How to use DELL Driver Pack in Deployment Solution 7.1 x64 (CMS7.1 SP1)

[Migration User]

Hello,

CMS 7.1 SP1 x64 / DS7.1 x64

Our company use more than 1000 Dell computers. Before we began to use the DS, we deploy the compuers through MDT2010. In the Drivers management function, we can import the Dell Driver pack(.CAB) to Drivers pool directly. During the deployment of image, system will install the drivers automatically. It's so easy and accurate.

But now in the DS, we can't use the Dell Driver pack directly. it is very terrible.

If i extracted the Dell Driver pack(.CAB), and import to Driver Database Management. We found more drivers will not be indentified class and will not used during the deployment.  If DS can't use the Dell Driver pack, i think it is unsuccessful in the productions of system deployment.

(eg: http://www.delltechcenter.com/page/Dell+Business+Client+Operating+System+Deployment+-+The+.CAB+Files)

[Migration User]

BTW:

In the Dell Driver Pack, the types of drivers : application / audio / chipset / communication / controlpoint / input / network / security / storage / video / ect..

[amandaw33]

I use the dell driver pack with 7.1, but you can't upload the .cab file, nor does deploy anywhere work with nested folders.

Extract the .cab file, then you're left with a folder with folders in it (apps/audio/chipset, etc)

Then go to Driver Management in CMS, and add driver, and point it to each of those sub folders (apps/audio/chipset, etc).  Make sure that you're drilling down to the x32 or x64 bit version of the driver you need.  Sometimes there are even folders within those sub folders, and you need to make sure you're pointing the driver database tool to the folder with the .inf folders in it.

It is tedious, but once you get the drivers in there, you are set for that model and a lot of their lines use the same drivers.  I've had pretty good luck with Optiplex 780s and a few Latitudes I've tried so far (knock on wood) and am hoping to move forward deploying a hardware independent image.

[Migration User]

Hello Sally,

Thanks.

I found more drivers of Dell Driver Pack is unclassified in the DS Driver Database Management. Do you met it? And how to handle the problem?

Thanks.

[yogeshsadhu]

Zhao,

We have seen the issue as you described above about device driver unbale to display the correct driver class type;

And right now there is a limitation in DS which is,DS driver management is unbale to import the drivers which are in .cab file format, or in any compressed format.

But there should not be any problem for deployment of these drivers , Can you give us the details of exact drivers which fails to deploy even if present in the driver databse , so that we can investigate more on this ;

Also , specify for which dell machine its failing in deplying the drivers.

 

[Migration User]

Hello,

Thanks!

After extracted the CAB file, you can find a file named "Manifest.xml", in fhe file, you will find all information about the drivers pack.

you needn't import the drivers one by one,  DS can import the whole folder. But many drivers will be marked "unclassified". If I import all drivers one by one, also you will find many drivers will be marked "unclassified", eg: blue tooth, wireless NIC, etc..

And the application of DELL Touchpad is necessary for laptop Users. If it can be installed automaticly?(MDT can do it unattend)

You can test it!

Thanks!

[Migration User]

Hello,

Please you download the dell drive pack(as below link), any import it to DS, after image deploy, many drivers will not be installed, e.g.: audio, wireless, chipset.

And, the display card driver can't be import to DS. (R282203)

Please Check it.

 

Thanks.

Dell Latitude E5410 driver pack.

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&cs=555&l=en&s=biz&releaseid=R297482&SystemID=LAT_E5410&servicetag=&os=W764&osl=en&deviceid=22312&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=2&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=0&libid=36&typeid=-1&dateid=-1&formatid=-1&source=-1&fileid=446450

[yogeshsadhu]

Thanks Zhao,

I will download the driver.

[yogeshsadhu]

Sorry for late update , we are able to reproduce the issue when drivers imported from CAB files and the development team is trying to fix it ;

will update once it is fixed and avilable for use.

[Migration User]

Hello yogeshsadhu

 

Had you got the feedback about the case from development team?  It's too long time.

Thanks!

[yogeshsadhu]

Our investigation found that while importing a 'driver set' few drivers are unable to get added to the driver database , there was a problem in copying the drivers to a temporary location which is been fixed and will be available in the release MR1 , please check with this update.

For the issue of displaying device class as unclassified I want to know have you observed that if the device class is displayed as 'unclassified' and it is unable to apply the driver , because we have seen for some devices the driver manager shows the class as 'unclassified' but while retargetting , i.e. while performing deployAnywhere , this is working fine , the driver get applied ; Deployanywhere  uses the device id to map with the driver , and should not be a problem in driver retargetting also for the unclassified class of devices DeployAnywhere consider them as a network class so that we will not miss the drivers while retargetting.

FYI , this issue of displaying few device class as 'unclassified' is open and will be fixed in future release.

[The Pirate]

My solution is actually something we used in 6.9, but lost the conditionals when moving to 7.1 to determine model info. Another forum post I put out helped with this issue. Yeah it means dealing with a script, but from what I have found all the drivers drop in for the laptops I have. Only had to download video drivers seperately and place in the directory with the ones from the driver pack to make it solid. It was your post that clued me into the Dell Driver pack idea being a revisitable option. Check the link below for the entire forum post:

https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/forums/replacement-function-computerprodname-71

 

Hope it helps you out as much as it did me and a couple others.