Laptop m17x R3 stopped recognizing discrete graphics card

Hi, I've bought my alienware m17x r3 with ATI Raedon 6970m about 4 months ago and haven't had any problems until a couple weeks ago when i turned on my laptop and for some reason all games were laggy and then i noticed my computer didn't recognize the graphic card and the computer was using the integrated graphics card, the Catalyst Control Center couldn't be started because it said there wasn't any config compatible with the current settings (i can't recall what was exactly what it said) also the switchable graphics card FN key (FN + F7) didn't work so i just restarted my computer and after that it recognized the graphic card again.

After that it became more common for me to restart the computer every once in while because sometimes it started without recognizing the graphics card at all.

Today i turned it on and the same happened but now it won't recognize the graphic card after 3 restarts, i have the laptop plugged in to the ac adapter and it is not detected in system devices. I tried restoring the system to a point before the last windows update (which was 3 days ago) and didn't work.

I also uninstalled the catalyst control center and drivers and tried to reinstall them but for some reason they wont install again, maybe because they need to recognize the graphic card on the computer but it doesn't even appear in the System Devices page. The bios page also won't recognize it, i get something like this when entering the bios. (the Discrete Graphics 1 [Not Detected] )

I'm trying to look for someone who knows how to fix this because i bought my alienware in the US and then moved out so i don't think it will be possible to get help from Dell Support.

 

can you reseat your ram and try to remove 2 of the sodimms and restart? I know it is crazy but once ram caused me same problem (1866mhz)

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/629242-6990m-not-detected-after-repaste-help.html

I had the same problem when i repasted. check this thread for help. I had to reseat the card a couple times and reset the bios twice before it was recognized again

 

ok ill try that

Thank you for the reply! I tried the step that also where in your thread and now i got it working back again. I'll keep posting here if i see the problem repeats again.

 

That's great! I'm happy to hear you got your card working again.

 

so i made a post a few weeks ago about my m17x r3 not recognizing the discrete graphics card (AMD HD 6970M)... welll it is now worse because it isnt recognizing it even after i used all methods i did the first time it stopped recognizing it. the only method that always worked was to reset the bios by removing the battery and the cmos battery but now its making no effect.

im desperate already and i don't know what to do

i was thinking if there is a way i can get dell to repair or replace the system with a working one but the problem is that i dont live in the place where i ordered it, also i bought this system about 5 - 6 months ago and i'm not sure if this kind of return/replace policy still applies

 

Did you physically remove and then reseat the 6970M? While it's out, you should clean the contacts (an eraser and a soft cloth work very well). That has repaired a lot of similar problems.

 

nope, im not sure how to remove the graphics card

well seems like i fixed the problem... hope this one is permanent and not temporal like the last time. just had to remove the gpu and clean everything and then reset the vbios

edit: things just got weird now, my system is detecting 2 Generic PnP Monitor when im not using any other kind of monitor, should i make a new thread about this?

 

exactly same as my system. At the BIOS it says:
Discrete Graphics: Not detected

What I do: Flip my m17xr3 upside down so that the keyboard faces the ground then turn it on. Wait until it loads then check the BIOS although this is only a temporary solution because I have yet to reseat/repaste my 6970m.

 

Hi, i know this is a old post, but you just save my right now with this answer and i just want to give you thanks. i just register for this: Thanks you so much Sir.

 

Glad to see people adding themselves to the community just to thank. We hope to see you here more often.
@OP I'm glad you got it sorted out with that Hopefully it'll stay that way for a very long time!