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    AW M17x R4 Boot Problems (sometimes)

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Mark Wackaman, Dec 10, 2019.

  1. Mark Wackaman

    Mark Wackaman Newbie

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    Hello new Friends.
    My Alienware, M17x A4 (look into my Signature) Bios A15, has sometimes Problems with the Start, cold or hot it's the same, tried with and without DC Plugin.
    First, I restart Windows, sometimes it beeps 1 time, break, 1 Time, break and so on. A 1 Beep Issue..?
    Here I have found a Thread about the Problem, (I think so) but I don't have permissions to write there???
    The Laptop restarts, then the Screen shoot off, laptop will start, but the Screen stays in Black, Backlight does not go on, the Laptop start to beep (without ending)
    I hold the Power Button, shoot off, wait a moment, Press Power again and mostly the Laptop starts correct.

    The same happens by fresh start, with the original CPU I7 3630m or the extreme CPU.

    After a correct start, the laptop is fine.
    No Blue screens, no stockings, no freezer, no Errors.
    I have tried to find out what the Problem is, didn't find anything.
    Bios Onboard Diagnose, small and extended. No Errors.
    Alienware Test from the Homepage, small and extended. No Errors.
    Some Prime Tests over 4-6 Hours, (some Test of Anything and Custom Run FFT`s in Place...)
    No Problems, Temps around 80°C. CPU. (Booth tested, I7 3940xm and I7 3630m)

    Furmark Stress Test GPU HD4000 and AMD 7970m, I can run it, without Errors many Hours, No Problems,
    No Heater Problems.

    For me (I think so) the Problems came up after I have tried to switch from Legacy Boot Mode to UEFI Boot mode. But I had Problems with my SSD, because the Boot does not work, and so I switch back to Legacy.

    Do you have any Ideas?
    Oh, I have tested with minimum Ram, 1 new Ram, with and without extendet GPU, with the old and the new CPU, with and without any Harddrives,..
     
  2. Maxware79

    Maxware79 Alienware died in 2014

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    A 1 beep code is pretty rare from what I have seen/read over the years. I would suggest to upgrade/flash your BIOS if you haven’t already. My suggestion would be to flash it one upgrade at a time but if you want to jump a few then don’t flash more that 3 BIOS’ ahead of what you have. For example if you have A03 then flash to A06 but no higher.
    If you don’t know your BIOS then go to the start menu and type msinfo32 and it will tell you


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  3. Mark Wackaman

    Mark Wackaman Newbie

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    Yes, I know, thats a pretty rare Error.
    The Bios is A15, thats the latest BIOS for my AW M17x R4 Laptop.
     
  4. Mark Wackaman

    Mark Wackaman Newbie

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    Hmmm, I have the latest Bios for my Laptop A15, I only can reflash, but I have to start Flash in Dos or Windows Modes, but what happens, if the M17x R4 does not start correct?
    I mean, start Flash in Windows Mode, Computer restart and flash starts, doe not turn power off!!!
    But, what happens, if the Computer didnt start correct at this time? Is this Risk free???

    Now I repeat all test methodes I can get.
    Onboard Diagnose from Start and press F12 Diagnose.
    First Test without any errors, now Thorough Test Mode is running.
    After That I start Prime Some Tests of anything for 4 hours.
    Than Prime Custom run ffts in Place with all cores.
    After that Furmark for a hour or two with Intel and AMD GPU.
    And I make Photos from all Sessions.