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    Alienware M15x - NO LIGHTS HELP!!!!!!

    Discussion in 'Alienware M15x' started by onetel_comms, Jul 31, 2013.

  1. onetel_comms

    onetel_comms Newbie

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    Hi All, I recently bought a Dell Alienware M15x laptop. I thought it would be a good idea to do a full re-install of the OS as the laptop was previously used. After the re-install the lights on my laptop stopped working.

    After a bit of research I found this is a common problem with the Alienware laptops and its not an easy or quick fix. I tried what the DELL website says to do by downloading the latest drivers and doing the re-install again but no joy! I then contacted DELL support who advised due to the wrong firmware being applied, my motherboard was now corrupted and will need replacing for which they wanted close to £400.

    My issue is I used the resource CD that comes with the laptop from DELL to do the re-install. The CD's only purpose is for that very reason, to provide all the drivers needed after a re-install. If this is a known problem, why is DELL providing these CD's with the laptops? surely there's a legal case to made somewhere in this??

    I can't afford to spend another £400 on a new motherboard so I am hoping someone on these forums has come accross this issue before and managed to resolve it. If so I would be immensely grateful if you could post how it was fixed. If I cant fix this issue I will have to sell the laptop as spares or repairs and only get back a fraction of what I paid. I will also NEVER buy from DELL again!!!

    Looking forward to any response!!!!

    PLEASE HELP!!!!!

    Please see the error messages I am getting below:

    [​IMG]

    Error reads:
    Error 2:
    [​IMG]

    Error reads:
    AlienFX Test:

    [​IMG]


    PLEASE HELP!!!!!
     
  2. fatboyslimerr

    fatboyslimerr Alienware M15x Fanatic

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    Unfortunately you've fried the FX chip on the motherboard I think. No fix but the laptop should still work perfectly except for the lighting.
    I'm sure you can live with that?
     
  3. batfinks

    batfinks Notebook Consultant

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    the MIO chip is corrupted, not fried, and usually it cannot be reprogrammed, but having said that the guys on dell forums have a work around that can reprogram the corrupted MIO chip.
    please turn your attention to: AlienFX repair.....WORKING LEDS at last!! - Alienware Forum - Alienware Club - Dell Community
    it required the purchase of a usb programmer and a lot of messing around but many have reported success with many different model alienware versions.

    and just so you know, my new board only cost me £100 new with pnp.