M17x R2 Video Failure

When i install the new beta drivers off the dell website and restart my pc i just get a black screen after the windows boot and then after 2 min...the cpu shuts off. I have read Brian's post but i cannot send a PM yet to get the VBIOS but my question is how do i get to use the VBIOS if i cannot even install and restart the cpu using the new 8.7xxx display drivers



Alienware M17x-R2: Lunar Silver | BIOS A08 | i7-920XM | 8GB DDR3-1333 | 1200p RGB-LED | ATi MR5870 1GB CrossfireX | 2x 500GB 7200RPM RAID-0 | Blu-ray ROM combo | Intel 6300 WIFI

 

Can you still get into safe mode. If so go there and uninstall the GPU drivers. Run driver sweeper and CC cleaner. Then restart back into normal windows mode.

You should be at least on the A07 bios as well, install the Dell 10.8 7.683 drivers again and then flash to the new beta vbios.

You can get the vbios on this thread.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...driver-amd-5870-vbios-read-post-1-2-a-33.html

M17x-R2 Wikia Forum • View topic - New 5870m Xfire vbios beta

Make sure you have a good read of it before proceeding. Also make sure when your installing the new vbios to keep re running the installer until you get the message that both your gpu cards have been flashed already. Then you can check in GPU-z to make sure that indeed the GPU vbios version has updated and changed to the new one and restart.

Cheers.

 

It would not hurt to even run the vbios flasher again to be sure. If the vbios
flash was good, it will come back and say that the vbios is already updated
or something like that.

 

Yeah its really important that you read the instructions first and pay attention.

Also, as reborn said, you have to keep reflashing until it tells you both adapter 0 and adapter 1 (if you have two) are flashed...should say 20000/20000 for each card.

If you dont pay attention and reboot you end up with a bricked card or cards.

Lastly...the way it is now, when the black screen comes up is your caps/num lock light flashing on the top left of the keyboard? If so your card/cards are already toast from what AW told me...

good luck!

 

This is key. You need to run the two together. Otherwise there is going to be issues. Both the drivers and vbios are dependant upon each other.

Me, I'm running a driver set that dell only kept up a short and then took off thier site. I'm too lazy to upgrade.

 

Well my problem is that after my pc starts up i login into safemode and rollback the drivers to the old version and my pc starts up and runs fine...problem is getting to start up using the new drivers in order to do the vbios update.

This is the problem i cannot figure out to do.

 

Ah trues trues. Buggers ey.

Did you do a full uninstall of the old drivers 1st. Like i mentioned above. You'll need to uninstall CCC then restart into safe mode run driver sweeper and CC cleaner. Then restart back into normal OS mode and install the 10.8 7.683 dell drivers. Restart and you should be back in. Then try installing dells new drivers.

I guess if it doesn't work you could try also installing a fresh batch of AMDs ati 10.8 7.682 drivers. They will also be supported and allow you to flash the vbios.

Worse case scenario is you will need to reformat reinstall the OS and install dells new drivers stock. Lets hope you don't need to cross that bridge.

Cheers.

 

Why not reflash the vbios before installing the drivers? That might work. Not too sure since I havn't tried it yet.

 

The old ATI driver has to be completely removed. Go out on the internet and find Driver Sweeper. Run Driver Sweeper from windows and check the ATI driver to be removed. Reboot your system, when the system comes back it should be in VGA mode. It is from this point that you install the beta 8.763 drivers. After you reboot and windows comes back, you should be able to flash the vbios.. Just make sure that the cards are really flashed by running the flasher a couple of times until it reports that both adapters are already flashed. If you are able to go into safemode and rollback to the previous driver,
then you are not removing the old driver completely. This has to be done for you to successfully intall the new drivers.

 

DO NOT flash the vbios UNTIL you have the beta drivers installed...otherwise you get endless BSOD and you have to get into safemode again and start all over!! I repeat...DO NOT flash the vbios until you have the new drivers installed and working!!!

As far as your install problem, its probably like mentioned above...you need to do a clean install...here is how I did it:

1. Google "driver sweeper". Download and install.

2. Go to control panel, click Catalyst install manager, click change, then select "express uninstall all ATI software".

3. Reboot into safe mode. Start up driver sweeper, check the box for "ATI display drivers", click analyze, then click clean. Reboot again, as prompted.

4. Run "express" set up for Beta Drivers. Reboot as prompted.

5. Assuming this fixes the blank screen thing...once on the desktop, go to the ATI website and download the "application profiles" for catalyst 10.8 and install.

6. Go play video games and enjoy.

 

Not quite correct. You CAN boot into Windows if you don't have any ATI drivers loaded. The default Windows VGA drivers (the same ones that are used in Safe Mode) are supposed to work just fine.

jtmiranda, I'd suggest that you follow the instructions to fully remove the old ATI driver, then install the Dell P02 beta drivers. You should be able to boot up off these without any problem. When you get to that stage, run the VBIOS flash and keep running it until it says both of your cards are already up to date. Keep jiggling the mouse while this is happening, as this will stop the computer going to sleep or turning the screen off. And don't unplug the AC adapter either, as this will probably cause a BSOD.

It sounds daunting, but the process is fairly quick and painless, and worth it to get the newer drivers working properly.

 

Ok I did as requested and removed the ati program, booted into safe mode...ran sweeper and got all ati off there.

Got everything installed and firmware updated. Now everything works great in windows...new driver running good but the problem i have now is small but can cause huge problems. My CCC will not start...when booted up I click on CCC and i have an hour glass for 3-5 sec then nothing happens.

I watch the taskmanager and when i start up the CCC program it comes on the task manager then drops quickly...Plz help agian.

BTW thanks for all the help today!!

 

Not sure what would cause that other than a partially bad install. If I were
you go back out to Dell and re-download the beta 8.763 driver to make sure
you have a good download. Repeat the last procedure with the uninstall and
running driver sweeper again. You can also download CCleaner from the net
and run it also to make sure everthing is gone. Try the reinstall and see if
that corrects the CCC problem. Hope it works for you. If you flashed your
adapter cards with the new vbios, just remember that you cannot fall back
to earlier drivers or your computer will have problems.

 

i dont have 5870s, i have the 4870s, but since i updated to 10.8 i cant get the ccc to work either, i have tried everything, if i roll back to 10.7 it works fine ....

 

Yes, excellent point, I forgot to mention that part. But the rest of it stands true. What I meant was, if you leave the stock drivers installed then flash the vBios is gives you the troubles. But yes, if you uninstall, no issue with the standard VGA drivers.

As for your problem with CCC...I would say (also) that you should just reinstall the drivers (do a clean install again).

 

cleverpseudonym,

I assumed that when jtmiranda spoke of doing the vbios flashing that we were talking about 5870s. Since the new vbios is ONLY for 5870s and not 4870s. I also assumed that jtmiranda installed the beta 8.763 drivers from Dell in combiantion with the vbios update. If you are trying to run the stock ATI driver 10.8 I don't believe you can since Dell has not publicly come out
with a new vbios for 4870s. The vbios update for the 5870s which allowed you to use stock ATI 10.8 drivers. But most are using the beta 8.763 drivers released from Dell since they are based on the new ATI 10.8 driver. So if you are having problems trying the run the new ATI 10.8 dirver that is why. You will have to run the current Dell drivers for the 4870 adapter. So yes you may be having similar issues with the CCC, but I feel you are having this problem because the new ATI 10.8 driver is not totally compatible with the 4870s. If you think that I am wrong, then you can try the newest ATI 10.8b patch that just came out. It is suppose to fix some issues for 4870 owners.