Well my true luck returns, any suggestions before AW?

Well in a true case of someone up stairs laughing his off at me loving my M17 a little too much it's decided to die on me

Leave the room, come back to find a blank screen and stuttering sound <shi....>, try resetting and a blank screen. I open up the back of my system to see if anything is amiss, nope. Checked my temps earlier out of interest and they'd been lower than ever so no issues there, and my re-done thermal paste seeming to find its own so to speak.

Whip off the heatsinks...no sign of damage anyway, so figure what the hell,might be a BIOS issue...no luck, reset the bios with the little button on the side of the m17, put the battery back in, and now the machine sort of semi switches on each time I put my battery back in, no life on the screen, and each time I hold the power button to switch it back off, it just turns itself back on a few seconds later. Im hoping as its failing boot,and I've reset CMOS its just constantly trying to reload to previous state each time I do, but Im baffled.

Guessing it's either the Master GPU has died or a mobo fault. What you guys reckon

All I was doing was internet explorer when it keeled over; Im working all weekend too! **** day!

 

sounds like the mobo gone if you ask me

....crap....

 

I reckoned it was GPU as the one bloody time i managed to get any video output on the vga output; I got a garbled BIOS screen which didnt go anywhere, either way it seems pretty fubared, hence me thinking perhaps its looping on bios checks

Not like I've done anything to kill it either; I've been being bloody careful about almost everything with it, new decent thermal paste; got it sitting on the Cryo.

On the plus side; I'd rather it failed on me now than 3 months down the line; but still....sheeeeeeeee-arrrrrgh Really like the damn thing too!

 

hmm do you hear any bios beeps on boot that might give a clue?

but i agree without even getting to bios there isnt alot you can do

a screwed bios screen could be either tbh a card (displaying it wrong) or the mobo (just screwed and card showing what its being sent)

really wish i could think of something to help you, hate seeing people have thier pride and joys go wrong, regardless of brand

 

Well I took out the master GPU (see if I could run off secondary to test) and got your standard beeps, which I figure indicate vga fault/missing however no life beyond that, nothing with everything in as should be

Hopefully if I get on to AW on Monday, I can throw all the default parts back in, they can collect on Tuesday and then at least they can at least be looking at it wednesday/thurs trying to work out what to replace, because something has definately decided it doesnt want to live!

 

sounds like a faulty master gpu then if you dont post anything with it in and you get the standard bios beeps with it out

hopefully AW will have some spare cards to swap out for you

 

Lol...Im hoping they'll send me a master card to try first of all, the nightmare I've got is if they do decide its the GPU, will they send me one out, or request I send it back; and if so, will the tech doing it care if he swaps it in, it all works fine, and then he sees the Intel .28 ocz bios >.<

Technically that wouldnt have killed it, but bit of a nightmare scenario anyway, or even had any effect [If they ask it I installed it for troubleshooting some prior issues,and hadn't reverted yet].

Any idea on what story I should go for at this point in time; worth mentioning I tried removing a GPU to see, or will UK AW just go void warranty on my if I tell them that

The constantly turning back on when I put the battery back in worries me a little too; and makes me think the mobo just might have gone. A nightmare to check without parts here though!

 

Dont mention the bios period . that will void the warranty instantly.

 

I wasn't planning too, only if they did theoretically ask why intel logo comes up, say that it was on for testing purposes on a prior related problem and looking around a few guys with M17s had recommended I try this, B13 and B14 bios just in case; but it looks like the problem was hardware not software; and the hardware had died now. Thats a fairly responsible, tech savvy answer trying to troubleshoot haha

 

Ouch, this is bad news. The master and slave are pretty much the same cards, but with a different bios, right? Is it possible that the slave card could get the laptop to boot in safe mode at least? I hope you get it resolved quickly.

 

I did think about that unfortunately slave only config wouldnt boot

Hope it gets fixed soon, in stark comparison to my M7950/AMiloXi 1546 (same chassis), I absolutely love my M17, I was GUTTED when it stopped working unexpectedly 6 hours ago...and still am

 

I hear you man, I would be crushed as well.

 

Hell we're running the same spec almost, for the cost its a laptop powerhouse...just mines obviously had a heart attack from too much time in the gym.

