AlienFX Problems/Questions Thread

Dear all,

PC:
Alienware M14XR2

Problem:
I reinstalled my OS. Have everything up and running besides the software that was preinstalled in the OS that came with the pc. I'm talking about the Alien FX software. The problem is that before I reinstalled my pc I chose hidious rainbow styled keyboard colors, absolutely horrible. But now I can not shut them off or change the colors. This means I can hardly show the pc in public as it looks the alienware is on LSD.

I have tried the software from the Alienware DELL website. I could install it but could not change any colors or actually do anything with it.

Could any of you help?

Thanks so much,
Psilo

 

Try this:

If that doesn't work read through this thread and see if u can find a solution

 

Hi, follow Laz´s advice. If that doesn´t work, try these troubleshooting steps.

AlienFX issues on Alienware Mobiles

 

I am having the same problem. I'm pretty sure this ain't a hardware problem as I did reseat my kb. Help

 

Ok so i reinstalled Windows 7 and everything turned out good lights worked but then i clicked something on the keyboard and now the lights wont turn on and i already tried to fn+f11 and still no luck and i tried going in task bar and enabing and still no and it said like device not found can you guys help i attached a photo

 

Is your command center working correctly? Try launching it and see if it launches and does it's thing like it was doing before. I had a somewhat similar issue with my previous alienware; had called the tech support, and they made me install a new version of command center after uninstalling the one I had... Things worked flawlessly after that.

 

i reinstalled my windows 7 and only get unknown device under usb and when i shut down or start up i get a net framework error but i installed latest command center but when i open it opens up as normal but it doesnt show any zones or anything just blank

 

You need .net framework 3.5 for alienware command centre, I don't think its installed on a clean install. Need to uninstall command center and install .net framework (should be under optional updates in windows update). then reinstall command centre.

 

You can also download Microsoft .NET Framework 4

After you install it, if the lights still won't work try a power drain (remove the battery and AC adapter, press and hold the power button for 30-45 seconds then reconnect the battery and AC adapter and turn on).

 

i updated everything i installed net framework and get the netframework error and i cleaned registry ,power drained,unplug mother board battery for a few min ,still not working

 

Ok,

How do I set up AlienFX to use the New Email option for new email that come into outlook?

Tried searching but no luck.

 

Does nobody have this setup or have it working?

 

I had tried with it. I could get the keyboard to change colour once I received a new email, but it would never change back to my default colour scheme after I checked it.
No luck for me

 

What did you do to get it work like that at least?

I'm awaiting a call back from Alienware software support. Lets see if they even call back.

One tech guy said I should Google it and look it up on youtube as many people have videos about how to set it up. LOL I started to laugh as he said he was looking at them right now. I went and looked with him and made him look like an idiot. All the videos were from people just showing off their look they had. Not anything related to "New Mail"

The Alienware software department is going to install it on a machine and see if they can get it to work.

?? Really. That is sad when the "EXPERTS" don't even know.

Sure would have been nice to get a manual for the software,

 

It was so long I can't remember exactly. Basically it's add an event in the Alienfx for outlook and new mail. I'm not at home now so I can't be much more precise buddy.

 

We already have a thread for AlienFX questions. I'll move this to the correct spot.

A quick reminder on three important things:

1. Please stop and look for a thread before creating a new one. Use Google. Here's how: Using Google to Find NBR Threads
2. Please use the edit button instead of adding two consecutive posts in the same thread. If nobody has posted yet, click edit.
3. Please review and abide by forum rules. Here's a link: Notebook Review Forum Rules

You have to create a profile for a "New Email" event action in Advanced Mode, and then enable AlienFX events using the System Tray icon. See screen shot. You have to click on the line under System Events for "New Email". When you have selected it, the text becomes blue.



And, here's a how-to video from Alienware. You can find it in this thread, along with other videos. http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware/672381-alienware-team-media-thread.html

If you haven't already seen it, this thread also has some useful information: http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware/679548-alienware-engineering-troubleshooting-guides.html

 

Thanks for the info, I did do a site search, but maybe i was doing it wrong I was only looking in M18x for Alienfx and outlook. Did not even think to try looking at the other models. And sorry about the post and reply issue. (A few sites yell at me for editing my post instead of replying) I will make sure that I edit in the future.

Onto the FX issue at hand.

Here is what I have:
Windows 7
Outlook 07
and I have the edited the "New Email" system event and have enabled FX events. but still nothing. I have it set for everything to blink red when an email comes in. But no luck. Is there something I am missing? My Logitech keyboard beeps at me when a email comes in, but i need something visual as I listen to music when working and miss the beep alot. Also tried turning off fx events wait a min and then turn back on.

