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Don't worry (BIOS Auto Settings), just set AHCI or RAID.

Still no answer, two lines... PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0618&SUBSYS_02A11028 GeForce 331.93 Beta Drivers nvdmn.inf_M17XR1_GTX_260M_v331.93.zip

OS version ? Win7. 2 [NVIDIA_SetA_Devices.NTamd64.6.1] Win7 Search for %NVIDIA_DEV.0618.02A2.1028% = Sectionxxx, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0618&SUBSYS_02A21028, replace 02A2 with 02A1 - 5 "NVIDIA Windows (64 bit) Driver Library Installation Disk 1" [strings] NVIDIA_DEV.0618.02A2.1028 = "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M " replace 02A2 with 02A1

Disabling IDT/AZALIA, tested already...

Hi there, blind flash A12 Unlocked. 1- FAT32 Formatted USB drive or Bootable USB stick (win 98). 2- Rename "PAR00MEC.fd" (A12 unlocked BIOS) to "PAR00X64.fd" (without quotes) and copy only PAR00X64.fd to the ROOT of the USB drive -> Shutdown. 3- Remove power cord and GPU 4- Plug in USB stick into the ESATA port. 5- While Holding the END key Plug the power cord, it will restart/beeps(30-50) a couple of times - keep holding the END key until it doesn't restart anymore. 6- Install GPU/Remove USB stick -> power ON -> F2 -> BIOS -> F9 Load defaults, remember to set AHCI/RAID and Display to PEG (120Hz) or SG. R3 only, removing the GPU allows to blind flash any BIOS even from Unlocked versions A04->A08->A10->A12/all unlocked (580M GPU throttle fix) using the same bootable FAT32 USB stick (vBIOS flash).

M17xR1 260M/280M, explained here http://forum.techinferno.com/nvidia/5249-%5Bguide%5D-modding-nvidias-oem-inf-files.html

Yeah the 765m GK106, still not a GK104/780m.

Please post a screenshot -> GPU-Z / Device manager >Display Adapters>Details>Hardware Ids.

1- A12 Unlocked BIOS ->Disable IGP -> Set display to PEG -> F10 / reboot. 2- Windows, Uninstall drivers with DDU (third option/new graphics card)-> Shutdown. 3- GPU swap, install the 680M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vEk_ZFAzLI#t=3m51s 4- Install drivers. -> Installation failed "No compatible device found".

Feature Highlights of The AMD Catalyst 13.11 Beta9.5 Driver for Windows •Includes all Feature Highlights of The AMD Catalyst 13.11 Beta9.4 Driver •Resolves the issue of AMD Overdrive missing in the AMD Catalyst Control Center for the AMD Radeon™ R9 290 Series graphics cards •Resolves intermittent flickering seen on some AMD Radeon R9 270x graphics cards •Resolves graphics corruption seen in Starcraft® •Improves frame pacing r​esults in AMD Quad CrossFire™ configurations for the following: Hitman: Absolution, and Total War™​: Rome 2 AM​​D Catalyst™ 13.11 Beta9.5 Driver

Disable IGP / set Display to PEG, uninstall current drivers with DDU -> install 680M. Driver installation. Download GeForce 331.93 Beta Drivers .1 -Install Nvidia driver. .2 -extract. .3 -Installation failed "No compatible device found">close dialog. .4 -Browse the extracted Nvidia folder (C:\Nvidia)>open Display.Driver folder> copy/overwrite nvdmn.inf. .5 -Run setup.exe within the extracted Nvidia folder. .6 -Select custom install>Check clean install option. .7 -Reboot. Modded nvdmn.inf (unzip) Modded nvdmn.inf v331.93 AW M17XR2/R3/R4 3D + M18XR1/R2 SLI GTX 680M / 780M vBIOS is optional, Clevo/MSI (Blue PCB) or Dell (green PCB) ?

NVIDIA® GeForce Experience™ 1.8 Release Highlights: This release adds user adjustable optimal settings and numerous improvements for ShadowPlay. Optimal Settings •New optimal settings slider adds fine grained control over performance and quality tradeoff •Ability to select and optimize for different resolutions •Ability to select Windowed, Full-screen, or Windowed Borderless modes. ShadowPlay •Removes 3.8GB file limitation in Win7. Record up to 20 minutes in Shadow Mode Unlimited recording in Manual Mode ShadowPlay creates new files once 3.8GB is reached •Captures video without re-scaling at up to 1080p. At higher resolutions, aspect ratio is preserved. •Adds microphone recording •Captures video at 60 fps instead of 62 fps •Reduces stuttering in captured video Other Improvements •NVIDIA "UpdatusUser" user account is no longer required for installation •Adds ability to scan for games in folders and network drivers with user read-only permissions GeForce Experience v1.8.0.0

Yeah no problem, keep the 460m installed and Flash unlocked A12 -> InsydeFlashx64 right click/run as administrator.

