The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    GPU stopped working.. HELP!

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by spree, Sep 7, 2011.

  1. spree

    spree Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    28
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Hi guys, I've been having problems lately with my m11x r2. Whenever I try to access my gpu it gives me the error, "Your are currently not using a display attached to a nvidia GPU."

    This happened after I got my hinges replaced by a tech, and I haven't been able to game properly since. In the last thread I started, it was recommended that I call dell back and tell them to fix my laptop despite being out of warranty, but the reps I spoke to were convinced it was a "software" issue, not a hardware one, and denied any help.

    So far, I've reformatted, both to factory settings and currently to a clean slate, which is what I'm operating on now. I've tried using driver sweeper and reinstalling both old and new drivers but I still receive the same error. For some reason I have trouble updating my bios, it's stuck at A03. I really want to fix this before school and d3/dota2 come out later.. Any suggestions?
     
    spree, Sep 7, 2011
    #1
  2. i has m11x

    i has m11x Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    173
    Messages:
    489
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    31
    I wouldn't accept that answer from Dell. It was working fine until they replaced the hinges. Keep escalating the issue with them until you get a manager or higher up that will help you out.
     
    i has m11x, Sep 7, 2011
    #2
  3. spree

    spree Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    28
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I will try again tomorrow. Is it possible that the gpu simply died somehow when the tech replaced the screen? I want to propose that as a possibility if they keep with the software not hardware excuse.
     
    spree, Sep 8, 2011
    #3
  4. Hello_Moto

    Hello_Moto Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    39
    Messages:
    473
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    having taken apart my m11x personally and also watched a tech do it as well, the GPU is located nowhere near anything regarding the hinges. Heck, it is physically on the other side of the mobo ie. all the bits and bobs relating to the display/hinges connect/attach to the underside of the mobo; the GPU along with the CPU cores are located on the other side of the mobo.

    Personally, i think it's a problem with one of the two ribbon cables that live underneath the keyboard (not the keyboard ones themselves) that connect the display to the mobo. Perhaps either one/both need to be re-seated?
     
    Hello_Moto, Sep 8, 2011
    #4
  5. spree

    spree Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    28
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Wow that's a strong possibility, the first time the tech came he messed up the ribbon from the keyboard, so he might've messed up something underneath too. I'll have to check that out... Any pictures of what those would look like?
     
    spree, Sep 8, 2011
    #5
  6. stratoss

    stratoss Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    3
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I'll hitchhike on this thread as well instead of starting a new one; I've had my hinges replaced recently as well and my motherboard to my horror, with a refurbished one - it was labelled on the box sigh...

    Now after the changes, my computer crashes whenever Windows tries to boot and I can access it after repairing it and my computer no longer detects the NVIDIA GPU. I've tried detecting it from NVIDIA website, device manager and control panel.

    I've called Dell and they say that it's a problem with my Alienware Command Center and that I should format my computer.

    Should I proceed with this or should I adamantly ask for a rep to have a look at the hardware again?

    (Edit: I've searched for another thread prior to this and tried to reset the ribbon connection under the keyboard following his screenshot; Link: http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m11x/537308-nvidia-graphics-card-not-detected-system.html)
     
    stratoss, Sep 8, 2011
    #6
  7. Hello_Moto

    Hello_Moto Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    39
    Messages:
    473
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Hello_Moto, Sep 9, 2011
    #7