Updating to 10.6 killed my AlienFX? Huh?

I just updated my ATI Radeon Mobility 5870 drivers to 10.6. To be safe, I rebooted my M17x. When I logged into Windows 7, an error message popped up that said that there was an error enabling AlienFX and that I should try to enable it manually or restart the computer. I right-clicked on the AlienFX icon and said "Enable AlienFX", but it wouldn't enable. I also restarted, again, but I keep getting the same problem! Now I can't change my AlienFX light configuration. What does updating a graphic card driver have to do with the AlienFX software? I don't understand what could've caused this. Has anyone else had this issue? If so, is there a resolution so that I can get AlienFX enabled again?

Thanks!

 

Well, I figured out the problem, but have no idea what caused it. Desperately trying to figure out what the problem was, I looked at my Device Manager to see if there were any problems. Lo and behold, under Human Interface Devices, the "HID Compliant Device" was disabled! I didn't even know what this device was, but I enabled it. Immediately, my AlienFX lights came on. Huh? So, anyway, that was the problem... just no clue as to why it was disabled in the first place.

 

i can assure you that it wasn't disabled by the ati driver installation.

 

Yep, it wasn't the 10.6 update. My son had disabled that particular HID device in an attempt to get a game (Prototype from Activision) to run smoother. He never rebooted the computer, so when I rebooted the computer after the driver upgrade his change went into effect. So, basically, he disabled the AlienFX HID hardware. I didn't know what had caused it until I mentioned something to him about it and he said "Oh, yeah! I did that!" Heh, kids!

 

My kids know better than to touch my computer unless they want to feel the wrath of pissed dad.