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    Random BSOD

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by NegLet, Jul 28, 2011.

  1. NegLet

    NegLet Notebook Guru

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    I have had my R3 for no more than 4 hours and I got a BSOD while browsing the internet. I have had done nothing else but surf the web and download a few typical programs (iTunes, Firefox, etc.), nothing too much really.

    The following is what I got once my laptop restarted:

    Code: 
    Problem signature:
  Problem Event Name:	BlueScreen
  OS Version:	6.1.7601.2.1.0.768.3
  Locale ID:	1033

Additional information about the problem:
  BCCode:	9f
  BCP1:	0000000000000003
  BCP2:	FFFFFA800683DA10
  BCP3:	FFFFF80000BA2748
  BCP4:	FFFFFA80079BE220
  OS Version:	6_1_7601
  Service Pack:	1_0
  Product:	768_1

Files that help describe the problem:
  C:\Windows\Minidump\072811-38001-01.dmp
  C:\Users\Horacio Garza\AppData\Local\Temp\WER-81713-0.sysdata.xml

Read our privacy statement online:
  [url=http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=104288&clcid=0x0409]Windows 7 Privacy Statement - Microsoft Windows[/url]

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    Help? I don't want this laptop, my very first Alienware, to go up in flames! :(
     
    NegLet, Jul 28, 2011
    #1
  2. zoolian982

    zoolian982 Notebook Deity

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    zoolian982, Jul 28, 2011
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  3. NegLet

    NegLet Notebook Guru

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    Is it safe to download? The driver I mean? If so, what steps do I have to take to ensure that it's properly installed?

    If it's not a driver issue is there anything other thing that it could be?

    Why exactly is it a driver issue if I just received my laptop? Shouldn't it be up to date with things?
     
    NegLet, Jul 28, 2011
    #3
  4. livid

    livid Notebook Consultant

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    Dell is not up to date with their drivers. They use the driver that they found to be most stable during testing and don't sway from it unless they find a newer driver that works better.

    Welcome to the world of Nvidia Optimus, something that has yet to be perfected.
     
    livid, Jul 28, 2011
    #4
  5. zoolian982

    zoolian982 Notebook Deity

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    Well, when I received my R3, I presumed everything was up to date.

    Unfortunately, after the initial installs of microsoft updates and my daily use programs, blue screens.

    Do a few things first. download these to moniter your temps and misc."GPU-Z, CPU-Z, and CPUID HWMoniter."

    Then try a few benchmark programs like furmark and 3D mark vantage.
    [GPU Tool] FurMark 1.8.2 Available - 3D Tech News, Pixel Hacking, Data Visualization and 3D Programming - Geeks3D.com
    Download 3DMark 11 | 3DMark 11 – The Gamer's Benchmark for DirectX 11

    Do those first. Run them for 10-15minutes, and see if you still bsod. If you do, try updating to the nvidia drivers.
    http://nvidiaforums.s3.amazonaws.com/dell.zip

    If you cant update or you still receive bsods, we may need more drastic measures.

    Good luck.
     
    zoolian982, Jul 28, 2011
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  6. NegLet

    NegLet Notebook Guru

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    Once I download them, what should I do? Are there any specific settings that I should do?

    I'm currently running FurMark without changing any settings and went with a "Stability Test."
     
    NegLet, Jul 28, 2011
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  7. zoolian982

    zoolian982 Notebook Deity

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    Nothing specific. Just see if you crash while running them for 10-20min average each.

    If your fine on those but still bsod on other things, update the driver via the link I gave you.

    If either or doesn't work, we may have to do other stuff.

    Play it safe though, use this one first for a driver update.
    http://support.dell.com/support/dow...temID=ALW_M17XR3&typecnt=0&typeid=-1&vercnt=2
    It's from the dell site so it should work properly. without too much problems.
     
    zoolian982, Jul 28, 2011
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  8. NegLet

    NegLet Notebook Guru

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    Well as an update I downloaded Borderlands from Steam and played it for a bit during the night and thankfully nothing crashed and no BSOD appeared.

    Nevertheless I'm still concerned: is there any way to see why I got the BSOD the first time around?

    As to the drivers thing, if I have Optimus 580m the Dell drivers should be just fine and stable correct? I just read in another thread that the beta drivers don't play nice with Optimus...
     
    NegLet, Jul 29, 2011
    #8
  9. zoolian982

    zoolian982 Notebook Deity

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    The dell drivers should be stable. Theoretically.

    But its the optimus tech that causes problems. Half of my games weren't playable with the nvidia gpu due to random issues.

    Just give an update if you still get a blue screen again with the 9f error.
     
    zoolian982, Jul 29, 2011
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  10. NegLet

    NegLet Notebook Guru

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    How exactly do I go about installing this? Do I have to uninstall the previous driver or can I just install the driver without having to do anything?
     
    NegLet, Jul 30, 2011
    #10
  11. zoolian982

    zoolian982 Notebook Deity

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    The dell drivers usually show up as an executable file. Just run it and it should be fine.
    But being an nvidia update, do this.

    Once you run it, there would(should) be an option between "Express" and "Clean"

    Choose clean, and pick the option to remove previous drivers. It should be fine.
     
    zoolian982, Jul 30, 2011
    #11