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    random freezing while watching videos

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by moon81111, Jul 25, 2011.

  1. moon81111

    moon81111 Notebook Guru

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    Hey guys i recently bought the m11x r1 with the core 2 duo and 335M nvidia card. i love this laptop and it works perfectly apart from this random freezing. ive had the laptop about a week now and its done this about 5 times which is nearly once a day.

    It tends to be while watchign a video using VLC player or youtube. If any1 has similar issues or knows what it is and can help sort the problem, i'd massively appreciate it.

    thanks

    Mark
     
    moon81111, Jul 25, 2011
    #1
  2. ejohnson

    ejohnson Is that lemon zest?

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    Mine does the same thing, while watching videos with vlc on my tv it will slow down and make a strange noise while freezing up. Not sure whats causing it though. It didnt do this when I first got the computer so I think its something to do with some corruption. Using windows media player works fine in my case.

    BTW, first time it happened I was watching Troll hunter, I thought it was one of the trolls making that noise till I looked up at the screen an noticed it was stuck.
     
    ejohnson, Jul 25, 2011
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  3. moon81111

    moon81111 Notebook Guru

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    haha yea same with me pal - it makes a weird constant noise and i have to hold the power button (which i dont like doing).

    I just tried installing nvidia drivers but it happened again - this time not watchign a video - using itunes. this is really annoying :mad: it happens at least once a day and it shouldn't !!!
     
    moon81111, Jul 25, 2011
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  4. ejohnson

    ejohnson Is that lemon zest?

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    lol, yea I get problems with itunes also, but mine is more of a "holy crap, how do I handle 700gb of music" problem. While scrolling it will lock up and scroll to the bottom of the screen, or it will lock up for 25 seconds while I am scrolling, still plays music just fine, but the timer and all other things on itunes locks.


    On topic with the video problem though, I was searching around for info on 1080p playback and came accross this.
    http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m11x/473784-m11x-1080p.html

    2nd post in there.

    Might help some, not sure though
     
    ejohnson, Jul 25, 2011
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  5. namaiki

    namaiki "basically rocks" Super Moderator

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    namaiki, Jul 25, 2011
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  6. moon81111

    moon81111 Notebook Guru

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    i dont think the problem arises because of my video player...and the whole laptop becomes unresponsive so i have to hold the power button :(

    i had overclocked the CPU but have now underclocked it back to its original setting hoping it will help.
     
    moon81111, Jul 25, 2011
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  7. dskid807

    dskid807 Notebook Guru

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    Try using the older BETA drivers on the Dell website, they're the 197 ones I think. I had the same problem but these solved it. It's something to do with the GPU revision from what I can tell.
     
    dskid807, Jul 25, 2011
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  8. moon81111

    moon81111 Notebook Guru

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    oh right okay - do u happen to have the link for those? im rubbish at finding drivers etc :( and does that mean i can overclock my CPU again on my r1? as i initially thought that might be causing it
     
    moon81111, Jul 25, 2011
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  9. namaiki

    namaiki "basically rocks" Super Moderator

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    namaiki, Jul 25, 2011
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  10. moon81111

    moon81111 Notebook Guru

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    thanks so much.

    so these are older drivers? i havnt downloaded any new ones since i got the laptop a week ago...and also just to ask again it shudn't be the overlocking of my CPU should it?
     
    moon81111, Jul 25, 2011
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  11. namaiki

    namaiki "basically rocks" Super Moderator

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    These are older drivers. The current driver for the M11x R1 is Forceware 263.08 which came out four months ago.

    The freezing could be caused by the overclocking of the CPU or plenty of other things. You could try the driver first (check which version you are using at the moment first) and if that doesn't work, you could try restore the original CPU speed.
     
    namaiki, Jul 25, 2011
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  12. moon81111

    moon81111 Notebook Guru

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    ive restored the original CPU speed and so far so good. if it continues to happen ill install those old drivers and settings.

    thanks again mate !
     
    moon81111, Jul 25, 2011
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  13. moon81111

    moon81111 Notebook Guru

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    got to bump this up guys

    i installed the old drivers as well as underclocking back to the original 1.3ghz and it still continues to freeze ! it has done this at least 10 times in the 2 weeks ive had the laptop...like once every 1-2 days.

    what should i do ? help on this would be much appreciated

    thanks

    Mark
     
    moon81111, Aug 1, 2011
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  14. moon81111

    moon81111 Notebook Guru

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    oh ive also noticed that when it freezes...the constant tone doesnt seem to be coming from the actual speakers...but maybe the motherboard? would that be possible? and if so meaning i have a dodgy motherboard?
     
    moon81111, Aug 1, 2011
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  15. GNandGS

    GNandGS Notebook Deity

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    Try disabling any hardware accel... or if you have none, get some. Also, test with a local copy - no streaming. Disable network while testing
     
    GNandGS, Aug 2, 2011
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  16. moon81111

    moon81111 Notebook Guru

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    it freezes both while watching videos on youtube and my local HD. it has also froze on me just randomly listening to music on itunes.

    90% of the time i use the power save graphics as i dont do much gaming at the moment
     
    moon81111, Aug 2, 2011
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  17. moon81111

    moon81111 Notebook Guru

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    ive been in contact with alienware and they just want me to restore the system to factory settings which to say the least is irritating !! :mad:

    i've already sent an M15x back...now im thinking of doing the same with the M11x. For the money ive paid it should just work properly no questions asked !!!!
     
    moon81111, Aug 2, 2011
    #17