M15x & Windows 10 1809+ ACPI BIOS error

Recently I had an M15x still running Windows 7. With support ending I wanted to upgrade to windows 10. I tried doing it through the media creation tool yet received an error after reboot. I tried a few times and it still didn't work so I decided to try booting from a disc. For some reason I was not able to get the 1903 or 1909 discs to boot. They would say "ACPI BIOS ERROR" and reboot well before the setup screen. I was eventually able to get a v1803 disc to boot and install, but it doesn't end here.

1803 is no longer supported but now I had windows 10 working on the pc, again I tried using windows update to download and install the latest 1909 version but this still presented the same error. My next step was to try one by one. I downloaded every update available for v1803 which went fine and then manually ran the feature update to 1809. This too installed fine and I thought I might have a chance. Once in I started again downloading windows updates for 1809 yet after the latest Quality update I had the same issue! I was between a rock and a hard place, Windows 7 is no longer updated, Windows 10 1803 is no longer updated, and I couldn't upgrade past Win 10 1809.

I read online about disabling wifi & bluetooth which made no difference. I tried removing ram, optical drive, battery, etc. all of which made no difference. I tried swapping in a CPU that lacked virtualization which didn't help. I even tried installing the Windows 10 LTSC build which is based on 1809 which installed fine but again after a couple updated another BSOD.

My solution, I installed Windows 10 LTSB 2016 which is based on ver 1607. This will be maintained with security updates until 2026. It installed fine and updated without issue. My fingers are crossed that no future security patch for the build breaks things again.

I'm not sure what changed in 1809+ that is not compatible with the first generation M15x. My guess is it's the odd manual switching between the integrated and discrete graphics, though the error points to an issue with the battery driver. Either way I can now get at least 6 more years out of this laptop and wanted to share hoping this post will help some future reader.

 

So I can get it installed, but as soon as I restart after updates, the windows logo loads and then the screen goes black. I can eject the disk drive and windows makes a sound, but screen is off. I have reinstalled LTSB like 7 times trying to figure it out. I wonder if it’s the 8800M GTX and as soon as it installs the nvidia drivers it just stops working

 

It could be, I know even back in the Vista/7 days those required a very specific driver. Can you switch to integrated and try? Which Long Term build are you installing, 2016 or 2019?

My M15x has an ATI 3870m so my issues seemed different

 

Hi guys, I’m now in the same boat.. feel like I’m banging my head against a wall with this old Area 51 M15x :/

 

@alienwareliam how far did you get? Mine is a Nvidia as well...

 

You should download the win iso from the Microsoft website and do the upgrade while on Win 7. I have a M17X R2 running Windows 10 Version 1909. Also , you can use the Win 7 key to activate the windows 10. But you have to upgrade will on win 7. Not a fresh install , but an upgrade process.

 

This unfortunately was all tried from a Windows 7 install. I believe your M17R2 has different internals than my M15XR1

 

Completely different. M15xR1 is truly an ancient machine in 2020, shouldn't be surprised if the latest software doesn't work as intended.

 

No surprises, I just wanted to document my findings for any future reader going through the same

 

I applaud your efforts. It's nice to see somebody trying to keep on top of the Clevo-Alienwares

 

Got it all the way installed on Windows 10, but only on integrated GPU. Worked great, just couldn't game. but the upside is that the battery lasted longer

 

Talking to rich_n_Stace on facebook I believe after I suggested he use Nvidia Driver 186.81 he got his working in Windows 10. That was the last driver version to work with the Nvidia cards on these notebooks.