In Documents there is a Folder that contains your Alienware CC preferences. Locate it, rename it or delete it, then uninstall ACC, clean out registry, and then reinstall and build new settings.
If you determine board is damaged, just take a photo of card and cord placement to reference a new card install. Very simple.
Back up drive before trying for easy restore. I'm talking about cloning the drive.
Having tried my best to troubleshoot 'fussy MIO boards' in the past, as new requests happen like yours, I tend to pass the old links on & ask the owner to browse them over best they can as opposed to typing up a whole new post w/pics & what-ifs etc
There isn't one single be-all end-all post; the 3 troubleshooting links above include some pics & many tips that basically explain what's below, but in better detail & it's the best I can do. Inside the 4 corners of my post here should be the necessary steps (& archived links to steps) to either fix yours or lead u to a decision to swap-in a spare & see if that helps instead (it might). Below is basic, links are more specific
MIO board needs 10pin power from PSU, Orange (power on) LED (next to 10pin) must be lit, & the double-ended USB cable (labeled USB_3 / MB_1) must be plugged into MIO (black longer MB_USB1 header on left, not shorter black FlexBay header to its right) & into a mthrbrd USB2.0 header (preferably left-most USB3 header)(later u can test MIO using the other mthrbrd USB2 & USB1 headers)
If above is true, DL/Burn/Boot Into/Run 32bit DIAG program, do MIO tests for pass-fail as suggested prior
If fail, (C: > Program Files > Alienware > Cmnd Cntr > AlienwareAlienFXTester, right click & open it), when opened, AlienFX Tester is a box with a top section called Board Information. A working MIO (10pin power on, connected by USB cable & exchanges data w/mthrbrd = online etc) will display the firmware version. A non-working off-line MIO will say Board Not Detected (an off-line MIO will also throw an issue in 32Bit DIAG & also CmndCntr)(similar to 'no instance of an object' = offline MIO)
If so, open Device Manager. As a USB device, MIO will be listed in the HID section (MIO Filter Driver must be listed) & in USB section. What I do here, is with desktop powered on, enter Device Manager, reveal/expand HID/USB sections; now carefully, reach in & disconnect USB_3 connector from its header (Device Manager should react & remove MIO as a listed USB item); now carefully reconnect USB_3 to its header (Device Manager should react & display MIO in HID/USB sections)
No good? Mthrbrd has x3 USB2.0 headers at bottom sill (USB3 USB2 USB1); USB2 & USB1 headers route to or power your x3 top external USB ports (ports are there by power on button, audio mic fire-wire etc); obviously those can be tested w/ a USB thumbdrive, keyboard mouse etc, & if u know they work?, unplug their connector cables from mthrbrd USB headers & test MIO with those headers since u know they work (it may be the case the USB3 header's bad, who knows). So disconnect the other two connectors from their USB2.0 headers; now reconnect USB_3 to one of them. With desktop powered on, you can reach in & test all three headers to see if Device Manager will react & display MIO as a working device or not. So long as your USB drivers are installed, if Device Manager does not react when you connect MIO USB_3 to any of the x3 USB2.0 mthrbrd headers, then yes there's an issue (U could of course insert a thumbdrive & see if Device Mnager reacts, it should & if so it means the header is ok)
Generally, if Device Manager will not react when u plug USB_3 into any of the x3 USB headers?, the 30second power drain & also the factory jumper pin reset procedures you found in that troubleshooting guide should fix that. In fact, you can & maybe should try the jumper reset 3 or 4 times along w/ uninstall-reinstall CmndCntr
If all that fails?, were it me I'd go ahead & buy another MIO & put it in since they're inexpensive these days. I've said for years that all owners need to buy & have a spare test MIO onhand anyways, just in case
Also were it me, in the time you're waiting for spare MIO to get there, I'd take a spare HDD - disconnect MIO USB3 mthrbrd connector (an MIO connected to mthrbrd by USB cable -'online'- during clean W7 install has been known to 'soft-brick' it, so we disconnect its USB from header during 7/10 install to bypass that soft-brick' issue) - & install Win7 SP1 clean. Post-install (install chipset & usb drivers 1st I suppose), power down if u like or stay powered up, but reconnect USB_3, & install CmndCntr 2.8.9, restart & see if MIO works or not. It just might. If it does then a good chance it's a software issue w/W10, not a hardware fault w/MIO
If no joy, feel free to go back over troubleshooting steps, power drain / jumper resets etc. While MIOs may get fussy w/ W10, no excuse not to work w/ W7 using my help-posts unless it's just fried or malfunctioned (they're almost 10years old by now, it's a wonder the capacitors etc still work) & needs swapped out
Put some time in & report back so we know how it panned out
FWIW, 3weeks ago Tai did swaps w/ Asus Strix Z390F 9700k 2080Ti EVGA 1300w
Imagine same possibilities will exist in a few years w/ newer CPU/MthrBrd/GPU etc
My AIO cooler swap go-to choice here is Asetek 570LX 240x38mm ... 670LT also possible, so are 240x27mm 670LS / H100i types etc, also seen 120x49mm H80i V2 work in 51R1. At some point, upgrade the ~10yo ageing stock 120x27mm alien-rad-cooler (which had a 5year life expectancy ... owners that got 8/9/10 years of service out of original cooler did well, same goes for original PSU/MthrBrd that still works after a ~decade)
Below, Jason did Ryzen 3700x 1080 + Seasonic PSU back in July
(check back if Tai & Jason's swap pics didn't publish yet, they will soon)
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
•
17.4K Posts
1
December 19th, 2019 16:00
No, Alien-FX Tester is pretty useless (since it runs inside Windows).
