Ah, that feeling when your laptop refuses to POST...

Latest of a long string of issues.

Currently when I attempt to turn on my laptop, the screen will turn on, but will not display anything. No beepcodes, keyboard lighting turns on, and the fans run normally. This happens both on battery and when plugged in.

I've made sure the display cable is seated correctly, and cleared CMOS. I'll try reflashing the BIOS later tonight.

As you may understand, I am finding this rather distressing. For another issue (GPU fan turning off during games, which ends about as well as you might expect) have a tech coming with a new motherboard Monday. (Again! This'll be the third replacement)

Any suggestions other than that? I'd really like to get back on my laptop this weekend, even if just with the integrated chip!

 

Well, here's an update - I blind flashed the BIOS to A04, which failed, and then A12, which also failed. Still no beeps, nothing on the screen.

Least I've still got a couple of months left on my warranty

 

I have heard of similar issues, and most of the time it is related to the gpu. I noticed in your signature that you are on your 3rd gpu set. Have you recently changed your gpu's? Added CF?

My master card has started failing on me (showing artifacts in the graphics during gaming and video) in my CF setup, so I switched the slave card with the master card, when I tryed to boot it would not even go to the bios (similar to your problem). So I just used the slave card in the master slot and it works now.

Not sure if this will help or not but just figured I would share my experience with you incase it gives you some ideas.

Nathan

 

Thanks for the advise!

Single GPU only for us r3/r4 owners, so I haven't changed my configuration recently. The current 6970m has (had?) been working fine for the last 3ish months, but I suppose it could have died.

In any case, new motherboard tomorrow. If that doesn't fix it, I guess I get to ask for a new laptop... (Though it would be nice to be able to wait for Haswell, dammit)

 

I hear ya on that :laugh:

 

OP, you can also try plugging in a VGA monitor and see if POST comes up on that (not DP or HDMI). If it still doesn't that it may very well be a dying motherboard. I can't see 4 GPUs failing without the motherboard playing some part in it. Alienware parts QC isn't that bad, and the fan and heatsink have been replaced at least once, yes?

 

Booting to VGA is a great idea, should help to eliminate (or confirm) the display as the problem!

Unfortunately, while the fan and heatsink have been replaced, so has the motherboard - twice. And will be for a third time later today, I think. Who knows if that's actually the problem, but it can't hurt....

 

Well, with a new motherboard it boots again. So that's what I'll blame for now.

Just need to get the igp working again (I think a CMOS reset?) and I'll be happy.

 

I'm glad it's working fine now!