M11xR1 Troubleshooting Thread

Thanks for the quick reply Nuke737. So I guess the best resolution is restart the machine?

I've never noticed this but just out of curiosity when I go into screen resolution -> Advanced settings -> Monitor. Is the monitor type supposed to be referred to as Generic PnP Monitor?

 

Yep. I might try testing if sending it to sleep shuts the thing up tho. And yes, its a generic monitor. Unless you got something special...

 

Is the battery icon accurate (estimated time left), because if I put my laptop on powersaving, turn the Nvidia GPU off, it says about 5 hours (oh and screen brightness on lowest and AlienFX off). Is the icon just inaccurate or is there something wrong?

 

I don't know if this has been said before, but my problem is that when I push the power button to put it to sleep, sometimes it only turns the screen off while LEDs are still on.

Other times, when I power it back up from sleep mode, the LED turns on, but the screen doesn't. Has this happened to anyone? The only way I'm turning the system back on is to hold the power button then manually push it again. Is there an alternative to this?

 

Hey everyone, a couple days ago I got my new M11x and today I just noticed that the screen start blinking, I can't really see it when I am on a window with lights colors or with the high brighter, but when there are some dark blue or black, or low brighter its easily to see it.
I am pretty sure this is not normal, specially for a new computer. I would like to know is there anyone else having this problem, and if there is a solution, otherwise I will have to return this M11x and get a new one.

 

@noin4mation = Mine just sleeps and wakes fine. LEDs, screen and all but I sleep it via closing the lid.

@pegao = somethings up. Call dell.

@thomas = that is kinda accurate, but not the best gauge you can get. The GPU isn't powered off, its powered down, so it would still consume power. Just much less compared to leaving it on.

 

hey. got a small (big) fan problem.

everytime i switch between intel and generic GPU the fan keeps on going.

cpu temps about 32°C and Gpu about the same.... this can only be fixed by rebooting the system.
really annoying - any help?

 

Hey Bert,

I've had the same problem with MW2 and BC2. Not sure if this is exactly what happens but it will play nicely for like 10 - 15 min or even and hr then boom... thing just freezes and can't even Cntrl-Alt-Del out of the program... you have to physically reboot the system to get it going again..
After you reboot, it gives me an error log saying "Blue Screen" error..
I have never overclocked this machine or change any factory defaults.
Is that what you have? So did you end up fixing the problem or get a new comp altogether?

Cheers

 

@tommie = the GPU doesnt shut off when you swap to IGP. Its underclocked. You need the fan to cool the GPU or else you get a black melted plastic blob. When you reboot, the GPU is shut off and the IGP is the only one running.

 

Sounds like the system isn't overclockable. You need a new system unfortunately. Your system IS overclocked right?

 

Hi Ravenlocke,

Sorry I probably wrote that too quickly without checking

let me rephrase

- Have not tried to OC my machine (3 weeks old now I think)
- Have had no problems up till now e.g. battery / LEDS work fine
- Installed bad company2 and MW2 and seemed to work fine 15 - 20 min highest res and specs
- 1st sign of problem was with BC2 when it suddenly hard crashed when loading... couldn't even get back to desktop the system was frozen..
- Did a reboot and when back to the windows screen it gave me an error log for somewhere along the lines of " Windows encountered a error last time because of Blue Screen" error... The BSOD I just had I assume
- Kept trying and same problem kept occuring..
- Tried another game; MW 2... 1 hr later same problem??... now I got worried..
- Then I tried Just Cause 2 and it was fine after 1 hr+... very weird.
- So I toned down the graphics for BC 2 and it seemed to be ok...

I'm not sure whether this is something to do with the graphics drivers; hardware or maybe the system can't handle high settings?.

I heard ppl have BSOD issues with M11x but only if they overclock, which in my case I haven't.

Any inputs would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks guys

 

Sounds like a GPU driver crash. Have had that before with my desktop. Just try lower settings and see how long it goes. And can you hear the fan?

