*OFFICIAL* Alienware 17 R2/R3 Owner's Lounge

Did you use Battery Care or similar in the past? Purchase the new battery and don't install unless the current battery fails, I think its a problem with Windows battery calculation. Can you post a screenshot using W10 energy report as in this guide https://www.windowscentral.com/generate-battery-report-windows-10

 

I tried to recover it to its factory status however after restart it doesn't continue anymore. F8 is not working and the OS is Windows 8.1.
File: windows\system32\winload.efi
Error code: 0x000007b

 

Please help. Thank you.

 

Use Boot Repair 64bit ISO to repair the Windows Bootloader or use Hiren's or UBCD or Sergei Strelec Windows PE. Burn any of them to usb and it will fix the issue.

 

I've never used Battery Care or any power utilites since I bought this laptop.

This is my W10 Energy Report. Please see the attached file below

 

That's some amazing battery life there. Standby and usage time of 10-18 hrs, I couldn't even cross 10 hr mark on power saver mode. Max battery life on Windows and Linux was 8-8.5 Hrs.

 

Thank you .. Where did you see the 10-18 hrs of standby and usage time?
So about the battery, do you have more tips to get the charge to 100% again?

 

See usage history on AC and battery in the html file you sent me.

 

Need some help/advice..

I attempted to install the latest 17R3 BIOS update available which was released August 16th, Version 1.3.12.

I downloaded it directly from dell's website link and saved it to my desktop. Closed all other running applications, then launched the BIOS update from the desktop. It did the usual thing, restarted the laptop then it gave me the following Error message: Rom Image is not loaded. Rom image update denied."Flash Update failed to initialize. Press any key to reset system."

I restarted the system again, loads into desktop just fine. I then deleted the originally downloaded BIOS update file from my desktop, and downloaded a new one. Saved it to a folder in the desktop, closed all running application, rightclicked on the BIOS file to launch it as an administrator... It launched fine, did it usual thing, shuts down and just hangs there forever, laptop running, screen black, fans blowing but it is not writing the new BIOS or giving any error messages this time. I waited a good 7 minutes, it just hangs there. I shut it down, repeated the process two more times with the same results. It just fails to install the BIOS update. What's causing this?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

I reckon the PC boots normally and isn't bricked, correct?
Re-download the BIOS package and after downloading make sure you use Hashes to verify its integrity using HashTab or similar. Then copy it to a USB drive and don't unplug it from the PC.
Afterwards start hitting F12 repeatedly upon PC startup where you get a window showing Diagnostics, Drive boot options, BIOS Flash Update etc, select BIOS Flash Update utility and make sure the USB drive is inserted before selecting it.
You will get Dell GSet Application running on WinPE and Use Tab key and arrow keys to seelct your USB drive and install the BIOS from there safely. Make sure you connect the PC to a UPS or inverter in case your electricity is suddenly down.

 

Hi,

My secondary laptop AW 17R3 for sale, see signatures.
Minor scratches on lid. Screen, palm rest and keyboard (with cover) are as new.
Alienware stock packaging available and will be used for shipping.

128GB SSD + 1TB HDD

Asking price: $1,300 (Excl. $75 delivery charges, will be shipped from SC, USA)
If interested, please PM and I'll send pictures.

 

Hello, I have a problem with my 17 r2. Last night I pulled it apart to repaste and install new thermal pads. I was very careful and it's also not my first time disassembling this machine.

When I booted it back up It beeped at me 5 times and said some stuff about the cmos and the bios time and date was wrong. No big deal I ran the setup and all was good.

When it finally booted everything seemed good until I tried to actually game with it. Super low fps and just general poor performance. Come to find out I was running on the just integrated 4600 graphics and my 980m was no where to be found not even in the device manager. The bios doesn't even show that there is a secondary card.

Ive tried the fn-f5, uninstalled the drivers, which I can't reinstall because the computer doesn't see the other card, disabled the integrated graphics in hopes of it forcing the 980 to be found, tried to reinstall the factory dell drivers but still couldn't because missing card, checked in the bios which shows none for a secondary card, tried to reflash to several different bios versions, and finally did an alien respawn. No luck

As most of you know the 980m on the r2 is nonremoveable so it can't be unseated and there are no cables that could be loose. I'm at a complete loss here as everything else runs just fine however it's not much of a gaming laptop without the dedicated card.

 

Wipe the gold contacts of RAM and SSDs then put everything back and try checking the BIOS.

 

And put default settings in Bios.

