Actually, it looks like the M7700 has two clones; the Sager 9750 (www.sagernotebook.com) and the Clevo D900K (www.eurocom.com). Eurocom will let you download a new BIOS from here: http://www.eurocom.com/support/drivers/bios/d900k_bios.htm - unfortunately though the "latest" BIOS is build 1.00.09 from 27 November 06, so it may not be any improvement over what you already have.

A quick Google under each of the 3 laptops +BIOS has brought up a number of people with similar-sounding problems to you, but none that seem to have found a solution.

I didn't know Alienware was owned by Dell - that told me everything I needed to know...

I'd suggest sticking it on eBay and getting another (better) notebook. When people ask me to source them on their behalf (bearing in mind I'm the poor mug who ends up servicing them once the warranty's finished) I tend to recommend Mesh - I've never had any real problems with their gear and nor have my customers.

To be honest, the first thing I'd do is try and download the BIOS - as you've found this to be impossible then I don't reckon I'd have any more joy than you, which would leave me stuck in the same place...

Now I don't know that much about Alienware, but I doubt they actually make their own motherboards - far more likely they use an off-the-shelf solution (I'm prepared to be proved wrong, but there are far bigger companies using bought-in solutions so there must be a cost factor). If you can take your laptop apart (yeah I know, easier said than done - they always hide the screws in places you'd never think of looking ) then you should see stamped on the MB a make and model number - from experience I'd be prepared to bet good money it's an ASUS.

Once you have that information you can download the BIOS direct from the manufacturer (ASUS, if it is them, are a dream in this respect) and stick two fingers up in Alienware's general direction...

Get your screwdriver out and give it a try anyway, sounds like you don't have much to lose!

Sorry I'm coming into this thread a bit late but...

Have you tried updating your BIOS?

I've built several Vista machines for people now and on every single one I've had problems installing the OS (despite everything appearing to be set correctly). In 100% of cases flashing the BIOS has done the trick and there have been no further troubles.

If you haven't tried it yet it's certainly worth a go!

I'm still using my ancient Photoshop 5 (not Elements) on a Vista 64 PC and it absolutely flies - couldn't be happier!

No, you won't find this in the manual. This is because these features (and the wireless flash operation, etc) were introduced in firmware updates after the camera was initially launched. As far as I'm aware the manual has never been updated and so only covers features that were present in version 1.0 of the K10D's firmware.

Pressing "OK" and the green button together takes you back to auto ISO in modes other than manual (where auto ISO is non-selectable). I think this is only for the later firmware versions though.

Always use the actual focal length - in this case 50mm.

Congratulations Daniel - an excellent winning photo!

Well done on the judging iceblinker, you're right in saying there were better photos from the day (in fact, nearly all were more pleasing than this) but I chose this one as it's the only time I've ever captured another photographer's flash going off so that swung it for me...

K10D / DFA100 / f3.5 / 1-180sec / ISO100

I'm not a b&w expert and I don't do much scanning so I can't offer advice, but I do think the very first photo is stunning. I'd have it on my wall...