 

I have found it to be buggy and stopped trying to use it for email notification. It may be an issue with the plug-in for Outlook. Some games affect AlienFX and there could be a conflict from that. Windows Media Play also has a plug-in, which might be causing a conflict of some sort.

Obvious, Outlook has to be running for it to work, and AlienFx was forcing Outlook to be running it in the background all the time, even when I did not want it to. When I had set it set it to loop, upon receiving the first new email the flashing began never stopped. With the option to loop cleared, it would flash and then stop, but with no lighting (all AlienFX turned off). I had to select "Go Dark" follow by "Go Light" using the tray utility to get the lighting turned back on again every time.

I did not spend a lot of time trying to figure it out, so I did not discover what might have been going wrong or what it would take to fix the problem. There is also the possibility it was a matter of user error on my part.

Have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling Alienware Command Center? If there is a plug-in conflict, that might correct it.

http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/t/19337366.aspx

http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/t/19420480.aspx

 

Thanks your everyone's help. I guess I will just put in on the back burner for now and move on with my life like everyone else, as re install did not fix it.

 

Well try disabling the FX for Outlook. It's very unfortunate that you are having that issue. Have you tried respawning?

 

Hi guys, my m18x just got back from the depot and I noticed the AlienFX resets to a default colour every time I shut down the machine. I tried reinstalling AlienFX but it is still happening. I checked the software and it is showing the colours I set before shutting down but the colour output is still default. Any ideas on what's going on with it?

 

I had a similar issue, but it was due to winamp. it screwed my stuff up. When i would restart it would show random changing colors like it would with a song playing in winamp. The way I fixed it was uninstall Command Center. Shut down. Remove AC plug, removed battery, then hold power for 1 min (Yes 1 min) this will drain all power from the board. (Yes this is safe to do. Dell will even have you do this when there are possible hardware issues.) Then put the battery back in, plug the ac back in and turn it on, re install Command center and set my theme back. and that fixed it. Now it load and shuts down with my theme.

 

Hi, I just tried it twice but it is still the same result. it still resetting it to the default colour. Also the power button colour stays default even after I changed it.

 

I would suggest a clean Windows installation.

 

Are you saving your theme after you have set the colours as a new theme?

 

Greetings guys,
just thought id run this to see what you guys think. This just happened yesterday when I loaded up battlefield 3 for the first time in months. Whenever I load up a game all the lights start changing colours for some reason. The game itself works and dosnt crash unless my internet connection causes it to.

 

The game uses a custom AlienFX profile, so the backlighting is white and flashes red when you're close to death. You can disable this in the Command Center.

 

You can disable 3rd party FX on the taskbar. Here is a list of the games that are compatible with that.

 

Hello Community,

i have sum Prolems with my Alienware M17x R1 Laptop. When i start the Laptop and when i shut it down, there are some problem reports.

As you can see in the givin pictures , the Microsoft Net.Framework and the Alien FX are the main part of the alarm messege.

So can anybody help me ?

Best wishes from Germany

Tim Paulsen


P.S. I don´t know the Forum here, so when my thread is wrong here please brief me .

 

i'm having this problem too. i tried to uninstall both command center and .net framework and running all sorts of cleaners like ccleaner and a microsoft sweeper to delete all traces of .net framework. when i try to install both, i still get the errors. i tried using the command center on the disk that came with the laptop as well as the one from dell's website. still no luck. my guess is that the controller on the motherboard on mine is already dead. sorry if im stealing the thread.

 

So you have 100% the same Problem, and i did the same things you did.

My question is only if anybody has some ideas. With my Computer skills i can´t open the Laptop to Controll the Hardware. are there any Programs to check this ?!

 

Uninstalling the Command Center may be a bit tricky, to completely remove it you'll need to delete some reg entries and folders.

How to uninstall and reinstall the Alienware Command Center?

 

This Window is new. I had followed all these steps on the link, but it´s noch better yet....

 

yep same thing.

 

Are you running windows 8 by any chance? Cant tell from some images, but some show windows 8 style theme but not 100% sure.

You need to manually install .net framework 3.5 and 4. for alienfx to work from what i understand, they are not installed by default under windows 8.

 

I use Windows 7 Home Premium. And from the Alienware-Support i got no answer ...

 

im using win7 ultimate

 

Thank you. That is very important information, Brother Pardo. I am adding it to the first post.