 

Hey Nuke737,

Yeah at work atm so can't really test it out till tonight.
But yeah, like you said I tried BC 2 at medium settings and seemed to go without a crash so that could very well be it.
Weird thing is I tried Just Cause 2 on max settings and that seems fine...
I heard somewhere that the CPU for the M11x is underpowered which could be why BC2 is struggling, whereas something like MW2 is more GPU dependant and hence is more stable. So far i've only had 1 crash with MW 2. Might tone down the AA and see how that goes.

Yeah the fan is running and when the system crashed it was practically sitting next to an Air Conditioner so I don't think heating was an issue.

Perhaps a Nvidia driver update somewhere in the near future may help?? ... dunno

I heard also on another forum that there may be an updated M11x with Intel CPU refresh and the Nvidia Optimus included.... man that could probably help too... a bit late for us current owners but...

 

A driver update will help to no end. And yes the CPU is the bottleneck here so turn down the AA which is very CPU intensive. Try OCing and see what happens. Optimus might work for us. Its just a matter of who gets it to work first, nautis or Dell.

 

Hey guys I have a problem with my m11x. I can't connect to a network when my m11x isn't charging via ac adapter. When my m11x is plugged in, it goes online just fine. Any ideas?

 

Network as in? The ethernet network or a wireless network?

 

Sorry I meant my wireless network.

 

right click your battery icon and go to power options. Click "Change Plan Settings" and then go to "Change Advanced Power Settings". Under Wireless Adapter Properties, change the battery setting to max performance. I think your problem is the network adapter not being able to connect to a signal that is too weak to pick up when it is in power saving mode.

 

Thanks for the reply nuke but it didn't fix the problem. My battery settings were set to high performance already as well.

 

What error message are you getting and what is the signal strength (how many bars)?

EDIT: It should say "Maximum Performance" in the power settings.

 

Do what nuke737 said, but go right into advanced options. Near the bottom is options for the wireless card. Click that to open its properties and it should have two settings, one for battery and one for plugged in, make sure both of these settings are to operate for best performance.

Just setting you profile to high performance may not effect the settings for the wireless adaptor.

 

Hello Guys,

I was informed by ALienware Technical support agent today via special call he made to say overclock option is not supported by them. I told him,
a. Dell website advertises overclockable to 1.73Ghz (it does on american websites)
b. The whole internet is with the news that it is covered under warranty.
c. Its a manufcaturing defect on my computer and if you dont support it then who does?

He just repeatedly said the same sentence as it has been told to him by his manager. He was probably Russian (by his name ) as he was struggling with his English.

The Problem:

Since bought new (40 days) it has never been able to pass the OS screen when the overclock option was selected. Sometimes it never switched on display, sometimes it hanged at the Alienware logo, sometimes it hanged at POST.
I have tried re-installing OS's(all kinds), I tried clean install after enabling overclock but the system hangs while copying files in DOS.

Although it is a manufacturing defect, the technician doent like that word and wants to still call it technical ffault and wanted to replace the motherboard. Then he called in after 3 days to inform me they dont support overclock option.

I am in a fix. Any suggestions?

 

Any suggestions to increase CPU performance? I play Dragon Age Origins and it bogs down pretty frequently. I've disabled all non needed processes/services and I'm using the Dox drivers. It's always the CPU that pegs out during the bog downs. I'm overclocked and everything works great with no issues, it just seems that the CPU can't handle things to well. Will the 197 NVIDIA drivers help that at all? Is there anything else I could try to help move graphics over to the GPU to alleviate? I can max everything just fine until the CPU spikes out.

 

@metalhead = I'd take the replacement mobo if the rest of your unit is fine. Just make sure the techie replaces everything the way he removed them from the chassis.

 

I overclocked my m11x from 800 to 1066 (enable/disable option) from the Bios. I checked my system through the Control Panel. The Processor line says "Genuine Intel (R) CPU U7300 @1.30GHz 1.73 GHz." Yesterday it just had the 1.30 GHz, now it has the 1.73 GHz which I assume meant I enabled overclock. But is it normal to say both 1.30 GHz and 1.73 GHz right next to it on that line? Lol I know I sound paranoid but I'm new to all this so I don't know anything and I want to make sure I get all the problems out of the way the first couple weeks.

 

Its normal. Its just telling you both the stock clock speed and the current overclocked speed.

 

Thanks nuke737!