Heatsink + screws the 460m ones won't fit.

Keep PEG / disable IGP, Win 7 skip steps 2 and 4...driver signing.

Follow this (ignore disabling IDT/integrated sound card) [Guide] Alienware M17xR3 GTX 780M installation - A12 unlocked BIOS, disable the integrated graphics - second Advanced Menu -> Video Configuration -> disable IGP ->set display to PEG ->F10 reboot.

BIOS reset, beeps are normal -> auto shutdown/restart, besides the refund get a proper discount for all the trouble (faulty 580M). Set the 460m, if it's stable flash the unlocked A12 BIOS and disable IGP/Set display to PEG, switching will not be supported with the 680m anyway.

All Details are under Method 2 (recommended). http://forum.techinferno.com/nvidia/5249-%5Bguide%5D-modding-nvidias-oem-inf-files.html under [NVIDIA_SetA_Devices.NTamd64.6.1] 2 (Win7) search for "%NVIDIA_DEV.11E0xxxx.1028% = Section, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_11E0&SUBSYS_xxxx1028" replace xxxx with 0551. 5 [strings] DiskID1 = "NVIDIA Windows (64 bit) Driver Library Installation Disk 1" NVIDIA_DEV.11E0.xxxx.1028 = "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M " replace xxxx with 0551

CMOS battery How to remove the CMOS battery on the Alienware M17x R4 | Dell US

Before spending...reset the BIOS, unplug the power cord -> remove Battery + CMOS -> hold the power button for 60 sec -> Reinsert CMOS + Battery -> Power on (beeps)-> F2 enter the BIOS...460M detected ?

Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) V9.7 / first uninstall option. GeForce 331.93 Beta Drivers nvdmn.inf_AW_M17XR2_R3_R4_ 3D _M18XR1_R2_SLI_GTX680M _780M_v331.93.zip nvdmn.inf_M17xR3_GTX680M_v331.93.zip

This new 331.93 Beta driver provides an updated SLI profile for Assassins Creed IV: Black Flag and ensures maximum performance and system stability across all titles. Software Modules • NVIDIA PhysX System Software - version 9.13.0725 • HD Audio Driver - version 1.3.26.4 • GeForce Experience - version 1.7.1 • nView - version 140.84 Graphics • Implemented Horizon Based Ambient Occlusion plus (HBAO+) for DirectX 9 and DirectX 11 applications. Visit GeForce.com for more info about HBAO+. Profile Updates SLI Profiles • Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag - updated SLI profile Gaming • Enables GeForce ShadowPlay™ technology • Enables NVIDIA GameStream™ technology for NVIDIA SHIELD™ Changes and Fixed Issues in Version 331.93. The following sections list the important changes and the most common issues resolved since versions 331.82. This list is only a subset of the total number of changes made in this driver version. The NVIDIA bug number is provided for reference. Windows Vista/Windows 7/Windows 8 Fixed Issues. • [326.80, Fermi]: End users report browser freezes and crashes. [1358403] • [Assassins Creed 4]: In a multi-player game, textures are either missing on models or they get swapped for each other. [1411524] Desktop: Windows 8/7 32bit: NVIDIA DRIVERS GeForce 331.93 Driver (BETA) BETA Windows 8/7 64-bit: NVIDIA DRIVERS GeForce 331.93 Driver (BETA) BETA Notebook: Windows 8/7 32bit: NVIDIA DRIVERS GeForce 331.93 Driver (BETA) BETA Windows 8/7 64-bit: NVIDIA DRIVERS GeForce 331.93 Driver (BETA) BETA

As I said earlier install GeForce 314.22 Driver try testing w/ the previous/spare card to rule out the MB, purple pixels IRQ conflict - faulty vRAM modules - components isolation, if the issues persist return the card.

First flash stock A11 -> A11 unlocked (Second method - FPT) http://forum.techinferno.com/alienware-m17x-aw-17/1964-%5Bm17x-r4%5D-unlocked-bios-versions.html

Yeah, the proper htsnks/100W 580M or 680M.