WARNING: M15x owners do not install CC from resouce disk.

Hello
I just killed my FX controller this way. Any known fixes, or I need a new motherboard? It's an M15x.

 

sorry megs, new motherboard if the lighting is gone.

 

Too late, i reinstalled windows a week ago and installed cc from the resource disk, already uninstalled and installed the updated version, but still dont recognize my keyboard, the alienhead's light is off and everything else is red and cannot be change, do i have to change my motherboard?

ps Sorry for my bad english.

 

Sorry KavMx

I have the same problem. Tried everything, but nothing helped. New motherboard.

 

hey guys i just burned mine fx controler a few hours ago hope that dell have office in bulgaria to get me new mobo

 

zlodey, sorry to hear about your mobo. i had the same issue, which brought me to this forum too.
insist on repair, and if they dont offer a tech to replace the board get them to ship you a new board. There are great resources, here, to replace it yourself. -hubs-

 

just got it today after 10 days at the repear shop cheers

 

WARNING, newbie question!

So, I should download this Alienware Command Center:
Drivers and Downloads

Even if I have the BIOS A08 installed?
I ask because it says:

Code:

Version: 2.5.54.0, A07

Also, what's the Alienware OSD Application for?
Drivers and Downloads

Thanks for your patience!

 

Yes, all the stuff from Dells site is working.

 

Thanks svl7.

Also, what does it means the -for example- A07 on the version?

Code:

Version: 2.5.54.0, A07

That the minimum BIOS version required is the A07?

Thanks!

 

If your M15x is new, then the 2.5.54.0 version of Command Center should already be installed. Double-click on Alienware Command Center, then click on Update (lower right hand corner). It will check on whether updates are available and report the currently installed version.

OSD is the On-Screen Display utility that provides icons associated with the FN key combinations,i.e., FN-F4 increases screen brightness; FN-F5 reduces it. In each instance, an icon will appear showing the direction of change and the brightness scale. Again, the current version should already be installed.

 

No, I don't think this has anything to do with the Bios. They use the A0x numeration for all kind of things, even for the GPU drivers. I think it probably means that it's the 7th revision of the CC.

They don't write anything about a minimum BIOS requirement, so it will be compatible for all Bios revisions, all you need for this CC is the driver "Touchpad A04(15.0.15.0) or later" (as described under important information)

 

@ The Revelator, thanks for your reply.
The problem that I have, is I will format my computer and reinstall all over again, because I want the Windows 7 in Spanish (and my M15x cames in English).
But also, thank you for showing me that the CC has an update button.

@ svl7, OK. So my intuition was wrong
Thanks again!

@ ALL, I have to be honest: I don't have the M15x with me right now. I'll get it on 17/Jan.
So, I'm kind of preparing me to the "blast!"
I'm exited already.

 

Hi Guys, since im having a small problem, about the lights are only half way started up when booting, im planning to re-install CC.

What should i do? A08 Bios and all drivers are up to date?
Tell me if im wrong in the steps:

1. Shut down CC
2. Use ccleaner to uninstall the the CC
3. Clean the drive using the CCleaner Analyze
4. Re-install the latest downloaded from Dell website CC

Correct? Should I do it? Hope to hear soon, thanks.

 

if it only happens during boot up, then it should be fine. are you still using a morphing theme???

 

any morphing theme does that during startup, even a simple red to yellow one. Only a straight all basic color lights up during startup. Can i know the size of the CC installed in your system Inap? Mine, in CCleaner it shows 27MB where as i downloaded the file is about 50MB . Im wondering if the didnt do it properly. Im switching between morphing themes (many like rainbow, the purplered) to see how it works, it all works fine except during the startup and wake from sleep.

 

there is no real fix for that problem. its just something you have to deal with if you choose to do a morphing theme sadly. Just stick to a basic theme if you want it to be trouble free. cc should be around 50mb.

 

ok thx inap. Haiz... well lol. K i stick to it.

But my CC is only 27mb installed, which means its not installed fully :S

 

Hello alienware owners! I have just purchased my first laptop ever, and it happened to be the m15x. Got a refurb. Just wondering of what steps I should take to ensure I am problem free. I noticed the drivers download page mentioned earlier in the thread. Would it be advisable to download all that stuff and make a recovery disc after everything new has been installed?

