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.

    What the heck is going on?

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by Wests, Nov 3, 2009.

  1. Wests

    Wests Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    54
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    What is causing this problem?

    When I boot my machine it loads into windows then precedes to flicker on a black screen. In order to remedy this I need to put the computer to sleep via the alien head then bring it out of sleep. What is causing this problem?

    I'm running the Microcenter M17x with Q9000 OCed to 2.4 and SLi 260s in RAID 0 (2x500gb)

    Here is a video of the issue-

    [​IMG]
     
    Wests, Nov 3, 2009
    #1
  2. BatBoy

    BatBoy Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    7,395
    Messages:
    7,964
    Likes Received:
    25
    Trophy Points:
    206
    What display driver are you running? 186.82 or the current 186.64 from Dell? If its an earlier version, you need to update to one of those. If you are on 186.82 or 186.64 then see my post below - this is probably whats happening, although it should actually come back (stop blanking on its own after a few blanks) - you should not have to put it to sleep first.

    http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5478636&postcount=530
     
    BatBoy, Nov 3, 2009
    #2
  3. Wests

    Wests Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    54
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I'm running 186.64 and the 9400 has been disabled through the bios and the problem persists.
     
    Wests, Nov 3, 2009
    #3
  4. BatBoy

    BatBoy Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    7,395
    Messages:
    7,964
    Likes Received:
    25
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Not sure then. Might want to reinstall your 186.64. That might clear it up. Be sure to enable Hybrid and Integrated Graphics in the BIOS when installing your display driver. Do a clean display driver install.

    If that doesn't resolve the issue and you are still encountering screen blanking (which does not clear automatically) at the login screen, you might need to call Dell.

    Could be the OS install as well - did you do a clean install or upgrade? Something could have gone south. Many possibilities here.
     
    BatBoy, Nov 3, 2009
    #4
  5. Wests

    Wests Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    54
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    It is my OC'd Q9000. I dropped it down to stock settings and the problem is gone. It's odd though, the problem started recently...prior to the issue starting I ran OCCT for like 2 hours at 2.4...
     
    Wests, Nov 3, 2009
    #5
  6. BatBoy

    BatBoy Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    7,395
    Messages:
    7,964
    Likes Received:
    25
    Trophy Points:
    206
    That is interesting. Well, one I never would have thought to ask about. Thanks for sharing. I'll have to add it as a point to check in the ol' brain KB. ;)
     
    BatBoy, Nov 3, 2009
    #6
  7. Wests

    Wests Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    54
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Well, I spoke too soon, after subsequent restarts the issue came back. So, i ran Drivercleaner and reinstalled the display drivers and the problem appears to be fixed.

    My CPU is set back to 2.4 and everything seems solid...we'll see.
     
    Wests, Nov 7, 2009
    #7