I have an Alienware M17xR4 laptop. The problem started out as this. I lost the ability to make my laptop go into Hibernation mode or into Sleep mode. I couldn't watch movies anymore from dvd drive. In the control panel I noticed a warning indicator that one of the video drivers icon had a problem. The Nvidia GTX driver was fine but the other was unidentified. I tried identifying it and even updating the driver for it. The details of this alarm had no identification for it but when I attempted to update the driver for it, it informed me that the current driver was already installed. So I don't know if the video card is going bad or not. I then disabled the driver to the unidentified video driver thinking I accidentally install wrong drivers updates that didn't apply to my Nvidia GTX 660M video card. Then after disabling the unidentified driver and then restartingthe laptop, began the nightmare of not being able to boot up my laptop.
After researching Microsoft forum's and Dells for answers, I noticed some similar posts. So I tried restoring to a previously saved location, but it didn't work. I tried repair before that, it too failed. So I noticed a posted recommendation to reinstall the factory installed Windows 7 Ultimate 64 Bit. But first I did a ePSA Pre-boot System Assessment and everything passed. But then redid it only this time I did the 'Thorough Test Mode'. At which time I got the message "Error Code 200p-0142 Validation 66589; Msg: Hard Drive 0 - S\N 42C7F0BTS, Long self test unsuccessful. Technical Support will need this information to diagnose the problem. Please record the above Error and Validation codes." Then prompts me to continue or not. I selected 'Yes' and it was then finished with Hard Drive 100%, only now the Hard Drive failed the test. So I'm not sure what that means exactly.
Once I finished reinstalling Windows, I was prompted the laptop was rebooting to complete the setup. But after reboot I get the message "Setup is starting services" followed by Install Windows popup with message "Windows could not complete the installation. To install Windows on this computer, restart the installation.".
Which becomes a never ending circle and no real clear answers.
So I'm guessing I need a new replacement hard drive and maybe make the current a slave drive. But it doesn't answer or resolve what was going on with the Video card. Do I need to replace the video card? Is the motherboard going bad? I'm lost here and need answers because I don't understand why to begin with.
I'd appreciate anyone's help in this matter.
Thanks,
Rob
