m15x nv4_disp error: my laptop tanked :(

I had the laptop for a little over a year, and for the most part it ran with absolutely no problems.

Lately, starting about a month or two back, I noticed that it would occasionally stutter whenever I was playing a game... but only for a split moment (completely unnaturally).

Yesterday, when I opened up a game that my computer could handle easily, little pink shapes popped up all over the screen and my computer completely froze. It went down and I was able to access it about two hours later, but even after replacing the driver (the m15x nvidia 8800GTX only seems to have one alienware compatible driver, which is also the one I used since I got the laptop), the same issue happened... When I finally system restored to about a week earlier and tried again, this time there were green shapes, and now whenever I turn on the laptop I'm greeted with nothing but a black screen.

The only clue I have is that during one of the crashes, instead of just freezing up completely, the computer went into a bluescreen error saying nv4_disp. I've found a thread earlier mentioning that it was either due to driver errors or overheating, but after attempting to reinstall the driver and system restoring, it looks like the problem did not go away...

My computer won't get past the black screen when I turn it on now, so I was wondering if anybody had any idea? For the most part my most important files are safe on an external (I transferred them before attempting to locate the problem by driver installing and system restoring), but there are a lot of configurations I'm hoping to save...

In fact, has anybody EVER come across a problem like this before?

Thanks for your help in advance.

Baking a graphics card? I've never heard of it before, and it sounds incredibly scary (one because I've only used an oven once, and two because it simply makes me darned nervous that I'll end up making melted cheese out of the card), but I think it's something I actually might consider- with the help of a friend, of course.

Until then, I will try to access my computer using the on-board video card... unfortunately, I'm not quite sure how to go about doing this. An Alienware rep told me it should boot automatically using the on-board card if I removed the graphics card, and that if the 8800GTX was indeed the root of the problem then I could use it like that while they sent me a replacement 8800GTX... so I guess in the meantime I will try that?

Considering the fact that my graphics card is probably tanked anyway, baking it is tempting to me... I just have to locate an oven, haha.

Thanks for the advice! I'll post any more updates on my situation... If only I had known the 8800GTX was notorious for problems before I chose it...

On a side note, it's possible to completely replace a video card in a laptop? I had no idea... I'm guessing I'd have to make sure it was compatible with the m15x and Windows XP OS first, right?

Oh! I didn't know you could do that. When I get home I'll give it a shot. I guess if the laptop STILL doesn't work even if I try to boot it up with the on-board graphics card, then the problem must be much more severe than just the 8800M GTX being messed up.

On a side note, I had it open about an hour ago... is the 8800M GTX the little square card with the small black squares on it that's hidden under the big silver plate (that's attached to one of the fans)? I managed to carefully unscrew it and remove it from the laptop, but it didn't have any labels on it except for "BIOS", so I assumed it wasn't a graphics card and put it back in... o_o I'm such a newbie at this...

Edit: Thanks, I looked up 8800M GTX online and I think that was it... only difference is that it looks like the NVIDIA label on the black centerpiece was completely melted or gone (there was some white stuff where it was supposed to be?)
Anyway, I'm going to head home and try accessing the onboard card by right-clicking on startup! Thanks! I'll provide further updates when I have them!

Edit #2: Update! The right-click trick didn't work for me, but I physically removed the 8800M GTX card and now my computer's working like a charm on its on-board video card... of course, I won't have the luxury of playing games for a while, but that's not important- keeping in touch with friends, family and checking school e-mails and such are what matters most, so for now I can breathe easy... And it looks like Alienware doesn't have a problem sending me a replacement card soon, so hopefully I can see if inserting a replacement or a new card entirely will fix the issue for good

Thanks again for all your help. It looks like they don't have replacements for the Nvidia 8800M GTX (and I would be hesitant in buying it anyhow, considering the way it died on me), but I did buy a ATI Mobility HD3870 512MB for around $170.00?

I've been connected all this time using the on-board video card (which is actually pretty good!), but I'm wondering what I should do in preparation for seating the new video card?

I've only used Alienware's specialized Nvidia driver for my old card, but under their website, apparently the ATI Mobility HD3870 doesn't seem to have any. I tried googling for drivers, but none of the downloads seem to come from any company site (they all seem to be download.com/etc. links)...

Does anybody have any experience in getting this working?

It looks like the Mobility 3870HD isn't quite as powerful as the Nvidia 8800M GTX, but I suppose lasting power is more important than good graphics... but I'll admit, I'm probably going to miss playing some of my games in highest quality .

Hello everyone, and thanks.

Unfortunately, I finally have an update; after I contacted the company 2 weeks ago, somewhere along the process they went and canceled the order on me (at least they refunded my money for the order).

The most recent customer rep. I talked with said that because I was no longer under warranty, they were not going to sell me the component and that my best bet was to just sell off the laptop (WTF?!).

They pointed me towards Ztronics (www.ztronics.com) which would be able to sell me Alienware components, but unfortunately the only M15x card they have is the Nvidia 8700M (neither the 8800GTX I used or the Mobility HD 3870 that Alienware originally offered me)... and even though they say that is compatible with the m15x, I'm a bit wary and would like to know more before I decide to buy it. Even if I take it, I'm not sure the video card comes with thermal paste, so I would have to find a way to get that here in Japan.

Does anybody have any advice on how to proceed? Preferably I would want to avoid the 8700GT since it seems to be MUCH worse than both the Mobility HD 3870 and the 8800GTX... but I guess I shouldn't be worried about that at this point?...

I wonder if I'm able to renew my warranty with Alienware so they'd just send me an HD3870 -_-

Thanks mb! At this point right now I probably wouldn't go through with that, only because at the bottom of the article it says that they don't recommend the upgrade due to heat and limited life expectancy for the laptop- where I am now, I think the video card was the only problem and the rest of my components are running fine...

It's very tempting though...

They mentioned something about a shortage of those cards, and told me that for now any they had in stock were only for those with warranty (I'm a little pissed since they even sold me it and then refunded me after). I guess my only option at this point is to wait about a month and see if they are in stock again, or start looking elsewhere for a video card... for all I know I might have even solved this problem by now if I had been just a bit luckier.

I don't have an oven myself but at this point I'm becoming more inclined towards baking my card since all the other options seem to be breaking down- I would have to find a friend who has an oven first, which is probably not going to happen (we're all students studying abroad with small apartments).

I'm actually pretty disappointed in Alienware's customer service and replies in general at this point, but I don't want to spend my post bashing them, hah. I'm glad I can at least USE this thing until I get it fixed properly.

EDIT:

It looks like Alienware's being bought out by dell is finally bringing about some policy changes that have really screwed some customers over; I was just told that neither the 8800M GTX NOR the Mobility HD 3870 would be available since they were focusing on getting replacement parts for their "newer models". I don't know how many lies were fed to me, but at this point I think I can assume that they're no longer willing to help me at all with this issue...

My only option at this point is to buy the inferior 8700M from Ztronics that is very overpriced, or bake my video card, which I currently don't have the tools to do.

Well, it's a pretty happy situation! But I'm really thankful that you guys have helped me from the start- I wouldn't have gotten to this point otherwise; I know what the problem is and I also know it can be fixed... it's just that the company isn't giving me a damn chance to fix it.

Considering this experience with them, I'm not going to go to them for any of my mobile computer needs in the future, and I will certainly be advising my friends from doing the same.

Ztronics.com has NVIDIA 8700m cards compatible with m15x in stock for $200.00, but I think that's a ripoff since I studied up that vs. the Mobility HD 3870 and it's probably 2/3's as good but $25.00 more expensive? Wow...