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.

    m15x wont boot up/HD crackling noise

    Discussion in 'Alienware M15x' started by abu123, Jul 28, 2011.

  1. abu123

    abu123 Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Edit: it works!
    resolution: installed new HDD, took the computer a part and thoroughly and slowly cleaned everything
    the keyboard was crazy sticky and now way to manually clean it... so i dumped it in water and gave it a bath, it works perfect after 48 hours of drying

    Hi, I appear to be having some problems starting with my m15x

    background info:
    m15x ordered june 10 2010 (warranty expired)
    I believe I have the "all powerful m15x"
    i7-720QM, GTX 260M, 4 gigs ram, 1080 screen


    TLDR:
    -spilled coke on my laptop
    -HD made funny crackling noise, but everything appeared to work fine for 8 months
    -3 days ago computer will not boot up, stuck on windows loading sign with HD making loud crackling noises
    -when HD is connected to another computer (via usb) appears to work fine plus crackling noise
    -what do i do?!?!?!?
    -coke is delicious and deadly

    story:
    I currently live in Canada, my m15x was purchased in the US (via my brother) and I take it with my to go to school in Ireland (sept-july). Sometime in October I accidently (like a moron) spilled coke on my m15x, it seeped through the keyboard. I quickly pulled the power, and removed the battery. I wiped/soaked everything I could, but was late for class and knew I would get in if I was any later and ran to class after sufficiently 'drying' my m15x'

    came back from class it seemed okay but I didn't want to take my chances so I left it to dry for a while. Turned it on the next day, and HAZZAH! it worked, and fairly well to, I could run games, there appeared to be no performance issue, the biggest problems were a sticky keyboard and my HD made a funky crackling noise when it was being used heavily (moving large amounts of data, or installing stuff). It appeared to work so I did nothing about it, school was taking much of my time. Although I did notice when I was moving huge amounts of data (60gb+) it would move it, then pretty much crash my windows (everything slowed down to the point where I would have to manually turn off my computer), But it was a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things.

    I formatted my comp about 1.5 weeks ago, no complications. 3 days ago upon reinstalling SC2, I left my computer and came back to find it crashed and stuck on the alienware loading boot screen. I turned it off and tried to restart, at which point it would boot and get to the starting windows screen and I would hear the crackling of my HD and nothing would happen. I tried booting it a number of ways all ended the same way. Finally thinking my windows was ed, I but in the win7 cd to repair/format/reinstall, it could not locate the drive, just my externals.

    So with my profound expertise in computer I deduced my HD was dead and needed to be replaced. I thought about going through dell, by renewing my warranty and getting the complete care warranty (covers spills and stuff), BUT since my computer was bought in the states, I would need to transfer the ownership internationally to Canada, then purchase the warranty, which could take a long time (I leave back to Ireland in a 3 weeks time). So I figured I would just change the HD, I took it out and thought I would test it out and connect it via USB to my other computer, it worked perfectly (but still made the crackling noise). At which point I returned it back into my m15x and tried to boot it up, still no luck (btw, the insides of the laptop appear to be in perfect order to my untrained eye, there is no evidence of a spill, and the HD is completely clean)

    my concern is maybe its not the HD that is ruined, but a more deep rooted issue that will unfortunately cost me a lot more to fix.

    Does anyone have any advice or suggestions?

    thank you very much
     
    abu123, Jul 28, 2011
    #1
  2. Indiran

    Indiran Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    60
    Messages:
    300
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    If you can hear clicking loud noise from HD, its doomed. I experienced and have 4 2.5" computer HD serviced and found the same problem as you have. The HD have master boot record written in it so that the windows can boot. Windows stuck in middle of booting is a sign that the HD gonna die soon. Yes you can use it as external HDD, but dont expect it to live long as well. Alternately, you can try to repair the master boot record (MBR).
    MBR - Restore Windows 7 Master Boot Record - Windows 7 Forums

    Edit: my suggestion, buy new HDD
     
    Indiran, Jul 29, 2011
    #2