M15x Rebooting

Hello.

I'm new to the forum, but have read a few topics and got a lot of help from them. Specially on my first days with my M15x.

But here's the thing: After I upgraded all the drives and all, the system has rebooted three times. Out of nowhere. Once I was with firefox open, the other I wasn't even connected to the internet, and just now browsing facebook.

I really don't know what to do.

Does anybody have any thoughts on this?

Thanks a lot.

 

I'd recommend restoring to a point before you did your driver updates. Then you can update your drivers one by one, and use your laptop for a bit (even a day) after each driver update. This way you'll know which driver caused instability in your system.

 

You can all so try runing who crashed.

Resplendence Software - WhoCrashed, automatic crash dump analyzer

 

Hey khetik, thanks for the suggestion, but t_man's sounded more practical lol.

So, I did run WhoCrashed, and it did show me that my system had crashed three times. Even though this software is very clear and simple, I still need some support on trying to solve this, according to WhoCrashed.

Do you think you could help me out?

Thanks.

 

Post your crash reports here and let everyone look at them maybe we can figure something out from what they say; I would guess it's probably a display driver but that's simply a guess!

 

Ok, I wasn't sure I could post it here. Here it is:

On Sat 12/3/2011 8:28:22 AM GMT your computer crashed
crash dump file: C:\Windows\memory.dmp
This was probably caused by the following module: ntkrnlmp.exe (nt!KeBugCheckEx+0x0)
Bugcheck code: 0x101 (0x19, 0x0, 0xFFFFF88003163180, 0x2)
Error: CLOCK_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT
Bug check description: This indicates that an expected clock interrupt on a secondary processor, in a multi-processor system, was not received within the allocated interval.
This appears to be a typical software driver bug and is not likely to be caused by a hardware problem. This problem might be caused by a thermal issue.
The crash took place in the Windows kernel. Possibly this problem is caused by another driver which cannot be identified at this time.


On Sat 12/3/2011 6:32:54 AM GMT your computer crashed
crash dump file: C:\Windows\Minidump\120311-36051-01.dmp
This was probably caused by the following module: atikmpag.sys (atikmpag+0x78B8)
Bugcheck code: 0x116 (0xFFFFFA8005C224E0, 0xFFFFF880086828B8, 0x0, 0x2)
Error: VIDEO_TDR_ERROR
file path: C:\Windows\system32\drivers\atikmpag.sys
product: AMD driver
company: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
description: AMD multi-vendor Miniport Driver
Bug check description: This indicates that an attempt to reset the display driver and recover from a timeout failed.
A third party driver was identified as the probable root cause of this system error. It is suggested you look for an update for the following driver: atikmpag.sys (AMD multi-vendor Miniport Driver, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.).
Google query: atikmpag.sys Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. VIDEO_TDR_ERROR




On Tue 8/2/2011 8:56:13 PM GMT your computer crashed
crash dump file: C:\Windows\Minidump\080211-16005-01.dmp
This was probably caused by the following module: usbport.sys (USBPORT+0x2DE4E)
Bugcheck code: 0xFE (0x5, 0xFFFFFA80066E41A0, 0x80863B34, 0xFFFFFA80093507B0)
Error: BUGCODE_USB_DRIVER
file path: C:\Windows\system32\drivers\usbport.sys
product: Microsoft® Windows® Operating System
company: Microsoft Corporation
description: USB 1.1 & 2.0 Port Driver
Bug check description: This indicates that an error has occurred in a Universal Serial Bus (USB) driver.
The crash took place in a standard Microsoft module. Your system configuration may be incorrect. Possibly this problem is caused by another driver on your system which cannot be identified at this time.

 

Looking for the solution, I bumped into this DriverAgente service provided by $29.00.

I did a check and it got forty some drivers that needed update. Does anybody recommend this service?

 

I never trust such programs.

 

At this point I think the best thing you can do is a simple system restore and remember most all your driver needs are handled by Windows what Windows does not handle you can find here.

Drivers and Downloads | Dell [United States]

Want to simplify things more I would install the Dell default display driver and see if it solves your problem.

 

I believe it is a GPU problem, I saw another thread on it with a similar crash dump. Which gpu drivers are you currently using? Try uninstalling your gpu driver, go into safe mode use ccleaner/driver sweeper to remove all ati stuff, then install 11.7 drivers (I believe you have 5850m). See how that works. Also are you on A09 bios?

Link to other thread:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m15x/553402-m15x-random-freezing-print.html

 

According to Windows Device Manager, I'm using ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5800 Series - 8.911.0.0 - 10/25/2011

Do you think it's the same thing? I read the thread and my problem doesn't seem to be the same. At least my computer doesn't freeze, or show me a blue screen. It simply shuts down and reboot, without a warning.

