M17x r4 refusing to pass post - suspected graphics issues

My M17x is having problems. Currently, it's refusing to pass POST - LEDs will light, drives will spin up, but single beeping. I've looked around, and similar problems seem to have arisen around switching to the dedicated graphics card (7970m). This problem did first crop up around the time I switched to the dedicated graphics only, but hard resets (remove all power, hold power button for 30s, restart) eventually got me past POST. It doesn't seem to be working this time, though, so any help would be welcomed. Right now, I'm leaning towards physically removing the graphics card to force the machine to boot using the integrated graphics, but the screws are in too damn tight, and I don't want to fight against stripped screws unless I have to.

 

Have you tried a Cmos reset? Also a blind bios flash?

 

CMOS reset yes, blind bios flash is next on my list, I just haven't done it before, so I'm trying to find the best instructions I can for it.

Edit: if someone could point me in the direction of a walkthrough for the process, I'd be very grateful.

 

I had the exact same thing. They had to put in a new motherboard...pissed me off since I only had the laptop for 20 days.! Good luck.....................

 

Sorry about that, it happens. It's electronics and they may fail at any time. @Zeratul010, have you tried this?

 

Yeah, I tried that video a long time ago. Not only is it not helpful, but the email address listed is defunct. That was just part of one of the worst customer service experiences I've ever had with a company, and I've had some truly bad experiences before.

 

What fixed, or didn't fix this problem?

 

It's still unfixed. Rebooting, hard resets, removing the CMOS battery, and removing the video card haven't solved the problem. I want to do a blind BIOS flash yet, but I'm not quite sure what file I need for that (the latest BIOS update from Dell comes with a .bin instead of a .fd file).

Dell support told me that since it's out of warranty, they won't service it, even at my expense, and they won't sell replacement motherboards. I was literally told my only option was to buy a MB from a 3rd party, and then install it myself.

 

Well we can't be sure if it's video card related. What I would recommended is taking the video card out and checking if it can boot on integrated.

 

Did that a while back (Dell uses low-grade screws to keep that card in). It failed to make a difference. I attempted a blind BIOS flash, which officially bricked the machine. A new motherboard is en route - the last piece of Dell hardware I or anybody else I know will be buying for a long time.