[NEW] Command Center 2.5.44.0 A05 / Discussion

Great. Yet another thing I need to call tech support about. Wonderful. Still have to get my screen fixed, and now perhaps I bricked the AlienFX BIOS. Not to mention DPC Latency. woohoo.

 

Nick, try this, uninstall any CC version currently install.

Run the installer for the updated version, allow it to complete and reboot.

Once back at the desktop, uninstall via the installer (meaning run the install and this time select UNINSTALL - not repair) once complete, reboot

Once back at the desktop, run CCleaner - registry scan. Fix any issues. Reboot.

Once back at the desktop, run the previous version of CC. Reboot when prompted.

This should resolve the issue. If not, then a call will have to be made. I know the above is lengthy but hopefully it works.

 

Well, finally was able to run through that process BB. To no avail. I guess I'll call Alienware later this week so they can send me a new motherboard. I guess it gives me a good reason and opportunity to get my LCD screen fixed too. Oh well. I just hope I don't have to jump through hoops with technical support only to find out next week or the week after that Dell has decided to replace all R1's due to the latency issue.

 

Continuing this from that other thread, the fxtester is found in the programfiles\alienware\ or something like that (I'm at work and not sitting in front of the notebook so don't remember for certain). It installs with the Command Center I think.

 

BadBoy, I tried your solution but it didn't work. I restored my alienware to factory settings, reinstalled windows 7 and reflashed the new BIOS and none of it worked. How would you think if we try downgrading our BIOS and then upgrading it again? Do you have any additional solutions?

 

Wow, I must be the exception as it's working just fine for me. In fact the version that came installed from the factory had some issues, such as my power button/hdd lights blacked out until AlienFX loaded and they turned on once Win7 was up and running.

I did have just my Media Buttons flicker to an off color but they stopped and have been solid since I powered down, removed the batt, and help the power button for 30 seconds. So far it's been working just fine for me after that. I did create a new theme, however to make sure that it wasn't a compatibility issue with the older version...

Update: Media Buttons changed color : /

 

I suggest you contact Tech Support. If the AlienFX BIOS is having issues and you are not able to flash it to a previous version then it may require a motherboard change. From my understanding, the AlienFX BIOS is located on the motherboard. Tech Support should have a process in place to resolve this (perhaps another route which we have not posted here).

@Jodi, I tried that as well. I re-flashed to the previous version by running the installer. Rebooted and then installed the newly released version which flashed the AlienFX BIOS to the current version. No change.

This issue may not actually center on the AlienFX BIOS - I am merely speculating. What I have observed is as soon as you reinstall the previous version of CC, at the stage when the BIOS flash takes place, as soon as it completes the Power Button LEDs become active again. Just a guess - we shall know more once AW has looked at the issue.

I can report they are looking into it today.

 

i'm having the same exact problems.

so frustrating. they wont even stop. i don't know why i went with that stupid CC anyway.

 

So if a new motherboard is needed to fix the "No Board detected" problem or the bios issue does it mean that the new CC is somehow frying the fx portion of the mobo?

 

I cant answer that Tao. Whenever any BIOS is flashed, there is the possibility of it going south. I'm not even sure if the motherboard will need to be changed. Its best to contact support and have them troubleshoot.

 

Lets keep a difference between the firmware on your motherboard and the firmware on the alienFX device as its becoming very confusing. Lets call the motherboard firmware "BIOS" and the alienfx firmware, just firmware.

Did you try to follow BB steps and try to reflash the firmware of the alienFX device. As BB said, anything can happen during a flash, but compared to a motherboard BIOS you should be able to reflash the alienFX firmware even if the flash went terribly bad

 

Just about to install... but decided not to. I wanted to see the new C.C. but I guess I'll have to wait a year before dell actually fixes it

 

The no board detected is a part of the bricked AlienFX BIOS which is physically embedded in the MOBO. Actually AlienFX shows up as a USB device in your device manager. If you are having that issues, then I recommend that you do the following and let me know what happens:

1. Power down the PC
2. Removed power adapter
3. Remove battery
4. Wait for 5-10 minutes for complete static discharge off the MOBO
5. Now press and hold the alienhead button for at least 1 minute (never hurts to be safe)
6. Reinsert battery and start your PC

Hopefully this should make your PC detect that "no board detected"

If all else fails, the best way is to re-download the older CC version and try/retry with multiple BIOS resets and running registry cleaners until you succeed.

 

this is getting me mad. i'll see if i can pull up a video somehow...

edit: nvm. i dont have a video recorder.

 

Thanks for the info. I'll try this out later tonight when I have some free time.

 

i just install cc from my dvd disk. i'm rebooting. lets see what happens.

