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    Uh oh can't get my m17x to power on

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by logain876, Apr 30, 2010.

  1. logain876

    logain876 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Okay so heres the deal, opened up my laptop to kinda figure out how to put my new graphics card in descided to take the magnesium cover off see how it looks in their put it back together and the laptop won't start now. I know I've got power going in. I'm pretty sure power is reaching the center control cover were the power button is. When I plug the laptop in the alienhead flashes for a second and then goes out. So my question any other way to turn the thing on besides the power button? Also anyone have a similar problem and know a fix thanks guys.
     
  2. kilthro

    kilthro Floating in Space

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    Re check all of your cables. Seems like a cable is not completely hooked right.. Monitor or something ontop of the magnesium cover ( I did that once).. Dont try to force power on. The flash you see is from a little power left in the system and it detects something is wrong and will not boot. This is for your safety.. You could also un plug the cmos battery and let everything reset and see if that works too...
     
  3. logain876

    logain876 Notebook Enthusiast

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    okay I went through and rechecked all the connections they look good to me. Could it possibly be that I bent one of the ribbon cables to far when I opened it? Other than that I pulled the hard drive out, video card, and open the ram compartment reseated everything and it's still not working.
     
  4. kilthro

    kilthro Floating in Space

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    Well they are flexible and as long as all the contacts are matched up and firmly latched in place you should be good.. Did you take the cmos battery out as well?

    Do the fans kick in at all or is it just a quick flash light on the alien head button and that is it?

    Did you try on battery only, remove the battery and just do power plug?
     
  5. logain876

    logain876 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Yes tried the cmos battery as well

    No the fans don't kick on. Nothing happens when I push the alien head. It flickers briefly when I plug it into the wall though.

    I also tried battery no power plug no battery power plug.

    It should at least turn on even if the mouse/keyboard connections are bad. And I'm pretty sure the center control cover is good since that part is pretty simple. Any other ideas?

    EDIT: Well I managed to fix it, I think it was the monitor cable bent past a 90 degree and pinched under the magnesium cover.