Any one know if UK/EU Alienware send out spare parts, or is it all RTB?

 

Im hoping as I rang them about a video issue just after I got it they'll call it failed MGPU and send me a replacement set of identical GPUs for me to fit if I ask very nicely lol

 

In the states you just send your laptop to AW then they fix it right?

 

take both card out alex the system will still try to boot, it will not just stop, check the memory as well.

are you getting any beeps at all single beep....anything.

does it boot into cmos?

 

It doesnt boot into anything. When I took the master GPU out it gave a beep code; unfortunately now as I say I cant get it to do anything beyond turn on when the battery/power is applied, it wont even turn off, which Im hoping is it constantly failing boot and trying to restore previous state (many mobos will error and refuse to boot without a display card). Hence its looking like a mobo/gpu fault.

Luckily I had a word with the lone guy on the tech support line last night and he SHOULD be organising for someone to ring me later to organise sending out a set of replacement GPUs to try, as he also believed this could be the case, as I got mobo beeps when the master card was removed. He did mention though if this didnt work he also thought likely the mainboard in which case it'd have to go back; which would likely have a lead time of about 3 weeks

I'm swapping my other RAM/p8400 back in later on the small chance it's something else.

 

poor fella

if its your mobo and the GPU are fine tell them you just want to buy the 2 pair of GPU's they send out so that you have back up's then sell them D :

 

lol much as I love your thinking, I dont think I have the £300 spare they'd charge me for them, besides I'd rather use them to get my laptop working, fingers crossed lol

Now you know what I meant when i said a few weeks ago I didnt want to do much in the way of modding as my luck is appalling...I'd say getting everything the way you like it; temps dropping over time.... then the laptop failing pretty much sums it up lol

 

lol i know a few users who would give you the money to do what i mentioned above

AW US will not give out the cards @ all

 

Well as I've got a dead machine, sending out cards if they have some in reserves for repair; is less of a hassle than them having to organise a return etc.

 

Plus if you return it to them, they're pretty much more than likely going to notice the OCZ bios, which as said before will instantly void all your warranty.

 

they will send you one out, they charge your credit card as a "deposit" until you return the dead one so expect to pay £250 deposit

But tbh they are so jumpy about the 4850's being sold on they might just refuse outright and insist on RTB

if that is the case i would pray they dont notice the bios, if they do they will just void your warrenty and blame the failure on a non authorised bios and at that point ur better off putting a hammer through it and claiming on the house insurance

 

As Pman says. With the 4850s they may be very reluctant to send one out and if they notice the BIOS-and honestly they'd have to be pretty thick not to-then you're well and truly screwed with a several-thousand-pound paperweight.

 

If it came to that case then sods law I'd have to pay for a new part; but thats at worst case; I mean providing you're using a direct BIOS for the hardware thats pretty grey ground to abandon a customer, even for alienware, given that unless you mis-flash, an alternate mobo BIOS wouldnt kill your graphics cards, just possibly your mobo. Given the guy on the phone last night Im hoping they'll send the cards anyway, I dont mind sorting out a deposit with the family at worst case scenario (end of the pay month so a little brassic)

As my family put it, Im terrible at worrying about worst case scenario, and planning ahead, so Im trying to not think about it too much. Besides, if they installed a new GPU and the machine worked fine again, it'd be pretty hard to blame mobo BIOS on a dead GPU haha, so even if they wont honour further mobo repairs under warranty, they'd be in a tough position to justify voiding your warranty on the mobo, as it's not the mobo thats dead. If the mobo turns out to be whats dead not the GPUs, well thats even easier for me haha

Sods law I'd be using the OCZ bios whilst a part decides to fail anyway!

I've already been promised fresh GPUs, and have reported a previous video fault, and we've previously been told they're not offering upgrades so they have a stock of replacement RMA cards, so will hold out for the cards anyway, am waiting to see if they even bother calling me back, they're meant to be calling me about 1pm. I will be calling them if I dont hear by 1:30-2 haha I want my working laptop back!

