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    BSOD on m15x

    Discussion in 'Alienware Area-51/Aurora and Legacy Systems' started by Robnaros, Jul 16, 2010.

  1. Robnaros

    Robnaros Newbie

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    For the past week or so, my area 51 m15x experiences a nvlddmkm.sys blue screen at entirely random intervals. It usually occurs when I am using Firefox, but I did encounter said BSOD while playing WoW.

    I googled the nvlddmkm.sys error and it pointed towards a graphics driver issue. It is likely not a temperature issue, since my temperatures (according to HWMonitor) seem normal. To be safe, I uninstalled my drivers, rebooted in safe mode, cleaned out any driver fragments, restarted, and reinstalled the 186.82 drivers.

    Since I run the m15x with the 8800 and integrated graphics hybrid, I am unable to upgrade my drivers any further. If any of the newer version do install without a BSOD, they do not seem to even detect my card.

    Thus, is there anything I can do to stop my m15x from blue screening or am I out of luck? I would assume that a driver upgrade would work, but I obviously am out of luck in that department unless there is some magical workaround.
     
    Robnaros, Jul 16, 2010
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  2. kobe

    kobe Notebook Virtuoso

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    I don't have the 8800 anymore, but here is what I would do:

    1.Switch to dedicated graphics.
    2.Upgrade the drivers to the newest ones.
    3.Since upgrading drivers would get rid of the Fn+F7 method of switching to integrated graphics. I would boot into integrated graphics by (holding the right click button on the m15x).
    4.If I wanted to get back to dedicated graphics all I would have to do is to do a full shutdown. And then boot back up normally with the power button.
     
    kobe, Jul 16, 2010
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  3. Robnaros

    Robnaros Newbie

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    Thanks for the response.

    I believe I run on dedicated graphics all the time, and I think I only used the integrated graphics once or twice. Is it default to run on dedicated graphics? Or am I on some sort of hybrid mode at the moment?

    If I am on dedicated right now, I have already tried to upgrade my drivers past 186.82 and it either blue screens at reboot or fails to detect the card. Am I doing something wrong?
     
    Robnaros, Jul 16, 2010
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  4. kobe

    kobe Notebook Virtuoso

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    The default is what you switched to using the Fn+F7 combination. I don't know why you are getting the blue screens.

    I have the ati 3870 and still able to use the lastest Ati drivers. I'm pretty sure Nvidia is a lot better than Ati when it comes to driver support.
     
    kobe, Jul 16, 2010
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