More reformatting woes...

After reformatting my m11x, successfully, I've lost the ability to switch graphics cards, unable to use alien sense, inability to mess with the LEDs, it takes forever to boot up, and many simple tasks will lag and take a very long time to open. Like opening "My Computer" ends up taking a very long time.

I'm currently redownloading my drivers but I'm not sure what could remedy this problem. I downloaded CCleaner and cleaned up my regstries but still no go here. Any ideas on speeding this baby back up to pre-reformatted levels?

 

It sound to me that you actually need to reformat it again. I know that is not the easiest of tasks, but it also seem like something went wrong during the formatting/reinstalling of windows. You could spend a very long time trying to remedy the problems, so you're better off doing a fresh install of windows.

 

Well, reformatting might work but I'm thinking that I should try other things first. I just ran Advanced System Care and apparantly I had over 9,000 errors and problems that required fixing and a bunch of registry errors. I have no idea how a Recovery disk can be that error filled but... Eh.

Still trying to get the Switchable graphic ability back. My Bios are still up to date and I've updated my drivers(Though I'm now using Driver Dtection to see if I missed anything).

 

An update...

After cleaning my computer I let it rest for the night. In the morning it's unable to boot, just like after the first Corupt Registry, and I run the diagonistic test. It tells me that I have a Hard Drive 0 error...

What is that?

It's been less than a year since I bought this laptop. So would it be alright to call them since the standard warranty should still be in effect?

 

Try reformatting and before doing anything reinstall drivers in this order
1) chipset -> reboot
2) everything except video/cc -> reboot
3) video -> reboot
4) cc -> reboot

If your still having errors and stuff after all that, you might have a bad installation disk.

 

I'll follow your instructions first since that 14 day wait time after it's been handled isn't very tempting. Though I've jotted down my Service Tag and the error down incase I do end p having to call support.

Question - Where's the SN on this thing? Do I really need it after plling out my Service/Express Service Tags?

 

Should be right at the bottom - a narrow paper sticker, with a barcode on it. Mine is glued to the bottom cooler cover. Should be the only number you need.

Also - did you destroy the preinstalled recovery partition as well? It might have saved the day if you kept it.

 

No, my friend tried that but apprantly when I went to reformat it again the Partition was somehow alive and well. Unlike the first format I obtained no errors during the Installation Process.

I'm wondering.. How did I get the Partition back after it was deleted? The first reformatting let me run sluggishly before breaking but it was updateing alot of stuff. Did it restore itself?

 

Luckily, it wasn't deleted in the first place - seems it managed to sneak by unnoticed

But then does it mean that you were able to succesfully restore your system using the recovery partition? If this is the case, it might be a good idea to create a recovery USB key for future usage - take a look at this great guide by unreal25.

 

I'll try that. It seems to be working again though I'm going to et the driver updates first and get that squared away. Hopefully this is the final fix that was needed.

 

After installing the video card update my laptop got corrupt again and had a memory dump problem. Got the Hard Drive 0 error again when running diagnostics. Really getting ticked at how messed up this thing is acting...

Reformatting it yet again. Though, should I simply call i quits and call support and see about it getting fixed by professionals?

 

After having done this quite a few times I'm wondering... It sounds like you might have some hard disk issue or maybe even mainboard. Have you run the diagnostics to see if you hardware checks out?

 

Yes I have and the error I got was the Hard Drive 0 error and a corrupt registry. It's weird since all I've done thusfar is try and download the drivers and MSE/CCleaners.

It's pretty slow still even after getting the chipset updated and when trying to update the Video card it hangs than tells me that the installer isn't responding...

Edit: Was unzipping one of the drivers and suddenly my m11x gets a critical error for no reason at all. I'm not even connected to the internet though the Lan connection thing is in constant influx in trying to connect even when I remove the cord.

 

This could be a number of things ranging from a software to hardware problem. Just give alienware a call, you wont really lose anything.

 

I'll call'em... Got another Hard Drive 0 Error when installing the drivers on the dell site. Don't think it's software since I've refotmatted the thing 4 times and it keeps messing up on its own. Hell, it gave me a huge memoryu dump after installing on of the drivers for no reason at all.

Might have to send it in for repairs.

 

The support guy I talked too said that the Hard Drive must have failed and is sending me another which should arrive thursday(I wrote down the dispatch number)... Though, are there are guides on how to install this thing? I'm kinda iffy on taking it apart without really knowing what I'm supposed to do.

Even than, will I have to somehow reinstall my Bios/Drivers with a fresh drive or how is that handled?

 

Looks pretty easy to to swap out the hard drive.

YouTube - Alienware M11x Teardown **READ SAFETY PRECAUTIONS PRIOR TO REPLACING PARTS** (Official Video)

You will need to reinstall drivers of course, since you will need to reinstall the OS on the new drive. The BIOS is independent from the OS so that doesn't apply in your case.

 

Alright, thanks. Hopefully tings will work when I get that hard drive.

 

It arrived early and everything works fine... Though I've noticed that I'm completely missing the extract all option. Such as for zip files and the such. Any ideas?

 

Open a command prompt and type the following -

regsvr32 /u /s zipfldr.dll

regsvr32 /i /s zipfldr.dll