Alienware Area 51 - Doesn't boot up , but sometimes does.

Hey, some questions for you and the community at large:

- is the hard drive running Windows 7 only, or was it upgraded to Windows 10 and that failed, and now it's booting in Windows 7 and can't finish the Windows 10 upgrade?  Or are you saying there are two partitions and you were dual-booting?

...on a side note, you mention "sometimes it boots" - would you say it properly comes up 1 time out of 10, or that it booted for a while and now it won't boot at all?  When it does boot, does it spend time doing other stuff like "Getting things ready..." or "Installing Windows Updates: 1 of X"?  Or is it just hung at "Checking CPU"?

- If you're using HDMI to connect to the monitor, can you try a DVI-D or other connector?  I know you've tested the cable, I just have a really long, goofy reason to ask this question. :)

- Would you be able to get into the BIOS and show us pictures of the settings?  

To the Alienware Owners' community:

- Does anyone think the video card would need to be in the top PCI slot to work?  Or if switching it might help?

- Does anyone know if the "Checking CPU" might need to be temporarily bypassed to get the machine bootable and running?

Basically it runs a fresh windows 7 on a different hard drive then windows 10 before , as the problems started with windows 10 the first thing i tried was simply installing windows 7 but the problems never let me finish the install as it requires a restart and that never works...

So i got into the bios once again https://imgur.com/a/dFamC

after pressing save & exit it rebooted but instant shutted down again, then restart again and didn't display anything once again.

With hung at "Checking CPU" i meant the ePSA tool , i tried it 2x but it never got past the cpu test it always stayed at some % for a couple of hours and i just shutted the computer down after some hours.

I've read this thread but lost my chance to reply with a more thorough diagnosis etc, I will check back later tonight. @Winter, that is a good call & I noticed it too in his utube video, the inclusion of a pair of memory cards only (with a missing dimm in the center), & now I can see their values. The Intel X58 chipset uses triple-channel memory, the mainboard is rated to run 12Gb (3x4Gb) max @ 1600MHz or 6Gb (3x2Gbmax) @ 1866Mhz. I suggest as well running one memory card. A simple test would be checking all memory slots one at a time, eventually using both cards, and go from there.

I see you removed your CMOS battery, did u check it for 2.5volts - 3volts? Time for a new battery?

Thanks for the info!

Okay, a couple of things,

- the motherboard BIOS revision is correct - I've got A11 and I've run Windows 7, 8.1, and 10 on it fine.

- as far as I know, this motherboard can't handle 16GB of RAM:  mine is capped at 12GB, which I've got set up in 3x4GB configuration.  Has this machine run with 16GB before?  You may want to just put one stick in for now, or even a 4GB stick if you've got it (we can solve one problem at a time and always come back to this after the rest is resolved)

- is there any possibility you can move your disks to the SATA 1 & 2 slots?

- have you tried moving the video card up one slot to the top slot?

- are you using HDMI or DVI cable?

Hi Cass-Ole!  Glad to see you joining the conversation - I think it means our OP will be in good hands. :)  I had a short offline conversation with them before coming out here, so I can tell you that the CMOS battery thing was just part of the "Let's see if we need to clear the CMOS before trying again" move - I don't think the battery is bad.

One reason I mentioned a DVI cable instead of HDMI (temporarily) is that sometimes HDMI screws up its "handshake".  The "HDCP" (copy protection) that takes place when an HDMI device connects to a TV or Monitor can sometimes go goofy and you get a black screen.  I've had this happen with a TV and DVR and a TV and A/V Receiver, and both times the solution was to unplug everything, connect HDMI cable, power drain the devices (holding ON button while unplugged), then plug everything back in and turn on.

It sounds like the stupidest thing, I realize, and yet...I've had it happen, so I mention it! :)  Just another thing to think of.

Hello back Mute (=

Once in a blue moon, I get no video output to my monitor (DVI). So far the cure for me is to simply unplug the monitor cord, usually when the desktop is running, even if it takes 4 or 5 times of doing that (in combo with monitor on/off button pressed) my video will return, making mine a random & rare monitor issue. Give it a try. Monitors & vid-cables certainly play in the mix when a no video situation exists, be it my scenario or yours, it needs ruled out so as to focus on hardware/software as the likely culprit. I'm waiting to hear how a solo-8gb memory card (or putting the original memory back in if it exists) pans out.

Agreed!  I think this means our short list of "To-do" for Voxen is:

1) Move the video card up

2) Put 1 stick of RAM in, especially best if it's one you know worked before in the motherboard.

3) scoot the hard drives to SATA 1 & 2

Try to get it to come up, and then...

4) try a different cable if it powers up without beeps, but it's still not giving you a video signal

 Good luck!  :)

By all means try the above mentioned @Voxen

The PSA test on the CPU with it failing is a problem. Non-Posting will occur if the CPU has a problem or damaged or is not installed (correctly).

Have you touched the CPU recently or moved the desktop where it might have been bumped?

