M17x, right sepaker color stuck.

Hey ya guys. Loving my M17x, but if you have seen my other thread back at the end of December I had to have the motherboard replaced when it was new out of the box but it's all working now.......except one of the lights.

The light on the front right speaker's color, is stuck and I can't change it or will it turn off if I go into darkmode.

I figured there might be a problem after the tech guy replaced it, and I had to have him come back the next day to find out why it wasn't on when we booted it up. Turns out he forgot to plug it back in, but after he tore it apart and pluged it in, it's working just fine, other than it wont turn off in darkmode or in the control panel change it.

Anyone have had this problem or know a fix?

 

What happens if you change colors? Does that side keep a certain color on? Such as if it is a red LED on, and your change everything to blue, does the speaker show up as purple? Your best bet might be to call Dell back. Who knows maybe they will just replace the unit.

 

It stays on the same color. And I would rather not have to deal with dell ever again.

Example, it took me three weeks and over 40hours on the phone in my free time to get them to come out to replace the mother board to began with.

Curious, would something like a system restore help? or wouldn't matter?

 

Realized after reading my post, sorry a little sleepy.

What I mean is, the led's don't change at all. In my peticualr situation, It's on light blue-ish color, and when I try to go to red, it will stay the same light-blue-ish color and will not turn off if I try 'darkmode' all the other lights go out, expect the speaker in question. ;p I dose go out when it's off/sleep mode with all the other lights, but that dose not help me much when the computer is off ;p

 

If you can then I would definately try a Respawn or at least a system restore.

 

To me it seems as though the technician guy might have connected it back in the wrong place maybe? Since it seems as though its powered but beyond any form of software control. Then again if you're lucky it might just be a software issue which overlooks that set of LEDs and a matter of a clean install? I guess thats your final option before demanding a replacement/repair. Good luck to you friend

 

I did a system recovery (after spending a few hours backing up stuff) and it didn't fix the light. Next idea?

 

after the system recovery, it seems like a few colors are now stuck on the speaker area. UGH, how do i unhook the damm thing?

 

BUMP, any other ideas or suggestions, outside of taking it apart and just unhooking them?

 

Could try downloading the latest version of the Command Center and hopefully it will flash the firmware on the AlienFX card and fix it for you.

 

Not a bad Idea, I'll give that a try and report back.

 

Whats the PC equivalent of Resetting the SMC on a Mac? you could try unplugging everything out of the m17x ( Power cable, battery.. everything ) and hold in the power button for like 10 seconds.

 

^^^agreed, try this before doing a clean install.

 

Lol so I assume there is no difference lol..

 

yeah it the same thing, it should always be the first thing to try when your system is feeling a little buggy.

 

Just tried doing that, the uplug power and battery and then hold down the power for 10secs and then plug it all back in then on, no difference.

 

it could just be that the tech reseated the cable wrong, time to call tech support. try this number (305) 251-9797 almost never get put on hold with this number.

 

Also just tried uninstalling the command center then reinstalling it, came up with updating the frimware, but has not fixed the problem.

 

Meh, I'm really hesitant of getting a hold of tech again, after being treated like an idiot and what not. If you didn't see one of my other posts, I got my brand new laptop and they had to replace the motherboard right out of the box day one, but It took 3weeks and over 40 hours of on the phone to get a tech guy out here, even though I have the super extended warranty. Then to have this problem because he didn't, what ever, to the cables.

Just would like to leave them alone for now, as I'm already trying to get some kind of compensation for such service to begin with from dell.

 

hey you paid for warranty, use it. you should of asked for a replacement on your first issues. just gave it a second chance, it could be a part issue that you can't sovle with software and drivers. but i'm sure if they have the part it will be next day on site tech. i agreed with you tech support sucks, but most of the time they come through. good luck

 

I did ask for one, and after the first 8ish hours over two days with mangers and superiors and what not, they told me, in not so few words, "Too bad, deal with it"

Hence why I'm trying to deal with HR and what not to get something worked out.

I'll try to give them a call again, need to call HR again anyway for my daily call and add something else to the list of BS they are trying to put me through, like I got my gift card in the mail a couple days ago, finally, but it was already expired.

 

wow sorry to hear about all these issues, the truth is you should of nevered accepted that, i had issues on my M15x the first week and tech support told me the same thing, so i called customer care and in 5 mins got a replacement unit on order. cause i told them either replace it or i'll return it. so how long have you had your laptop? call tech support, get the case logged and if you don't like how they are treating you send it back and send a letter to the bbb, that will get them off their butts.

 

Yeah, I should of just went with a different company, and just forsook alienware now that dell is behind it.

And the problem is, I keep getting passed onto the next higher level. It was tech, then it was customer care and relations, now I'm at the top level of HR (yes dell has both departments, it's stupid)

 

Wow I'm surprised that HR isn't helping you. I know here at Apple Care HR can do many many things.. Like extend an Apple Care.. lol

 

yeah it really stupid what we have to go through, just to get your laptop to run properly. good luck and don't take the crap they tell you. if i were you i would write a letter to the bbb.

 

Oh forgot to answer your question. I first got the laptop on Dec. 20, 2009. First tech, kinda came out on the 29th, but didn't make it all the way to my house, because he 'forgot' the motherboard, so it didn't even get serviced until Jan. 2nd 2010. And after that since the 3rd of Jan, I've been on the phone almost every day trying to get this resolved. Apparently I'm like the 1 in a million, to have all these problems.

 

Keep at it with HR and if they will not fix it then contact the BBB and your state's attorney general's office. That's what my brother had to do with an old Dell laptop of his that had 3 motherboards go out and they refused to replace the system under his complete care warranty. After the AG got involved they promptly sent him a return box and gave him a full refund of the original purchase price.

 

Perhaps it possible that the light it self is busted and its not a software issue. Do the lights work in SafeBoot?

 

Sorry, "SafeBoot"? do you mean safe mode?

And the lights work just fine except the front right one, it's stuck with some colors

EDIT: Meaning, some of the led's are always on, even in 'Darkmode'

 

Well this issue seems system wide to me. If you tested in a new user and the issue still occurs then System wide unfortunately. At that point your pretty much looking at a complete reinstall.

If that doesn't work then its possible that its a hardware issue. I'm so surprised that Dell is not helping you.