*OFFICIAL* Alienware 15 R1/R2 Owner's Lounge

My thoughts exactly, though my experience lasted as long as it took to find out I had been sent the wrong spec. That was nearly a month ago and I'm still waiting for my new one. Can't wait to get my mitts on it. Even bought a better panel to put straight in!

 

Checked your link, it says its sold out at the moment

I still need to settle the refund from aliexpress tho...

 

After reading many..many..many.. forums and post, I still have not managed to find a proper guide on how to install the M.2 SSD.. I currently have the 1TB HDD option and would like to install Windows on that M.2 SSD and use the HDD as secondary storage. I've created a USB Recovery using Windows from my current AW15R2.

My confusion:
1) when installing the M.2 SSD do I unplug the HDD?
2) any special modifications on the BIOS so the M.2 SSD can be detected?
3) any other advice to install windows using the Recovery USB image? Thank you.

 

the way I did it after few unsuccessful attempts
1. unplug the hdd, install windows on ssd. unplug ssd, format hdd, and then plug both.
2. no

 

I agree with this approach

 

Yes the R2 is a thing of beauty, at first until the black palm rests get all oily and you can see every single settled dust speck. But seriously, it's great, I'm glad I didn't care about something super thin or light in my purchasing decision. And it passes the bathroom portability test which is what matters most am I right?

 

You can search for "Reset this PC" in the search bar, then select "get started", then choose remove everything. This should give you a neat installation of Windows 10 without destroying your OEM settings.
Don't do the mistake I did by clean installing windows

 

For those that don't keep up with the Graphics Amplifier thread, Razer is releasing an external GPU adapter through USB-C before mid-2016 and will leave it up to the manufacturers to provide compatibility (meaning non-proprietary), so here's hoping to Dell making it work (or it just working out of the box).

 

How was it a mistake? I did a fresh install, kept the boot logo, didn't have to re-enter my activation key, and saved space by not needing a recovery partition. Win-win situation when I can control what bloatware I want.

 

Couldn't agree more, first thing I will do when mine gets here is swap out the screen, install my SSD and do a clean install. Can't wait!

 

Can you teach the steps how to do a clean install after creating a media boot disk? I want to download Windows 10 in Portuguese and make the clean install. Is this possible to be done and keep oem boot logo?

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Okay, I assume you have downloaded MS media creation tool from MS and created a bootable media. If at all you want to do a clean vanilla install, here are the steps

Note - You won't lose the boot logo since it's embedded in the BIOS. So, don't worry

Steps:

1)Make a backup of your files and whatever you want to keep

2) Insert the recovery media and restart the system

3)Press f12 as soon as the boot screen appears. You will enter the Windows 10 setup

4)There, choose your preferred language and keyboard layout and press Install

5) If you also have a HDD, then there will be a distinction between your SSD and HDD anming disk0 and disk1 or something. Delete all partitions pertaining to your SSD(maybe you can determine which disk your SSD is by summing up the total size of all partitions).

6) Select the 'unused free space' of your SSD and then click on "create new partition" and click okay(Assuming you want your entire SSD for the OS alone). If you want to make further partitons on SSD(not recommended), then while creating partitions, you can specify the size of partition

7)After you click "create partitions" the installation will create additional partitions - system reserved, boot partiton and recovery partition. Select the "primary partition" and click Install or next or something. I don't remember. This will install the OS on your SSD

8) After installing the OS, download drivers from Dell website and install them

There you have your fresh installation of windows!

P.S. - Be sure to install drivers in the order specified by the Dell Website

 

Thank you. So no problem if I create Ms media usb downloading windows 10 In Portuguese instead of original English? After the steps you told me I will keep boot logo and Windows 10 will be automatically activated and so I will not loose oem activation? I am using alienware 15 r1 4k touchscreen 970m gtx after win 8 1 upgrade to Windows 10

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No problem. MS media creation tool is multilingual edition of Windows so there won't be any problem.

