I have been having this issue since I bought my laptop. I have an Alienware M11x R2 with an i7 processor and 8gb ram. Sometimes I'll be browsing the web or chatting on skype and then the computer just hangs, The mouse doesn't move, I can't Ctrl + Alt + Delete, or anything. The only way to fix the problem would be to hold the power button and reboot it. People say that it could be due to overheating, but I'm not sure if it is, like I said, it freezes from simple tasks, also I use a laptop cooler. Any help is appreciated. Thank you!

Did you add the memory or is it factory, it sounds like bad ram...I bought my m11x and had graphic issues, but updated the intel graphics software through the intel web site and installed the nvidia drivers from the nvidia site and fixed all the problems.

Nope, I bought it from Alienware with 8 gb of ram. I updated my drivers from Nvidia and intel as well, so far I haven't had a single crash! I just hope it stays that way. I'll post again if the problem comes up again. Thank you so much, rotorcowboy!

Can you please update to let us know if using the manufacturer video drivers worked for you?

I'm having the same problem. I got my M11xR2 Saturday and in the 2 days I've had it it has frozen a dozen times. I saw some posts where people thought it was an issue with the nVidia driver but I've been so busy troubleshooting the problem I certainly haven't had a chance to play a game on it. I've run diagnostics and all the hardware checks out, so its some type of software issue but I've never seen a software issue that so completely locks up a machine like this. I'll have to try updating the Intel driver tonight, but was hoping you could let us know if you have had to do a hard reset since updating the video drivers.

sent you a friend request, nathan.  email me.

I got my M11x R2 in December 2010. I have only updated the drivers off the Dell site, never directly from Nvidia. Everything is as up to date as Dell can provide. Mine only has 4GB of ram, and I've never put any 3rd party hardware in the system. Still, I have been experiencing the same issue as you since day one. Some days I see three or more random freezes, whether I'm browsing the internet, playing a game, or whatever. The screen freezes; I cannot ctrl+alt+delete. The only solution is to hold down the little alien head to power down and then reboot.

I contacted Dell support a month ago, and they remote connected to my desktop, and ran some diagnostics. They couldn't find anything amiss. I'm just living with the issue now, as inconvenient as it is. If you or anyone else comes accross a solution, I would be thrilled to hear how it was solved. At least it's nice to learn that this isn't an isolated issue.

Best of luck to us.

Regards,

Nathan

If I were you guys and I faced the same problems, even with diagnostic + updates, I would try a clean reformat. Then I would go dell support website and download all the essential drivers for the alienware m11x r2. By right I guess it would work if it was a software issue. If it was a hardware issue... *cough.

3 Options

1) If you had warranty, call dell ask them if they could send a technician over to help you fix the problem. (recommended)

2)  If Option 1 is not feasible due to warranty void or warranty doesn't include solving this kind of issue, I would go find a trustworthy computer servicing shop to help me repair. (Not recommended)

3) Give me (Highly recommended X)) Kidding.

There's only one solution to avoid all random freezes on yours m11xR2 :

The problem is a hardware problem and need a motherboard replacement.

I have seen this on 2 french forums and they have their motherboard changed.

After that, no other freeze to report.

I just have a Dell technician this morning that have changed my motherboard and now, Dark Age of Camelot and World of Warcraft don't freeze again.

All of you :

PHONE DELL AND ASK MOTHERBOARD CHANGE !!!

Romalian wrote the following post at Fri, Mar 25 2011 8:31 PM:

There's only one solution to avoid all random freezes on yours m11xR2 :

The problem is a hardware problem and need a motherboard replacement.

Romalian is right.

I'm on the phone with alienware support right now, and after some diagnostic tests, they're insisting that a faulty harddrive is the cause of my freezes, and not a montherboard issue in this case. They're going to send me a replacement harddrive, which I should receive early next week. I guess I'll find out then, if and when the problem persists.

