The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Need help before my Alienware dies

    Discussion in 'Alienware M15x' started by iGrendei, Jun 28, 2011.

  1. iGrendei

    iGrendei Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    14
    Messages:
    85
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Ever since my M15x had it's GPU replaced by a techie friend of mine it's been having more and more problems.

    First the light-up touchpanel lights seldom work and NEVER light up.
    Then the lights for the Alienware logo power-on button doesn't light up.
    Now the keyboard won't light up.

    And now most worrying of all: Sometimes the keyboard won't react properly to each keystroke, and the only way to "un-stick" the keyboard is the press down on three or four keys at once. This seemed to fix the problem, but now sometimes when I do that the laptop just shuts down. It won't power back up until I mess with the faceplate with the power on button on it (remove the face plate, put it back on, try to turn it on, rinse and repeat until it works).

    I think some kind of wire is loosely connecting and pressing down might disconnect the wire. Do you guys have any idea what has happened inside?? There are no more lights, and I feel like the next step is just permanent death for my baby laptop!
     
    iGrendei, Jun 28, 2011
    #1
  2. svl7

    svl7 T|I

    Reputations:
    4,719
    Messages:
    3,758
    Likes Received:
    134
    Trophy Points:
    131
    Do you still have warranty? Seems like something's got damaged while exchanging the GPU...
     
    svl7, Jun 28, 2011
    #2
  3. Simplified

    Simplified The Most Awesome

    Reputations:
    428
    Messages:
    766
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Did the lights stop working direct after the gpu change?
    It sounds like some wire could be damaged or not connected properly.

    A full power drain can fix issues like this sometimes.
    Do these steps:
    1: Remove battery and the coin cell battery on the motherboard.
    2: Hold the power button for 5-10 secs.
     
    Simplified, Jun 28, 2011
    #3
  4. iGrendei

    iGrendei Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    14
    Messages:
    85
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Are there simplified instructions for removing the 'coin cell battery' from the motherboard? I'm extremely tech-impaired.
     
    iGrendei, Jun 28, 2011
    #4
  5. hub1100

    hub1100 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    206
    Messages:
    341
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I second SVL's question; Are you still under warranty?
    Sounds similar to the CC issue. (No Lights)
     
    hub1100, Jun 28, 2011
    #5
  6. iGrendei

    iGrendei Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    14
    Messages:
    85
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    No, I'm not under warranty any more. I would have had Dell themselves replace the GPU but I was out of warranty.
     
    iGrendei, Jun 28, 2011
    #6
  7. Simplified

    Simplified The Most Awesome

    Reputations:
    428
    Messages:
    766
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Simplified, Jun 28, 2011
    #7
  8. madoon

    madoon Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    62
    Messages:
    267
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    it makes sense that the wires may not have been connected properly.
    i suggest you disassemble the touch panel and keyboard yourself both items are easy to remove and reinstall.
    use the video. but the video goes through removing other stuff as well. if after watching it your still confused.

    its 2 screws (under the battery) to remove the touch panel, the ones with the letter (I)
    then pull the touch panel from the top. be careful not too pull too much as there is a short cable clipped underneath, un-clip it first.
    there are 3 screws on top of the keyboard and two wires clipped to the motherboard as well.

    no more than 5 screws total, and you dont even have to open back cover.

    reminder: DO NOT USE THE COMMAND CENTER FROM THE RESOURCE CDS PROVIDED WITH THE LAPTOP. (OR YOU WILL NEED A NEW MOTHERBOARD)

    http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...not-use-command-center-your-resource-dvd.html
     
    madoon, Jun 28, 2011
    #8