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Reinstalled windows 7 on Alienware M17x
Hi! I just reinstalled windows 7 using the recovery disc that came with my Alienware M17x. But after I reinstalled it, I couldn't choose my resolution as 1920x1200. It only goes up to 1600x1200. My graphics cared is ATI Radeon Mobility HD4870. I also installed the Video driver that came in the Resource DVD. And the original Alienware theme that came with my laptop is also gone. Any help on these issues? Thanks
RoHe
10 Elder
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44.3K Posts
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July 26th, 2010 18:00
smikerboyz -
Please edit your post ASAP and remove your Service Tag number. It's a violation of the forum's rules to post a Service Tag number and it could allow people to access your personal info. NEVER share the Service Tag number with anyone but an official Dell employee! :emotion-5: The moderators may delete this thread if you don't remove the Service Tag
Dell isn't going to exchange your system unless it's a hardware problem that's preventing it from booting. So you need to figure that out. And you need to do that within 21 days of invoice date, not the date you received the PC, in order for them to exchange it. After 21 days, you'll have to troubleshoot this one.
Reinstalling Windows 7 does NOT violate your warranty. But, if you'd come here first, we could have shown you how to reset the hard drive to exactly the way Dell shipped it using PC Retore. But since you've manually reinstalled Windows, you've most likely changed Dell's special Master Boot Record that allows access PC Restore. So that feature is probably lost forever. :emotion-6:
If you search for drivers based on your Service Tag and Win7, no System Utilities are listed, so you don't need them for your specific system. There are 3 applications listed including one for Custom Themes, which will probably give you back the theme you want, but the 3 applications should be installed after all the drivers. SO:
IBEX Peak PCH Chipset
Video driver, either HD5870 or 4870, depending on which video you have
Audio -IDT Audio driver
Network- there are 4 choices so you'll have to decide which one you need, based on your original system config
CD/DVD driver -Ricoh driver
Synaptic Touchpad driver
ITE Driver -if you have the IR remote
ST Microelectrics Driver -if you have the free-fall sensor which protects the system if you drop it
Intel Matrix Storage Manager Driver
When that's done, reboot and install the 3 applications.
Ron
smikerboyz
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July 26th, 2010 15:00
Yes my windows is 64-bit.
I tried searching for the drivers and downloads. But there seems to be a lot of things I can download and I'm not sure which ones I should get. And I couldn't find the system utilities one. Any help on this?
The only bought my computer for a week and I think I got a virus or something that won't allow my computer to start up so I decided to reinstall Windows. Since my computer is still under warranty, is it possible for me to ask Dell if I can send in my computer and they can fix all the problems for me? Cause I also want the Alienware themes back on my computer.
RoHe
10 Elder
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July 26th, 2010 15:00
Is this Windows 7 64-bit?
Sounds like you didn't install the chipset driver. The normal order for reinstalling is Windows, followed in order by:
System Utilities
Chipset driver
Video driver
Audio driver
Network driver
other drivers
There are 2 chipset drivers listed for this model running Win 7 64-bit but I don't know if you need one or both. I suggest you go here and click "Drivers and Downloads". On next screen select "Choose by Service Tag" and put in your Service Tag. That should bring you to a list of drivers specific for your system.
If you didn't install the System Utilities and/or chipset(s) before the other drivers, reboot in Safe Mode and install them, starting with System Utilities. Then reboot normally. That may work, but not always. If things still don't work correctly, you may need to start the Windows Reinstallation all over again because some drivers don't install correctly unless the chipset driver was installed first.
Ron
dalem29
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July 26th, 2010 16:00
The computer probably worked OK when you received it. But since you decided to try and fix it yourself rather than asking for help here on the forums, I am pretty sure that reinstalling Windows would void the warranty. But I may be wrong, we'll see what others have to say.
Jeff Hoffman
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July 26th, 2010 18:00
First: You need to edit your post to remove your service tag or your post could be removed! Re-installing Windows won't void your warranty. I doubt that Dell will want to "fix" problems that they didn't cause at the factory. Have you called Tech Support or used the Tech Support Live Chat? The value of a warranty is that the manufacturer will help you solve problems but you must give them a chance to do that. Trying to fix it on your own may not have been the best course of action.
Try Dell's Live Chat function of Tech Support. It is usually much quicker than the telephone and you won't be passed around either.
Let us know how things go.
Jeff
smikerboyz
5 Posts
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July 26th, 2010 20:00
Thanks so much guys!!! yes! it worked!!
I think the reason it didn't work at first was because the drivers on the resource disc wasn't updated. And I think the resource disc gave me the wrong Video driver installation. But now it works!! Thanks for the great help again
RoHe
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July 27th, 2010 10:00
:emotion-21:
Nicle
3 Posts
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March 26th, 2012 12:00
Hello i did a upgrade for my mx17r2 via the service tag when i upgraded my bios and told me to resart my pc it said "Missing operating system"
So i can't get windows 7 started.
Do i have to send my laptop to dell or can i solve that problem on my own i don't have any recovery cd's for my laptop.
Hope you can help me.