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    Blue Screen - Red screen

    Discussion in 'Alienware M15x' started by 2097, Mar 25, 2011.

  1. 2097

    2097 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Been getting quite a few lockups as of late

    Sometimes i will get a Windows Bluescreen of depth
    with reference to nvlddmk.sys

    Some times i will get a plain blue screen lockup ( from what looks like the graphics card ) . Have to reboot as the screen turns off

    Some times will also get a red screen lockup ( from what looks like the graphics card ) . Have to reboot as the screen turns off

    Had the graphics card replaced on monday

    It is very infrequent and happens randomly . I dont game on the laptop and this is normally when in photoshop and playing online radio .

    Does this sound like a graphics card issue ?

    I do notice my fans come on after i have rebooted but the cpu temps seem ok..

    I have a 260 Gtx btw

    Recently replaced

    processor = 920xm
    Memory has been replaced with 2x corsair 4gb sticks
    CD drive has been replaced with a 500gb HDD caddy

    graphics card was replaced earlier this week due to these problems !
    I was running the latest version of the drivers ( which i have now upgraded today with the newest )

    Has any one got a link to some drivers that are known to work ok ?
     
  2. 2097

    2097 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Ive also had driver crashes ( windows )

    ntoskrnl.exe+80640

    dxgkrnl.sys dxgkrnl.sys+5d000 fffff880`0fc90000 fffff880`0fd84000 0x000f4000 0x4ce799fa 20/11/2010 09:50:50

    dxgmms1.sys dxgmms1.sys+ff07 fffff880`0fd84000 fffff880`0fdca000 0x00046000 0x4ce799c1 20/11/2010 09:49:53

    nvlddmkm.sys nvlddmkm.sys+156408 fffff880`0f032000 fffff880`0fc8d180 0x00c5b180 0x4d64bb6c 23/02/2011 07:46:52
     
  3. Tpcorr

    Tpcorr Notebook Geek

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    I had a similar problem with my 260m. Dell replaced my video card 3 times, the heat sink twice, and the motherboard once. I also reformatted my hard drive. And I still had BSOD, locked up red screens, and driver timeout errors. I searched google for this problem, and got a ton of hits, using the exact phrase noted in the error message.

    It's a known issue with the 260m. Alot of people complain about it, but no resolution has been found. I tried the dell drivers on their support site, older drivers posted by members here, and the newest drivers on nvidia's site, but the intermittent problem kept occuring.

    Dell sent me a new, well refurbished , laptop, with the 5850 card instead. Just received it, no problems yet. I would rather them have sent me one with the new 460, but they didn't. Good luck.

    Tom
     
  4. 2097

    2097 Notebook Enthusiast

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    tbh i wouldnt have minded so much if i 100% new it was the graphics card as i would just buy a replacement .

    I dont want to spend out if it does not solve the problem :(

    Thanks for the reply btw ;)
     
  5. Tpcorr

    Tpcorr Notebook Geek

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    If it's still under warrranty, Dell will make it right. If it's isn't , then maybe someone with more knowledge than me will be able to guide you better, before you plunk down your hard earned dollars. I was sure it was a video card issue with my computer, and it was still under warranty.

    Tom
     
  6. 2097

    2097 Notebook Enthusiast

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    had a new one just a second ago

    Whole computer frozen . it then beeps and the CPU and graphics fans come on full blast
     
  7. 2097

    2097 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Im a bit limited as to what they can replace.
    My machine is hardly 'unmodified'

    Ive replaced

    The cpu
    The disk drive
    The HDD
    The RAM
     
  8. Tpcorr

    Tpcorr Notebook Geek

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    I'm not sure if that would invalidate your warranty, but if you still have the old parts, you could always put them back in.
     
  9. 2097

    2097 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I actually think changing the car has made it worse ..

    Had yet another crash . This time a graphics card driver DLL was displayed as above ( windows BSOD )

    The desktop flickerd on and off a few times which was a bit strange as well.

    Whats the chances of me telling dell to send me a ATI card instead ?
     
  10. agusman

    agusman when the going gets weird

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    a bit off-topic, but BSOD stands for blue screen of death :D
     
  11. denogun

    denogun Notebook Consultant

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    Your GPU that you received from dell was probably a lousy refurb. call them up and ask to speak to a supervisor =)
     
  12. 2097

    2097 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Obviously my keyboard and spelling need replacing