In short, if the hardware is compatible, Windows should accept any driver manually
Yes, but the thing here is that you're not battling Windows, but battling Dell. Dell has always had a thing built into their systems, that allows only Dell approved drivers to be loaded. Try anything else and it'll just be ignored or denied.
Dell wants to make it easy for its end-user. No need to think about compatibility, just install drivers and be done with it. Want to be the boss over your computer? Don't buy a Dell!
Never had that experience with a Dell. My Dell accepted the Intel OpenCL runtime driver for CPU without a murmur.
I always had these problems with the Dell at work, and with Compaqs as well. The latter had the added problem that any hardware you wanted to add must be bought from their store, or else it wouldn't fit the slots on the motherboard. And you had to let a Compaq technician come, as the screws to open the case were of a special kind (torx, see the image here) that your ordinary Phillips screw driver and flathead couldn't undo.
Now, your new Dell may be so new that Dell themselves haven't had time yet to add the restrictions to the code that requires you to always update your drivers through them. Give it a Windows/Dell update or two and you'll notice that you're required to download anything through their download manager.
Now then, using third party software can also give problems when the hardware fails, as you have to prove to Dell that you didn't willfully install non-Dell approved software that caused the problem. Dell's UK/Euro Warranty says:
Quote:
5.3 Under the Basic Warranty, subject to clauses 5.3.1 - 5.3.4 inclusive and clause 5.4 below, Dell shall repair or replace the Dell Product if it develops a material fault in the period of one year from date of delivery, on condition that:
5.3.1 the Dell Product has only been subject to normal use in a domestic, non commercial, non research environment in a manner which is consistent with the specification, functionality and service standards described in the Dell Product Description,
5.3.2 reasonable care has been taken of the Dell Product, and it has only been subjected to reasonable wear and tear;
5.3.3 the fault has not been caused or contributed to by willfully or negligently caused damage, or any accident, or being in environmental conditions harmful to the Dell Product, or by third party software or hardware, which has not been supplied by Dell, loaded onto or connected to the Dell Product;
5.3.4 the part which develops the fault has not been previously modified or repaired by any third party.
5.4 Dell's obligation to repair or replace under clause 5.3 above does not apply to:
5.4.1 consumable components (for example, toner in printer cartridges);
5.4.2 parts which are not critical to Product function, or
5.4.3 cosmetic features of the Product.
What is covered by this limited hardware warranty?
This limited hardware warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship in your Dell-branded hardware products, including Dell-branded peripheral products.
What is not covered by this limited hardware warranty?
This limited hardware warranty does not cover:
Software, including without limitation, the operating system and software added to the Dell-branded hardware products through our factory-integration system, third-party software or the reloading of software Non Dell-branded products and accessories
Problems that result from:
External causes such as accident, abuse, misuse or problems with electrical power. Servicing not authorized by Dell.
Usage that is not in accordance with product instructions. Failure to follow the product instructions or failure to perform preventive maintenance. Problems caused by using accessories, parts or components not supplied by Dell.
Products with missing or altered service tags or serial numbers
Products for which Dell has not received payment
Normal wear and tear
...so there's anyone seriously considering contacting DELL support to ask if any desired Software is on DELL's approved list before installing ?!?
Or anyone seriously considering that the manufacturer could actually prohibit (by regulation) the installation of any 3rd Party Software ??!? That's what computers are made for, any such prohibitive regulation is rendered invalid by law.
All it states is that DELL Support will not take any responsibility for it.
Ridiculous IMHO, but that's how companies like DELL make their money from I guess ;)
It's a different story for contractual work PCs however, there I'd understand it (unless you own the company and don't care in the 1st place).
I guess the lession is : build your own PC and avoid such manufacturers where feasible (usually equals 25% less hardware/performance/features for 25% more money in most cases)
I have contacted different Support lines in my life, and at the end of the day it was either me supporting them or them just giving up/being useless due to lack of knowledge.
This all sounds like more reason to use Linux instead of Windows. However, I'm not sure how far along Intel has gotten with OpenCL in their open source drivers as I don't use Intel, but you can check out their development in real time below:
For anyone who would want to install this, it's easy with Ubuntu when you add the oibaf PPA (ppa:oibaf/graphics-divers) and apt-get upgrade/dist-upgrade to have the latest open source drivers.
RE: RE: In short, if the
)
Never had that experience with a Dell. My Dell accepted the Intel OpenCL runtime driver for CPU without a murmur.
I always had these problems
)
I always had these problems with the Dell at work, and with Compaqs as well. The latter had the added problem that any hardware you wanted to add must be bought from their store, or else it wouldn't fit the slots on the motherboard. And you had to let a Compaq technician come, as the screws to open the case were of a special kind (torx, see the image here) that your ordinary Phillips screw driver and flathead couldn't undo.
Now, your new Dell may be so new that Dell themselves haven't had time yet to add the restrictions to the code that requires you to always update your drivers through them. Give it a Windows/Dell update or two and you'll notice that you're required to download anything through their download manager.
Now then, using third party software can also give problems when the hardware fails, as you have to prove to Dell that you didn't willfully install non-Dell approved software that caused the problem. Dell's UK/Euro Warranty says:
The US/Canadian agreement says it even more strictly:
So, be careful. :-)
...so there's anyone
)
...so there's anyone seriously considering contacting DELL support to ask if any desired Software is on DELL's approved list before installing ?!?
Or anyone seriously considering that the manufacturer could actually prohibit (by regulation) the installation of any 3rd Party Software ??!? That's what computers are made for, any such prohibitive regulation is rendered invalid by law.
All it states is that DELL Support will not take any responsibility for it.
Ridiculous IMHO, but that's how companies like DELL make their money from I guess ;)
It's a different story for contractual work PCs however, there I'd understand it (unless you own the company and don't care in the 1st place).
I guess the lession is : build your own PC and avoid such manufacturers where feasible (usually equals 25% less hardware/performance/features for 25% more money in most cases)
I have contacted different Support lines in my life, and at the end of the day it was either me supporting them or them just giving up/being useless due to lack of knowledge.
This all sounds like more
)
This all sounds like more reason to use Linux instead of Windows. However, I'm not sure how far along Intel has gotten with OpenCL in their open source drivers as I don't use Intel, but you can check out their development in real time below:
Beignet (Intel OpenCL driver): http://cgit.freedesktop.org/beignet/
i965 (Intel GPU driver): http://cgit.freedesktop.org/mesa/mesa/log/?qt=grep&q=intel
For anyone who would want to install this, it's easy with Ubuntu when you add the oibaf PPA (ppa:oibaf/graphics-divers) and apt-get upgrade/dist-upgrade to have the latest open source drivers.
RE: This all sounds like
)
Only for people already using linux. For everyone else it's just a reason to avoid DELL. And Compaq's dead anyway.
MrS
Scanning for our furry friends since Jan 2002