Black screen issue when switching to "Improved graphics" m11x R1

My m11x R1 will not show any image when I switch the graphics from power saver, to increase performance. I can still change the brightness and hear the things going on, but the screen is just black. Anyone else have this issue? I've tried installing all the drivers and no luck. I have no warranty, so I'm willing to try anything at this point to get it to work.

Here's a video of the problem I have.

YouTube - Alienware M11x discrete graphics (GT335m) going dark.

 

How do you have no warranty, the laptop came out in january/february, so even if you bought it used, the warranty would transfer and you'd have at least a month left.

 

Well I can't locate the service tag due to it being wiped away, and I can't get a hold of the original owner. So I have no idea how to even register the laptop.

 

Service tag is recorded in the BIOS.

Dell - Ownership Transfers

 

Where in the BIOS? I've tried looking but I couldn't seem to locate it.

 

Well you press F2 on startup and the service tag is on the first page of the BIOS. It is right under the System Time and System Date.

 

Mine doesn't have one... and the online system scanner says it can't detect one. What gives?

Here's a pic to show:

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/4082/imag00200.jpg

 

Perhaps the R1 just doesn't have it. My R2 does and I can't recall a Dell laptop in the last 3 years at least that didn't have it in the BIOS either.

Strange...

 

SiSoft Sandra sees my R2's service code.

Hardware > Motherboard

 

Should I try downloading it and see what it says? I'm sort of new to the computer world so I have a hard time following sometimes.

 

I think u will find the bios battery has been unplugged and this has wiped the service tag.

I think your problem is simply a driver issue - I also have the same problem, try uninstalling the drivers and reinstalling them. Make sure you uninstall, reboot - and the reinstall - reboot and all going well u should be back to normal.

 

Or even better, uninstall, reboot in safe mode, run driver sweeper, reboot, reinstall drivers, reboot.

 

I've tried the uninstall, reboot, install, reboot method and it didn't fix my problem. Also, what did you mean by the BIOS batter being unplugged? Is there any way to restore my service tag or is it gone forever?

I'll give this a try though.