Alienware 17 R3 Troubleshooting

During use, the battery feels hot to the touch.

Check fan vents and ensure there are no blockages. If vents are blocked, it will restrict airflow needed to keep your laptop from running hot.

If the vents are clear of blockages, the problem could be with the fan itself. Remove the fan door and clean the fan with compressed air.

If the vents are clear, the fan is clean, and the battery still runs hot, consider replacing the battery using this guide.

The laptop constantly needs to be charged.

Ensure the power adapter is plugged in and the charge light is on. If the light is not on, and the adapter is plugged in, the adapter is faulty. Consider purchasing a replacement adapter.

Ensure the power adapter is plugged in, the light on the adapter is on, and ensure the adapter is connected to the laptop to charge the battery to maximum capacity. If the laptop battery life still seems to be short and functions best when the adapter is plugged into the laptop regardless of charge time, then the battery is faulty. Replace the battery using this guide.

During use, computer will randomly restart.

An overheating battery may cause crashes. Check fan and vent to be sure they are clean and clear. If dirty, clean the fan with compressed air. If cleaning does not work, then opening up the laptop more fully to inspect the fan may be necessary. If all else fails, the fan may need to be replaced.

If your laptop keeps reading files as corrupted, will not properly download programs and eventually will not turn on at all then your hard drive is corrupted and you will need to replace it in order for the laptop to run properly. The laptop will not run until a properly working hard drive is installed. To replace the hard drive, please refer to the hard drive replacement guide.

Malware may cause system crashes. Run an anti-malware program to ensure no malware is present.

A blue screen appears either during use or when initially powering up laptop.

Overheating may cause the blue screen of death to appear. Check fan and vent to be sure they are clean and clear. If dirty, remove the fan door and clean the fan with compressed air.

If your laptop fails to load normally but can run in Safe Mode, then a program you installed is corrupted and is keeping your laptop from operating normally. Run your laptop in safe mode by pressing F8 when turning on your laptop before windows can load. Another way to run in safe mode is by executing a force shut down on your laptop. The system will ask if windows should be ran normally or in Safe Mode the next time the laptop is turned on--select Safe Mode. If your laptop runs in safe mode, then a program you installed is causing the blue screen to appear and will have to be uninstalled . Access the control panel by clicking the start menu and searching for "control panel" in the search bar. Here programs can be uninstalled by clicking "Uninstall A Program" under the "Programs" section.

Sometimes programs will close on their own during use.

Frequent program crashes may be due to faulty or outdated graphics drivers. To install new graphics drivers, search google for Nvidia. Click the link that says "Drivers-Download Nvidia drivers. You will be taken to a web site were you can download new drivers.

Frequent program crashes may be linked to a faulty hard drive. Replace the hard drive using this guide.

Program crashes can also be caused by a faulty motherboard. Replace the motherboard using this guide.