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.

    Several problems after card switch

    Discussion in 'Alienware M15x' started by iGrendei, Apr 22, 2011.

  1. iGrendei

    iGrendei Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    14
    Messages:
    85
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    After I switchedmy GPU lots of problems came up.
    1) The keyboard will go through bouts of severe lag.Skipped letters, etc.
    2) Webcam doesn't show up.

    I'm brief bcuz it took me like 5min just to type this because ofthe keyboard problem. HELP!
     
  2. iGrendei

    iGrendei Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    14
    Messages:
    85
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Also, the Alien head button (Off/On) and the touch panel aren't lit up at all and don't respond to being lit up in AlienFX.
     
  3. inap

    inap .........................

    Reputations:
    4,417
    Messages:
    7,827
    Likes Received:
    19
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Have you tried doing a power drain.
     
  4. Nivaku

    Nivaku Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    128
    Messages:
    689
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    31
    @iGrendei

    check to make sure you plugged in the keyboard ribbon on properly, like make sure its all the way in and even, then lock it in place.
     
  5. The Revelator

    The Revelator Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    5,395
    Messages:
    4,571
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    105
    This sounds like the ribbon cable/connector between the touchpad panel and the motherboard got pulled loose or unseated when the panel was removed while switching cards. Check that both ends are securely connected and that there is no damage to the cable.
     
  6. iGrendei

    iGrendei Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    14
    Messages:
    85
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    This requires opening the laptop doesn't it? Also, does it make a difference that when I reset the laptop the keyboard lag problem disappears..
     
  7. Kratzen

    Kratzen Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    34
    Messages:
    221
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Well, if a powerdrain fixed your problem there is no need to check the cable?
     
  8. The Revelator

    The Revelator Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    5,395
    Messages:
    4,571
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    105
    Are the lights now operating on the touchpad panel? Be surprised if a reset fixed that.
     
  9. iGrendei

    iGrendei Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    14
    Messages:
    85
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    No, the lights aren't operating still. The keyboard and touchpad lights have always operated, but the touch buttons for Volume Up, Power On, Stealth Mode etc. are not.
     
  10. Kratzen

    Kratzen Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    34
    Messages:
    221
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Oh.. I thought you said the powerdrain fixed everything.. my bad :(
     
  11. svl7

    svl7 T|I

    Reputations:
    4,719
    Messages:
    3,758
    Likes Received:
    134
    Trophy Points:
    131
    Take of the touch panel again and make sure you properly plugged in the cable and also make sure that the little black clips at the connecto are clicked in and are holding the cable in place.

    I have no idea why your keyboard is lagging... you don't even unplug it when exchanging the GPU, it's also almost impossible to damage any electronic component expect the GPU while exchanging it... anyway, this seems to be a software problem, I don't think the keyboard lag is caused by a hardware failure or similar... virus maybe? Run your security software and maybe also something like superantispyware or malwarebytes to double check.

    Edit: Just to be sure... you didn't remove the keyboard or the palmrest, right? It's really weird that your webcam isn't working anymore either.
     
  12. The Revelator

    The Revelator Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    5,395
    Messages:
    4,571
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    105
    ^^Agreed. The touch panel problem still has to the ribbon cable/connectors.