Hi PrzemoNo,

I appreciate the trouble shooting steps tried. Please check if the graphic card is listed in the Main tab in BIOS. Tap F2 at startup to open the BIOS screen.

Please run diagnostics on the graphics card. Please click on the below link:

http://dell.to/18jhlEt

Under ‘Hardware’ from the listed components under ‘Diagnostic Selector’ select ‘Video card’ and then click on ‘Run Diagnostics’. Follow on screen instruction to run the test and reply to this post with the status to assist you further. Run Video card stress test as well.

Dear Sujatha K,

Thanks for coming back to me. I really appreciate that.

Please let me tell you that I have already sought help in Dell Support Center where I have bought the laptop (Poland) and I have been advised by one of team members that I need to run the "Dell diagnostics:" I have done that and provided the results to that person. Avaiting further advices now.

Besides, before i wrote here, I have already done the diagnostiscs by PC checkup (via dowloaded Dell programme calles Alien Autopsy). This one has NOT found any problems, for 1 simple reason: it states the nVidia GPU is "switched off" and it cannot be tested. Instead it tested the Intel integrated graphics with no issues reported (obviously).

My BIOS sees the card, stating " Discrete Graphics 1 nvidia GFX".

All that did not provide an answer to me whether the card is broken or I have software conflict.

Therefore I conatcted you here and Polish Support Center by phone.

However if you advise me that I still need to run the diagnostics as suggested in your post, I adjust to it and perform as requested.

Thanks for your help!

Regards,

PN

Hi PrzemoNo,

Thank you for the update. Since the card is detected in the BIOS, I suspect it is the driver issue. Please uninstall the driver from the Device Manager. Also check the option Delete the driver software from this device while uninstalling. Next restart the system and update BIOS and NVidia driver from the links given below:

BIOS: http://dell.to/1buQ61j

NVidia graphics: http://dell.to/Iwxvpq

Restart the system after each update. Let me know the status after the drivers update.
Note: This system model is shipped with NVidia GTX 260M, hence provided the driver for the same. Let me know if the system has different video card.

Hello Sujatha K,

Thanks for updating me.

i will follow the steps as advised.

Actually my system was shipped with nVidia GeForce 560M GTX card.

Thus I suppose the drivers should be as follow:

http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/pl/pl/pldhs1/DriverDetails/Product/alienware-m17x-r3?driverId=G5PWN&osCode=W764&fileId=2731104405&languageCode=pl&categoryId=VI

Please advise in case the above driver is outdated or for any reason I need to use the 260 M drivers

Thanks!

Regards,

Przemek

Hi Przemek,

The links I provided for BIOS and Video card is for Alienware M17X. The link you have posted is for Alienware M17X R3. Please send me a private message with the system service tag to provide the exact link for BIOS and video card. Please click on my name and click Start Conversation to send me a private message.

Hello,

Just wanted to provide an update:

I have re-installed Windows, applied the newest BIOS, used Alien Autopsy and whatever other tool available and the situation did not improve at all.

The original nVidia driver for GTX 560M is causing BSODs. All the time.

The newer one (ver. 306) does not RUN. I mean the card is constantly "switched off".

I did the re-installations few times already, and always use the "clean installation".

What's the next step?

Do I really have to send my laptop to the service?

GPU is recognised by the system, either by Win 7 or BIOS. it just does not run.

Thanks!

Hello,

Any updates on this as my Alienware has the exact same problem and I can't find a solution anywhere.

Hey. Unfortunately no, there was no answer to that. I had to send the laptop to repair center. (which was a hassle by itself, cos residing in one country and having purchased the machine in another caused significant delays and etra travel effort). Funny thing was that the "technicians" told me that my motherboard is broken and GPU as well. They suggested replacing both. When I started asking what was broken in MB (and what reasons there were, cos the system did not mention any issue with MB) they all of the sudden decided that only the GPU is broken and replaced it. While the time of "repairs" was relatively short and efficient, the time I spent on internet and traveling/ sending the laptop was a major pain. After all I didi  not learn WHAT was the cause of the whole issue.

But so far so good, I can play again. Mind you SWTOR is not particularly demanding game for GPUs.

Hi i'm having the same problem with my Alienware m17x R4. It's also 2 years old now, but my question is did you have to pay for those repair? i also use it as my desk computer and since a week now it isn't using the GPU anymore.

Hope your system works fine now haha,

yes, i had to pay.. Machine was out of warranty. The costs were not particularly high. I actually think I got bit lucky, cos there are not much GTX 560 M still available.

if I would have to go for new MB +GPU, I would definitely think of buying new rig. Still those are rather pricey.