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    Alienware 18 m290X Crossfire Black Screen after Windows Logo boot HELP

    Discussion in 'Alienware 18 and M18x' started by seldN, Aug 13, 2015.

  1. seldN

    seldN Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi,

    I have a problem with my Alienware 18, specs below:

    4940MX, 32GB RAM, CF m290X, 4x 256gb SSD (3 in raid0), 330W PSU

    Upon bootup I get passed the starting windows logo and then I get a black screen. This is when FN+F5 is switched to run on the dedicated GPU's (CF 290X), I don't get this problem if I boot with the 4940MX's HD4600.

    Basically, what I do is the following
    1) clean re-install of Windows 7 Ultimate (not Alienrespawn, CLEAN INSTALL)
    2) Install Alienware on screen display application
    3) reboot
    4) Press FN+F5 to get onto Intel HD4600
    5) reboot
    6) Install Intel HD4600 drivers
    7) reboot
    8) FN+F5 (to get onto CF m290X mode)
    9) reboot
    10) Install AMD drivers (I've tried literally 5 different ones including Dell recommended ones)
    11) reboot
    12) BLACK SCREEN after Windows Logo.

    I am then forced to boot into safe mode and run Display Driver Uninstaller and then boot back into Windows.

    Note that I CAN boot into Windows with the CFm 290X mode so long as I have no drivers installed.

    I have run Dell Diagnostics and it passes with no problems. Both m290X's appear in the BIOS.

    Please help!
     
  2. seldN

    seldN Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thought I should also add that once I get the black screen I cannot do anything but physically restart the laptop.
     
  3. Glzmo

    Glzmo Notebook Deity

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    Do you have any tweaking/overclocking utilities (afterburner, Trixx, etc.) installed? If so, try to uninstall those completely.

    Did you try a clean install of Windows?

    Otherwise it sounds like one or both of your video cards is either defective or not seated correctly, likely the primary one.
     
    Last edited: Aug 15, 2015
  4. seldN

    seldN Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have tried a clean re-install of Windows yes,

    No tweaking/oc'ing or monitoring programs installed.

    I did try reseating the GPU's but that made absolutely no difference.