M15x RAM and GPU upgrade not working. Many issues

Hi all I am going to edit this as someone told me my prior post was unclear so let me try again and explain better what my problem is.

First my specs:
Processor Name: Intel Core i7-920XM
Processor Speed: 2 GHz
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
RAM: 4 GB
Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 260M
Storage Capacity (as Tested): 500 GB
Screen Type: Widescreen
Graphics Memory: 1024
Rotation Speed: 7200 rpm
Networking Options: 802.11n
Battery Type: 85 Whr (Watt hours)
MobileMark 2007 – Standard Battery Productivity Load (hrs:min): 2:13
PCMark Vantage: 8050
3-D BENCHMARK TESTS - 3DMark06 - Native – 0X/4X: 10292

I am trying to upgrade the BIOS from the default A03 to A09 the latest, however BIOS A09 will not install.

I have tried installing using the .exe file. I am able to download and install, when going through the .exe steps, I am able to successfully install the A09 however upon restarting the M15x, the BIOS stays at A03.

I have also tried cmd /forceit (for the BIOS A09) from the windows screen. Only for my system to say it successfully installed but when I restarted my M15x again BIOS once again stayed at A03.

I got on the phone with an Alienware tech that walked me through the steps of creating a bootable USB using Rufus. The flashdrive wouldn't recognize that anything existed on the USB.

I was then told by another tech support agent from Alienware that my OS (Windows 10 at the time) would not support the update in BIOS. (I was a little lost by that).

About 24 hours ago I reverted back using a .iso from Microsoft of Windows 7. I have been running updates to the system so I can hopefully get the BIOS updated.

Insight as to what I could be doing wrong. As none of these steps so far have worked.

The whole point of reverting back to Windows 7 and trying to update the BIOS is because I am having many issues with compatibility of the new RAM/GPU I bought.

I am trying to upgrade the 2x2 RAM sticks to 2x4. The RAM specs are:

8GB (2x4) Memory RAM Compatible with Alienware M15x (DDR3) Notebook by CMS (A29).
204PIN DDR3 SODIMM PC3-10600 DDR3- 1333MHZ.

Did the Memtest and diagnostics test lie to me after checking each stick in each port both individually coming back clean?

The issue that arises are BSoDs. At first my PC was telling me that it was trying to write of read only data, then I received Driver overran stack buffer, then Memory Management, and now the most common error I'm receiving is a PFN List Corrupt error. I am receiving these BSoDs randomly. By random I mean I can raid in WoW for 2 hours with intense usage of the system, then go out in the open world and get a BSoD. Other times I can just be online on FB and 5 min later a BSoD. I've had the BSoD while my PC in in the middle of a fight in WoW as well. It tends to be sporadic unaffected by the heavier usage or light usage of the system.

I am also trying to upgrade the GPU from the 260m to the NVidia 460m. According to everything I've read the GPU is compatible with the M15x.

The issue with the GPU is that I was only able to boot the M15x ONLY when 1x2 GB (factory RAM) was slotted. I initially tried (2x4) and I couldn't boot but got a Beep followed by 2 short beeps. I then tried individually the 1x4 sticks. Same result. I then tried 2x2 sticks and also received the Beep pause then x2 beeps. According to Dell's page it was a RAM not detected error upon startup. (If I am wrong please correct me). The graphics card updated and installed successfully, but World of Warcraft couldn't run on 1x2 stick.

I reverted back to 2x2 & 260m, and this is where I am now.

The system is back to factory settings with Win 7 trying to update BIOS, trying to install RAM and the Graphics card.

So can someone help me?

 

I would also like to update this since I wrote this over the weekend.

So I sat on the phone with an Alienware Tech over the weekend, trying to update the BIOS. I have tried everything from the .exe file which downloads successfully but doesn't take affect to a USB flashing of the BIOS. Nothing will work.

Supposedly I need a working battery, mine right now is "Not detected". Can someone confirm before I throw 70 dollars down the drain that I need a working battery in order to update my BIOS?

 

I would go back to Win 7, do the BIOS update then move to Win 10 if you like.

 

If it was working before with the original graphics card, I would take it back to that state, and then update the bios to A09. Once that is done, you should be able to play with the ram. You might have dirty contacts or a bad stick. Your specs don't say which i7 you have, but presumably it is a 64 bit one, so you should be able to use 64 bit Win. M15x will accommodate 16 GB of ram - note that bios will not see it, but 64 bit Win will. Though it is always better to go back to something that worked and move forward, I doubt that the problem is Win version. Win 10 has been very stable on mine. Best, Joe

 

I did try and update the BIOS with the original GPU. It was unsuccessful.

I will go check again but the 2x2 sticks work its only the 2x4 sticks that cause the BSoDs.

My system is 64 bit. I started reading that the system will work on 16GB 2x8 stick, but ATM I feel just fine running 2x4. I feel if I am still having the BSoDs if by some miracle I can update the BIOS one day, then I will invest into Crucial or another name brand RAM company.

This is my first time doing any upgrades.

I hope that it's just a simple overlook on my end and someone has better insight now that I've edited my post.

 

All of the 1st gen core processors that the M15X supports are 64 bit.

In order to get 16GB of RAM to be addressed you need to have a quad core i7, but all the processors from that gen support 64 bit operating systems which address over 4GB of RAM.

From your description, it does appear that the RAM is at fault. What specific model of RAM is it? If it is a high-density model, that could be the problem there. First gen core processors don't play well with high-density RAM. How many RAM chips are on each module (both sides)? If a single 4GB module has 8 chips total, then that's high-density, while 16 chips would be low-density which has better compatibility in the M15X.

For the BIOS, I would try upgrading first to another BIOS such as A05, and then try to flash A09 over that; but that should come after your RAM issues are settled and a straight flash to A09 still fails.

 

So the RAM that I purchased was from CMS.

From what you are describing the RAM sticks have 8 Chips on each side, so 16 chips in total on each side.

Now that I have Windows 7 installed I will try plugging the RAM in.

If the RAM works I will then try the GPU.

I will also try the ISO of the A05.

 

Never heard of that brand, but sounds like it is low density which is good.

Have you also tried a power drain procedure? It solves weird issues sometimes. To do this, just remove the battery and AC adapter, and hold down the power button for around 15 seconds.

 

I haven't had a battery in my system this whole time.

I bought one and it should be there when I get home.

 

I remember when I did the upgrade from the GTX 260M to the 460m. I swapped out the cards before I updated the bios and the laptop was booting up with post errors. I took the card out and put back the 260 and then updated the bios (dont remember the version...think it was a05). I then put the 460 back in and it worked fine. I was running win7 64-bit back then (2010).

Best part was that I was now getting audio from the display port, which the 260 did not have.

 

Thanks for the reply.

The issue was resolved.

The problem was with the way the BIOS was being installing. Because there was no auto install, I had to first install the BIOS A08.

The A08 had an automatic installer however the BIOS just came with the file.

I used Rufus to create a bootable drive, where I then was able to load the A09 folder with the bootable stick.

For anyone else with this issue, Rufus' drive assumed that the stick was the C drive. So remember that you need to navigate to the BIOS folder before doing anything else.

As for the RAM, the company I bought it from was not known, so I purchased Corsair and I haven't had any issues. I have returned the RAM as either DoA or it was just not a compatible RAM stick for the M15x.