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    M17x R1 No Post No Bios, etc. "No SODIMMS installed" or "memory had an error".

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by gthirst, Feb 14, 2013.

  1. gthirst

    gthirst Notebook Evangelist

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    Alienware M17x R1, R2 and M15x LED Behavior Prior to Proceeding with No POST troubleshooting | Dell
    This is the error code I am getting.

    Usually: - * *
    Sometimes: -*-

    I recently performed many upgrades.

    I upgraded from 260m sli to 5870m cfx
    from p8600 to QX9300
    removed cd drive and installed hard drive
    upgraded ram from 1066 8gb to 1333mhz

    Now I see that the problem is the ram, supposedly. So I put the old ram back in- same problem.

    I performed system drain, unplugged coin cell, replugged, and tried it with it unplugged. No luck.

    What do I do/ how do I proceed? Please note I have not been able to get past a black screen with the leds lit up.

    Thanks and any help at all is appreciated.

    I would rather not think the mobo is shot, since until a few days ago it worked perfectly.

    edit: topic title and see post #3
     
    gthirst, Feb 14, 2013
    #1
  2. Codenamefa

    Codenamefa Notebook Evangelist

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    Sounds like you need to try 1 5870 and then see if it posts, if it doesn't try the 260m and if not then you need to explore the idea that you may have a board problem.
     
    Codenamefa, Feb 14, 2013
    #2
  3. gthirst

    gthirst Notebook Evangelist

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    So I did some playing around with the configuration.

    I removed the 5870s. I was able to get into bios and had no problems. Got into windows perfectly fine as well. The new ram was recognized perfectly.

    The slave (right side) card was causing the computer to not pass post. So I put the left card back in and went into windows, with integrated still enabled. It was not recognized. I tried enabling hybrid graphics and black screened and did not pass post. But, no error code this time. I took the card out again, reset the configuration and booted up fine. Put the card back in and this time disabled integrated graphics. Again, no error code and just a black screen.

    At least I've ruled out the problem being the proc, memory, or other upgrades. It is definitely something to do with the 5870s. Am I missing a step to install these cards? I wiped the nvidia drivers clean. I don't think it is a driver issue since then I would at least be able to access the bios when integrated is disabled.

    Any ideas? I would like to think at least 1 of the 2 cards isn't fault!

    Thanks again for any help
     
    gthirst, Feb 15, 2013
    #3