Problem with cover light

Hello, I have a M17x R3 replacement and I have noticed something strange:
The cover´s white light turns off when lowering the lid, and just turn on when the screen is on.
Anyone know what could be the reason?
Thanks

 

I have a really really good reason to believe this:

On the R3 and M18x, the light of the alienhead on the lid is powered by the backlight of the screen itself. It is completely different from the R2 where it had its own led board.

THEREFORE, when the screen turns off, the alienhead will turn off as well and vice versa.

This is something they did to cut cost... such a downgrade.

 

But in my previous M17x R3 light was turn on when the cover is down, as well as the m17x r3 of my friends...

 

Hello!!! If I am not wrong you are misinforming. I have an R3 right this second. When I close my lid the light remains on the alienhead. The backlight turns off.

There is something wrong with his!.....UmmmpH!

 

Thank you for clarifying. I dont own the latest models myself, but I have been researching due to my interest in the M18x.

Well I am not sure if this is relevant, but my old defective R2's screen would go off and computer would be put to sleep if I closed my lid to about 65-70 degreeish. This is really not much at all, but the computer kind of recognized as if I had closed the lid entirely.

MAYBE some part that is recognizing the lid light is having the similar issue? Best guess is call up AW support.

 

The solution of the AW support is reinstall command center and OSD, and if the problem persists do a recovery, but personally I do not think that is the driver´s problem

 

I don't know, after 3 OS reinstalls and Command Center reintalls, mine still turns off. Not like I care much, I don't see it 99% of the time.

In all honesty though, having done so much mod work with the R3 lid/LCD, it is lit via the LEDs from the LCD. I've never had the Alienhead NOT turn off once the lid is closed. If your LEDs in your LCD turn off once the lid is down, the head will not light up. That one I know for a fact because there is no circuit board or LED board for the Alienhead, only a see through emblem for light to shine through. Having the LCD be off when closed but the LED still lit is next to impossible imo.

 

I know it's nothing serious, but the truth is that the light should be permanent as long as the laptop is on.
Serious or not, the fact is it is not normal.

I do not think that a recovery will solve nothing, and really do not want to reinstall everything...
I think it may be due to some sensor or connector

 

I don't know if Dell pulled a quick one and redesigned it in a hurry for some reason but there is no way you can have the emblem be lit when the lid is closed and your LCD off. When it's off the LEDs are off and there is no light.

 

i can confirm that light is still on when lid is closed and screen is off.

 

I do not see clear. Aver if anyone can help...

 

Wow that is really strange Inap. You've opened the lid before, it doesn't have a LED board for the emblem. Maybe my B+RGLED is preventing it lol. Oh well, saves battery I guess. I guess only Dell will know...or do they even...

 

this is the third M17x r3 I have and the previous two if they had light in the top cover

 

i know it doesn't have a separate board but this is my 3rd system and all of them were like that. it wouldn't bother if light go off, but it doesn't untill the system is fully shut down.

 

and which you think you could be the reason?
Can you believe a recovery will solve anything or just waste time?

 

i recommend doing a power drain, maybe take out the cmos battery too when doing so.

 

When I lower and raise the brightness on my machine it effects the brightness of the front alien logo accordingly.

Also when I shut the lid on mine the head turns off.

 

I can confirm with other users that the alienware head logo stays on with the alienware m17x R3.

I've been trying to find the settings to turn it off.

Using an external monitor the LCD turns off when the laptop lid is closed as it should via settings. The alienware logo stays on, again, as it should.

Whether it's nothing serious or not I'd want an explaination and fix if it's not supposed to behave in that manner.

I can only imagine that there's some sort of power connector that powers the logo perhaps built into the lid itself?

 

No there is no power for the logo, it is lit entirely by the LEDs from the LCD.

 

Okay, now I'm curious because the logic doesn't seem to follow.

If my lcd is set to turn off when I close my lid then how is it powering the alienhead logo?

Wouldn't the logo turn off when the lid was closed if the LCD shuts down?

 

That's where my logic points to lol. So either people aren't noticing that their LCDs are actually on when the lid is closed or Dell invented a logo that self lights. I can guarantee that if you open the lid, you will not see anything in there except wires and the LCD.

So it's either:

1) Dell redesign for no apparent reason
2) Magic

 

All i can say is you are being pretty stubborn and stuck to the view that it must be off because you dont find any hardware that indicates it should. Maybe santa clause added some christmas magic for most of us except a few.

You are not even curious....but stating the same again and again as if others are pulling a fast one.

If i misinterpreted your posturing, I apologise. I will try to post a video of this today.

My system is going to picked up in a few minutes for whole unit new replacement.

 

This is also not true on the machines where the logo is permanently lit when the lid is closed. I just checked it a few minutes ago. Change of brightness has no bearing whatsoever on the system.


It may the case of design fault which was corrected or it may be that something is wrong with these specific machines..

You must also make a survery to find out the percentage of people facing this issue. Is this with the initial models. Or does this happen with later models also.

Does this happen on both 3D and non 3D system? The LCD panel that is built for 3D is of totally a different breed compared to WLED.

FINALLY WOULD BE A CRITICAL ERROR FOR A SYSTEM NOT TO HAVE THE LOGO LIT UP EVEN WHEN THE LID IS CLOSED BECAUSE IT WOULD MISLEAD THE USER TO BELIEVE THE SYSTEM IS SHUTDOWN. THIS WILL RESULT IN IT BEING TRANSPORTED AS SUCH ETC ETC....CREATING ALL SORT OF POTENTIAL HAVOC. I DONT THINK DELL WOULD HAVE BEEN SO BLOODY STUPID TO MAKE THIS A DESIGN BY DEFAULT AS IT WILL INVITE SOMEONE TO SUE THEM.

