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.

    Is it dead?

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by apples443, May 18, 2012.

  1. apples443

    apples443 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    10
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    The other day my m11x r3 was freezing a lot an having a few blue screens of death. I didn't really know what was happening to it so I left it.
    So this morning when I went on to turn my laptop on it came up with a black screen with a " _ " on the top left screen and it wouldn't do anything and wouldn't go pass the alien logo and whatnot..
    I restarted and now it is just a black screen with nothing on it.
    I tried pressing f8 and esc but nothing ...

    So is it broken or a virus ?

    -apples
     
    apples443, May 18, 2012
    #1
  2. CEUOTC

    CEUOTC Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    77
    Messages:
    309
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Hey dude.

    1. Right how long have you had your R3?
    2. What kind of enviro do you keep it in?
    3. Do you have the latest drivers? (Chipset/Wifi/GPU etc)
    4. Have you cleaned the HSF assembly anytime if at all?
    5. Have you used compressed air to do the above and give the R3 a general blast and de-dust :D
    5. Do you use a cooling bad? (CM U1 pretty good passive cooler)
    6. Do you elevate your R3 if you don't have a cooler?
    7. Have you dropped it?
    8. Have you installed new software/hardware just before the BSOD?
    9. Was it after a windows update?
    10. Do you have a recovery disk? You may need it :eek:
    11. You will prob need to make a windows recovery usb and plug it into the LHS USB 2.0 and try and recover it that way. (bootrec fixboot/fixmbr).
    12. Can you access the bios? If so try step 11.
    13. If no bios, try and recover bios (guides on the site).
    14. Find and remove CMOS battery and try and reset bios to default?
    15. Failing that new Mobo l guess :(

    Regards.

    C.
     
    CEUOTC, May 18, 2012
    #2
  3. thehunterooo

    thehunterooo Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    51
    Messages:
    292
    Likes Received:
    70
    Trophy Points:
    41
    +1 on what CEUOTC said, do you still have a warranty on it? If it will not post then there is a big issue.
     
    thehunterooo, May 18, 2012
    #3
  4. apples443

    apples443 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    10
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I still currently have 70 days of warranty
     
    apples443, May 19, 2012
    #4
  5. CEUOTC

    CEUOTC Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    77
    Messages:
    309
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Right can you boot into the R3 using a linux live disk (Via USB)?

    Go to Ubuntu and download, also download Universal USB Installer – Easy as 1 2 3, once done follow the instrucitons here to make a bootable USB.

    With the bootable USB fit to the USB 2.0 on the LHS of R3 and try and attempt to boot from it using F12?

    If you are unable to do the above and as it is still under warranty l strongly suggest you contact Dell.

    I would suggest the Motherboard needs replacing and trying to recover the bios can be a pain.

    Regards.

    C.
     
    CEUOTC, May 19, 2012
    #5
  6. GNandGS

    GNandGS Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    69
    Messages:
    1,247
    Likes Received:
    11
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Reseat the RAM or any other connector easily reachable then try again. If using two sticks try with just one

    As mentioned, live boot CD is a good way to eliminate variables for testing.

    Does the fan at least TRY to move?
     
    GNandGS, May 19, 2012
    #6
  7. satchmobob

    satchmobob Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    4
    Messages:
    88
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    If you're getting a black screen with just a flashing cursor top left then you're HDD is most likely faulty. Basically the machine can't find the boot sector. Run the dell diags on you drive and see what happens. Also if you have a spare drive knocking around drop that in ant try a restore on it.
     
    satchmobob, May 19, 2012
    #7
  8. Descalzo

    Descalzo Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    9
    Messages:
    316
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    So does it POST or does it hang before POST? Mine will not post if I have a certain USB device plugged in.
     
    Descalzo, May 19, 2012
    #8