8 beeps when diabling IGP on Alienware M17x

Hello there!

I'm getting a bit desperate on this one. I have been getting the infamous Driver power state failure BSOD with my Alienware M17x. The discrete GPU is a GTX460M. This has been like this since I bought the thing almost a year ago - it was my first Alienware and I was excited, so the thought of a refund didn't even cross my mind. I remember I managed to disable IGP then - I don't remember how. I could swear I used a modified BIOS that had an option that simply read "Disable integrated graphics" but I can't find it anywhere. I could have swore that it was the modded A04, but the modded A04 I found it's different. But I'll get back to that later.

For several reasons (including that the GTX460M got too hot when running non-stop) I "upgraded" the BIOS to the official A10 bios, and reset the computer to factory settings. I started getting the BSODs again. Tried several drivers, but they're all the same (the latest Verde drivers are the worst, I get a BSOD every 5 minutes) I called Alienware and their support has been incredibly nonsupportive: I tried all things in their dumb checklist (none worked) and they said they'd call me back.

That was last monday. I still haven't had the time to call them back myself (I was going to just after this post) Meanwhile, I have been trying to flash a modded bios to disable IGP again, but I simply cannot. Everything I do seems to make my laptop fail to POST and gives me back 8 beeps. I've tried setting the default GPU to "Auto" and disabling the IGP card, setting the default GPU to PEG, with PEG workaround enabled and disabled, with the IGP card enabled and disabled, nothing works. Fortunately blind-flashing another BIOS unbricked the laptop all times.

Even though I know how to do it, I have little manual ability so extracting the GPU is not an option. Is there any way to disable IGP in my machine by myself or do I have to send it back to Alienware? Man, if I knew, I'd have gone for the AMD GPU.

Thank you in advance

 

I believe you want the modded A08 BIOS, it has the disable IGP option. I've been having the same problems as you (DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE BSODs from ntoskrnl.exe) and have gotten the same runaround from alienware support. Most recently the tech actually installed the modded bios via screen-sharing and told me to disable the IGP, which does provide a BSOD fix but killed my battery life. Keep calling alienware, maybe they will agree to switch your 460m for a 6970m or something (it's what I'm hoping for). If they do, you should be able to get a tech to come to your house and replace it.

 

I will concur with DuckStar.

Satoshi, look in my 7970m guide for screens on how to disable the IGP. there is also a link in there for the A08 unlocked bios. update the bios first. Good luck

 

Either the Unlocked A04 or Unlocked A08 will work. Given your setup, I recommend the Unlocked A04 because it eliminates the power throttle issue without the need for a modified vbios. Download Unlocked A04 here: M17xR3 Unlocked A04 BIOS.rar. Use 7-Zip to unpack to a folder and then run InsydeFlashx64.exe from that folder to flash. After reboot, enter the BIOS (F2) and proceed to the second Advanced Menu tab. Set the Primary Display to PEG. Then arrow down to the Integrated Graphics Selection and hit Enter. At the next menu select IGP again and hit Enter, then change the setting to Disabled. Use Escape to return to the top menu and hit F10 to Save and Exit. You must do it exactly that way, no improvisations. After a reboot, the IGP should disappear, leaving the 460M as the only graphics card option. If for some reason you prefer the Unlocked A08, get it here: Unlocked A08 BIOS. Then follow exactly the same procedure. There is no difference between the two insofar as configurable options are concerned.

 

I was looking up to see if Alienware support had ever told other customers to use the modded bios, because thats what they had me do yesterday which I found odd. M17x R3 with GeForce 580m. I asked the alienware tech if this would shorten my battery life, which he assured me no because the of the optimus tech on the nvidia card(he must have forgotten that optimus works by SHUTTING OFF the nvidia card so the pc can use the onboard). Also told me that there was no hardware issue with my laptop, just a configuration issue....but one of their selling points for the machine is the dual video cards for extended battery life.

Also not sure if anyone else using the modded bios to shut off the IGP has seen this, but on mine the fans were not kicking on while sitting at desktop to the point where the keyboard was hot to touch. If I fired up a game, then the fans would kick on, cool the machine down. But if I go back to desktop, heats right up again.

Oh, alienware support also told me the driver power state failure bsod was extremely rare.. I'm going to try to get them to do a warranty replacement on mine as i've also got dead pixels on my screen, and I don't really think that turning off a component really is a good way to "fix" something. Would be like bringing a hybrid gas/electric car into the shop and having them disable the electric motor to fix it and saying you are all set.

 

Hmm. 8 beeps indicates an LCD failure. Wondering if the Discrete cards have to post proccess thru the intergrated graphics in order to display thru the LCD screen.