 

Hello everybody,
I've got an alienware 17 r2 since 2 years. I've got the problem with the dc cable burned and I'm really upset about this. I've got the version A06 for my BIOS and I tried the update directly to A09 (my mistake) the update crashed and I had to reset my motherboard and flash the BIOS to A06 but anyway. My laptop is actually a ticking bomb because of that cable. I can't take the risk to use it and charge it at the same time so I turned the laptop off and charge it this way. I wanted to know if it's only the cable or if it was something else. My battery life seems to be pretty low (about 3h in game and maybe 6h with videos, music etc) I disabled rhe express charge in the BIOS and my motherboard was changed a year ago by Dell. Oh and the heat deformed the back off my laptop. I have to do a warranty transfer because I am in internship in Montreal and I don't know how long this will take. I need my laptop everyday for my work so it's really annoying...(sorry for my english)

 

17 R2 - GTX980m 4GB - i7 4720HQ user here : looking for someone else with similar issues:
Updated to BIOS A09, getting weird "stalls" where the system gets really unresponsive, seems to be power related, since unplugging and re-plugging the power adapter kicks the laptop out of stalling. Using 330w Dell adapter and Premamod, might be the cause of the issue. (Dell is probably starting to change power management policies due to burnt DC in cables) Temps seem to be lower than I'm used to, on the CPU side. XTU started acting even weirder that it already does, and doesn't do anything except undervolt (no OC). Throttlestop has always been a mixed bag for me, and I think i'd need a proper hand to use it more effectively. I know my way around, I just don't know how to automate the application of profiles. As far as undervolting goes, i'm getting complete, random shutdowns no matter what I apply. No BSOD, no weird sound, it just shuts down, then reboots. Is this normal behavior when a fault occurs ?

I've been using Premamod vBIOS version 84.04.29.00.A1 for about a year and a half now, if not more, and a couple things seem off
@Prema Is it intended that PrecisionX and afterburner are unable to modify the voltage ? still able to play with it in inspector, but i'd like to be able to modify it in one for the former, to apply it on boot, and change dynamically depending on load (2d vs 3d). Otherwise, i'm unable to modify your ROM using maxwell BIOS tweaker, since the values are out of range (yes, that is intended, I believe). It would be fun to have a version that can lock at 175W, for safety purposes. Of course, i'd pay for a beer if I was able to get any kind of help, I know back then you used to take donations on wordpress, but I can't find anything nowdays lol.
Then again, tech inferno lists an update for this vBIOS in 2016, while my version is from 2015. Maybe all of that has been taken care of already.

 

Chcek if DC IN cable has been burnt or not? you can use nvidia inspector to OC GPU.

 

You can buy a new DC in cable, and make sure that express charging is turned off. I had this problem about a year and a half ago. They had send me a new cable and after replacing it never came back.

 

I fix it for you Mind you... Dell has designed/developed a potential fire trap. Aka a ticking bomb!!

 

Yeah they should have been more up front about this. It is still unclear why this happens to some and what the conditions are, especially that after replacing the DC in cable it never came back. Was it the cable, was it the bios? I would like to know about that.

 

It has been replaced already, since i'm still under warranty (3yr warranty)
Nvidia inspector works, but doesn't apply/change OC profiles on the fly.

 

Hi I have a question, I'm sure its been answered, so if someone could direct me to where it is would be awesome anyways I have a r17 r3 6700hq and I am on a 180w Power supply I Read that I need a 240 for performance that the 180 throttles it? I'm a bit confused on the whole thing, thank you kindly for your reply

 

If you're having 970M then its okay. Otherwise 240W is needed for 980M. There is nothing wrong in asking 240W for 970M. More power will help in case you're OC'ing 970M.

 

well I'm not even using the 970M the reason why is I'm not currently needing mobile gaming so I'm using my r17 r3 as a desktop replacement, that being said I'm using the AGA with a 1080 TI

 

FYI,

My Alienware 17 R3 shows up as affected by INTEL-SA-00086, but Dell's statement page doesn't list 17 R3: http://www.dell.com/support/article...ntel-me-txe-advisory--intel-sa-00086-?lang=en

I tweeted to @DellCares on Twitter to get this corrected, but it would probably help if other people chimed in too.

 

Dell messed up the list. 17R3 should be put in instead of 17R2 @Vasudev

 

Can someone else run the Intel tool on their Alienware 17 R3 and share your result? https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/27150

I contacted Alienware support on Twitter, and they told me the R3 shouldn't be affected. They said they "escalated" my case a couple days ago, and have been silent ever since.

 

Its affected. When you see 15 r2 in the list obviously 17 r3 uses same BIOS and same hardware.