Unfortunately I dont think anyone else with the M17 lives around here at the moment, or I'd give them a few bob for thier time to swap thier cards in, so I can try and boot and swap the BIOS over haha.
There's a missing tab connector on the secondary card which I presume connects to the display, which means I cant even use my secondary card. And given I've no idea whats going on with the laptop and status at any given point, trying a blind flash back to B14 via the ISO would be suicidal.

 

Yowzer! I thought I was the only one who had this "true luck"....

 

Hahah nah, Im famed amongst my friends for my notorious bad luck on just about anything, all fun and games, even when by all rights I should be fine!

On a brighter note; I've just been on the phone to AW, the tech rep has taken/will be taking a deposit of £263 and is organising a set of replacement cards to be sent out on Monday, so hopefully to be with me on weds-friday.

His comment on stock availability was 'hmmmm..OH, errr we seem to have plenty at the moment', I asked him what he meant and he said they have well over 20 sets in reserve. And this is after he told me they've only sent out a few of these M17 and what I have is actually quite rare lol

Hopefully the new cards will arrive, and with a quick case of 'eager-swap-it-out-itis' my machine will be up and running again by next weekend.

If the Mobo truly is dead...well at least the BIOS wont be an issue...the 3-6 weeks lead time for repairs however

 

Well I'm glad you managed to get a replacement card sent to you. Perhaps those 20 sets in reserve are for the lucky 4850 owners right now, and perhaps it was a trial to see if they were popular...

I still pray that they'll be available at a later date.

 

Aww....I hope everything works out for you!

 

So do I! The RMA email has come through now fresh master and secondary card...if that doesnt fix it the mobo is duff...and no ones the worse to know over the laptop BIOS

Either way beyond time with the laptop I've not lost out here

Am hoping its just the cards playing up though, I could well just have got a duff master card that decided it didnt want to carry on!

From what he said about sets in stock though; Id guess the early run was a trial run to ensure RMAs werent incredible; while they waited for the next batch to come in; if they came in and the RMAs werent excessive then they'd roll them out en masse, as an upgrade and standard run.

Hell they're still rolling out in America and it's hotter and more lawsuit-prone than here; so I really do think ti could be indefinate stock ETA that stopped them full releasing.

 

if the cards aren;t the problem will they let you keep them and if so will you be willing to sell them? I'm not an alienuser but I have a whitebook and I'm interested to see if the new cards will work for the rest of us.

 

Hi there mate; I honestly have no idea; they will likely request I return them, as the deposit for the card is with family it would make me harder to decline anyway. If they do, unfortunately you're not the first person to ask

 

they will keep you cash until you return one set of cards, worse then that if you do keep them they 100% insist on any future warrentys being sent to them

i hope they get them to you in good time my friend

 

Hi Alex,

Firstly; sorry for not responding to your last PM regarding X9100 temps....I assume that my response is not required now but for what its worth I have noticed a similar scenario as you have. At first the temps were quite high hitting 80c quite easily but since Ive installed Catalyst 9.8 this has stopped and its cooled down a lot, could just be my thermal paste doing its job better now as its cured....just as yours has.

Sorry to hear of your misfortune with the M17 and Im sure you will be back up and running in no time.

If for some strange reason you do end up with a spare set of working cards then I will buy them if that happens!

Good luck pal.

 

No worries mate; my X9100 seems to only hit absolute of max of 70, usually high 50s-mid 60s while gaming so I stopped worrying about that and went back to enjoying the machine

Haha, Im just looking forward to getting my laptop working again; talk about bad luck, I'm off work for the next few days after today, so the cards likely wont arrive til I go back to work!

@Pman - thats what Im worried about haha the idea of my machine waiting with alienware for 6 weeks is a little offputting, or I'd be more tempted to keep some if they weren't the fault!

 

another component they might let you get away with but the cards are so sought after they will prob be insistant

 

Aye, too true. Am hoping they shipped today and will come either tomorrow or wednesday. Anyone who's had to RMA parts before know whether they expect you to send the faulty parts before or after reciept (so they refund the deposit)?
I was kinda hoping to wait until the new one arrives so I can use the packing to return the duff cards in...that way at least i know they're protected sufficiently!

