System Upgrades
Service Manual
Ensure you reference your service manual before carrying out upgrades:
The most recommended upgrade for this system is a Solid State Drive, here is my affiliate link to Crucial here. If purchasing a SSD or Memory Upgrade please use these links as I will get a tiny bit of commission which will help fund my guides.
SSD Drive Upgrade
Memory Upgrade:
This system supports 2 GB of RAM (2×2 GB Modules) but the system maxes out at 3.25 GB of RAM. This can also be purchased using the affiliate link above.
Media Direct
Media Direct should be installed before the Operating System in order for the Media Direct Button to function correctly.
Operating System
Not all of these systems are 64 Bit capable. A 64 Bit Processor such as an Intel T7200, T7400 or T7600 is required for 64 Bit Windows 7. Note the system maxes out at 3.25 GB of RAM so there is in any case little advantage of installing 64 Bit Windows 0n this model. This configuration works with 64 Bit Windows 10 but it is on the edge of the system requirements, should Microsoft slightly up the system requirements for 64 Bit Windows 10 later down the line, this system will likely fail to meet the minimum system requirements and therefore 32 Bit Windows 10 is recommended on this model.
It is recommended to install Windows 10 on this system see Windows OEM FAQs and Downloads. The Windows Vista OEM or Windows XP Product Key won't be compatible with Windows 10 Installation Media however you can run Windows 10 Unlicensed. Windows 10 will have most of the system drivers required inbuilt however you can install the Windows 7 Drivers if you have any unknown Devices in the Device Manager.
Drivers and Downloads for Windows 7
Legacy BIOS
System Utilities (Windows 7 Only)
Chipset (Windows 7)
Card Reader
Video (Windows 7 Only)
There are three video variants on this system:
Input
Dell Wireless Cards
Audio (Windows 7 Only)
Install the Registry Edit and then the Audio Driver.
Registry Edit
Open up Notepad or Notepad++, copy and paste the above and save the file (as all types) ending with the extension .reg. Once done right click the reg file and run.
Add the entries to your registry before installing the Audio Driver.
Application
MediaDirect Updates
Requires installation of the Media Direct Program
The link for the "Dell Quickset" here on your list tells me that it is for a 32bit systems.
Can you confirm if I am mistaken ?
Thanks a lot in advance.
Roberto.
Correct I had listed the wrong driver for the M1210, M1710 and M2010… Its updated now:
http://ftp.dell.com/app/R163853.exe
¡ Thank you so much Philip !
I just installed both version of the Sigmatel Audio drivers listed on this page on my Dell XPS M1710. I tried them on a clean Windows 7 64-bit and also on a clean Windows 10 Technical Preview 64-bit setup.
Both drivers listed work great on Windows 7 and also on the Windows 10 Technical Preview.
The drivers expose the Subwoofer volume control and give the best sound for the hardware within the XPS M1710 laptop.
What you DO NOT NEED is to install the "Sigmatel Audio Registry File".
If you install that Registry Hack on the Dell XPS M1710 you will break all the audio subsystem on Windows.
File R171786.EXE will install "Sigmatel High Definition Audio" drivers version 6.10.0.5614
File R218148.EXE will install "Sigmatel High Definition Audio" drivers version 6.10.0.5866
Hope that helps.
Roberto.
please help the chipset link isn't working
Intel unfortunately removed all their legacy downloads when Windows 7 reached end of life.