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3 Posts
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3080
May 3rd, 2019 16:00
Area-51 R5, black screen
Hey, yesterday I wanted to game a bit but since it has been over 2 weeks or so, I immediately went to update Windows, Alienware Updater and Alienware Control Center. PC shuts down, restarts, I continue the updates, PC restarts again and shows a screen, from the BIOS I think, that it is updating. Nothing abnormal at first, desktop is restarting a few times but the last time the screen just went black. Fans working, leds on but no screen input and keyboard didn’t light up. After 20 minutes I pressed the power button for 5 seconds, pc turned off. But now I’m stuck with my desktop that won’t boot up, not even showing the alienware logo, so I have no clue how to fix this. Leds and fans turn on though. I don’t have any spare video cards and I prefer to not open the pc if I don’t have to due to warranty and not knowing enough about the hardware. Can someone help me please? I’m annoyed this happened after owning my Alienware Area 51 for only 3 months. I have premium support, but the lady on the phone was not willing to help me. I have to call back on monday but can’t wait till then.
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churraske
4 Posts
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May 6th, 2019 02:00
Hi there!
My experience with my X51 R2 is that your GPU is almost dead... at least that happened with mine.
My suggestion is: try to get a Pendrive with Windows on it. Start your PC, go to the BIOS setup, and change the boot options to the pendrive.
When you boot from the pendrive, try to set to start your PC in Safe mode and uninstall the GPU drivers from the Device administrator to see what happens.
If the PC starts and its black again is your GPU. If it starts, and when you are trying to install the original drivers go black again, is your GPU...
The other option is to make a system restore. Or reinstall Windows.
I had the same issuee and realized that it was the GPU. I managed to make it work with the basic Windows drivers, but the 3D acceleration wasn't working, so it was useless.
I had the advantage that the X51 R2 came with an onboard GPU.
mrickeard
4 Posts
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May 6th, 2019 06:00
Sounds like during the update - the video card setting got changed or didnt get changed. either way during the boot up process press F7 and enter SAFE MODE - then select a time before the update to restore your machine.
restart - and this time do not allow your system to automatically update the video settings rather only do one update and restart at a time to narrow down and confirm what is in fact the true problem is. if the problem repeats then you will know exactly what update didnt take and what to tell tech support.
savvy2
4 Apprentice
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2.5K Posts
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May 6th, 2019 08:00
no less, windows 10 64bit right?but what build.? type in run box winver. (after safe mode reached)
1705 or 1809.? or in between?
we just had 2 PCs here, fail due to running 1705, and doing the long jump to 1809 , both PC flat refused to do that jump. (only fresh loaded OS booted from media worked)
and was caused by my error, using windows 10 pro , and the update settings on PRO are very tricky, my error.
so do know that 2 thing make it fail, updates. (like you see)
1809 has vast changes, some good others not so good.
letting windows do driver updates, at the reboot update.
or allowing it to do the major updates, and not delay those for 30 days or more, let the other folks be the test rats.
your PC boots (never cold) from hibernate images.
if you go to safe mode, this forces a true cold boot. this alone fixes many dead w10 boxes.
if the last good recover works, do block 1809 for a while, IMO./