The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Alienware 17 hangs at splash screen

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by TheAgenda, Nov 23, 2015.

  1. TheAgenda

    TheAgenda Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Today I opened the lid of my Alienware 17 and was greeted by a flashing screen with both my desktop and the annoying activate windows message flashing one after another very fast. I attempted to reboot and I cannot get past the Alienware logo, no access to bios. What do I do? I have tried unplugging battery and holding power button to no avail.
     
  2. thegh0sts

    thegh0sts Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    949
    Messages:
    7,700
    Likes Received:
    2,819
    Trophy Points:
    331
    do a full tear down and remove the cmos battery!
     
  3. TheAgenda

    TheAgenda Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Took out the 5400rpm hdd that I got it with and problem is gone. Im going to install os on my ssd and get a better hdd. Do I need to put the ssd in the original hdd slot or does install location matter?
     
  4. thegh0sts

    thegh0sts Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    949
    Messages:
    7,700
    Likes Received:
    2,819
    Trophy Points:
    331
    get an MSATA SSD and you use it as your default OS drive. then 2.5" SSDs for other drives.
     
  5. TheAgenda

    TheAgenda Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I have an 80GB msata already in it. But would it not be better to install os on 120GB SSD and then put another hdd in for storage?
     
  6. ngotiendat

    ngotiendat Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    5
    Messages:
    105
    Likes Received:
    16
    Trophy Points:
    31
    if just for the OS, go for the mSata ssd, alot faster than normal sata ssd :)
     
  7. thegh0sts

    thegh0sts Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    949
    Messages:
    7,700
    Likes Received:
    2,819
    Trophy Points:
    331
    better off installing on the MSATA. 80gb is enough for an OS plus a few essential apps. Install your games on the 2.5" SSDs. steam and uplay will let you do that but origin needs to use steam mover.