17xR1 BSOD - BIOS A05/260M

I updated to Bios 5. It took care of the battery issue, but now I get black screen and freeze ups anywhere from 30 mins to 2 hrs after booting up the computer. Loaded and unloaded several Video drivers and still no change.
Anyone try to revert to A03 Bios to see if it cured the BSOD?

 

Follow up to my above post. I called Alienware tech support yesterday. They had me run driver sweeper, reload drivers for the 260M's from Dell site, and open up the botom of the computer and visually inspect SLI connection and cards. I originally thought my issue was the BIOS, but now after talking to them I'm pretty sure it's Hardware related.
They are sending a replacement MB, Video Cards and screen.

 

It'll be interesting to hear what happens after you replace the hardware. Would then explain why the BIOS is fine for some and not for others.

 

They replaced the MB, Video cards and screen. After the tech left I noticed the Audio wasnt working so I called AW back and they are having another tech come out to replace the MB again. Later I was surfing the internet and the screen starting flashing all white and froze up on me.
I'll let them replace the board againm but I'm losing faith in Alienware and Dell
in ever solving the issue.

 

let them replace the board again, and then when the problem is still there demand a replacement R2 since it does not have these problems

they can throw parts at it all day but something clearly does not work in your system

 

I agree... you get these expensive warranties for a reason - so you can have a working system. I don't know if this helps but I dealt with Alienware tech help twice - the phone number that you are referred to by Dell's website which is 1-800-ALIENWARE. It went very badly. I recently had trouble with my XPS and was referred to 1800-624-9896 ext. 7287226. That is the number for premium in home support North America. I asked if I could deal with them instead of Alienware for future Alienware trouble, and was told I was supposed to ONLY deal with them. I should not have been referred to 1-800-ALIENWARE. In any event... it went much better. The support was phenomenally better. Whether you get that support can depend on the warranty you purchased - but I certainly benefitting from finding my "real" place in the warranty line up.

We all know in tech there can be issues and troubleshooting is part of the deal - but at a certain point you let them know this is "their" problem and solve it on their time... and give you something that runs.

Good Luck!

 

The Costa Rica supervisor I talked to told me that since my system was over a year old, they would never replace it. I was extremely pi$$ed about those comments. You pay 3K for a computer, the extended warranties and accident plan, and this is their answer? I called the above number this morning and was assured that if the new 2nd Motherboard didn't fix it, they would resolve the issue, and make things right. Thanks for posting the number Sands.

 

Dell Tech installed 2nd Motherboard. After running it for a bit, I noticed the screen flickering and eventually it froze up again. So another call to Alienware support. This time I ran some tests and there were errors on the Hard Drive. So they're sending me a new HD. Stay tuned....

 

3 is the charm, call back and demand an R2 of comparable stats.

 

There is no R2 of comparable stats so......


BIG UPGRADE!

If that happens

 

At this point I seriously doubt a new Hard Drive and reload of W7 is going to fix it. But I guess they have to go through their process of elimination.
Hope you're right about the big upgrade.

 

Tech guys are paid to make you do random things. Was having performance issues yesterday/today and they were telling me to install Intel Rapid Storage Utility o.o

 

Got the new HD install yesterday, then reloaded W7 and drivers with the help of AW phone support. I decided to run 3D Mark which crashed my system to shutdown. So I then called back phone support. They checked and noticed I had forgot to install A05 BIOS on the new MB, so I re-installed that. I then ran 3D Mark again, and same crash to shutdown. So I recalled and they offered to send it away to have it refurbished. I told them I wanted a replacement. I told him i would like to speak to a supervisor, but I would have to call back due to a bad phone connection. Ge said he would call me back after talking to him. A few mins later he calls back and said the supervisor would submit it, but couldn't guarantee a new system and that I will find out on Saturday what the resolution is.. I also forgot to mention I filed a complaint with the BBB against Dell a couple days ago with the Service Tag and work numbers on it. Even the Tech who showed up to replace the MB said they would be replacing it if the problem persisted. Hopefully they do.