M17xR2 Issues - Need serious help!!

I've had my M17xR2 working just fine for a while now (even with my added 6990's). The other day I was playing WoW when all of a sudden my screen flashed and the machine turned off. When I tried to turn it on I heard some weird noises from the computer and wasn't able to get into Windows. When I tried to do the "Check system files" option it gave me some error and wouldn't allow me to do it. I restarted a few times more trying to get into windows with no luck, but I was able to at least get into BIOS, albeit very slowly loading. After a few more tries I now only hear the noise (attached to this post) and see the alienhead start screen that just says F2 Bios and F12 boot menu. When I hit F2 the computer makes a loud beep but nothing else happens. No matter what keys I hit, nothing happens. I've tried taking out the battery and holding down the power button - hell I've even unplugged the CMOS battery for a minute and held the power button but all I have is that screen along with this very painful noise. Does anyone have ANY recommendations? I could really use some help here.

https://soundcloud.com/intenseigfx/alienware-sounds is a link to the sound it makes

EDIT: Just to clarify - no matter how many times I restart I can't get past the attached screen accompanied by the sound. I can't get into boot menu or bios. Any ideas?

 

hmmm this really could be anything.
There is an AW tech registered on these forums that might identify this sound.

Personally it would try:

Unplug the power cord and remove battery and then remove the BIOS battery for a few minutes (10 to 15 minutes) for the motherboard to discharge.
hopfully this would help, if not, you are already looking at bios chip or mobo problems....

If this does not help you try to remove/swap Memory modules.

If this this does not help you could try to boot with one GPU (also if just running primary 6990 won't do the trick, try placing the "slave" 6990 in the primary slot and boot with just that one.

If that does not help.....try replacing the CPU (although this seems highly unlikely because when you see the AW head it has already ID'ed the CPU...

If non of these steps work you have a defective BIOS chip or mobo.

GL and keep us posted

EDIT:
I am asuming that your PSU is working correct.....

Could it be that your keyboard is doing something wrong?
well you would find that out either way because when you want to remove the GPU you have to remove the ribbon(s) from the motherboard anyway

EDIT 2:
The user i was referring to is Alienware-L_Porras

 

Agree with unphoto. Sounds like something on the motherboard or the motherboard itself has gone bad.

 

That the sound of dead hard drive. I had exactly the same sound (twice) when mine was dead.
Second time a had this noise when the hard drive was plugged to external case and was enough power supplied to hard drive.

So either your HD is dead or you have power line issue to your HD.

 

I'd expect that even with a dead HDD, that he should be able to get into the BIOS? (I might be mistaken, but I've had no HDD detected before but was still able to access the bios).

Unfortunately it sounds like a motherboard issue to me as well, although it wouldn't hurt to try what unphoto suggested before putting any money down on a new MB. I don't recall if it's under warranty, but if it is might be worth contacting Dell support as well.

Hopefully the alienware reps can chime in on this thread as well with some suggestions.

Easiest thing to do, swap memory chips (and see if that helps...doesn't require much of a disassembly)...I tend to go for the quick hitters first and then work my way in...so possibly booting off on one card (or the other) as the next step.

Wish I could suggest more, but these types of failures can be notoriously difficult to troubleshoot and tend to result in the motherboard being an issue.

Good luck!

 

I don't know how you troubleshoot......
HDD is detected by BIOS.....this laptop does not boot to BIOS....

 

Lets wait for him, either motherboard or HDD. He will tell us.

I only stated that the same noise (exactly the same) I had when both HDD died in my system.
Not all MBD and HDD are getting faulty the same way.

 

Could be the HDD crashed and drawing to much current, causing other problems.
This would be about the time the PC starts spinning up the HDD.
Also try to remove the HDD's and try to enter BIOS again after youve done your memory swaps. Like mentioned above, do the easy tries first and HDD removal is very easy as well.

 

Thanks for the help guys.

I ended up taking out the harddrives and found that one of them was busted. I put in a new 120 gig SSD that I had sitting around and installed windows 7 on it from the alienware respawn disk. I'm up and running now, but my gaming performance is terrible. My PC vantage scores are crap and, for whatever reason, I'm just getting choppiness in game. Trying to figure it out now...

 

Still find it strange though that it hung before BIOS...then again...i am not sure that you ever see the self test part and if indeed it was stuck at self test (SATA port non communication) then it would hang....but in the end it would have stepped over the self test and should display wrong boot device.

Anyway, gl

 

Awesome news..at least it sounds like your further along then you were. I too was suprised that the HDD could prevent the bios from being accessed, so definitely will file that info away for later use in the future in case I ever need it.

Hey Intense...might be a good idea to verify that crossfire is showing up enabled, I know sometimes (especially when I install new drivers), crossfire doesn't always get enabled, unless I select it and reboot.

One possibility as to why your vantage scores are low and performance is choppy.

Good luck!

 

You see guys, I was right as I went through this pain already twice and my HDD was detected in bios as well.
In both circumstances was the mechanical fault of both hard drives.

Anyway, happy that you narrowed this down quickly.

 

Not beeing able to enter BIOS for edeting does not mean it or parts of it hasn't been already read.

Its a motor spinning the HDD, noise in motors/controls can cause strange faults and computer hanging,

Nice to read you got it fixed.

 

definitely your hard drive. That noise is the heads trying to access the platter on your disc. Time to get a ssd. You will notice the difference:yes:

 

Now the prices have come down its a good time too, even the slightly older drives give you that performance injection.