 

Don't listen to Stupidity!! Rather listen to @Vasudev

 

That's fine, but can someone run the Intel tool anyway? It would help to have official results.

 

Why? Just look in Intel's own site. And why would Dellieneware still use old driver for new firmware? Click... Compatible Systems

 

Here you go.
I might have to ask Prema for custom BIOS.

 

Because Dell has an idea in their head that the 17 R3 shouldn't be affected, regardless of what anyone says. If multiple 17 R3 owners post results to the contrary, then they might realize they're wrong.

Thanks, but that's a 15 R2 which as you said is already listed.

 

17 r3 uses the same DNA as 15 r2. Same hardware and same BIOS, so if you get 15 r2 bios flash it on 17 r3 problem solved. See the filename on BIOS as well Alienware_15R2_17R3_1.3.12.EXE
15 r2 and 17 r3 use same codename which ECHO MLK. Also referred as Echo models which consists of 13 r2,15r2 and 17 r3.
Latest iterations are called Cassini.

 

You've got me convinced, but do you really think Dell support will understand that logic? I sent them a DM on Twitter asking about this, but they'll probably have no idea what I'm talking about.

 

I'm sure they can read Intel's own data sheet. Support contain stupidity, but not that stupid.

Why not rather ask Dell Support WHEN they patched the vulnerabilities flaws for AW17R3 who contain 6th gen Intel® Core™ Processor. As new firmware come out last week.

 

You'd be surprised.

Yeah, I'll keep an eye on it 15R2 isn't scheduled for a fix until the end of January 2018.

 

If there's 15 r2 then the BIOS will come for 17 r3 or it might not if they force users to buy 15 r3/17 r4 . Then I'll ask Prema for custom BIOS.
Don't ask them anything. Use your PC like Normal. Set those Intel MEI services to manual or disabled for time being. Don't disable HDCP and HECI services if you want to use/stream DRM content.

 

I'm sure they can read...

 

Update:

A support rep on their forums independently confirmed that 17R3 should be listed because it has the same BIOS at 15R2.

...Then their Twitter support replied to the private conversation I had previously started there, conceding only that they are "similar", and re-stated that I should reinstall a pile of specific drivers to "protect" my computer. Of course, I had already followed their instructions, then re-ran the Intel tool to find no difference, then sent them the results. So much for being able to read.

 

Drivers won't cut it. I'm updating the driver only after firmware patch.

 

I know that! That's why I posted the update: to point out the ridiculousness of it.

 

[nag box on]
I just acquired a used Alienware 17r2 at a reasonable price (my first AW) just for the fun of it. Coming from a background of Clevo/Sager HW (having owned/used four Clevo generations) I've got to say it's a pain in the neck to clean and repaste the CPU/GPU on the 17R2.
Yep the i7-4980HQ cpu hit 98 deg Celsius when I turned it on high performance power so a repaste is needed.

Ok, the service manual is avail - checked, great, but man, to do the CPU/GPU repaste job I got to pull the entire system board out, to do this I gotta undo 30+ screws and disconnect 16 connectors. This is before getting to the actual heatsink screws.
[/nag box off]

The Clevos are much nicer to maintain - the ones I have had anyway - just remove the bottom panel and the CPU/GPU heatsink is removable immediately - but I gotta admit all the ones I have had all have MXM gpus and socketed CPUs. Perhaps the 17R2 series is the less expensive series AW and so has the CPU and GPU soldered. Perhaps the more premium R4 and R5 series would have MXM slots and the heatsink might be more easily accessible than the R2.

Ah well good Alienware experience for me - I stayed away from the Asus ROG for the same reason - I will sell this 17R2
now.

 

They do this to keep the heat away from the keyboard deck. But its not that hard though, i can do it in 20minutes. Few extra steps but you only need to do it once if you are happy with the temps.

 

Takes me 4-7 hrs to repaste and disassemble it.

 

Damn, you must be super careful then.

For me it became routine, and I have some tools to make disconnecting those ribbon cables easy.

 

At first it took 10-12 hrs. I have some diagrams to place the screws and other components on a piece of paper.

 

Speaking of disassembling, I'd really like to take a toothbrush to my Alienware 17 R3's fan blades, but it looks like you have to almost completely disassemble the laptop just to get to them.Ugh, why did they think that was a good idea?.

 

The screw in fan section of cpu was stripped and the groove was damaged after i disassembled it once. SO, I just blow the fans using compressed air.

 

That's what I do too, but I can see dust on the fan blades still.