 

Haha... I'm reverting back to the original version myself right now... have instaleld and re-installed 5 times in the last 30 minutes. Still the alienhead logo is flickering. TestFX.exe reports green lights to fail but I can manually turn them on by creating a new theme

Dell has done it again. I'm going to call and ask for a replacement laptop (since replacing the MOBO did not help).

 

computers suck.

i bet you they are going to say
"a fix will be out in a week."

i'm putting that in my sig.

 

i got it working.

reverted to the old cc from my disk. its the a01 keyboard bios. the new one is a05 but buggy.

i just uninstalled cc. and installed the one from my repair cd.

now what i am going to do is reinstall the new cc without the keyboard update. i will just power it off when the warning sign pops up and see what happens.

i'll report back.

 

I called the Tech support team to ask for a replacement. They said that the laptop surely qualifies for replacement. They are working on the fix but did not promise on a specific time frame. The rep said that don't count on the fix.

@ dondadah88 - My restore DVD has the A03 version - which is still better than the newer A05 version

On a side note, this is a tried and tested fix to revert back to your old version. I have gone back to my old version twice using the same steps. Here they are:

I was finally able to restore my Command Center and AlienFX to factory settings. Here is what I did:

1. Used CC Cleaner to clean up my registry, temp files, etc.
2. Reboot PC in safe mode
3. Uninstall Command Center
4. Use CC cleaner again to clean up registry, temp files
5. Shutdown the PC, remove the power adapter, remove the battery, hold the power button for 1 minute (to be on the safer side)
6. Start PC
7. Run Regdit and remove all entries for alienware, run CC cleaner again and then reboot
8. Install older version of Command Center (from the Alienware utilities DVD). Don't reboot PC after install - wait for at least 5 min
9. Shutdown, remove power adapter, remove battery, hold power button for 1 minute and then reboot

Wola! My alienFX is working like it is supposed to be. Let me know if this works for you other guys having issues with the new Command Center.

 

is it possible this command center was built on the new bios that isn't released yet, and since we're on the old bios, that's causing problems?

 

Take the rep's comment with a grain of salt. The problem is being addressed.

 

Well, I tried this out. Definitely did not work. My laptop is still not recognizing the unknown device. Looks like I'm just going to have to give Dell a call this weekend and get a new mobo. That is, if they can't figure out how to fix it.

 

I actually haven't seen this thread till a few minutes ago. I just installed the new Command Center today. So far no problems whatsoever. However its just early days.. and this thread doesn't give me much hope. (Side note: Blu-ray has had some problems ever since the install... any link perhaps?)

 

Hi all,

I can confirm it is working well for me.

M15x here. I was on MoBo BIOS A02 till new CC was out. I wasn't brave enough to try new MB BIOS A03, but it seems new CC is developed with this one, so I had to try.

My way:
-downloaded file with A03 MB BIOS - iso file with DOS installer [ http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=449444&page=47]
-programming went flawlessly - no problems
-downloaded and installed all newest drivers from dell page, with exception of new Command Center and OSD Utility - no problems
-downloaded and installed R256463_Command_Center_A05.
Important is patience. Installer is doing its job slowly. Somtimes it is totally dissapearing, and only observation of the HDD indicator (main switch) is telling it IS really working. After application installation it launches FX board BIOS upgrade (my was upgraded from A03 CC -> FX BIOS 1.00.09 to A05 CC -> FX BIOS 1.01.02. All went without problems but that's not all.
After that I switched on new Command center. At the beginning it started very slowly and it went for [bootloader mode] window and than really installed new FX BIOS (FX BIOS 1.01.02). After that it launched new Command center without any problems.
- last step was downloading and installing R242920_OSD_Utility_A06, which returned touch buttons from the bar above keyboard.

After reboot I played around with new CC, my observations:
- it worked with my latest FX scheme, but save was deleted after installation, so I had to save it. All is working I have no problems with any light zones as far.
- Alien sense is much more responsible and damn fast. It is recognising my face "on the fly" so fast I thought it is just passing any person before my screen - I tried and it is not. Just recognition is much faster.
- BTW new BIOS (A03) seemed to repair "fan stuck" (sometimes after start from hibernation right fan stayed always on full blast) - but I have to look at that closely.

 

Noticed this version is no longer showing up in the driver download section for me. Looks like they pulled it.

 

The only thing it is giving me problems is with recognizing my face. Sometimes it does, others it doesn't. Mainly i'm having to type my password in which is annoying.

 

I have the R2 and had these same type of problems. I am on the new Command Center right now, but when I get home I am reverting back to the old one. I have problems with the alienheads on the lid and power button not being lit all the time and noticed on some colors on the keyboard there is a little bit of white color mixed in with them

As far as not recognizing the device, I just did what I saw someone else already mentioned: shut down completely, unplugged the power adapter, took the battery off, held down the power button for 20secs, then put it all back together and turned it on. It recognized everything fine after that, but still has the problems I mentioned above.