Yes, you will keep boot logo since it's embedded in bios.

Yes, windows 10 will activate automatically since you have already upgraded to windows 10 from windows 8.1

 

I'm sure you know this but since the November update you don't need to upgrade anymore. You can just use any Windows 7/8/8.1 key on the Windows 10 install (even OEM keys!).

Again, if the key is embedded into the bios, the Windows 10 install will pick that up and activate automatically.

 

After deleting all ssd partitions and recreate them a missing 128mb partition unallocated space kept alone away from the 256gb SSD space. What should I do with this 128gb free unallocated space?

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128mb or gb? It should be 128mb partition made as system reserve. So, don't really worry about that

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

128mb olny that keeps as lost unallocated space

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Don't really worry. Windows creates various partitions for various reasons. Just leave it along. 128mb is very small

 

Has any one upgraded to Version 1.2.7,A05 i have tired it said bios could not be flashed and now when it try to its just going to a black screen and staying there, My caps key also freezes on or off (when ever i use caps or take caps off when i move my mouse is the only time i noticed what ever its set to it gets stuck at like i cannot change from caps to lower case while mouse is moving any fix?

 

Okay the caps lock while using the touchpad problem has to do with a driver im assuming cause i removed the synaptics touchpad driver and it was working fine. now it gives me like a 10 second cool down before i can change back to lower case , is there an option im missing?

 

I have not installed the BIOS update so far, cant help you. Why do you not install the synaptics driver?

Does anyone know what was changed? The change log says:

Fixes & Enhancements
[BIOS]
-Update MCU 0x74 for 406E3/506E3 CPU
-Modify firmware device GUID

I dont know what any of this means.

 

I am facing this problem after flashing 1.2.7. Rolling back to 1.2.3 didn't help either! I'm surprised. It doesn't seem to be a driver problem. But capslock isnt much of a problem for me since I barely use capslock

 

Just picked up a fully loaded 15 R2
4K screen
6820HK
8 gigs ddr4(will upgrade this later)
128GB ssd
1tb 7200RPM data drive
8GB 980M
Xbox 360 controller

For $1,050 USD shipped from dell outlet

 

Wow, nice score. I paid the same price for a 6700k and 970m last month. Wish I would have waited as that seems like a nice performance jump, but hindsight is 20/20.

 

Anyone got the new alienware 15 r2 echo 4k touchscreen skylake from Microsoft? Any reviews?

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nice dudeee

 

I upgraded and it all seems fine except it seems to take longer to boot from bios to windows now

 

it feels good to know im not the only one , I use a external mouse and the problem goes away with the drivers installed its just only with the touch pad for some odd reason.

 

6700K and you want 6820Hk ? Or more like this 6700Hq? It's a pretty big difference between them

 

Just curious (new to Dell outlet store), how did you get that deal? Did you have to stack coupons, etc? Thanks!!

 

So you have to get in when the coupons just start, or when it is a Twitter only coupon. When they do their major sales they jack up the prices.

I used a Twitter 27% off coupon and then once it shipped I chatted and cancelled the Premium support and on-site support because I would never need them. You still keep your 1 year warranty just have to send it in, which to me is worth it since I only keep a laptop for 6 months anyways.


That netted an extra 238 off the final price.

You have to be willing to wait for the best deal possible. And not just jump on the first one you see. This took me about 3 or 4 days of browsing the outlet randomly to find this deal. I think it was like 1740 before any coupons.. I can't remember.

 

I was eyeing that 1740 machine bit it was a 980m 4gb?

