The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    URGENT.. after nvflash vbios gtx675m M17xR4 can't boot HELP!!!

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by sanity74, Mar 20, 2015.

  1. sanity74

    sanity74 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    45
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Hi guys, my nvidia gtx675m after flash bios the laptop can't boot at all and I can't get in to bios mobo too.
    any suggestion...
     
    sanity74, Mar 20, 2015
    #1
  2. sasuke256

    sasuke256 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    495
    Messages:
    1,440
    Likes Received:
    449
    Trophy Points:
    101
    what vbios did you apply on it ? wrong version may be, you can try a blind flash if you remember very well the procedure..
     
    sasuke256, Mar 21, 2015
    #2
  3. Cloudfire

    Cloudfire (Really odd person)

    Reputations:
    7,279
    Messages:
    10,304
    Likes Received:
    2,878
    Trophy Points:
    581
    What notebook is this?
     
    Cloudfire, Mar 21, 2015
    #3
  4. TomJGX

    TomJGX I HATE BGA!

    Reputations:
    1,456
    Messages:
    8,707
    Likes Received:
    3,315
    Trophy Points:
    431
    Alienware M17x R4 with 120Hz screen.. Basically he's screwed as Intel igpu is disabled and it won't boot without a NVIDIA GPU
     
    TomJGX, Mar 21, 2015
    #4
    Cloudfire likes this.
  5. hfm

    hfm Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,264
    Messages:
    5,297
    Likes Received:
    3,049
    Trophy Points:
    431
    Someone would probably have to build you a bootable .iso that you could Boot from that would automatically flash for you.
     
    hfm, Mar 21, 2015
    #5
  6. sanity74

    sanity74 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    45
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    16
    is there someone can help me to build bootable.iso
     
    sanity74, Mar 21, 2015
    #6
  7. hfm

    hfm Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,264
    Messages:
    5,297
    Likes Received:
    3,049
    Trophy Points:
    431
    No idea, not sure how else you could fix it without being able to see.
     
    hfm, Mar 22, 2015
    #7
  8. Player2

    Player2 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    120
    Messages:
    648
    Likes Received:
    240
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Maybe take the card out and find someone with a machine that has optimus that can reflash the card for you.
     
    Player2, Mar 22, 2015
    #8
  9. TBoneSan

    TBoneSan Laptop Fiend

    Reputations:
    4,460
    Messages:
    5,558
    Likes Received:
    5,798
    Trophy Points:
    681
    You can get the card flashed back using a unlocked m18x r2 and some screwing around with PEG settings etc to flash back. Not that this helps your situation, but your card isn't hard bricked.
    It's happened to alot if us at some point experimenting on the r2 vbioses and it's fixable with the right laptop/hardware.
    My advice would be to ask someone in the Alienware m18x forum in your area to help you out and perhaps compensate them for their time since it involves 2 tear downs to do.
     
    Last edited: Mar 25, 2015
    TBoneSan, Mar 25, 2015
    #9
  10. sanity74

    sanity74 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    45
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    16
    only m18x?how about m17xr4 non 3D can solve my problem?
     
    sanity74, Mar 25, 2015
    #10
  11. sanity74

    sanity74 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    45
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    16
    what do you mean a machine that has optimus?what kind of laptop is that?
     
    sanity74, Mar 25, 2015
    #11
  12. TBoneSan

    TBoneSan Laptop Fiend

    Reputations:
    4,460
    Messages:
    5,558
    Likes Received:
    5,798
    Trophy Points:
    681
    Only a unlocked m18x r1 and r2 as far as I'm aware
     
    TBoneSan, Mar 25, 2015
    #12
  13. sanity74

    sanity74 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    45
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    16
    what do you mean unlocked m18r1 or r2?
     
    sanity74, Mar 25, 2015
    #13
  14. Ethrem

    Ethrem Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    1,404
    Messages:
    6,706
    Likes Received:
    4,735
    Trophy Points:
    431
    M17xR1 can even flash cards. I had to flash my Clevo 880Ms a few times in my R1. The key is to have a system that has working integrated graphics that doesn't disable the dGPU when the iGPU is in use. The R1 had nVidia iGPU and had the old hybrid SLI stuff so it was easy.
     
    Ethrem, Mar 25, 2015
    #14
    TBoneSan likes this.
  15. sanity74

    sanity74 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    45
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Can m17r4 have a system that has working integrated graphics that doesn't disable the dGPU when the iGPU is in use?
     
    sanity74, Mar 25, 2015
    #15
  16. TomJGX

    TomJGX I HATE BGA!

    Reputations:
    1,456
    Messages:
    8,707
    Likes Received:
    3,315
    Trophy Points:
    431
    You should be able to flash the GPU in a Alienware M17x R4 which is in Optimus mode.. It needs to have a 60Hz pannel though.. Your R4 has a 120Hz pannel so iGPU is disabled... So if you have a friend with a R3 with unlocked BIOS or a R4, it should be possible...
     
    TomJGX, Mar 25, 2015
    #16
  17. sanity74

    sanity74 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    45
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    16
    can you tell me how to unlocked bios on R4?thanks man
     
    sanity74, Mar 25, 2015
    #17
  18. Ethrem

    Ethrem Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    1,404
    Messages:
    6,706
    Likes Received:
    4,735
    Trophy Points:
    431
    What do you mean unlock? If you have a 120hz display, the iGPU is disconnected, there's no way around it.
     
    Ethrem, Mar 25, 2015
    #18
  19. sanity74

    sanity74 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    45
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    16
    I think, I have a friend who got alienware m17r4 non 3D. if he willing to help me flash my card in his laptop. at least I know what to do. thanks man
     
    sanity74, Mar 25, 2015
    #19
    Ethrem likes this.
  20. Ethrem

    Ethrem Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    1,404
    Messages:
    6,706
    Likes Received:
    4,735
    Trophy Points:
    431
    Best of luck!
     
