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February 2nd, 2012 07:00
Aurora-R4 Operating System freezing at starting Windows
Problem: Alienware Aurora R4 blank screen or system hang during Windows boot.
Description: Some Alienware Aurora R4 systems may display a black screen and/or hang while Windows is loading.
Solution: Engineering is aware of the problem and working towards a solution. To work around the issue, follow the instructions below -
* Restart the PC
* Press F2 to enter the BIOS setup and record the current Boot Mode value (either Legacy or uEFI)
* Press F9 to load the Optimized Defaults
* Choose Yes at the pop-up prompt. This disables the CPU overclocking and resets the Boot Mode
* Press F10 to Save and Exit the BIOS setup
* Choose Yes at the pop-up prompt
* Immediately upon the subsequent reboot, press F2 to enter the BIOS setup and manually restore the prior Boot Mode value from the first step
(either Legacy or uEFI)
* Press F10 to Save and Exit the BIOS setup
* Choose chose Yes at the pop-up prompt and allow the PC to normally boot to Windows
NOTE - Restoring the CPU overclocking will create the system hang so leave it off until we come out with a permanent fix.
DELL-Chris M
#IWork4Dell
FAQ Customer Care, Out of warranty repair, Find your Service Tag, Get a copy of your Dell invoice
RichardGK
72 Posts
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February 7th, 2012 13:00
Ok so before you changed it. How far would the pc boot?
RichardGK
72 Posts
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February 7th, 2012 14:00
Ment check it displays uEFI. Ok this is beyond me then. Time to pick up the phone to Dell if I were you pal. If deafults dont work. Tried booting from a CD then running a repair?
RichardGK
72 Posts
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February 7th, 2012 14:00
If you just put it to default(F9) Then you will have a common ground with the tech to work from.
Mirand
10 Posts
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February 7th, 2012 14:00
current cpu frequency is 3200 mhz
Mirand
10 Posts
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February 7th, 2012 14:00
1 more thing my set boot priority was 1 hard disk windows 2 cd/dvd and 3 4 5 6 7 i forgot but if i put it back to what it used to would it work? thanks for the help tho i'll be calling dell now i hope they don't charge me for what i've done......
RichardGK
72 Posts
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February 7th, 2012 19:00
Nice one. Glad your sorted. What was wrong?
Mirand
10 Posts
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February 7th, 2012 19:00
It's fixed just had to change 3 things...wow and it wasn't complicated to do these changes.....
Mirand
10 Posts
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February 7th, 2012 21:00
had to change the raid mode to hs something i haven't checked what exactly it's called then make uefi was boot 1. Hard disk as 2. the rest had to stay the same so i guess windows won't freeze again?
RichardGK
72 Posts
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February 7th, 2012 23:00
Hmmm ok Ill have to see what my boot order is at home. Its on default. I guess even though we both have R4s we could have different configurations. For example mine wont start on uEFI only Legacy. Good news at least. Enjoy your system Mirand.
Mirand
10 Posts
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February 7th, 2012 23:00
Thanks dude you too thanks for your support !
Kurt459
14 Posts
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February 8th, 2012 04:00
I have an R3, purchased on sale, December 21, 2011. I received it, I think, January 12, 2012. I set it up January 25, 2012.
I get the same thing. A_N_D >>> I can't get into my BIOS, yet.
I went out to Best Buy and bought their brand Dynex, a wired basic, non-gaming keyboard as suggested by the Alienware tech I talked to. Still, no luck getting into BIOS via F2 or F8.
I don't want to do this, but... I think I will mail this sucker back to Alienware so they can fix it or refund my money.
I will N_E_V_E_R buy another Dell or suggest anybody else should.
I don't get the Intel Alienhead startup screen with the bottom, "loading" fill bar. Example of this, see this YouTube video:
Alienware Aurora - first boot
======================
[View:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frBJiD5jZKc&feature=related]
at 26 seconds into the video
I wonder if Facebook has an Alienware resource group for troubleshooting?
I will double post this to a separate thread.
Kurt
Kurt459
14 Posts
0
February 8th, 2012 13:00
Well, hear the sound of me eating my words...munch, munch, munch...
At least one guy to Alienware's Tech department knows his stuff.
I am one very happy man---LOL!
Everything is positively resolved of the issues stated above and my 2 previous posts.
It seems the negative hearsay I have heard about Dell's acquisition of Alienware is false, once I took the initiative to connect and finding a person knowledgeable to resolve my issues; re: my refridgerator analogy, previously stated in my 1st post.
My last call to Alienware Tech Support was over two hours. After trying a few things, we finally isolated the issue to my primary video card in dual SLI mode had a plastic cover plate over it with a symbol on it to not remove it. This is the way it came as delivered to me from FedEx. Unlike building a machine from scratch and getting all the documentation with the build from the various suppliers, my Alienware Aurora-R3 did not have much in the way of documentation informing me of the proper way to assemble the components. I removed the plastic cap, then plugged in my DVI connector to the upper bank, and that is the primary video card.
The last couple of tech guys were really hard pressed what to do. I have never run in SLI, RAID0, or overclocked a machine before, so I had no experience to fall back on.
Issues are resolved and I am good to go. Guess I will keep the machine...
The Tech department's day shift seem to be more on top of things.
I think I will be fine with my two GT 545 cards in SLI, but I sure would like to get a GTX 580 video card in the future, this machine.
So far, it has not been too much of an ordeal compared to scratch building a machine, me in New York and my brother tutoring me, he in Seattle.
http://www.Tom'sHardware.com/
is a good resource.
Kurt
RichardGK
72 Posts
0
February 8th, 2012 18:00
Weird , The capped off ports are not the primary cards no. The start up guide specifically states these are capped off for a reason.
"
NOTE: If your computer shipped with dual graphics card, the connectors on the secondary graphics
card are capped. Connect the display to the connectors on the primary graphics card"
support.dell.com/.../DAO_WW.pdf
RichardGK
72 Posts
0
February 13th, 2012 07:00
Looking for any update on this issue DELL. Refuse to let this thread die and would recommend a sticky as its a common unsolved fault.
vut
2 Posts
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February 14th, 2012 06:00
I have observed that when windows is freezing:
- Let it freezes for 2-3 minutes
- Push the button start/stop again, windows will start succesfully every time !!!
May be the solution is to have a BIOS that should delay the overclock 2-3 minutes after succesfully started.
It is just an idea, I am not an expert !