 

There are multiple alike configs with slight variations. Mine actually said it only came with the Intel HD graphics. And I knew no alienware did that. I also saw it had the 240w psu which told me it came with the 980. The diagnostic logs of the service tag I received (after purchase) confirmed this. Also the only config online with the 6820HK and 4k is with the 980m 8gb

 

I've got the 6700k, I'm sure the difference in that and the 6820k would be hard to perceive in most situations, but that paired with the 980m over 970m would be a nice little boost in gaming (~10 fps, pretty significant on those games I play on ultra and only get 35fps)

I made my purchase over eBay through someone selling a dell outlet product, not sure how it works, but was legit and 100% pristine condition. Until I get the Alienware Graphics Amplifier or something similar I'm still going to be a bit jealous though lol

 

What he is saying is you have the hq I processor not the 'k' version as the k version is a desktop processor. Unless you are rocking a clevo 750ZM you can't use that processor.

Those sellers usually make bulk purchases or try to get deals like I did than immediately try to resell.

 

Some of Clevo Barebone Series use K processors. Alienware + all other brand using BGA aka Hk/Hq processors in the their models. Unfortunate in the sillikon lottery... You just have to live with this, as you choose brand that use only BGA hardware.

 

I have a 750ZM right now and am going to BGA. Only because the processor is unlocked.. If it wasn't I would prolly stay with socketed for now. But the performance of the OC'ed HK looks very promising... and with the awesome deal I couldn't resist. I just hope the alien stays under 70 deg C like my clevo. Lol

 

Then I hope you're lucky in the silicone lottery. And never need to replace the motherboard.

 

Hi how are you finding the 4K screen mate ?

 

You know the failure rate for BGA processor is actually very low right?

People are so scared of them here yet they are 90 percent of the laptops used today.

 

I don't talk only about the failure rate for the processor If you're unhappy with the silicone quality, then it's not much you can do with this if you wish. + the risk is bigger to lose a good silicone and instead get a lemon if you go BGA. You risk lose your nice Overclocker if you get a failure on motherboard, gpu or the processor. 3 times higher chance for this... Yes you said the failure rate are low on the processor... But remember that you have other hardware than just the processsor in your laptop with higher failure rate after the times go on.
Just on my AW17 is the motherboard replaced 2 times. But I still have my good processor. It would not have been as nice to get one new, which would barely overclock.

 

I just received my Alienware 15r2 and it seems the power draw is fairly high while running on battery - around 20 - 21 watts. I have the i5 6300HQ with 965m gpu and 1920x1080 screen. I did replace the hard drive with a 2.5" samsung 500gb evo SSD. I have the screen at 30%. Any tips for extending battery life? I was hoping to get about 6.5 hours with it (office/internet/programming - no gaming so dedicated GPU should not be running) but am only getting about 4.5. I did turn off the lights but that did not seem to save much....

 

Hey everyone, hope I can get some help with this...

Up until 2 days ago, when my volume is anywhere over 70, it sounds too loud, and it crackles at 100. I thought it was my speakers, but when I uninstalled the Soundblaster Recon3Di driver, 100 sounded nice and smooth again.

I then reinstalled the Soundblaster Recon3Di driver and the 100 volume level sounds crackled again.

Anyone else with any ideas on how to rectify this?

 

So my 6820K is stuck in thermal throttle mode, Haven't seen it go over 899Mhz since I turned on the laptop. Thermals are under 40 deg C ... Anyone else encounter this? Updated BIOS to newest revision and updated Intel thermal framework...

 

So I figured I would reply to myself on this one.

I completely disassembled the laptop and reset cmos by unplugging the rtc battery for 30 mins. I also looked at the thermal paste and was disgusted. There was like 0 on the gpu and the cpu was wayyyy too much.

After I reassembled it I tried it and resetting cmos worked! Laptop runs greatly now. I just finished taking it fully back apart and pasting with kryonaut.

Gotta give dell credit the disassembly is very simple on this laptop. Yes it requires a full disassembly but it is very easy to do.

 

Do you know of any videos that show how it's done?

I haven't managed to find any for the Alienware 15.

 

Your post could have been sexy with pictures! Hahah, you just gave me the motivation to take mine apart... runs like a champ, but re-pasting could be a fun chore.

 

tell me you recorded the process..???

 

Just ordered me some Grizzly Kryonaut, should be here about the same time as my machine so I could take pictures as I do it.