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    Alienware 17 Freeze within 5 minutes

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by vortex127, Dec 30, 2013.

  1. vortex127

    vortex127 Notebook Consultant

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    Hi all,

    Has anyone had this problem? I am on Windows 8.1 and it seems to freeze randomly (though always within the first 5 minutes of starting up) - I can move the mouse etc. but not click or do anything until I force a shutdown by holding the power button.

    After doing this once, I can be stable for hours.

    This link is the nearest thing I can find to explaining what is going on - Windows 8.1 Freezing For Some Users
     
    vortex127, Dec 30, 2013
    #1
  2. Alienware-L_Porras

    Alienware-L_Porras Company Representative

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    Try running a PSA at the startup. Turn on the PC and press F12 several times, select diagnostics. Let it run and also go through the extended memory test. Let us know if it shows any error messages.
     
    Alienware-L_Porras, Dec 31, 2013
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  3. vortex127

    vortex127 Notebook Consultant

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    It appears to be related to installing new NVIDIA drivers without uninstalling the previous ones? Does this sound like it is likely? I only say that because it froze twice in a row and only thing I had done was install the new NVIDIA drivers - after uninstalling and then reinstalling the new drivers (so not an overwrite) it is fine again
     
    vortex127, Jan 8, 2014
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  4. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    Display drivers are designed to be installed on top of each other without removing any first.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Jan 8, 2014
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  5. vortex127

    vortex127 Notebook Consultant

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    Can't work out what it is then as this seemed to be all that fixed it...how do I do the "PSA"? F12 doesn't seem to do anything at startup
     
    vortex127, Jan 8, 2014
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  6. vortex127

    vortex127 Notebook Consultant

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    Sorry to bump. Has been a couple of days now and no random freeze. I have done a little research and it could potentially be down to the Geforce Experience and some stuff running for the NVIDIA shield. Not entirely sure though why a reinstall of all those drivers would fix it (as you said Meaker - they are designed to install ontop of each other)
     
    vortex127, Jan 10, 2014
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  7. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    It could be something got corrupted and you cleared it out.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Jan 10, 2014
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