Alienware 18 motherboard bricked

Hello everybody,

My alienware 18 (2014) motherboard seemes to be bricked: nothing, black screen) but keyboard lights.
It happend after an update from locked bios to an unlocked.
I have tried everything in different ways but no result.
The last attempt is this:

• Turn the system off and disconnect the AC adapter

• Disconnect CMOS battery and system battery

• Do a power drain (press and hold power button 30 seconds)

• Remove all memory modules

• Reconnect AC adapter and power system on

• Let laptop beep until it turns itself off

• VERY QUICKLY, WHILE IT IS OFF, BUT BEFORE IT ATTEMPTS TO BOOT AND LIGHTS COME ON AGAIN, INSERT A MEMORY MODULE

• System will start to beep 5 times

• Power system off

• Reconnect CMOS battery and system battery

• Replace any panels removed for access to memory modules

• Done…

is ok but at the last step, when the system restarts, it beeps 4 times and not 5 times as described.
And no result,...black screen.

Is there a way to make my laptot rebooting ? Any idea ?

Thank you very much for ur answers, and sorry for my bad english, im a french.

My laptop: Alienware 18 4810MQ 16G RAM 78M SLI
Before this ennoying situation, every components were working fine

• 
  

 

Try the process again. 4 beeps is ram issue, maybe you didn't install the stick of ram properly?

 

Hello, thank you for your answer
I tried the process several times, and the RAM was installed properly. I tried different slots and different RAM sticks.
Nothing to do.
Im wondering that, as long as the motherboard beeps, it means it is not dead. Maybe im wrong with this

 

If its the same reset process as the Ranger, then when you get 5 beeps, upon boot hold Fn. It will reboot automatically after POST, after the reboot, let go of Fn.

 

Ill try this
Thank you

 

2 problems:
1) It does reboot automaticely but I have only 4 beeps, not 5
2) I get no post. The screen is black

 

<<i dont understand: Le keyboard works, i can feel the graphc cards and cpu are warm...but black screen.

 

You want 5 beeps first, then reboot with Fn key until it automatically reboots.

Again this is only if the Viking has the same troubleshooting codes as the Ranger.

 

It is not.
Everything looks working fine, but screen stays black

 

DAMNED IT WORKS !!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you very much
I love you all !!!!!!!!!

 

So you got 5 beeps and restarted holding the Fn key?

 

Another happy customer, thanks to these forums and everyone who contributes


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I reinstalled everything i had removed,before, the graphic cards, hard disks.
Then i followed again the procedure i described at first post, and, at least, i had the 5 beeps, shtdown, system on and i had screen .
This after 10 days

Thank you sinkdoe, thank you TheReceiver, and thank you mister Fox !

Yes Raja786, im happy because these laptop is nice, and hard to find a new one
Bye all !!

 

Its TheRec iever*

But hey Im glad that you got your system back. Did you use the Fn key or was that not needed? I want to know for future reference in future threads

 

Hello...i tried today again...and yes, i needed holding the FN key to get the 5 beeps

Everything still not working fine:I have seen that only 1 memory slot is working.
I think first ill downgrade to an official Dell BIOS

 

I installed the A12 bios.
Still problèm: Onliy 1 memory slot works...puting a RAM stick in one of the other slots, gives me 4 beeps

 

I had this issue in the past, drove me insane. I did mass amounts of trouble shooting, it was only when I replaced my CPU that the issue was resolved (Only one RAM stick installed, didn't matter what slot, if I tired to install more than 1 stick of RAM I would get 4 beeps).

I am not saying it is your CPU, I am just saying I had a similar issue and it was my CPU.


/imest

 

Thank you for your answer.
I recovered my complete BIOS by uninstalling everything included the CPU, then reinstalling all but the cmos battery and the keyboard to have access of the power button.
System on..7 beeps, >>> reboot, 5 beeps yeahhh !!! system off >>>> reconnect the cmos battery, >>>> system on ...i got POST and the complete BIOS was recovered. All memory banks were OK
My conclusion:
- as long as there arent 5 beeps, no way
- I was sure my CPU was good because it was heating, even when i go 4 beeps only