M17x R3, GTX 560m GPU not being detecting

Question

Hello everyone,

Recently I got back on my Alienware after a few years of it sitting in the closet. So let me jump right into the problems.

Opened the computer, and it kept having this black weird screen that would randomly turn black at a moments notice and wouldn't turn back on. I fixed this by reinstalling windows 7. Then I had install all the drivers, which at the time the nVidia Geforce gtx 560m It was there in the device manager and was working just fine.

I installed all the drivers perfectly then I thought, I would install windows 10, which at the time I did not know that it wasn't compatible with windows 10, as in device manager the only GPU that would show is the HD graphics 3000. So I downgraded it back to windows 7, and now its not even there at all. I tried installing nVidia drivers it said "No hardware is installed" or something around those lines.

Even tried geforce experience, but I got the basically the same error. Then, i decided to see if uninstalling the HD graphics, if it would then use the nvidia one! But nope! I changed to the VGA Adapter. I'm scared to uninstall that one and it will say that I don't have a GPU at all. I know the Nvidia GPU works just fine because I was using it before I installed Windows 10.

I don't have any Nvidia files or anything. I've called Nvidia and dell as well. (as my warranty expired and dell wanted $250 to help me which I wasn't going to pay that) My windows is updated, but there is one thing that catches my eye. On Easy Driver or Drive something like that it says "Geforce GTX 560M update" BUT! I am afraid if I update it, it will brick my GPU. Also It says "unplugged" on the driver updater.

I honestly don't know what to do anymore, this is just gathering up stress considering i've been trying to work on this for the past three days. Any solution would work!

Thanks,

Mack4fam AKA Marshall

mattyb3 · Accepted Answer

I actually encountered the same (or similar) problem last night with an M17x R4 that I just bought off eBay. It was loaded with Windows 7 but was listed as having random BSOD crashes so I installed an SSD and installed Windows 10. The Nvidia driver self-installed fine but as soon as I tried to run a benchmark to see if the machine would BSOD, the GPU crashed and the machine stopped recognising the 675M in device Manager and also the BIOS. At this stage I can only assume the GPU is dead.

Check your BIOS by pressing F2 while booting. If the BIOS says there is no Discrete GPU detected then it's a safe bet that your GPU is now toast. I'm going to try to re-install Windows 7 tonight but I'm pretty sure my card is now a frisbee. I threw a spare 7970M in it last night and it's working great.

You can also try reseating the card. Do this at your own risk though. Remove the power supply and battery and pull the back cover off. Remove the fan and the GPU heatsink and then the card. If you've never removed the heatsink before then it will feel like it's stuck to the card as the thermals pads are quite sticky. You just have to be extra careful. You machine is probably filled with dust/lint which can build up on the heatsink and in the fan. You will also need some new thermal compound. I don't think any of this will really help though unfortunately.

Never work on the inside of a laptop while standing on carpet or in socks as you can build up static electricity very easily which will kill your components.

Your best bet is to grab a new 560M or go for an upgrade to a 580M, 680M or 780M or even an AMD 7970M.

Mack4fam · Answer

You are correct, it says Discrete Graphics 1 [not detected]

Alienware

M17x R3, GTX 560m GPU not being detecting

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