Strange Alienware m15 power button code and behavior

Bought my Alienware m15 off this forum and generally it's been a great performer. But, after a couple of weeks, the power button would flash 3 times in one color and then 7 in another. After a few seconds, system would power off and restart and boot fine. Sometimes it will power up with no power button code at all and post normally.

That code doesn't correspond to anything in the Alienware manual for this laptop. Closest would be the 2, 7 code which indicates LCD failure. I have run full diagnostics on this system and the screen tested out fine along with all the other components.

Thermals and performance seem exactly what they should be. Mystified as to what could be causing this issue. Should also note that I am running the most recent m15 bios from Alienware. No voltage or clock manipulation. Everything running stock.

Anyone else encounter this issue or am I just special?

 

Here's the latest on this in case someone else runs into this issue. Alienware support finally got back to me about this color pattern. They believe it's a motherboard issue and a possibly failing CMOS battery. That doesn't match the code in the manual, so we'll see what happens after they do the replacement. To their credit, support has been responsive. Hope this might help someone else at some point. Will post again after the on-site repair is done.

 

While it would be at your cost and time; you can get a CMOS battery on Amazon (also Prime) for like $8. This would also forgo letting one of the monkeys from Dells service center mangle your laptop.

Otherwise, keep a vey close eye on thier work as they do it. A good option is always to have the system apart and ready for the component to be put in. Then re-assemble it yourself. This may sound asinine, but these guys find a way to strip your screws and scratch your panels.

 

It's a motherboard replacement, so not just a simple battery swap. As a tech myself, I always tend to be OCD when it comes to who handles my system.