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    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by Deven, Dec 2, 2009.

  1. Deven

    Deven Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have found several articles on the M5500i R3 video card issues. My problem is similar, but with a few twists. During startup, the Alienware screen is perfectly fine. As soon as windows XP (home) starts, I get transparent blue 1/4" thick lines, spaced 1/4" apart going vertically from left to right across the entire screen. I can still read the screen.
    I figure it is a software issue. Device manager doesn't list a specific card, but shows an adapter with a question mark. The Alienware R3 drivers disk does not allow me to install the video driver. Alienware will not tell me which card I have because I am not the original owner. I tried to install the drivers for the ATI Mobility M54P and the M5500 Nvidia 6600 256. The installers would not install them. I then installed the Nvidia M5550 7600 driver and it accepted it. But the screen was black when windows started.

    I concluded it is a hardware problem. This led me to the MXM site. It was intimidating so I decided to install a game and see if I could play through the lines. When the game starts, the blue lines are gone!

    So out of curiosity I removed the bottom cover to see if I could identify the card, but again I was intimidated by the complexity. I THINK I know where the card is but the only name I see is "Robin".

    Can anyone help educate my ignorant self with what may be happening and how to fix it?

    I realize this is probably an issue that has been discussed ad nauseam, so any efforts on your parts will be greatly appreciated.

    PS When this first started I tried to reinstall my software and screwed it up. So I did a reformat of my hard drive and reinstalled all the software from the original disks.
     
    Deven, Dec 2, 2009
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  2. AtolSammeek

    AtolSammeek Tokay Gecko

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    I use to own the m5550. The issue I had was It would boot up and 15 min it would shut off. It depend on what I was doing. game it would shut off in a few mins or 15 to 20 mins. Searching the web but it was due to the gpu fan would not kick on. Unless I restart the system or it overheated and the fan would kick on. That was my system. My system was a core 2 2.33 ghz 4gb of ram geforce.
    7600gt.

    Ideas you can try redo your thermal grease or pad. Use speedfan or Hwmonitor. to check your temps. Your system should be under 80c. Mine would shoot to 100c and shut off.

    What bios do you have? I had M5550 BIOS 2.07W
     
    AtolSammeek, Dec 2, 2009
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  3. AtolSammeek

    AtolSammeek Tokay Gecko

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    Found some info if you go on alienware support faq and type in m5550 gpu. It will tell you how to remove and replace the gpu. Very easy to do. I done it a few times. What I found in my heat would of ended into a gpu break down.

    on my system the thermal grease or Pad did not touch each other which could be the main issue of the M5550. I had like a 1/32 inch gap. If it filled with Copper shimmy I think that what it called. Then add thermal grease or Pad it would drop the temp down some.
     
    AtolSammeek, Dec 2, 2009
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  4. AtolSammeek

    AtolSammeek Tokay Gecko

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    AtolSammeek, Dec 2, 2009
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  5. Deven

    Deven Notebook Enthusiast

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    The bios is version 2.03
    ACPI 127 F
    core 0 125 F
    core 1 132 f
    WDC 89 F
     
    Deven, Dec 2, 2009
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  6. Deven

    Deven Notebook Enthusiast

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    How do I identify my video card? Where is it?
     
    Deven, Dec 2, 2009
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  7. Deven

    Deven Notebook Enthusiast

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    Deven, Dec 2, 2009
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  8. Deven

    Deven Notebook Enthusiast

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    Can anyone add anything to help?
     
    Deven, Dec 2, 2009
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  9. Ferrari

    Ferrari Notebook Evangelist

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    Ferrari, Dec 2, 2009
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