Replacing the power flex cable for the m17x r2

Ok so I recently burnt my flex cable and I couldn't find any replacements from alienware on the net.

I did eventually find a compatible flex cable tho although it wasn't the original alienware type, it still worked.
I bought the "AWM 20798 RIBBON FLEX CABLE INVERTED 0.50mm pitch 16 PIN 200 mm 20cm 8" " from ebay and it worked like a charm.
It's more than twice as long as the original flex cable but i just tucked it in and voila.

Another thing you could try, which I attempted myself before buying that flex cable, is to get a larger flex cable that has the same pitch (0.50 mm) and cut out the extra pins. Although this method did get the laptop up and running, some of the buttons weren't working.

One last thing you could try, and I read this here somewhere but I can't find it anymore, is to use the touch pad flex cable. You won't be able to use the touchpad and the other buttons won't work as well but you will be able to turn the laptop on and off.

 

Hmm, interesting. So the "AWM 20798 RIBBON FLEX CABLE INVERTED 0.50mm pitch 16 PIN 200 mm 20cm 8" is a similar fit to the stock one, just twice as long? Considering how flimsy the stock ribbon cable is and the scarcity of replacement cable...that's good work!

 

thanks man