Anyway, if I uninstall the driver, how do I do the safe mode/ccleaner/driver sweeper thing?

Sorry but I'm really newbie on this.

I also don't know where to get the 11.7 drivers or which one is my BIOS.

Still wanna help?

 

The blue screen is happening, you just don't see it because it happens really fast. It is your GPU having a problem, did you change the driver recently?

 

The Cat 11.7 drivers are available here: http://www2.ati.com/DriVeRs/mobile/11-7_mobility_vista_win7_64_dd_ccc_ocl.exe

 

I "upgraded" it at the first opportunitie after I bought it. Now that you mentioned it, when I first installed the new drivers, all sorts of blue screens poped up and apparently the GPU didn't work. I then reinstalled it all back again.

The driver I'm using is the one I posted before.

 

Ok guys, I downloaded the 11.7 driver, which is called "11-7_mobility_vista_win7_64_dd_ccc_ocl"

I saved in a folder, the files of the first driver upgrade I did, and the name of the files goes by
"11-11_mobility_vista_win7_64_dd_ccc_ocl" and
"catalyst_mobility_64-bit_util"

Just checking: Do I really have to uninstall the one I have now (11.11) and instal the 11.7?

Oh, and I already got a hang of the ccleaner thing.

Thanks a lot for all the help guys

 

DriverAgent service is good, at 1st i also feel dodgy about it, but after try, it actually really provide u latest legit driver,

it has helped me on re-formatting almost 5 notebook that no longer has driver CD,

btw about the rebooting prob, u can try to disable "Auto Reboot on Crash" feature in windows 7

but u laso need to make sure u found the actual problem...

 

I had this issue as well and it drove me crazy; turned out to be the memory in my case.

 

Hey guys, I'm still with this issue.

Can anybody tell me which file should I use to upgrade my PGU? Is it the 11.11 or the 11.7?

Also, how do I update my BIOS?

Thanks

 

First, do not update your BIOS when you have an unstable system.

Second, I'm still willing to bet it's the memory. Have you tried swapping them out for another set that you know if good?

 

A09 is the most recent bios, if you already have it then there is no other update to perform. As for the graphics driver. I would turn the laptop on normally and uninstall AMD control panel/CCC from add/remove programs. Boot into safe mode then usee ccleaner/driver sweeper to remove amd files. Reboot laptop normally and install the 11.7, and I believe it requires a reboot.

However, before thinking about the bios, try out JohnnyFlash's idea. Better to rule out the easy stuff before going further.

 

I just mentioned the BIOS because someone did. And also I saw some other posts about this and I realized I never upgrade my BIOS since I bought my m15x, so I thought it required an upgrading. I don't believe it came with the newest.

Are you talking about opening it up and removing the memory fisically? If yes, I'm pretty sure I don't have the proper skills for that. Or another set anyway.

 

I don't know which one my BIOS is, or how to check which one it is. Or what it is for that matter... sorry

I will do that. Just checking: How do I boot it into safe mode again?

One thing I noticed: The computer never reboots when I'm playing Stracraft II or Warcraft III for hours (when I figure it would be when the GPU would be working harder and more suscetible to a freeze). It always freezes when I have only firefox open. I'ts been 6 crashes now.

Thanks!

 

Download a free program called CPU-Z from cpuid website, and then go to the 'Mainboard' tab. It'll say model >> M15x, and to the right of it will say 'A0x' (the x being the bios number and 9 being the latest).

I boot into safe mode by click start >> (in the run box) type msconfig >> enter >> go to the boot tab >> and select safe mode. Then restart computer.

 

Lot easier to just reboot, tap repeatedly on F8 at the boot screen (Alienhead) until a menu appears and select Safe Mode.

 

OK, I just did that. Let's see how it's gonna hold up.

About the BIOS. I check it and it is the 08. Should I download the 09?

Thanks.

 

Have you tested your memory by booting up with just a single stick and checking both ram slots to rule that out as a probable cause? Like JohnnyFlash said, it may not be safe to update bios on an unstable system. I'd proceed with caution and of your own accord.

 

Alright, download the usb or cd option and run it overnight. You should get zero errors. Make a note of the time, or run a stopwatch at the same time. If the time's don't match it restarted and the memory's suspect.

 

Yeah, well, installing the GPU's version 11.7 seems to have solved it. It hasn't rebooted yet. If that changes, I'll try looking into the memory.

I've got a question: Why would the memory be messed up? I mean, I just got this laptop a couple of months ago. Is this a known defect from the manufacturer?

 

Things do go wrong, and it could be a number of things. Memory is just one of them.

 

Memory from any manufacturer can ship with a defect. If it's just a slight error, it can hard to track down.

 

Alright. Let's hope it doesn't happen again. Not anywhere soon at least.

Thanks a lot guys.