Hello, there. Firsts time SLI user here. I messed things up pretty badly. Here's the specs:

- Alienware M9750
- Dual SLI, NVIDIA GeForce GO 7950 GTX 512MB
- Everything else is stock.

I just got this system a week ago, and already I'm trying to tweak things. I've been reading up on SLI, since this will be the first time I've had it. I was under the impression that both cards had to have the same BIOS (now I know that's only partially true). I noticed that one card was version 05.71.22.49.22 and the other was *.27. So I did a stupid thing and:

- backed up the .27 card BIOS with NVFlash.
- flashed the .22 card with the .27 BIOS with NVFlash (no options needed).

Everything seemed great (played Champions Online for 4 hours straight) until I rebooted. Now the system is stuck on the pre-POST blackscreen. However, it boots normally with the parent card removed or the parent card in the daughter card slot, but not with both in at the same time, period. It gets stuck with and without the SLI cable connected.

I have a copy of the Alienware M9750 GeForce GO 7950 GTX BIOS, but whenever I try to use NVFlash to flash either card I get the following error:

WARNING: Firmware image Hierarchy ID (Switch Port 1) either does not match the Hierarchy ID of the adapter (Switch Port 1) or does not match the Hierarchy Role of the adapter (Switch Port 0).

ERROR: Hierarchy mismatch

I've tried all switches (-4- -5 -6) but no matter what, NVFlash errors out the same way with either card. This includes trying to flash either card with the original BIOS.

I hope someone is able to help me, I'd hate to be unable to use one of these great cards Thanks!

Hello phyrewall, congrats on your new Alienware M9750 purchase. I do recommend that you contact our support team for assistance with this issue via My Hive from our AW support link at- http://support.alienware.com/Support...port_Area.aspx

or via telephone at 1-866-287-6727, option 3, then 1 (USA), or online at- http://support.alienware.co.uk/Suppo...t_support.aspx
(International).

Enjoy your new system!

In mobile systems cards are flashed with two BIOS a mother card and a daughter card BIOS.

One wrong flash, like you have unfortunately found out the hard way, and the SLI configuration won't work anymore, thus the hierarchy error you are receiving.

You will need to send the card(s) to Alienware for them to flash the cards correctly with the proper hierarchy settings.