M17x R3 Media Control Key not working at all!!

Hi guys,

Just got my R3 yesterday. I must say I'm not very impressed. The top and bottom panel around the keyboard flex as hell. I dont mind the bottom panel as I dont press it everyday. But the top panel with the media control keys on flex as hell when I press those media control keys. What's more, those media control key does not work at all!!
I did a quick search. Seems someone has the same problem and I've tried to reinstall the OSD software, unplugging battery/ power and hold power key 30 seconds+. Still no luck. Someone says it got something to do with A03 bios. Is that true? How can I fix this? Thanks.

Alex

 

Easier to get the thing swapped than to deal with these kinds of issues yourself at this stage in your purchase. New machine ain't supposed to do that.

 

I knew, but I thought that's a simply software fix? It took me more than a month to get it...

 

No one has this problem??

 

Mine does not have this problem. I would call Dell and complain as this happened right out of the box, call customer service not tech support. If you call tech support they will try to replace the part. They sent you a defective unit and should replace it when a brand new one. You won't have to send yours back until you receive the new one.

 

I have had the same issue. The Dell coded OSD app is crap. Certain other apps will cause it to hang.

I have worked around it by killing the process using task manager and then restarting it in c:\program files (x86)\AlienWareOSD\AlienWareOSD.exe (names may not be exact as I am on my latitude d620 right now, but you'll find it ...)

PIA to be sure, but certainly not a reason to return a machine you waited a month to receive.

The main issue is that if this executable is not running, you have ZERO control over volume and CD/DVD eject, etc ... ridiculous IMO!

I am certain Dell / AW will release an update to this process that works ...

 

Thanks Azureal. I tried your method. In task manager,kill the AlienwareOn-ScreenDisplay.exe*32. Then I restart it in c:\program files (x86)\AlienWare On-Screen Display. However, it does not work for me... Those media control keys are still not functional at all.

I dont want to return it. I just hope there is just something I'm missing or just a software update.

 

Call, complain, get a replacement sent to you. Then call and complain again if the replacement is bad too. They seriously need to step up their quality of products, and not just their QC, cuz QC should be a given.

 

Have you ever had the controls working? I wonder if there is a cable from the panel with the controls to the mother board which is not connected ...

Do you see the actual OSD images overlaying other on screen stuff when you press a button?

If not you should probably call and see what they'll do ...

 

I just got off the phone with Tech support. He has not seen this problem before.

He ask me to call custom service to see what they can do since this is a brand new alienware.

Thanks guys.