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    Alienware R1 8 beeps Blank screen no lcd activity

    Discussion in 'Alienware 18 and M18x' started by Alkaline, Oct 23, 2016.

  1. Alkaline

    Alkaline Notebook Consultant

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    So my old R1 finally started acting up and is now doing the 8 beeps thing :( I have a Alienware 18 so its no big deal however, I wanted to know that if you have the 8 beeps and assuming its the LCD is it possible to get the laptop to bootup with an external monitor? Or you have to have a working lcd for the system to boot.
     
    Alkaline, Oct 23, 2016
    #1
  2. GodlikeRU

    GodlikeRU Notebook Deity

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    EVGA Precision mate :) ?
     
    GodlikeRU, Oct 24, 2016
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  3. Raidriar

    Raidriar ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

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    If its m18x r1...probably a roasted 580M or 6990M
     
    Raidriar, Oct 24, 2016
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  4. JasperLee93

    JasperLee93 Notebook Consultant

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    8 Beeps is possible of an LCD Failure, assuming if Alienware uses the same beep codes as Dell.

    Got the same codes when I fix Dell machines as well.
     
    JasperLee93, Oct 24, 2016
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  5. Raidriar

    Raidriar ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

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    the chances of the LCD failing are slim to none when compared to the failure rates of the 6990m and 580M.
     
    Raidriar, Oct 25, 2016
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  6. GodlikeRU

    GodlikeRU Notebook Deity

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    LCD can be bricked by EVGA Precision cancer so it's possible
     
    GodlikeRU, Oct 25, 2016
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  7. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist®

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    I agree. There is a very strong possibility if NVIDIA GPUs and EVGA Precision X were involved and my first assumption would be that the EDID has been corrupted.

    If the M18xR1 has AMD, Precision X is not functional, so we could rule that out. If the machine is AMD powered it is most likely a dead GPU. AMD 6970M, 6990M and 7970M are not durable and if they actually lasted until now these were better samples than most.

    LCD failure is also possible, but not nearly as common as the previously mentioned possibilities.

    If the LCD panel has corrupted EDID the machine will not POST without 8-beeps. Connecting an external display will not work on Alienware, although it does on Clevo. The Alienware BIOS looks for the LCD as part of the boot routine. If the EDID is corrupted, it cannot identify the display and goes to the 8-beep issue. Your options would be to replace the screen or flash the LCD EEPROM with a good EDID.
     
    Last edited: Oct 25, 2016
    Mr. Fox, Oct 25, 2016
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  8. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    I wonder why they're notorious for breaking, bad pcb?
     
    Mobius 1, Oct 25, 2016
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  9. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist®

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    I don't know for certain why. Probably crappy soldering, but that is an assumption on my part. Baking sometimes revives them temporarily, which seems to suggest the same.
     
    Mr. Fox, Oct 25, 2016
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  10. Raidriar

    Raidriar ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

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    9 out of 10 times, the AMD 6xxx series had poor solder quality across the board (Apple in the MBP, Alienware in their 6990M/6970M). It is easily fixable with a liquid flux + reflow or a proper reball.

    7970M failures are different. early 28nm fab process was not perfect at AMD, let to early production 7970M (i'd wager up until Feb 2013) liked to die quickly. Later production 7970M and the successor 8970M have not had nearly the same issues as the 7970M.
     
    Raidriar, Oct 25, 2016
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  11. macdaddy8000

    macdaddy8000 Notebook Consultant

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    When i got the 8 beeps on my M17X R3, i switched Mainboard + GPU just to find out it was the LCD that was dead. :/
     
    macdaddy8000, Oct 26, 2016
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  12. JasperLee93

    JasperLee93 Notebook Consultant

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    JasperLee93, Oct 27, 2016
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  13. GodlikeRU

    GodlikeRU Notebook Deity

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    Yeah I got my 6990M fixed by using lead solder and they went instantly to ebay. I didn't liked crossfire support anyway
     
    GodlikeRU, Oct 27, 2016
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