 

Here in the US I was told to send them back after receipt, that way you can use the same packing materials to send back the old cards. They are not supposed to credit your card unless you return them 4-5 days later than when your new ones arrive, or something along those lines. However, MAKE SURE you jot down those tracking numbers on the labels that AW will send you for your return. I sent some cards back and they charged me as though I never did until I proved to them that they received my cards. If I didn't have the tracking numbers to prove it, I have no idea how much more difficult it would have been to get my money back. As it was, they took 2 months to debit my card after unlawfully charging it, so I would track your shipment when you send it back and call them the day that they receive it to make sure they don't charge you.

 

they charged my card right away in the EU and then refunded it when they received my CPU back

Have you not got them yet?

 

Not yet, they didnt despatch them til yesterday, as they dont ship at weekends, and they warned it usually takes 2-5 working days.

 

Well god knows whats going on at the moment; the order has been placed; yet they can't give me a tracking number, as they can see the RMA and parts order but can't see shipping/tracking details for some reason etc

Have spoken to 2 reps about tracking info, both of whom promised they'd come back to me and niether have. The guy I spoke to on Friday night who originally promised the cards had also forgotten to leave a note saying to call me saturday like he promised. Jeez...only 1/4 reps being useful...that's great...

Gotta love this, hope they've bloody sent the parts; as Im without a laptop until they do :/

 

Oh no....and so the bad experience begins.

Keep persevering Alex, good luck pal.

 

I will, they're gonna get an earful if I dont hear anything by the weekend thats for sure, I can see why Pman defected; the machine's great for the cost, but the support is a little lacking.

 

This has been my experience as well. It's why I'm not selling my m9750, because if something goes wrong I know it could be multiple attempts over weeks at a time to get the laptop back in good working order again. Just stay on top of them.

 

this is 100% why i left AW, their customer support and customer communication is shocking.

Any other company in the world would say what the hell is going on and why there are problems.

The cost of the M17 is wicked, but i am sorry if something goes wrong i want it fixed and by people i trust. I do not trust AW any more.

With Kobalt i know that i can get a train there, have a coffee with the MD of the company look at the machine together and agree on a remedy and they will do it, now THAT is customer service. Something some large comanies have forgotton and because of that i will not give them my cash.

Alex, I am so sorry to hear you have problems my friend. Keep us updated and i have my fingers crossed for you

 

Hehe, no ones fault here, my temps were good, voltages cant be touched...something just obviously wasnt quite right from word go and died sooner rather than later.
Just want the damn thing fixed, the idea of having to send it back for 3-6 weeks is a little appalling, not to mention possibly illegal now under UK law (pretty sure a judge recently ruled that warranty repairs must be made within a reasonable time period; a maximum of one month)

Just frustrating as with desktops I have easy access to almost any part, and with a laptop not only have I got unlucky again, but I have to wait until they get thier act in order for the part. At the moment I've no idea whether the parts have even been shipped or not, and this was setup on Saturday!

As you all know I really like my laptop; but I just want it to work!

 

problem is that reasonable time is an open concept. the only way to proove that it is unreasonable is to get a judge to rule on it

I am so hoping they dont tell you to send it in

 

Seeing as they've already has 2 CSA agree that the cards should be sent out, an order has been made, and AFAIK a deposit has been taken; they've got little foot to stand on over that, I dont want to wait 6 weeks for my machine back

Not to mention I swear a UK judge recently ruled that reasonable time is up to one month.

 

all my point was that you would have to wait a month, then 3 months for a court date lol, not only that but they are no longer uk based which means any judgement carries no weight, if they fined them they wouldnt have to pay you and nothing court can do about it

they could have taken the deposit but it only takes 10 mins to return it, like i say im hoping they send to you or you will have to return it which then brings the bios issue up again...

 

Spoke with them again about 15 mins ago. This guy wasnt perfect but he was a bit more helpful;looked through everything and said the order was listed as despatched on the 24th, but there was no tracking number listed oddly. He was going to try and have a word with the guy I spoke to earlier about midday and see if he'd heard any further; and contact CS if no luck.
He said to give them a ring back tomorrow if the parts dont show up then.
So...fingers crossed the parts are actually on the way.