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68068
April 22nd, 2014 03:00
Alienware laptop not booting up
Hi all,
Wondering if I can get some help! I am on a M17x Alienware laptop, which I have had for the past two years and have had no issues with prior to today. I was playing a game when it crashed and shut down all of a sudden. It will then display all the normal lights on the keyboard, but the screen is blank. I tested to see if it was something wrong with the display by plugging into my tv as a second monitor as I have done in the past via HDMI but it did nothing happened so I have ruled out it being a display issue.
Following this, I have shut down and restarted numerous times, but nothing changes. I then hold down F8 when I am booting it up, and it beeps several times before taking me to the System Recovery Options (after I have navigated through the language options, etc) the screen is very pixelated and flashing a lot, which I'm not sure if that means anything.
I have now done the system repair, but it said it could not find any issues. Following this, I have also tried the option System Restore, and restored to an earlier update, but the most recent says it cannot be completed, and an update prior to this that I selected has not seemed to change anything, as it is still not booting.
There are other options such as command prompt but I am not sure what to put in, or the Alienware respawn and restore emergency backup, which says it will restore your computer to factory state, but do not want to lose any files. Can anyone help?
pat673
4 Posts
0
April 22nd, 2014 04:00
Actually, in addition to this, I have managed to log in - as after the system restore, it would show the normal start up display, and go blank but was still on - and my log in screen briefly flickered. I managed to use the webcam to recognise my face to bring up the display and log in normally.
Following this, I have now plugged in my HDMI cable to my TV, which now shows my display on the tv screen, but not on my laptop (Normally it will show both as my settings) so does this suggest something wrong with the display on my laptop??
Alienware-Naomi
1.8K Posts
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April 22nd, 2014 21:00
These symptoms point towards a Video Card problem. Try these steps:
Let me know how it goes!
pat673
4 Posts
0
April 24th, 2014 03:00
Hi Naomi, thanks for your reply!
I did the last test, pressing Fn+F7 and changed the graphics card and rebooted. Following this the laptop display has stayed blank (though appears to be backlit)
Now following this it no longer shows on my tv as the secondary monitor. Does this indicate it is indeed a graphics card problem? And how do I go about getting this fixed?
Also, do you know how to get it back to how it was originally so I can at least have it display on my tv as a secondary monitor so I can still use my laptop in the meantime?
Many thanks
Alienware-Naomi
1.8K Posts
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April 24th, 2014 15:00
FN+F7 disables the discrete graphics and leaves only the integrated graphics, that's why there's no display on the external monitor. Do the test without the external monitor and check for distortion.
To enable the discrete video card back, you simply need to use the command again and restart.
pat673
4 Posts
0
April 24th, 2014 21:00
Hi again,
i have attempted to do the ePSA test but I'm not sure if its happening correctly - I have watched the video and read the support page, I was able to get to the first initial menu (which is flickering and is distorted) and click 'Diagnostics'
Following this, it will flash between block colours of red, green, white and black, and beeping. Following this, the screen goes blank, followed by three sets of three beeps, and a short melody, and keeps doing this, but I not shown anything on screen, no error codes or menus to go through.
Are these symptoms of something or am I missing something? Many thanks for your replies, but this is a very frustrating issue, and has only occurred not long after my warranty has expired so I can't even engage in technical support chat so this is my only option.
Alienware-Naomi
1.8K Posts
0
April 25th, 2014 11:00
The test is running correctly. The flashing colors are a video test and the melody indicates that the test failed.
All of this now tells us that there could also be a problem with the LCD. If you feel comfortable opening the computer, I recommend you try to re-seat the LCD cable. Here are the disassembly videos Part 1 and Part 2.
If issue persists, the only way to confirm whether its a video card or LCD issue is to attempt replace one of the two parts. I recommend you send an email alienhelp@dell.com and ask for out of warranty services.