M17xR3 BIOS 8 beeps POST failure and How do I boot to external P2210?

My Alienware M17xR3 fails POST with a black screen and 8 beeps. Using the F2 key during boot, I got it to display onto a Dell P2210 flat panel monitor with a VGA cable. The BIOS setup menu was displayed, but the keyboard was frozen. Since then I have only gotten the black screen and 8 beeps even though I have tried the Fn + F6 and Fn + F7 key combinations to get it to the external monitor. I have the service manual that shows how to remove and to install parts. What can I do to get the laptop to boot to the external monitor?

 

You cannot boot external monitor if it doesn't clear post. either your dGPU is dead (easy to remove, run intel hd 3000 only), or your LCD really has died (uncommon)

 

Okay, I have the manual to get into the laptop. What and how do I remove the dGPU to get this puppy up and running? I want to be careful about opening this box and save a few bucks on the local shop. That is assuming that the dGPU is dead, of course. What happens if the LCD is dead? Can that be bypassed in the POST with a hotwire or something?

 

very easy to remove dGPU. unbolt the bottom cover, find the GPU, unbolt the heatsink, remove heatsink, undo 2 screws holding down the MXM card to the motherboard, lift and remove MXM card. not difficult, been doing this operation since I was 16.

If you shipped with a 580M or 6970M/6990M, there is a high chance your GPU has failed. simply removing your card will force the system to use intel hd 3000. you cannot bypass POST with a hardmod if the LCD is failed.

 

Okay, I shall try this and post results!

I removed the graphic card assembly and heat sink. Do I I now just close up the system and try it w/o the graphics assembly and fan? I couldn't upload the pictures because I'm new to the forum. Thanks for your prompt help and responses!

Success! The display now comes up in 800 x 600 which I changed to 1024 x 768.

The computer complains that no AMD driver is loaded, probably due to the now missing graphics card. I guess all I need now are recommendations for a replacement card.

Thanks, Raidriar, for your quick and prompt help!

When I booted up with the external Dell P2210 flat panel monitor powered up and hooked up with a VGA cable, the M17xR3 laptop recognized the external monitor, and I was able to get a higher resolution than the 1024 x 768. I'm still shopping for a replacement card. Dell seems to be asleep. No one is answering the phone at this hour!

 

You might have to load the Intel HD driver so you can get the full resolution.

 

I found out that having the Dell P2210 flat panel monitor hooked up by VGA cable before booting allowed the POST to detect it and give me a higher resolution.

I found out from Dell that the nVidia 580M and the nVidia 680M graphics cards would be suitable replacements for the M17xR3. Prices seem to range from $200 to $700.

 

I also found out that Dell does not seem to sell them!

 

I have 680Ms pulled from the M18x R2 that would work in your M17x R3. Let me know if you're interested in purchasing one

 

Well, did the nvidia installer proceed or not? If it did, it is installed. If not, then the adapter is not hardware accelerated. Check in device manager under display adapters. If you see Standard VGA adapter, it is not running the 680M in hardware accelerated mode. If you see GTX 680M, your adapter is functioning as expected. Post a thread in the general forum if you need help installing drivers, though I think I've done pretty much as good a job as possible and even provided you the modded INF.
No, it is definitely doing the VGA thing. :-(

 

You need to follow J95's guide on overwriting the INF in the nvidia installer directory.

 

I managed to install the 378..49 driver. Thanks a lot for your help!

 

theres a guide for this ?

Man that would have been useful these last few years... I could just let clients do it themselves !

got a link ?




and on main topic : 8 beeps for the video subsystem, usually means your gonna need to reset cmos or boot from miniDP which can load a screen but the adopters are expensive.