 

On other Dell laptops, like the XPS line, the keyboard lights will fade on when you start typing on it and they fade out to off a few seconds after you stop using it.

How do we enable this on our Alienware machines?

 

I don't think there is any setting for same effect, unless there is some third party software to do so.

 

True. I'm just typing on my "baby pc" (signature) and I have the option of selecting always lit, or timed or off completely. Timed, the KB goes off after a bit...but comes back on with a keystroke. There is no Dell way of doing this, it might require some kind of plug-in to do it, if it's possible at all. I'd like Dell to include this in the next revision of AlienFX - it's a great attribute to have at your fingertips - literally.

 

I don't think there is any tweak or setting that you can do on the actual Command Center to make that happen. You can try sharing your thoughts on ideastorm

 

I have a question: A few years ago the old Alienware laptops that had the colored Alienware head on the outside had the ability to act like an indicator. For example, I recall a video that showed when an email came in the outside head would pulse or be a different color...or if it were fully charged, if you closed the lid the outside/head lid would remain on. Since they brought back the RGB head will they have this feature... do you have to open the system up to check certain alerts...or do you have to download a program/plug in for it? Thanks.

 

Hello everyone,
I got a M18x R2 last Christmas, and I think that the 3rd party access is somehow blocked, cause I have tried using windows media player, and APB:Reloaded,( both of which officially support alienfx ) and none of them seem to use Alienfx lighting.
I have checked the "Allow 3rd party apps to use alienfx" feature, and have also enabled it in both the apps ( The visualisation in WMP, and via settings in APB ). Am I missing something here? I do have the latest Control panel software from the drivers section in dell's site, and I have restored windows to factory state without success.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

So,

Bought a used Alienware M18x R1. It is on A05 and the previous owner re-installed Windows and drivers from the Alienware discs. Now, no backlight on the keyboard/keypad. I've done some searching and tried re-installing the latest control console, uninstalling the control console and reflashing the BIOS. No luck so far. The closest I came with searching was someone that said to get it working again would require "heroic efforts" but I can't find the link again. Can anyone point me to a procedure (or tell me one) to

A) Rule out hardware failure
B) Get the backlight working again

Thanks,

Homer

 

There was nothing wrong with the M18x R1 drivers on disc. I have used them more than once with the M18x R1 and R2. The problems with AlienFX caused by drivers provided on CD/DVD was on an older model and it was a fluke mistake. Something else must have caused it. Sounds like you have done the right things. You'll probably need one of these... Alienware M18x USB / HDMI Ports IO Circuit Board - Dell Part # TPK3N. I remember reading where someone reprogrammed the firmware on the I/O board, but if you can pick up another one for $30 somewhere it's probably not worth the hassle.

Check the ribbon cable and socket where the I/O board and mainboard come together and confirm the connections are secure. Also, if you haven't already tried it, try a CMOS reset.

Clear CMOS:

• Remove system battery
• Disconnect AC adapter
• Remove bottom cover
• Hold down power button for 30 seconds
• Ground yourself to the motherboard by touching a screw on the chassis
• Disconnect wire from coin cell battery
• Touch screwdriver tip lightly against pins the wire connects to for 1 or 2 seconds
• Reconnect coin cell battery wire
• Connect AC adapter and power up
• Press F2 to enter BIOS
• Set date/time and any of your customized settings
• Press F10 to save and exit
• Load Windows
• Install system battery

Edit: if all of the AlienFX lighting zones work except for the keyboard, you can probably scratch the above. Most likely it is either the ribbon cable for the keyboard lighting is broken or disconnected, or you need another keyboard. You can buy a keyboard from Alienware or the same place as the I/O board... Alienware M17xR3 / M18x Backlit Laptop Keyboard Assembly - Dell Part # 9M46F.

Do you have any trouble loading Alienware Command Center and changing the lighting zones in the software? No error messages? Try browsing to C:\Program Files\Alienware\Command Center and launching the "AlienwareAlienFXTester.exe" and see how that works.

 

Try reinstalling it. Here is how you do that.

 

Have you tried using the AlienFxTester.exe located on the command center installation folder?

 

I loaded up the tester. I can change the color of all of the LEDs with the exception of the keyboard/keypad. I'll try the ribbon cable next...

Homer

 

Good news, bad news.

Good? It is definitely not software related.

Bad? The orange cable leading to the area under the FN key is cracked about 1/2" from the end which plugs into the motherboard.

So, is it possible to just replace the cable or do I need a new keyboard?

Homer