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November 7th, 2016 15:00
Alienware M17x R3 8 beeps from ***
I have looked all over on-line and can't find a fix. My warranty has run out, so any home fixes would be great. My computer appears dead. I turn it in and nothing. Then the 8 beeps happen. I have tried plugged in, in battery. Tried it with video card in and out. Tried external monitor and get a dim backlight but nothing more. I gave tired re moving the cmos battery and running the paper clip across it. Still same thing gappens. Is it tthe motherbiard, LCD monitor, or does someone (hopefully) know if something else?
Thank you for your time.... typing by cell phone ***.
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AndrewSi
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901 Posts
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November 8th, 2016 06:00
Hello.
I take it you DO NOT have a 120Hz 3D screen?
I'll assume you don't for now.
You have two GPU's on a non 3D LCD screen, a "removeable" GPU and intel HD graphics.
Even if the removable is out, your laptop should still boot with intel HD graphics.
If it's not then it could be three different things.
1. LCD Screen
2. LCD cable
3. Motherboard LCD connection socket.
The screens and cables you can pickup cheap secondhand these days, same as the motherboards.
Only problem is trying to figure out which of the three is faulty, which is next to impossible unless you have spares to test with.
Unless you have spares or want to take a punt then maybe getting your local computer shop to test it and tell you what wrong might be a good idea
en.community.dell.com/.../19451762
The above is a link to Alienware beep codes, use it as a guide, not a bible as it's not always 100% right.
For example, this table says 8 beeps is a faulty lcd panel, but about 50% of the time 8 beeps can mean faulty GPU, especially on a 3D panel.
During preboot test the computer checks a bunch of things, which include the GPU and LCD panel, it sends a signal through the GPU to the LCD panel, if it detects any faults it will beep 8 beeps. This includes not being able to get a signal through the GPU to the LCD panel. The laptop then decides there is a fault with the lcd panel and gives 8 beeps, even though it's not the panel that's faulty, it's the GPU......................I've been through this at least 10 times with my own Alienware laptops over the years