 

thats a good idea, normally i just save everything on a usb stick that way if a new driver comes out i can just replace it.

and congrats welcome to the M!5x family.

 

Is "usb stick" another name for flashdrive lol. Sorry I'm not too familiar with terminology. And thankyou for the welcome, I am very excited

 

hahaha yes usb stick = flashdrive. have fun with your new toy.

 

I have a feeling I will be satisfied as I am upgrading from an 8 year dell latitude d600 Thanks for all your help inap.

 

Does this problem still occur with the newer m15x systems?

 

I have never heard that this issue has been solved with a Bios revision, anyway best thing is to install only the latest drivers from Dells site... why should you install outdated and faulty software from the disc when you get the newest, improved version directly from Dell?

 

Apparently, there is some confusion on this. BIOS revision is not going to change this or prevent this. Stay away from Command Center on your RESOURCE DVD. Only use the current version of Command Center which can be downloaded directly from support.dell.com.

I have added a nice eye catching warning to POST#1 of this thread.

There is simply no reason for anyone to miss this now. We have the warning from Dell stickied and this thread receives an occasional post which tends to put it on the front page of the 15x sub-forum.

Let me repeat that again...

Stay away from Command Center on your RESOURCE DVD. Only use the current version of Command Center which can be downloaded directly from support.dell.com.

 

So I've upgraded to the latest command center, and I cannot get my keyboard lights to work. I had never previously upgraded command center from the shipped version. I have never reinstalled from the cd. The only reason I upgraded was because I was getting a compatibility error, saying cc wasn't configured for my os.

Any suggestions how I can get this working again?

Thanks

 

First of all try a power drain (unplug the system, take out the battery, press and hold down the power button (alienhead) for about 20 secs, put the battery back, plug in, reboot) and see whether it works.

Let me know whether you're successful. Post it here please, I already thought you fried your mobo because you posted in this thread

 

I already replied to your post - please do not cross post. Thanks

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...7xr1-r2-discussion-thread-14.html#post7089177

 

Hello, everyone, I'm new to this forum, so I apologise in advance for any noobism that might follow.
I've reinstalled Win7 on my laptop in feb this year. And since then I'm having a nightmare of a time with putting the machine to sleep or shutting it down or closing the lid. Shutting it down sometimes works as it should(only sometimes), but when I try to put it to sleep or close the lid - it freezes and the only thing that makes any impact is pressing and holding down the power button.
I came across this thread and realised that I might've well used the CC from the CD that came with the laptop. FX works fine btw.
Wonder if anyone has had any similar symptoms ?
Maybe someone can offer some advice on how to go about solving this ?
Any help will be appreciated.

 

Did you update your BIOS to A09? http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m15x/549258-m15x-bios-a09-discussion-thread.html

 

Actually I came across the BIOS thread yesterday and went ahead and did a clean install of Win7. Installed chipset and graphics card drivers and flashed BIOS to A09(current version was A07 btw) and EC to 1.18(had to use Revelators command since I had the same 'y'/'Y' problem as many other people).
Now it works fine and none of the problems have resurfaced yet. Holding fingers crossed )
Thanks for the help pepemosca, appreciate it!

 

Cool!
Keep us posted.

 

I have also been affected by this. Did a fresh install of Windows 7 x64 Ultimate, and afterwards I used the resource DVD that came with my M15x (The one that DELL GAVE ME) and now no lights. But, I have a question.

My BIOS currently says that my version is A03. If I flashed my BIOS to the latest version (I think it's A09?) and then installed the CC directly from Dell, would that fix the problem? I just am a little hesitant to waste any more time or money to fix a problem that was caused by Dell.

 

doesn't hurt to try, but i doubt it will fix it. prolly will need a new mobo, sorry.

edit:

so you were on A03 when you did the alien fx , weird did you ever used the newer version. haven't seen anyone report this problem with such an old bios before.

 

No, when installing the CC version of the ressource disk after once having installed a newer version, your AlienFX controller gets defective. The problem is that when installing CC it also flashes the firmware of the controller and when an older version of the firmware gets flashed over a newer one, then it kills it.

Nothing you can do about if your lights aren't working anymore, except calling Dell.

But updating your BIOS is a good idea anyways, as it solves several other issues.


