There are usually three main causes of the dreaded Code 43.
1. Faulty Driver.
2. Corrupted or wrong vBIOS
3. Faulty Card
Unfortunately it's usually option #3. If you have tried multiple drivers then your next step is to try reflashing the vBIOS using NVFlash. There are lots of guides on how to do this. Basically you need to download NVFlash and extract the files into a folder named NVFlash on your C: drive. Then you grab a compatible vBIOS from TechPowerUp and put this file into the NVFlash folder. You then disable the GPU in Device Manager and run CMD in Administrator. Then you go into the NVFlash directory and run the flash using the correct prompts.
Just note that you do this at your own risk as a last resort.
I have heard that it can sometimes just be fixed by disabling the card in Device Manager, rebooting and enabling it again. That does not work very often though.
If you find that the card is faulty then you can easily replace/upgrade it as it is a standard MXM card. Plug and play cards include the GTX 770M, 780M, 860M, 880M and AMD R9 M290X (8970M). You can upgrade easily to a 970M or 980M and even a 1060 or 1070 with a little extra work.
To be very honest I just wanted that little push to decide and get a replacement graphics card. I don't I'll go with the reflash, this PC has been thorugh a lot.
No problem. Good luck with the replacement/upgrade and let us know if you have any issues.
I'd suggest to watch some disassembly videos first so you know how to safely work on the inside of your laptop without damaging any components.
Here is a full disassembly guide but you'll just need the GPU part. The official Dell disassembly video shows them removing the GPU with the heatsink still attached. I do not suggest you do this as it's a very tight fit and you can do some damage to the old card, heatsink and MXM port.
mattyb3
5 Practitioner
•
1.7K Posts
1
October 26th, 2020 21:00
Hello,
There are usually three main causes of the dreaded Code 43.
1. Faulty Driver.
2. Corrupted or wrong vBIOS
3. Faulty Card
Unfortunately it's usually option #3. If you have tried multiple drivers then your next step is to try reflashing the vBIOS using NVFlash. There are lots of guides on how to do this. Basically you need to download NVFlash and extract the files into a folder named NVFlash on your C: drive. Then you grab a compatible vBIOS from TechPowerUp and put this file into the NVFlash folder. You then disable the GPU in Device Manager and run CMD in Administrator. Then you go into the NVFlash directory and run the flash using the correct prompts.
Just note that you do this at your own risk as a last resort.
I have heard that it can sometimes just be fixed by disabling the card in Device Manager, rebooting and enabling it again. That does not work very often though.
If you find that the card is faulty then you can easily replace/upgrade it as it is a standard MXM card. Plug and play cards include the GTX 770M, 780M, 860M, 880M and AMD R9 M290X (8970M). You can upgrade easily to a 970M or 980M and even a 1060 or 1070 with a little extra work.
Greg.S
1 Rookie
•
2 Posts
0
October 27th, 2020 16:00
Thank you very much
To be very honest I just wanted that little push to decide and get a replacement graphics card. I don't I'll go with the reflash, this PC has been thorugh a lot.
Thanks for your time and knowledge
Greg
mattyb3
5 Practitioner
•
1.7K Posts
0
October 27th, 2020 17:00
No problem. Good luck with the replacement/upgrade and let us know if you have any issues.
I'd suggest to watch some disassembly videos first so you know how to safely work on the inside of your laptop without damaging any components.
Here is a full disassembly guide but you'll just need the GPU part. The official Dell disassembly video shows them removing the GPU with the heatsink still attached. I do not suggest you do this as it's a very tight fit and you can do some damage to the old card, heatsink and MXM port.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqIOo45uhLo