AlienFX won't turn on

Problem solved for no reason (just like how it started) after I restarted the computer 20 times, uninstalling/reinstalling AWCC, and messing with all the settings.
Thank you Hybrys and woodzstack for helping out!


=== original post ===

Sorry for posting all the random problems first of all.

Today after waking up my AW 18 from sleep, the lights were working for a while, then somehow they just all turned off (including the power, indicators for hard drive-wifi-cap lock, and touchpad). I tried to change settings in AlienFX but nothing happens. Tried to restart the computer (by turning it off first before push the power button again), all the light would turn on for a few seconds during start up, except for the power and indicators, and go off again. If I simply restart the laptop without turning it off first, nothing would be on at all even during startup.

I also went into BIOS and change the touchpad from auto to on, but it still turns off a few seconds after start up. So basically there is no light of any kind on right now.

Does anyone else experience the same problem or have a solution?

Thanks in advance!

 

try going to sleep and resuming again. However, from what I've seen with issues of power saving features, they cause issues, always. would turn off all power saving issues on AW's. these are not macbooks..

one of the laptops I had, once caught fire from coming out of sleep state. So, yeah...

Try opening ALFX and clicking > go dark, and then turning the lights on again. you know the thing on the bar at the bottom, that shows you your alienfx settings../colors/etc

 

I highly doubt it was a power saving feature, as it would've come back after the full restart.

A better first step is to restart once again, then run the AlienFXTester.exe from the folder you have Command Center installed to.

If it comes up with any red flags, I'd call support, since it's most likely to be a loose cable. You could also try to reseat the cables yourself.

 

Thanks for replying, woodzstake. I tried to make it go sleep again and wake up and nothing happened. This incident happened after I let it sleep for over 12 hours. And since I use an SSD, it doesn't go to hibernate mode no matter how long it sleeps, maybe that has something to do with it?

What are the power saving features on the AW that I can turn off?
I hope mine won't catch on fire...

I was in AlienFX settings, but I can't find the go dark option, do they still have that option for the AWCC that comes with new AW machines?

 

I used the AlienwareAlienFXTester as you suggested, for every light set, it kept saying successful while no light is on.
When I turn the machine completely off for a few minute and turn it back on by hitting the power button, the lights would go on in the normal sequence (logo --> keyboard --> tron strips and lid cover). And the colors are actually the ones I set while no lights are on. The only exceptions are themouse pad, power, and indicators. But then after a few seconds all the lights get turned off. It makes me feel like it's a software problem somehow.

EDIT: And when I'm turning the system off, the indicators would flash for a fraction of a second just before complete shut down...

 

call tech support should be something like 1866 or 1800 - Alienware or something
they might just guide you through it much quicker, and at least write up the report on it, incase it gets worse, and something else is amiss..

can't hurt right ?

the go dark option is what I get when I right click the alienhead logo on the task bar/notification area..

theres option like :
AFX editor
go dark
quick change
-------------
keep status zones on during go dark
dim lighting zones
dim lighting zones on battery only
enable 3rd party afx access
--------------------
exit


see if plating with those make a diff..

 

Just to be sure that you guys don't think I'm a n00b, the problem itself is not because of me accidentally clicking on go dark (nor was the go dark option active when it was all dark). For some reason it just happened. I think it's a software miscommunication while waking up after a long sleep. And initially, activating go dark option and deactivating it didn't work, I had to restart the computer one more time and then it just worked somehow.

 

ah that's good that it was resolved.

 

I had a similar problem with AlienFX being bugged out (some lights on, others off).
All I had to do was turn the notebook off and on.
That wasn't as easy as it sound, though.
Rebooting won't do it, AND NEITHER WILL SHUTDOWN, at least not in the Windows 8 default setting.
If you look under "power options" (rightclick the battery icon in the system tray) and "Choose what the power buttons do", you will find the option "Turn on fast startup".
That means that your computer doesn't actually shut down, it just kind of hibernates.
When I unchecked it, and shut the computer down, the problem disappeared.

 

Good info, Advo. Thanks for posting it. Completely powering off solves a lot of malfunction problems.

I think that only happens with Secure Poot/Fast Poot enabled when Windows 8 is installed. If you disable that in the BIOS before installing Windows 8, you won't need to bother with it. As you can see, that doesn't show up as an option on my system with all of that nonsense disabled in the BIOS.

 

This is the only issue I've had with my M18 so far. When I use one of the Alienware FX Advanced profiles (Specifically Alienware Colorwheel), sometimes, the lights would get "Stuck" and not change or turn off or anything. If I reboot using "restart", it still stays the same. I would have to completely "shutdown" and reboot for it to go away. I have it back at a basic profile now (Default Alienware blue one) and it hasn't happened yet...