This guide explains how to do a clean install of Windows 8 as well as how to recover any programs/wallpapers loaded from factory.
Alienware systems ship with a pre-installed recovery partition in case you want to restore to factory settings without having to re-install drivers or OEM software, this partition can be accessed through AlienRespawn.
How to Recover Your Dell / Alienware Laptop (Internal Recovery Partition)
Important: Systems with RAID arrays need to have the proper Intel RST driver loaded during the installation, otherwise the RAID won’t be recognized or the installation will fail.
Alienware Systems | Loading the Intel RST driver for RAID arrays
When you’re done proceed to install Windows 8.
How to install Windows 8 on an Alienware System | Video Guide
Note: If a driver installer prompts for a restart, be sure to do so before proceeding with the next driver.
Go to the Support portal and choose your laptop model to access the drivers listed for your computer. Under Operating System choose Windows 8 64-bit and start downloading/installing the drivers as follows:
1. Chipset
2. Intel Management Engine Interface
3. Intel Rapid Storage technology
4. LAN driver
5. Wireless Driver
6. INTEL/AMD/NVIDIA Display Driver
7. Audio driver
8. Bluetooth driver
9. Media Card Reader
The following drivers might require Microsoft .NET framework 3.5 support to work properly, you can download it here.
10. Touchpad driver
11. Alienware On-Screen Display driver
12. Alienware Command Center
****Regarding Webcam****
The webcam does not require a device driver; it uses the Microsoft’s driver. To download the webcam software that came with your system see below, item #13.
13. Log in over @ My Dell Downloads to grab any apps that came bundled with your system.
Now that you’ve got a healthy Windows 8 installation you can use AlienRespawn to create an image of the system as it is in case you need/want to restore to this state.
You can customize the installation with your favorite programs or games before creating the image (Keep in mind that a Larger Image = Larger backup space used).
Alienware Wallpapers
When you’re ready, download AlienRespawn for Windows 8 and run the installer. Please be patient, the installation may take a while.
Make sure your power options are set to High Performance and run Windows Experience Index if you haven’t done so yet (Computer --> Properties --> Retrieve System Rating).
If your system uses Optimus Technology you’ll want to set up your games to run on the discrete graphics only.
All done! Now go play something :D
***Special thanks to Batboy for his great guide to a Clean Windows 7 Install***
| Alternative Recovery Option: |
Alienware systems ship with a pre-installed recovery partition in case you want to restore to factory settings without having to re-install drivers or OEM software, this partition can be accessed through AlienRespawn.
How to Recover Your Dell / Alienware Laptop (Internal Recovery Partition)
| Windows 8 Clean install: |
Important: Systems with RAID arrays need to have the proper Intel RST driver loaded during the installation, otherwise the RAID won’t be recognized or the installation will fail.
Alienware Systems | Loading the Intel RST driver for RAID arrays
When you’re done proceed to install Windows 8.
How to install Windows 8 on an Alienware System | Video Guide
| Driver Install Order: |
Note: If a driver installer prompts for a restart, be sure to do so before proceeding with the next driver.
Go to the Support portal and choose your laptop model to access the drivers listed for your computer. Under Operating System choose Windows 8 64-bit and start downloading/installing the drivers as follows:
1. Chipset
2. Intel Management Engine Interface
3. Intel Rapid Storage technology
4. LAN driver
5. Wireless Driver
6. INTEL/AMD/NVIDIA Display Driver
- If you have an M14x or M17x with Nvidia graphics install the Intel HD graphics driver first.
- If you can’t install the discrete graphics driver on the M18x you need to press Fn+F7, select yes and reboot. This will enable the discrete card and let you install the driver for it (If you’re having trouble with an AMD card you need to switch to the iGPU, install the intel driver then switch back to the AMD card and install the catalyst).
7. Audio driver
8. Bluetooth driver
9. Media Card Reader
The following drivers might require Microsoft .NET framework 3.5 support to work properly, you can download it here.
10. Touchpad driver
11. Alienware On-Screen Display driver
12. Alienware Command Center
****Regarding Webcam****
The webcam does not require a device driver; it uses the Microsoft’s driver. To download the webcam software that came with your system see below, item #13.
13. Log in over @ My Dell Downloads to grab any apps that came bundled with your system.
| Create your own “factory” image: |
Now that you’ve got a healthy Windows 8 installation you can use AlienRespawn to create an image of the system as it is in case you need/want to restore to this state.
You can customize the installation with your favorite programs or games before creating the image (Keep in mind that a Larger Image = Larger backup space used).
Alienware Wallpapers
When you’re ready, download AlienRespawn for Windows 8 and run the installer. Please be patient, the installation may take a while.
| Wrap Up: |
Make sure your power options are set to High Performance and run Windows Experience Index if you haven’t done so yet (Computer --> Properties --> Retrieve System Rating).
If your system uses Optimus Technology you’ll want to set up your games to run on the discrete graphics only.
All done! Now go play something :D
***Special thanks to Batboy for his great guide to a Clean Windows 7 Install***