 

Edit: all sorted.

 

Not really anything you can do at that point. Thats the drawback of an ULV CPU. You sacrifice CPU power for battery life.

 

When did you purchase your computer? If your within twenty one days and you can't get customer care to exchange the system for you then file a compliant with the BBB. They get me results. I don't like promises and excuses and take them all with a grain of salt.

 

Guys, I’ve already made some request in owners thread, but i think it’s better to post it here,

Look at this image:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5020311/lines.png

Look at red selected part. On your laptop lcd of course. When I’m on nvidia card, I notice some vertical lines there. But when I switch on intel graphics, lines disappear. I've got stock drivers. Lines are barely visible so look carefully.

Just want to know, do you see them? Anf if yes, why they appear only on nvidia graphics?

 

O! Made some photos where you can see what i'm talking about:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5020311/nvidia_1.JPG

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5020311/intel_1.JPG

Clean intel and nvidia with some lines...

 

Sweet Jaysus - someone PLEASE help this guy out.

I've looked at every single one of your links, mate - and I haven't got a clue what you're talking about - but it HAS made me go a little 'cukoo' in the process.

 

You have m11x? Turn on nvidia card on look at this screen shot
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5020311/lines.png
you see some lines or not?

 

Wait, you don't see lines even on photo of my screen?
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5020311/nvidia_1.JPG

 

I had that once with an M1330. It happened a few times and then just never came on again. It resulted being the display connection beneath the keyboard. If you're not comfortable removing the keyboard yourself, you should call Dell as it might be a motherboard problem as well.
Good luck, hope you can fix it.

 

edit: all sorted

 

this photo is perfect on my screen.
I'm actually waiting for my replacement due to several quality issues.
but my screen display displays all your pics fine.

 

You won't believe me again. I've updated nvidia driver and now my screen in clean

 

I finally got my replacement after waiting forever and the new system seems to be great. OC issue is fixed as well as the lighting. Hopefully I wont come across any other problems.

 

Er, for some reason the brightness control on mine is going haywire.

Sometimes the popup won't even appear, sometimes it will appear but the brightness won't change, sometimes the brightness will change without the popup, sometimes both appear but the bars on the popup won't go up and down, and very rarely it actually works properly.

Stupid thing.

 

Hi there, I'm currently having this problem. Whenever i want to safely remove my storage device e.g pendrive, when i left click the removable icon, it takes very long to show the device that i have (around 5 to 8 secs). Anyone has this problem too?

 

I'm sure I remember seeing a setting somewhere to "Automatically adjust screen brightness" - just turn it off.

Can't remember whether it was in the BIOS or Windows or the Alienware application

 

I just reinstalled the OSD in the end, sorted it out.

Maybe I never noticed it before, but it seems to me that the RAM on my system is getting hot even when I'm just using integrated graphics. Sure it wasn't before. Task manager says I'm using about 25% of physical memory at idle thanks to antivirus etc...

 

can some one confirm if the screen completely closes or not. after i put the flap down completly i can still press it shut further.... u can actually see the illuminated keyboard from the side and front.... am i the only one with this problem?? pics are below

http://img682.imageshack.us/img682/1162/img0240qe.jpg
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/968/img0241ic.jpg

oh and is the keyboard alienfx supposed to turn off wehn the flap is closed? mine stays on.

 

I have a dysfunctional Pg Up key which bends upwards if you strike it on the lower half.

 

thats not normal... u should contact dell and have a replacement keyboard sent to u... its pretty easy to install it urself once u receive it... u can be on the phone with dell and they will guide u thru the disassembly if u are unsure

 

When i plug my laptop to dell u2711 via display port, nothing happens. Is that normal? I can use external disp only via nvidia?

 

Hi all, I am having problems playing Test Drive Unlimited. I cannot run it smoothly in any resolution and details settings, frames are right, but every ~5 secs the video pauses (but the game continues). After another ~2 secs the game continue but I already hit the wall somewhere. Is anybody else experiencing this issue?

 

Anyone had problems with the GPU sometimes not powering on correctly or something? Just tried a few games and the graphics were glitchy as hell, switched back to integrated then back to discrete and all was fine again :/