Graphics Card Info won't display... even with dxdiag.. help!

If it prompted reboot, then reboot and see if anything changed in gpu-z, and post screenshot of that.

well i wasn't prompted to reboot, but i decided to shut it off anyway, and the button had a little exclamation mark with a shield next to it and then it started Configuring Updates before it shut off. I left the room and it was shut off when i came back, but then i turned it on and it went to the Configuring Updates screen again. It was stuck at 0%, so i shut it off, turned it back on and it went there again. I left the room, came back and i could log in, so i did. When i clicked on the start button i saw that i had updates to do again when i Shut Down. Did that, same thing happened. Guessing something went wrong with that thing i just installed?

well, something must have worked. computer is on and the update symbol by the Shut Down is gone.

ok, the GZU had the same everything except Driver version.

OLD: nvlddmkm 8.17.12.5896 {ForceWare 258.96) / Win7 64
NEW: nvlddmkm 8.17.11.9716 (ForceWare 197.16) / Win7 64

except, i don't think that has anythign to do with what i just installed does it.

Well, last ones you installed were chipset drivers, that change is from the graphics drivers, but the problem still persists?

I can't really do much more, nothing to work on from this end, I'd need to see the computer.

Found your issue listed and noticed you have a very similar system to mine. I recently upgraded the OS from Vista x32 to Win 7 x64. Got all drivers updated after upgrade and some other issues fixed EXCEPT the video card. My problem is similar, except my system doesn't even recognize the video card plugged into the slot, so I'm always in VGA mode when the laptop restarts/boots into Windows 7.

Looking for help or suggestions on how to get my system to 1st) recognize the Video Card in the slot and 2) update the driver. I have the driver downloaded and tried to install, but it fails to complete because it doesn't detect a video card to update the driver as being installed on the MOBO.

Alienware (Dell) now outsources tech support to Ztronics.com for pay and gets me nowhere.

Any help or leads to resolving this issue would be much appreciated. Would the upgrade to Win 7 have fried the Graphics card? How can I tell short of sending it in for testing?

Thanks in advance for help or leads.D7

I was having a very similar issue. While troubleshooting my Alienware M17x R3 I ended up using a restore disk to wipe my system. When it came back, the onboard card was there, but my NVidea card was AWOL.

To fix it, I had to download a VBIOS Flash ISO from Dell's Drivers and Downloads site, burn it to disk, and boot with it. Cleared the problem right up.

Hope that helps!