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    Alienware m17x r4 screen issue

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Klk450, Jan 20, 2015.

  1. Klk450

    Klk450 Notebook Evangelist

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    Hello there, i'm writing this on behalf of my friend who's Alienware m17x r4 screen has stopped working. The laptop turns on with all the lights but then nothing happens in the screen, He's tried connecting it to an external monitor but nothing shows up either. He has no clue what it could be.
     
    Klk450, Jan 20, 2015
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  2. LVNeptune

    LVNeptune Notebook Virtuoso

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    If it's a 60hz panel try removing the GPU and booting it up.
     
    LVNeptune, Jan 20, 2015
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  3. Klk450

    Klk450 Notebook Evangelist

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    It is a 60hz panel, the screen will boot up if i remove the gpu? My friend disabled the intel gpu because he didn't like switching between it and the 7970M.
     
    Klk450, Jan 20, 2015
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  4. LVNeptune

    LVNeptune Notebook Virtuoso

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    That might be what did it if he flashed the unlocked BIOS and forced PEG only with AMD. I've seen issues with that posted. Was it working after he made the change or is that when it happened? But yes it will work without the dGPU you might need to reflash the BIOS or find a way to reset the settings.
     
    LVNeptune, Jan 20, 2015
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  5. Klk450

    Klk450 Notebook Evangelist

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    Yeah it was working and has been for a while before this happened. I can see that the fan to the right of the laptop isn't moving at all. Also reflashing the BIOS seems quite difficult.
     
    Klk450, Jan 20, 2015
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  6. LVNeptune

    LVNeptune Notebook Virtuoso

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    The steps in my sig I believe work on the R4 as well, never actually had to test it myself
     
    LVNeptune, Jan 20, 2015
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  7. Klk450

    Klk450 Notebook Evangelist

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    If my friend reflashes the BIOS will his hard drive or windows get erased?
     
    Klk450, Jan 20, 2015
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  8. LVNeptune

    LVNeptune Notebook Virtuoso

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    No, the laptop doesn't have any TPM chip so nothing could lock him out.
     
    LVNeptune, Jan 20, 2015
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  9. bigtonyman

    bigtonyman Desktop Powa!!!

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    try plugging in an external monitor if you have one. Would determine if its a problem with the screen or gpu.
     
    bigtonyman, Jan 20, 2015
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  10. LVNeptune

    LVNeptune Notebook Virtuoso

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    He tried that in the OP
     
    LVNeptune, Jan 20, 2015
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  11. bigtonyman

    bigtonyman Desktop Powa!!!

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    whoops guess I should learn how to read. It sounds like a graphics card issue to me. Resetting the bios should be able to help figure out if the card is dead or not. If the bios flash doesn't work, try taking the cmos out for like 10 mins and hold the power button for at least ten seconds. That should reset it at least.
     
    bigtonyman, Jan 20, 2015
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  12. Klk450

    Klk450 Notebook Evangelist

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    Thanks but so far it looks like it is the GPU, i took it out and turned it on and it worked, the computer started like if nothing had happened. The dilema now is that if i put the dead gpu back in it goes back to the screen being blank. How i keep the Intel integrated graphics as the primary card?
     
    Klk450, Jan 20, 2015
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  13. LVNeptune

    LVNeptune Notebook Virtuoso

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    IMO probably be better just to leave the card out for the moment until you can get a replacement. Weird that it's not beeping or anything with a bad card though.
     
    LVNeptune, Jan 20, 2015
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  14. Klk450

    Klk450 Notebook Evangelist

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    It is weird cause I expected that as well. but I've checked and when I had the gpu in and turned on the laptop the gpu fan would spin for 2 seconds and then stop completely.
     
    Klk450, Jan 20, 2015
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  15. Klk450

    Klk450 Notebook Evangelist

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    IMG_7905.jpg

    This is how the GPU looked which doesn't look too good. Thanks for everyones replies. I'm thinking since the laptop didn't do any beeps that it could be just the pasting? and just needs a re-paste and a good clean?
     
    Last edited: Jan 20, 2015
    Klk450, Jan 20, 2015
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  16. Klk450

    Klk450 Notebook Evangelist

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    Any idea if it could be the actually fan or does it look like the GPU? because the lack of beeps from starting the laptop makes me a bit suspicious.
     
    Klk450, Jan 22, 2015
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  17. LVNeptune

    LVNeptune Notebook Virtuoso

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    No fan it would still boot up.
     
    LVNeptune, Jan 22, 2015
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