    Ethrem, Mar 25, 2015
    #20
  21. sanity74

    sanity74 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    45
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    16
    but I don't know how to flash bios with unlocked bios. what setting I have to do in bios?
     
    sanity74, Mar 25, 2015
    #21
  22. Ethrem

    Ethrem Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    1,404
    Messages:
    6,706
    Likes Received:
    4,735
    Trophy Points:
    431
    Advanced menu/Disable IGP/set display to PEG
     
    Ethrem, Mar 25, 2015
    #22
  23. sanity74

    sanity74 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    45
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    16
    thanks man, and how about instruction to flash bios safely?
     
    sanity74, Mar 25, 2015
    #23
  24. TomJGX

    TomJGX I HATE BGA!

    Reputations:
    1,456
    Messages:
    8,707
    Likes Received:
    3,315
    Trophy Points:
    431
    You'll need to flash the stock vBIOS from somewhere... I have no idea about this.. Maybe someone like @MickyD1234 or @Hackintoshihope still have 675M stock vBIOS for AW... You bascially need to find the stock vBIOS version.. I have no idea about 675M.. if it was 680M would have been more straightforward!

    If your friend has a 675M, then you should be able to use the same vBIOS as he has... Dump the vBIOS using GPU-Z in dedicated mode (NVIDIA GPU only)... You can flash that:

    Instructions to flash here: http://forum.techinferno.com/nvidia-video-cards/2166-[guide]-nvidia-vbios-flashing.html#post28018

    I guess you have all the nvflash dos stuff?
     
    TomJGX, Mar 25, 2015
    #24
  25. Ethrem

    Ethrem Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    1,404
    Messages:
    6,706
    Likes Received:
    4,735
    Trophy Points:
    431
    What do you mean? There's always a risk when flashing a vbios. If you're talking about flashing the unlocked sbios I would do some research first, there's guides all over for it. I haven't bought Alienware since my R1 which is the machine I used the times I soft bricked my 880Ms. If you're having so many problems with a modded vbios I'd flash it back to stock and call it a day if it was me.

    Post 2 here has the info for flashing. http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/gtx-780m-installation-on-m17x-r4.737888/

    Stock Dell vbios for 675M 2GB: http://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/125989/dell-gtx675m-2048-120313.html
     
    Ethrem, Mar 25, 2015
    #25
  26. sanity74

    sanity74 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    45
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    16
    I'm a little bit confuse, that we talking about flashing vbios nvidia or bios mobo?
     
    sanity74, Mar 25, 2015
    #26
  27. sanity74

    sanity74 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    45
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    16
    it's unlocked bios mobo or unlocked vbios?
     
    sanity74, Mar 25, 2015
    #27
  28. Ethrem

    Ethrem Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    1,404
    Messages:
    6,706
    Likes Received:
    4,735
    Trophy Points:
    431
    Why don't I move this over to the Alienware section where it will be more visible, I don't want to give you the wrong information.
     
    Ethrem, Mar 25, 2015
    #28
  29. sanity74

    sanity74 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    45
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    16
    thanks mod..sorry for any inconvenience.
     
    sanity74, Mar 25, 2015
    #29
  30. Ethrem

    Ethrem Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    1,404
    Messages:
    6,706
    Likes Received:
    4,735
    Trophy Points:
    431
    Its not an inconvenience, I just want to make sure that you get the correct information for your machine, that's all :)
     
    Ethrem, Mar 26, 2015
    #30
  31. sanity74

    sanity74 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    45
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    16
    thanks mod. still looking for clue
     
    sanity74, Mar 26, 2015
    #31
  32. TomJGX

    TomJGX I HATE BGA!

    Reputations:
    1,456
    Messages:
    8,707
    Likes Received:
    3,315
    Trophy Points:
    431
    @sanity74 read my previous post. To fix the GPU you need to flash the correct vBIOS... As for the flashing process, you can do this without your machine having an unlocked BIOS... Just make sure you in optimus mode (you use both intel and dedicated GPU, you press FN+F7 to switch between the modes).. Since your card is bricked, before you put it in, make sure using his working GPU that you are in Optmius mode.. Then swap the GPU's and flash vBIOS...
     
    TomJGX, Mar 26, 2015
    #32
  33. sanity74

    sanity74 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    45
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Just clarified
    In windows press FN+F7 to switch between the mode(how do I know if I in optimus mode?)
    Turn off laptop
    Change the GPU with bricked one
    Boot from usb bootable dos
    Flash vbios with backup bios
    It's right step?
    Thanks man
     
    sanity74, Mar 26, 2015
    #33
  34. TomJGX

    TomJGX I HATE BGA!

    Reputations:
    1,456
    Messages:
    8,707
    Likes Received:
    3,315
    Trophy Points:
    431
    Yes indeed... Now to confirm whether you are in Optimus mode, you can confirm this as follows: In dedicated mode, if you right click on desktop you won't have the options for Intel Control pannel... If you are in Optimus mode, you'll have options to change settings for both Intel and NVIDIA GPUs... Another way to confirm this is also to install Hwinfo64 and if you click on sensors after opening it up, scroll down and if you see your NVIDIA GPU sensors not there, GPU is not active...
     
    TomJGX, Mar 26, 2015
    #34
  35. sanity74

    sanity74 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    45
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    16
    :)
    Thanks for make it clear man :)
     
    sanity74, Mar 26, 2015
    #35
  36. sanity74

    sanity74 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    45
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    16
    @TomJGX screen 120Hz panel can't boot from intel graphic onboard so is mean that screen can't use with intel graphic?
     
    sanity74, Mar 28, 2015
    #36