuck for now.  I have an email into Intel support about how to get around this problem.  If I get an answer I'll post it here.  Here are a couple links about VIIV.  The second is where you can actually download 1.6.

 

Tim

 

http://www.intel.com/support/desktopplatforms/viiv/sb/CS-025427.htm

 

 

http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts-df-external/filter_results.aspx?strTypes=all&ProductID=2223&OSFullName=Windows+Vista*+Ultimate%2C+32-bit+version&lang=eng&strOSs=156&submit=Go%21

Thanks for the reply Tim.  It is interesting that Intel allows you to completely download version 1.6 of Intel Viiv technology and even starts the installation process.  Then of course, it stops you just as you described in your post.  Of course, anyone doing a clean install would not have the earlier version.  I noticed Intel does post some phone numbers.  Unfortunately, it was too late for me to call.  The web link for the phone numbers is:

 

http://support.intel.com/support/desktopplatforms/viiv/sb/CS-021658.htm

 

Please let me know if you get any feedback from them via e-mail or phone.  Meanwhile, I will also do some more checking myself. 

Hi Scott,

 

Well it doesn't look promising, at least for now.  I contacted Intel, here is their reply:

 

 

Thank you for contacting Intel(R) Technical Support.

1. We regret to inform you, the full version of the Viiv(TM) software 1.6 is not available for public download. We encourage you contacting your place of purchase to obtain the latest version of the Viiv(TM) application.

2. The new Viiv(TM) software 1.6 version only works if you are upgrading your operating system to Microsoft* Windows* Vista*.

Sincerely,

Allan J.

Intel(R) Technical Support

So based on this information, I believe there are only 2 options to get VIIV working.  Completely reload XP and the do an "upgrade" to windows Vista.  The other option is that Dell must make the full version 1.6 of the VIIV software available for download.  They must have it, they are loading it on new systems.

Hey Tim,

Well I had no luck either.  I contacted Dell Support.  I was told that they didn't have any downloads available for the Intel Viiv Technology.  He said "maybe" it would be included on the upgrade DVDs that Dell will be shipping in 4 to 8 weeks.

 

He then proceeded to tell me that he had located a gateway site.  Despite the fact that it's a gateway site, he said he understands a number of Dell customers have been successful by getting the Intel Viiv technology at the following site:

 

http://support.gateway.com/support/drivers/search.asp?param=Vista&st=kw

 

Once you get on that site, he said to scroll down to the Motherboards topic.  Once you are there, it is the third folder down which is called D20005-002-001.

 

Well, I gave it a try.  I figured the worst thing that would happen would be that it simply would not work.  The file downloaded and it appeared to self extract.  I then got a pop-up screen with the following instructions:

 

1) From the start menu, in the start search field, type: C:\cabs\D20005-002-001\Ssetup.exe and press enter.

2) In the user account Control dialog box, click allow/continue

3) Follow all onscreen instructions to complete the installation.

 

Tim, I wanted to share all of this with you in case you want to give it a try.  Unfortunately, I could not get past step 1 once the file had downloaded.  So if the file did self extract, I don't know where it went because I never found a file with the new extracted name given in step 1 above.

 

I don't want to mess you up so try this at your own risk I guess.  But I did want to share with you what I was told by "Nick" in Dell Support.  Again, he claimed a number of Dell people have been able to use this gateway link to get it to work.

 

If you decide to try it, and get it to work, please let me know where I am going wrong.  Like I said, I can't get past step one in the instructions above. 

Dude, that worked!!!!  You're a genius, thank you so much!  Who would think of going to the Gateway site for Intel software that Dell should be providing!!!

 

It should work for you too.  I think you're downloading the wrong file is the only problem.  It is the 3rd file down in the "Motherboard Downloads" section.  The file is "D20020-002-002.exe Windows Vista Intel VIIV software version 1.6.429.0".

 

1)  Download the file to some directory on your system.  Once downloaded, right-click it and choose "Run as Administrator".  This will extract all the files into c:\cabs\D20020-002-002.

 

2) Browse into that folder and the right-click setup_viiv.exe, and again choose "Run as Administrator".  From then on, just follow the prompts.

 

Be aware, during the installation the setup window will disappear for 2 or 3 minutes and seem like it died.  It's actually probing the hardware, it will start itself back up...be patient.  I would recommend closing all applications, and rebooting before/after the installation.

 

If you have any problems let me know.  Thanks again for the Gateway tip!

 

Best regards,

Tim

Yes!!!  I finally got it to work for me too.  Funny I gave you the instructions for the downloadble version from gateway and then I'm the one having problems finishing the task.  You were right in saying I downloaded the wrong file.  That's what the problem is.  But now I've got intel viiv technology back on my system.

 

Anyhow, I'm just glad we were both finally successful.  Computer issues can be a pain in the ......but it's always gratifying when you work something out.  So I guess you could say we helped each other out on this one :-)

 

If you get a chance, Tim, I would appreciate any pointers on intial configurations I should be concerned with.  I want to become better informed about viiv technology and how it can work for me.  At this point, I haven't had a chance to play around with the program b/c it is so late.

 

Hi Scott,

 

If I figure out anything interesting I'll let you know.  The VIIV stuff is brand new to me too, so I have some homework to do.

 

Take care,

Tim

Hey Tim,

As previously stated, I got the Intel Viiv software loaded on my machine too from the gateway site.  It seems really stupid that Dell is not providing a l ink for its customers.  However, this version 1.6 from Gateway seems to work fine.

 

Hopefully, our postings here will help others with Intel Viiv software as those questions arise.  I haven't had much tiime lately to play with this software but I will get into it.  Please post any tweaks or reccommendations for such that you find in the software for Dell systems.  Thanks.

 

The gateway drivers aren't working for me.  It is still complaining that it can only run on WinXP SP2 Media Center 2005.  I think it may be due to the pre-installed Intel ViiV 1.0.4 software.  I thought I would try to uninstall that but I can't do that either.  It also expects XP in order to uninstall the previous version.  Any help would be appreciated.

I tried the 1.6 upgrade package from the Intel web site.  It failed and reported that it could only upgrade from version 1.5.  Probing the registry indicates that the version I have that came pre-installed on my Dell XPS 410 is version 1.0.4.  Attempting to install the 1.5 upgrade failed also and reported that it could only run on XP MCE SP2.  Running it in XP mode using the compatibility wizard didn't change the outcome.  I also attempted to uninstall the existing 1.0.4 ViiV software but it also failed and reported that it must be run from XP MCE SP2.  I feel pretty stuck here.

Resolved.

 

I resorted to searching and removing all existing references to ViiV in the registry.  I was then able to install the Gateway ViiV 1.6 package.  I also just noticed that Windows Update has an optional Intel ViiV Quick Resume Technology Driver available as of 1/31/07 so I wonder if all my trouble was necessary.

Hey Tim

Hope you can help me... i tried to do this and when I get near the end of installation it asks for the setup_viiv.msi program on a cd.. but I do not have the cd... is there a work around for this?  Or am I the only one who has this problem?  Sure hope you can help me

 

Tiffy8