Also Is the pump working as a hot CPU will also fail after time if it is not getting cooled?

Worth checking the water Cooler block on the CPU is seated correctly.

You may need to reseat the CPU by taking off the Waterblock. Clean the TIM off the CPU and the Water cooler block with ArtiClean. Reseat the CPU carefully. Apply new TIM (small amount the size of a bead) in the center of the CPU. Reattach the Waterblock making sure it sits correctly and tighten gradually each screw in a diagonal motion.

Recommend you use ESD wrist or ankle straps to avoid Static electricity as well.

I did move the hard drives up to sata 1-2 , im using dual link dvi-d and i tried anothe ram stick 4gb @ 1333 1 alone and then 2 together on in the left one in the right slot , i also tried 3 different CMOS Battery all 3V ofc.

A simple test would be checking all memory slots one at a time, eventually using both cards, and go from there. - I don't get what you mean with "eventually using both cards" do you mean my Ram Modules ? Or Trying different PCIe Slots ?

I could eventually try to get a picture trough hdmi but i doubt it will help

I also tought about the CPU beforehand https://imgur.com/a/hmqdv but as you can see in the picture i do not see something broken , only a bit thermal paste needed maybe.

How should i check the water cooling ? I have never worked with water cooling before , but i did hear it working ..

I will order some TIM and ArctiClean tools now and will try this anyway.

But if we won't succeed in fixing the problem , does anyone now a site where i can buy this motherboard , i found some on ebay but they do not ship to germany :(

I have to admit, I was wondering what this particular picture was about:

https://imgur.com/a/hmqdv

I'm wondering why the CPU was unseated and whether it was properly put back together, too.

A Victor D is right that the CPU fail is another thing we should look at.  

Voxen, have you had a chance to try any of the things we've put here?  Do you need any help with any of those steps?  Just ask and I know we'll be glad to assist however we can. :)

I just saw that a reply came to me from Voxen through PM, so just a minor communication issue.  I'm sure Voxen will come back here to reply soon. :)

I hope this time it get approved:

I did move the hard drives up to sata 1-2 , im using dual link dvi-d and i tried another ram stick 4gb @ 1333 1 alone

and then 2 together on in the left one in the right slot , i also tried 3 different CMOS Battery all 3V ofc.

A simple test would be checking all memory slots one at a time, eventually using both cards, and go from there.

- I don't get what you mean with "eventually using both cards" do you mean my Ram Modules ? Or Trying different PCIe Slots ?

I could eventually try to get a picture trough hdmi but i doubt it will help

I also tought about the CPU beforehand https://imgur.com/a/hmqdv but as you can see in the picture i do not see something broken , only a bit thermal paste needed maybe.

How should i check the water cooling ? I have never worked with water cooling before , but i did hear it working ..

I will order some TIM and ArctiClean tools now and will try this anyway.

But if we won't succeed in fixing the problem , does anyone now a site where i can buy this motherboard , i found some on ebay but they do not ship to germany :(

Yes, we can see your post! :)  Sorry you've been having some slow post approval times.  I don't know what that's about.

@ Voxen. So if you have opened the bracket on the CPU then it is feasible something has gone wrong re-seating it. When re-seating the CPU on the Motherboard was the Motherboard laying down flat? I can not tell from your pic. The CPU can slip if the Motherboard is not flat to the ground - basically lay the case on its side or remove the Motherboard from the case and lay flat.

The CPU needs to be placed by hand on the Mobo socket first then the support bracket is then clamped down after. You cant simply push the bracket(clamp) back with the CPU in it.

Also to detect any faulty pins you  are best to use a good magnifying glass. The naked eye can easily miss slightly bent pins.

Also make sure you use a Anti-Static wrist strap and earth yourself. Make sure the power cable is in the Area 51 but switched OFF at the wall. The earth will then work if your wrist strap in clipped onto a metal section of the Area 51 case. Keep off carpet when doing any work like this.

I hope it works for you...

Alienware systems are not all capable of upgrading to W10 due to various reasons. Chris at Dell posted this as a sticky note:

Unfortunately, Dell is only going to provide Windows 10 Drivers and Support for the systems on this list. Some models came out after the list was created. Some users have successfully installed Windows 10 on non-supported systems. But they did all the driver investigation (example = installing 7/8/8.1 drivers) to force non-functioning components to work in Windows 10.  Please note, this was done at their own risk and Dell cannot provide support on systems not listed as compatible.

Desktops

Aurora-R4 (2012)

X51-R1 (2012)

X51-R2 (2013)

X51-R3 (2015)

Area 51-R2 (2014)

Alpha (2014)

Laptops

13-R1 (2014)

13-R2 (2015)

14-R1 (2013)

15-R1 (2015)

15-R2 (2015)

17-R1 (2013)

17-R2 (2015)

17-R3 (2015)

18-R1 (2013)

18-R2 (2015)

* Note - None of the older series laptops with the Mx name will be supported by Dell with Windows 10.