Wish me luck,

Nathan

Good Luck Nathan~

My AW technician and I spent weeks troubleshooting and after making copious case notes, he recommended I ship it to the Dell depot so they could fully test all the suspect hardware instead of me having to have a technician and parts dispatched that may or may not be the problem.

So I sent it to the depot, and 4 business days later received it back. I thought, "Wow, record time! They must really be good at the Dell Depot." Nope. They had wiped the hard drive and installed a fresh, unpatched Windows7 image and sent it back. That's it. They didn't even fix the wobbly space bar much less the complicated issue of the random lock up.

So now I have an M11x with no respawn, no restore partition, no McAfee, no custom AW wallpapers, etc, that locks up while Windows Update is installing patches so I now have a corrupt OS and no restore partition to restore to and no CD drive to be able to use the CD that came with the system. (I thought that was an odd accessory to begin with)

Luckily, the AW technician that worked on this issue and requested the dispatch to the depot is almost as mad as I am about the lack of actual 'repair'. 

So from the sound of it, I should probably just have him ship a replacement hard drive with an Alienware restore partition and a motherboard. I already fixed the wobbly space bar (just don't ask me if it types spaces any better - the thing locks up so much I barely get a chance to type) so its hardware is probably better off in my untrained hands than at the depot.

I was told the hard drive was at fault as well but was fortunate enough to get them to replace the Mobo as well.  It was just installed and I am backing up the old HD before installing the new.

I am concerned about having an unimaged hard drive and hope my back-up works.

I will report any findings when all is up and running.

i had the same problems...even just little whiles ago. i talk to dell support and they keep telling me that its  window 7 problem and its also internet explorer. then they try to sell me a upgrade window 7.  last week i had the problem and i end up talking to them for 4hr and they took over and did all these test and of course nothing is fix... now i am in japan and having the same problems. i need to talk to someone in dell who knows this problem and can help me fix it... can anyone tell me who i can talk to for aw and also somone here mention that if u replace the mother board this won't happen so what do i need to do to get my mother board replaced? please send me a reply thanks...

I am having the same problem. I believe that it is an issue with the motherboard.  To begin with, technical blamed my use of Nvidia drivers rather than Dell drivers.  I kept getting blue screens.  I sent the Windows minidump files which proved that it was an issue with the video card, but Dell blamed the drivers I was using rather than the hardware,  So I used the F8, repair my computer option to factory default to prove to technical that it was not a driver problem but a hardware problem.  With any of the Dell drivers, the screen just freezes.  Dell have now agreed to replace my motherboard.  I have researched this further.  There seems to be an issue with certain of the R2 motherboards- alot of people are getting the same problem.  I think it may be power related.  If I use the EVGA overclocking software (free) to UNDERclock the GPU to about 400, I get no problems when gaming using either Dell or Nvidia drivers.  If I set the card to its stock speed, I get freezing/bluescreens.  In addition I can not overclock the CPU since that produces the same problems!

I understand that Dell know there are serious issues with some batches of the R2 but will not admit it!

I believe that Dell technicians are telling people not to overclock the CPU when gaming and not to run on battery power when gaming!!

Whats the point in giving the overclocking option if it can not be used, and gaming on the go as Dell boasts is a bit difficult if the laptop has to be plugged into the mains all the time!!  Perhaps I should ask for a longer power cable!

Dell will try and blame software etc to start with, but it seems that there are some bad motherboards out there and I got one!  I noticed the problem within 1 week of receiving it but it took Dell 3 weeks to agree that there was a hardware problem, and by then they would not allow me to return the laptop for a refund- this next working day warranty is a joke!   In addition to the motherboard, it needs a new keyboard, which was faulty also on arrival ( not sitting flat - another common fault ).

Its nothing to do with the operating system, the games, the software, or the drivers, or optimus, its the hardware do not be fooled by Dell!

Same problem. Happens only once in awhile. Mostly random disconnect from internet during game play. Many calls to dell. Complete reinstall of all drivers. Still happening. Tech support expires in a few days. Won't be buying dell again.