M11x R3 540m issues

Hey guys,

I have a m11x r3 for a while now and its pretty kickass.

Recently though, I got the Code 43 for the nvidia 540m and have been unsuccessful in finding a solution. It worked fine with Windows 7 using the Dell 267.21 driver and even after the Windows 10 update. But when I decided to cleaned install Windows 10, I get the code 43 now.

Things I have tried so far + notes:
- disable and enable in device manager
- uninstall driver and uninstall software in device manager
- latest bios for m11x r3 on dell site A05
- use windows troubleshooting doesn't rectify it
- Clean out drivers with DDU, reinstall driver in safe mode and even tried in normal mode
- Tried with several drivers from Dell's 267.21 to latest from NVidia site to even old betas, and past nvidia drivers like 361.75,353.62, 290.36, 285.38 etc etc Even from Win7, Win 8, Win10 drivers.
- power off, take off battery, hold power button for a while
- remove cmos battery to reset
- check battery settings on performance etc
- reformat clean Windows 7 and install Dell drivers (still gives code 43)
- reformat clean Windows 1024 and install Dell drivers
- reformat clean Windows 10 TH2 Build 1511 and install Dell drivers
- disassembled, clean out the fan itself, the heatsink and thermal paste with artic silver 5 on cpu gpu
- disable windows defender/av and set exclusion to nvidia
- Tech gpu no sensor read
- NVidia control panel says GPU is not connected
- Bios still shows Nvidia gpu is there and is detected
- BSOD depending on which driver version installed
- Windows update latest driver install gives BSOD
- when clean install Windows 10 before any drivers are installed it says Code 31 then when install driver it says Code 43
- notice the fan is always ON now when idle

These are the dell drivers for m11x r3 I install on clean windows 10 th2 by order
- intel qs67 chipset
- intel management engine interface
- hd 3000
- NVidia 540
- realtek alc665 audio
- jmicron card reader
- on screen display alienware
- st microelectronic sensor (using driver from another dell laptop)
- alienware command centre
- the others I don't install as its doesn't work eg. Bluetooth, network, 1394 etc

Am I missing something that causing this Code 43? or accept the 540m is gone. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

 

If the code didn't come up until you did a clean install it sounds like a software problem. So I wouldn't accept that the 540m is gone. If you got a extra drive reload windows 7 on it and see if everything is still working right.

 

yeah tried clean install windows 7. Code 31. Then when install driver from dell or latest nvidia, I get code 43. Same thing with windows 10.

any other owners who clean install w10 th2 get the same issue? And if so, how did you solve it.

 

Any comments on how m11x r3 owners clean install windows 10 would be great. Whether if you guys encounter issues or everything went well. Thanks

 

From what you've posted, it does sound to me like your original hunch is correct. The 540m may be fried.