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    Windows 7 wont boot after BIOS update (M17xR1)

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Maddzy, May 25, 2010.

  1. Maddzy

    Maddzy Newbie

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    The HDMI port wasnt working on my M17x so i updated the bios to A04 and now win7 blue screens half way through booting. I tried reverting back to A03 with a usb keyand noww my bios version is "X58" and Windows still wont load. I just paid a fortune for this machine and now I've screwed it up! Can anyone help? Please!
     
  2. Mikoyan_UK

    Mikoyan_UK Notebook Consultant

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    I don't have this laptop yet but have you tried setting the bios to factory defaults and attempting to boot?
     
  3. Maddzy

    Maddzy Newbie

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    Thanks for the reply. I tried resetting the BIOS to factory default and also removed the cell battery for the bios for 30 seconds to reset it that way. Didnt help though :(
     
  4. cleverpseudonym

    cleverpseudonym PG RATED

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    its likely that the bios changed the achi setting and thus the communication between the hdd & the bios. just reload windows and make sure achi is selected in the bios
     
  5. Mikoyan_UK

    Mikoyan_UK Notebook Consultant

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  6. Maddzy

    Maddzy Newbie

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    I would but the blue screen is only on the screen for a second and the laptop restarts. No way to read it at all it just flashes on the screen unfortunately. I'd like to keep reinstalling windows as a last resort if I can. I just flashed the BIOS to version A01 and it didnt fix it either. I checked the bios settings and ACHI is enabled.

    I just noticed that just before the bluescreen happens the fans and disk seem to stop spinning like the power cuts. All the lights stay on though.

    Edit: A resolution! I changed ACHI to ATA mode and now it boots fine. Thanks cleverpseudonym for pointing me in the right direction lol. Is it weird that it works on ATA and not ACHI for SATA?

    Edit 2: Unfortunately this didnt fix my original HDMI issue :(