And yea, I too noticed they took down the Command Center update from the drivers page.

 

When they sent the new MOBO it came with A03 BIOS. I can confirm that the new CC does not work with the A03 BIOS as well.

Even right now. I started my PC and the alienhead logo did not start up until Windows loaded up and then suddenly it lit up. I guess, I'll have to wait for the FIX. I'm on a 3 week vacation right now and it is very disappointing that it cannot show off my cool AlienFX to my friends (cause the friggin thing doesn't work properly).

I called tech support last night and asked for a complete replacement of my laptop. I did not pay 1.6K for this.

 

I feel very lucky now....

Strange it is working well on some systems and totally not for the others.

 

Lets just wait for the new Alienware Command Center to be released. I'm sure that Dell is gonna release it pretty soon.

 

can't we just update the firmware of the alienfx, and leave the cc as it is ?

 

Just to let everyone know, this is being worked on as I mentioned previously. I spoke with AW's Director of Engineering the other day when the issue with the CC was found. He has folks working on it and I'm sure it will not be long before we see a revised version available for download. No ETA at present, but this is getting the attention it deserves. In the meantime, stick with the previous version.

 

thanks for the confirmation and update

 

Command Center A05 has been removed. Stay tuned for the re-release.

Thanks,
Gabe

 

Actually it is still available on support.dell.com

I've tried numerous times and have finally given up on fixing my AlienFX. I will be requesting a replacement today. I downgraded to the previous version and I still get the same error. Take a look at this video I just created

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sdaYZsQhik

 

Couldnt see a thing on that vid. WAY too close up!

 

What I wanted to show on that video is that AlienFXtester.exe failed on the red light itself but I could still change the lighting system (of alienhead power button) to red from command center.

 

I know, but you could of back away even a few inches. We could still read it

 

I re-verified, and the most current version on the support website is A03 (due to A05 being removed). Are you on the US version of the site? Also, to the best of my knowledge, A05 is only working properly on the M11X.

Thanks,
Gabe

 

Well, I must be a extremely lucky then. It seems to work for me. Maybe it works for me because of the motherboard replacement which came with A03. Note, I did have to hard reset my pc (unplug.... hold down .... plug....). Also, I use my own AlienFX setting program since its way faster to use than the alienware program.

 

Don't you think it is working with M15x and M11x and crashing on M17x ?
(works perfectly on my M15x)

 

I have the A03 MOBO BIOS and have tried all the bells and whistles, like resetting the PC, install-reinstall CC, clean up the registry and temp files, etc. No luck.

I'm really sorry for the video quality and the macromode recording. As I said in the video, I used my mobile phone to record. I will try with a better cam today.

 

I think some people are confusing the laptop BIOS with the Command Center version?

Correct me if I am wrong, but I see some mentioning A03 and are referring to the laptop BIOS. The A05 mentioned here for the Command Center is not the main BIOS for the laptop, right? I uninstalled the CC update (A05) from earlier this week and used the one on my resource CD. The CD had A04 (Command Center). This is on my M17x-R2.

 

Yes you are right. A03 being referred to is the MOBO BIOS but the older "working" version of command center was also A03 (For M15x). That is why I always mention whether it is CC A03 or BIOS A03

 

Just to be sure, can you also try my AlienFX Lite program and see what happens?

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=458528

 

Everyone,

Important message from Dell-ChrisM over at the Dell Forum:

The link to his post is here: http://en.community.dell.com/forums/t/19323898.aspx

 

I also just found that thread by ChrisM at the community site. It looks like Command Center is also having some issues on their Aurora desktop systems too, based on the search results I got back...

 

Thanks for posting that link Denver. Hopefully our information will help them out with fixing CC. In the mean time, I still have to call Tech Support to see what the solution is to fixing my bricked FXboard.

 

I managed to get the AlienFX card recognized again by both Windows & the new Command Center software on my system.

I copied the old FWM_0512_00010009.HEX firmware file into the Command Center directory, changed the extension of the other HEX files present to NEW so they would be ignored, and ran "AlienwareAlienFXTester.exe /factory /reset" from an administrative command prompt. It showed that it was flashing to the older 1.00.09 revision, ran hardware detection, & the device drivers successfully loaded again. It prompted for a reboot to finish the process, which I did, & now the hardware is recognized & working correctly with the newer version of the Command Center software.

The HEX file name will most likely be different for other people, as I have an M15x system.

Your mileage may vary, I take no responsibility for my steps causing your laptop to run off with all your cash to Vegas, etc...

EDIT: My system was experiencing the "Unknown Device" under USB & also reporting as no hardware when running AlienwareAlienFXTester without any options. This fixed both of those problems.