A SYSTEM ALWAYS HAS TO HAVE AN INDICATOR.

 

Lol calm down dude. What I said isn't false. I've never said people are lying or making stuff up. I simply said some things might be overlooked or Dell did a redesign. Go ahead and open the lid, you'll see nothing there except a plastic emblem.

 

I am cool...

The video is as below.

ImageShack® - Online Photo and Video Hosting

 

I can confirm that:
all the M17x r3 teams I've seen have the light on AlienHead with the cover down
It is not necessary that the screen is turn on so if this is the AlienHead
I do not believe in magic
I do not think they have done a redesign for some random models
When the cover is down the screen are turn off
The intensity fluctuations of brightness on AlienHead not raise.

My firt M17x with Hd6970M and screen Full HD 60Hz (Alienhead functional 100%)
My second M17x with Gtx560M and screen Full HD 120Hz 3D (Alienhead functional 100%)
This is my third M17x with HD6990M and Full HD 60Hz (Alienhead don´t work with cover down)

Again, I know that is not serious, but having paid so much money don´t hace any grace

 

Personally I'd definitely see if the LCD or even alienwear fx was on, as the logo itself can serve as a distraction.

I'm sure that the alienware head logo is probably powered via the same cable or cable bundle that house the camera/lcd/inside logo. While the lcd is off that probably doesn't turn off the power to the alienhead logo.

Vads I believe you do not need to include your hd when you ship it to dell. Last time I sent in my previous system I didn't include my HD and it even had a little information saying you could remove it. They certainly don't want to be responsible for any PII or data theft.

Also agree with you Vads, the alienhead logo tells me that my system is on, especially when I have no other indicators (AlienFX is disabled when I use it in "dock mode"). Even if I do find it annoying it serves a branding purpose and as a nice little indicator.

Dell didn't need my HD to screw things up. The put in the wrong components, cracked my lid, scratched up my machine and they even managed to not pack the system correctly despite the packing instructions being in the bottom of the box.

 

Didn't i hear somebody saying before that, i don't remember what panel, did have a separate board but only with white SMD LEDs which is not linked to the AlienFX?!

 

In M17x R3 not.
The white light is fixed

 

I know I didn't state otherwise, read again.

 

In M17X R3 the software AlienFx don´t control the Alienhead light, just in R1 & R2

 

For the last time, I know that, I just said that somebody in the past stated that his screen, don't remember which one (the 900p, 1080p or the 120Hz) had a board/PCB with white SMD LEDs behind the alien head INDEPENDENT from the AlienFX when it was said by another owner, again I don't remember the screen type, that the alien head gets its lighting from the screen backlighting.

SO, I was wonering how is the alien head lit and if it's the same for all 3 types of panels. Get it now?

 

for truth is a mystery, and even more without specific LED

 

That's why i asked the guys that already taken them apart, inap, Villosa etc. just out of pure curiosity.

 

Mine came with the 900p screen. No light board for logo. Let's see if anyone one else with the 900p can confirm the same.

 

So it's off when the screen is off, right?

 

So as I mentioned earlier when I lower the brightness of my screen it lowers the brightness of the alien head in the front. When I close the lid and the monitor turns off so does the head.


This is on the 1080p 60hz screen.

 

Mine is exactly the same as riftwire. Whatever I do with the LCD it reacts the same.

 

So both of your alien heads are lit using the LCDs backlighting.

This is what i was talking about earlier, i knew i wasn't blind when that guy said that.

 

Yeah I just have no idea how others are getting their light. I believe inap has the 1080p and also no light board but his stays lit when closed.

 

Inaaap, report please
I think he did open his too.

 

I have 1080p, lcd screen is off, external monitor is on... alienhead logo on. LCD brightness has no influece over light on alienhead logo.

I am curious as well =)

 

It appears to depend upon your setting that controls what happens when the lid is closed (CP>Hardware & Sound>Power Options>"Choose what closing the lid does"). If it is set to Do Nothing, then the Alienhead stays lit; if it is set to Sleep or Shut Down, the Alienhead turns off.

 

I'm not having the issue myself.

My alienhead light works as expected. Indeed I have changed my settings to "do nothing" as I use an external monitor and even when I don't, I do not want my machine going to sleep or into hibernation when I close my lid.

If you read through one issue here is how the alienhead derives its power/light.

 

My setting is do nothing and it turns off lol.

 

I think the little alien is screwing with you, Villosa.

 

These things have to be taken apart to solve this :/

 

But someone knows what is causing the problem?
A bad LED? some bad connector? any sensor?

 

If my brisk recollection is good i think there is an array of LED lights tat light up te head. Its got nothing to do with te durable plastic lib cover. There is a massive wide mag alloy chassis that built around the screen. One of best reinforced i have seen. I dont hv my system with me right now. Returned. But do check. As for villosa it could be a bad connector. The light doesnt emanate so brightly to te posterior part of the screen. I also dont think a special area of the backlight array is designed for alien head. There must be a special set mounted or merged wit the mag frame. They probably did not do te r2 way coz its an additional work. R3 is easier to remove and replace. Also remember r2 had alienhead light leak right thru te screen when its dark and screen was off. I have seen it.
Bloodroses, i returned te system wit the hard drives since its goin to come wit 2 again fresh. But i wil follow ur advise next time whic i hope isnt like 3 years from now. Elsewhere we r not required to returned until system is delivered. But in India they do tis. Production starts only once it received.

 

I contacted AW support and the technician will come tomorrow to replace the piece that illuminates the AlienHead.

There any way to remove the top cover without dissasembly the entire team?
I do not want to shatter the team coach or physical marks left by very slight in degree.