m15x boot problems? (video card?)

I have a new m15x lappy, and was transferring some files from usb drives of mine onto the hd, I pulled out the spare battery I had in the smart bay and the comp froze. No input possible, had to hold down the power button to re-start

I restarted it, it detected an improper shut-down, ran some sort of system check (just after POST,BIOS, initial startup-screen, but before windows or "alien respawn" option), it froze at 41%.

Restarted again, I chose "safe mode with networking,"

started using firefox to try to research what happened, and it froze again.

Sometimes it will even freeze on the start-up BIOS screen.

I am wondering if:

A- removing the spare battery caused this problem.

B- a new logitech MX revolution mouse may have somehow caused this problem (I kept getting random msgs about updating its drivers, and had set the scroll whell button to function as a "middle click" just before it froze the first time.

C-Somehow this is related to the over-heating problem (I have tried contacting AW about the BIOS updates(?) that have been shipped with new m15xs [custom built in dec.] but no reply from them if the newer m15x have been patched for overheating.)

D- something else screwy happened.

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I will post more info when I get home and am with it if any specs are needed...

On another note, I haven't used the comp for anything other than making a few dvds of data and internet surfing. I haven't even had it long enough to install any games or even OFFICE on it yet. !)'$"!)('%

So frustrating... Thanks for any tips/advice

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EDIT- Here is the full post/full story of whats going down... (warning a little long!)

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
I plan on contacting the techs soon, but wanted to bring up my problem on here.

I just got the m15x, a splendid laptop and christmas gift. however, I have only used it to make a few dvd backups of files from flash drives of mine, done a little bit of skype'ing, and tried out a new mouse I bought, the mx revolution (from logitech).

I was charging the spare battery in the smart bay, when I took the spare battery out while using vista, and the computer froze on me---I had to hold the alienhead down for it to even turn off, as nothing would respond.

I had nothing in the smart bay, tried restarting, it did some sort of improper shutdown check between the bios screen and the option for alien respawn, went to 41%, and froze again---so I tried again, it made it past the shutdown check to the login screen then froze again.

I left for work, came back this evening, used the right button on the touch pad to load the system (from what I read on other forums about the overheating video cards) and it froze after trying to burn a disc with nero 7--the program stayed @ 3% for 17 minutes (it was still counting time) while I was trying to move files over to a portable hdd, the files kept moving, the program was still responding until it decided to freeze and go crazy.

I have restarted it again (in right click mouse mode (whatever that is called , made sure the files I had started putting on this laptop were backed up onto the portable hdd, and it has been stable for the last 2 hours.

I realize that is a lot of info above, with not much tech specs, but I am really wanting to know if this problem has something to do with the video card (an nVidia 8700GT)--- or even if the new(er) m15x shipped since nov have the updated BIOS (x34?)

Thanks

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Appended:

now the optical drive (Optiarc AD-7590A) won't eject, or read cds/dvds. I tried getting it to read two different dvds and it said there was no disc in the drive. I tried ejecting with fn+f8, and it wouldn't. So I did a windows eject of the usb drive, took it out, put it back in (all while still in vista), and hit fn+f8 and it ejected the disc the first two times I tried getting it to read the dvds, but now I have a disc stuck in there and it won't eject at all.

The vista Device Manager says its working fine, and I tried updating the driver from that menu--- it said it had the latest driver. I tried looking on MyHive for a new driver, but theres nothing there.

That is one problem that I believe caused this next problem that has begun in the midst of this:

At the boot-screen, the loading bar at the bottom gets about 75% complete then it goes to the DOS screen with the initial bios loading info (between the alien head bios screen and the option for "alien respawn 2.0 <F10>", and it says :

...
CPU = 1 Processors Detected
Intel (R) Core (TM) 2 Duo CPU
2047M System RAM passed
System BIOS shadowed
Video BIOS shadowed
ATAPI CD-ROM: Optiarc DVD RW AD7590A
Fixed Disk 0: ST9160411ASG
Mouse Initialized
System Configuration Data updated
ERROR
System Configuration Data Read Error

Press <F1> to resume, <F2> to setup.


I have gone into the setup, which is the BIOS setup, changed things to the default settings, (even though nothing was amiss inside, and it DOES have the x36 BIOS update which I wondered about earlier).

I had also done the f1 option to resume, of which, of course, the computer will freeze/lock-up after a very short while (usually 2-10minutes).

I called up support, and have had the fall-back advice of "do a restore, it must be an OS problem"--- of which I have done both the advanced and complete factory restore- the advanced first, and then later the complete restore. All problems have still remained.

Additionally, I have noticed that when I move the laptop from the table-top onto my lap, after a minute or less, it will freeze. I am thinking that this is perhaps because when I set the laptop on my lap compresses the case (as it is a slightly flimsy/malleable case) and makes something loose/disconnected/"wonky" inside causing it to freeze.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

A) no. I've never heard of anyone removing a battery and causing anything like this,
B) doubtful.
C) not likely either. since you got it in dec. it likely has x36 or newer, no overheating there.
D) likely.

if you suspect your video card (descrete graphics), to be an issue, try starting up the system using the right click method (hold down the right mouse button on the touch pad till the system starts)... this will ALWAYS start the system with on-board graphics.

if the system works 100% in that mode, then try calling AW, ask them to send you some new thermal paste and have them walk you through a reseat of your video card. (or send it to them for diagnosis).

Good luck.

 

it seems to run somewhat stable with "discrete" graphics, or starting it up avoiding the main video card, however, now I can't boot back up WITH the main video card.

Regardless that is not the point of this post.

Between the BIOS and the alien respawn boot option, I get a view of the boot-up process and it gives me two options after declaring

"System Configuration Read Error" or something very similar to that, which I can choose to F2 - enter BIOS setup or F1 - continue with boot.

Bios looks normal, even went to "default settings", but it still happens each reboot.

what is up with this?

 

i had that happen, i still have occasional freezes on startup or on loading...

if my green bar goes past loading the window screen more than 15 times i just restart cause i've waited half an hour and nothing happens..

i use a bluetooth wireless mouse too

send your laptop in for repairs to fix the video card problem.. that happened to me too but an alienware tech was the one who killed my video card

 

weird, I don't have this problem.
I have a VX revolution mouse, and nothing bad happened.
I use USB hd and stuff, nothing freezes, if I hotplug or unplug the SB, no freezes either.

 

We apologize for this inconvenience, if you are getting this error on start up (Bios boot) perhaps something wrong with the bios settings or Cmos battery. Feel free to send me a PM with your account info should you need further assistance.

Thank you.

 

AW-Armando, I would love to PM you, but I don't think I have that option on these boards(?). At least I can't find an inbox or msg area on this forum

Here is what I can do, here is a link to the AW forums with the problem I am having in more detail (and you can probably contact me easily through there)

http://support.alienware.com/Forum_Pages/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=572921

Armando - If I can contact you any other way (like email or some IM) let me know, I'd love to get this fixed, and the roswell team is on weekend as far as I know.

 

my system did stuff like this for awhile before it had to go in for a new mobo and stuff (I believe a new GPU as well) it was a nightmare took 2 weeks to repair and gave me trouble for 2 weeks prior to the repair