Aurora-R4 Operating System freezing at starting Windows

Sorry chris just noticed your post. 

Dear people,

I purchased my Alienware Aurora somewhere early 2011 and i'm experiencing (very randomly) the exact same issue when it comes to freezing at starting Windows, as decribed in this thread!

At my end these problems first  showed up when for example i opened my computer to dust clean the inside; i make sure my system is shut down ofcourse, i unplug the power cord and then only i open it. After closing, i plug the power cord again and then i switch the system back on; there... Windows is freezing while starting and sometimes even the black screen shows up!

I thought these problems r there with R4's and Alienware X51's ONLY?! According to the info on internet the 'older' Aurora's (like mine) r NOT factory overclocked?!

I did NOT do yet, in the BIOS, whatever Chris described in this thread; up 'till now, like vut, i let Windows being freezed for about 3 minutes, then powered off the system and then restart and that WORKS... 'till a particular moment Windows freezes at it's start again!

Yes... on my service tag i see that for my Aurora there's a BIOS update as well, but (it may sound stupid) i simply don't have the guts update, since i don't know that much about computers like u guys do! What if Windows will freeze again, immidiately on restart, right after updating my BIOS?

Here, at "http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kcs/document?c=us&cs=04&docid=535179", DELL explains how to check if ur Alienware is factory overclocked... but they say this only apllies for (for example) Aurora's R3 and R4! Does this mean this article doesn't hold good for me?!

Any reactions please?!

Greetz,

Stefan

NOTE: When immidiately typing my profile password while starting Windows and immidiately confirm, Windows freezes; when waiting a minute or 2 while looking at the Windows password screen, then type my password and then confirm makes Windows start up without problems!!!

A little later after posting, i contacted DELL support in The Netherlands; in Holland they say they don't know about this problem at all. He's saying i should fresh install Windows and after that i install ALL latest drivers! He says it's a HDD detection issue! He's saying he can see my Aurora is definitely NOT overclocked; should i have my doubts on this?!

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.

Re: Help brand new m18x r2 won't boot into windows?

Registered to say thank you so much, this is 100% confirmed working. Saved me God knows how much stress and money. Much love.

I am having this problem, I did the suggestion posted by Chris. I switched my modes. It would not run properly when I changed it to legacy, It only got the black screen with the flashing underscore. So I changed it back and put my uefi as boot one. Seem to get a little farther, ended up pulling up the windows repair so I had the option to do the repair or proceed with booting it normal. So I chose the system repair option. It Repeared and restarted, but still freezes on the start up sreen when the four color balls come together it flashes and on the last flash freezes. I can boot up safe mode but not normal mode. Please help!

 Just so everyone has a better idea of what could be the problem, I'll start from the beginning. It started yesterday sat 1/13/16 at about 11p.m. I was playing video games, Company of Heroes 2, and my screen turned/froze to multiple color pixilation for a second then went black. I believe the computer was still running because I heard music still playing and my fx lighting was still changing colors. I couldn't pull up any screens like cntl, alt, delete, so I did a hard shut down. Turned the computer back on. Everything started like usual. Thinking everything was alright I tried to play a different game, Smite, and it did the same thing. Multiple color pixilation for a second then went black. So, I hard shut down and turn it back on. I start to think well is it my video cards. I open nvidia geforce to see if my driver needs an update, which it did, so I update it. Watch some x-files on hulu for a while and waiting for the update. Everything works out fine, so I think the problem is solved and start up Fallout 4 this time. Same thing happens. I'm tired at this point, so I hard shut down again and go to bed. The fallowing morning I wake up and open my computer and clean it, check my water pump, video cards, everything looks like it's in order. So, I close it and start it up and it freezes on the Starting Windows screen with their logo on it. The iconic music plays as if it were going to the desktop screen, but remains the Starting Windows screen. So I hard shut down and start it in safe mode, which it will start in safe mode but not regular mode, and run system recovery. It recovers and tries to start normal mode, same thing happens freezes on the Starting Windows screen. I'm fed up at this point so shut it off and now I'm here. I tried to call alienware tech support but refuse to help because my warranty is out. I bought my computer back in 2012. First time this has happened to me. Any suggestions or ideas of what it could be?

Thanks for the help,

Dustin