Edit: Lol, lost my connection while writing... and Inap got me

 

you and rev are getting too fast, leave some for the rest of us will ya. hahahaha

 

Ok, I will, have to sleep now anyway, hahahaha

 

Well I just had a Dell tech come to my house and replace the motherboard. I installed the CC from the Dell website, rebooted and I still get the same error about the CC not being able to detect my device.

So what do I do now? It wasn't the motherboard in my case, and it is seeming like there isn't anything more to do.

 

Which device?

 

I don't know, that is just what I get when I open up the command center. This is the error exactly:

"The device you have selected is included in the current theme but AlienFX cannot detect this device on your system. Do you want to remove this device from the current theme?"

That's the error I've been getting since I reformatted, that's the error I'm getting now even with a fresh motherboard.

EDIT: On the phone with Alienware, they had me use the AlienFX tester in program files. When I used it, it said that there was no board detected.

 

it's amazing that DELL did this to it's customers and there is no fix except to BUY a new motherboard. did they stop sending the comand center faulty discs with the M15x or did they send them right up til the ending of the M15x? I followed the directions and installed that disc last month just after my warranty expired. you would have thought that dell / alienware would have sent a new disc to the customers with a warning not to use the old one.. it's been a year....or more.. so my question...where do I get a new motherboard..cheap? ( I don't want to spend any more money on this system than I have to ) $3000 and counting.

 

There's (as far as I know) actually nothing defective, only the firmware is corrupted and some addresses got mixed up... I've recently read about a possible fix.
I think you should try it, I'll describe you the necessary steps, but I have to know some things in advance... which AlienFX version did you install and which BIOS do you have?

Edit: If it won't work there could be a second option. Chances are, that the chip where the AlienFX firmware gets stored is a SPI programmable flash chip, in this case I might be able to reprogramm it (but the chip would need to be desoldered for this)

 

I will get back with you as soon as I can hook up the M15x and check out the settings...I have put it away ( got tired of messing with it )..and I got to check and see what Bios I actually have now.. I installed the disc ..just like it said not to do..after I upgraded the FX off the internet..it came on the set up one day asking if i wanted to upgrade..I clicked yes.. ( if you click NO it just keeps asking every time you get online..) I have taken it all off ..the whole FX package.. I just wanted to have the controls light up..but that was too much to ask for.. let me get back with you on all this.. but truthfully I don't want my M15x to get any wosre..I can still play my games on it and use a lighted Keyboard and mouse ( not alienware ) and it works fine..just have alot of friends asking me questions on why I bought it in the first place.

 

Well, never mind those guys who think your system sucks, lol, it's a superb notebook, even two years after its release. The build quality is excellent and it's highly upgradable.

You won't kill anything during the process, the worst case is that it won't change anything.

I need to know the version of the "fatal AlienFX" (the one on the disc) as well as the BIOS, let me know it here when you have those numbers.

 

ok how do I get the fatal one off the disc??? the resource disc number is:
P/N 12X0R...the comand center version is REV: A3
zip file: R232274...
my bios is A08
don't know if you need my version of windows
it's windows 7 professional service pack one.
CPU:Q 820 2 1.73
8 GB memory

 

You need to get BIOS A02, OSD A00 and the chipset driver from the driver site. I'm not sure whether the links will work, if not you'll need to go to the driver page and search them manually.

-uninstall your command center
-uninstall the chipset driver
-uninstall your OSD application
-flash BIOS A02
-load the BIOS defaults
-install the chipset driver
-install OSD version A00
-install the Command Center from your disc
-reboot
-check whether AlienFX is working again

-Update your BIOS
-Load the BIOS defaults
-Install the latest CC
-uninstall the old OSD
-install the latest OSD


I haven't tried this myself since I've never installed the old CC over the newer version, but chances are that it works, I'd say it's worth a try. The only thing you can loose is the time needed for the procedure. Best will be to write down or print these instructions and make sure you're doing it in the correct order. Good luck!

 

the way I read TexasBoy's post is 'how do I remove the file from the disk?'
my answer would be you cant remove it from the disk, just dont load it or use it, the disk still has some good drivers on it.
here is the usa dell support site, get all your drivers here first:

Drivers & Downloads

svl7's answer as to 'how to use the Disk's CC ' it is very complete.

 

Nevermind. Overlooked the embedded links.

 

I will try this...soon as I get a few hours to play around with it.. sorta wish someone else did it first so I can see if it worked
... I'll let you know the results...