You are in luck. On the Area51-R1, you can run (self booting) Alienware 32-bit Diagnostics.
https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-General-Read-Only/Command-Center-2-7-25-0-Will-not-display-Temp-Readings/m-p/5532171/highlight/true#M34125
And inside Windows, Alienware Command Center must be v 2.8.11.0 .
AAA737flyer
2 Intern
•
757 Posts
1
December 21st, 2019 00:00
Have you tried?
In Documents there is a Folder that contains your Alienware CC preferences. Locate it, rename it or delete it, then uninstall ACC, clean out registry, and then reinstall and build new settings.
If you determine board is damaged, just take a photo of card and cord placement to reference a new card install. Very simple.
Back up drive before trying for easy restore. I'm talking about cloning the drive.
Cass-Ole
6 Professor
•
1.9K Posts
1
December 28th, 2019 16:00
Any luck w/ 32Bit DIAG?
Though 2.8.9 can be used w/ W10, also see 2.8.11
Having tried my best to troubleshoot 'fussy MIO boards' in the past, as new requests happen like yours, I tend to pass the old links on & ask the owner to browse them over best they can as opposed to typing up a whole new post w/pics & what-ifs etc
Area 51 alx command center issues
MIO Board Died
How to properly change bricked MIO board (Aurora R4)
And this link, scroll down to my section Remove Replace Master Input Output Board if u intend to do a board swap (bookmark the post in the event u wish to keep your 51 case & mthrbrd swap to new hardware in 2years, it might help) | The ALX-Files: Area 51 R1 Motherboard Swap Asus 4770k USB3.0 + Command Center 2.08.11 = Proud new Poppa
There isn't one single be-all end-all post; the 3 troubleshooting links above include some pics & many tips that basically explain what's below, but in better detail & it's the best I can do. Inside the 4 corners of my post here should be the necessary steps (& archived links to steps) to either fix yours or lead u to a decision to swap-in a spare & see if that helps instead (it might). Below is basic, links are more specific
MIO board needs 10pin power from PSU, Orange (power on) LED (next to 10pin) must be lit, & the double-ended USB cable (labeled USB_3 / MB_1) must be plugged into MIO (black longer MB_USB1 header on left, not shorter black FlexBay header to its right) & into a mthrbrd USB2.0 header (preferably left-most USB3 header)(later u can test MIO using the other mthrbrd USB2 & USB1 headers)
If above is true, DL/Burn/Boot Into/Run 32bit DIAG program, do MIO tests for pass-fail as suggested prior
If fail, (C: > Program Files > Alienware > Cmnd Cntr > AlienwareAlienFXTester, right click & open it), when opened, AlienFX Tester is a box with a top section called Board Information. A working MIO (10pin power on, connected by USB cable & exchanges data w/mthrbrd = online etc) will display the firmware version. A non-working off-line MIO will say Board Not Detected (an off-line MIO will also throw an issue in 32Bit DIAG & also CmndCntr)(similar to 'no instance of an object' = offline MIO)
If so, open Device Manager. As a USB device, MIO will be listed in the HID section (MIO Filter Driver must be listed) & in USB section. What I do here, is with desktop powered on, enter Device Manager, reveal/expand HID/USB sections; now carefully, reach in & disconnect USB_3 connector from its header (Device Manager should react & remove MIO as a listed USB item); now carefully reconnect USB_3 to its header (Device Manager should react & display MIO in HID/USB sections)
No good? Mthrbrd has x3 USB2.0 headers at bottom sill (USB3 USB2 USB1); USB2 & USB1 headers route to or power your x3 top external USB ports (ports are there by power on button, audio mic fire-wire etc); obviously those can be tested w/ a USB thumbdrive, keyboard mouse etc, & if u know they work?, unplug their connector cables from mthrbrd USB headers & test MIO with those headers since u know they work (it may be the case the USB3 header's bad, who knows). So disconnect the other two connectors from their USB2.0 headers; now reconnect USB_3 to one of them. With desktop powered on, you can reach in & test all three headers to see if Device Manager will react & display MIO as a working device or not. So long as your USB drivers are installed, if Device Manager does not react when you connect MIO USB_3 to any of the x3 USB2.0 mthrbrd headers, then yes there's an issue (U could of course insert a thumbdrive & see if Device Mnager reacts, it should & if so it means the header is ok)
Generally, if Device Manager will not react when u plug USB_3 into any of the x3 USB headers?, the 30second power drain & also the factory jumper pin reset procedures you found in that troubleshooting guide should fix that. In fact, you can & maybe should try the jumper reset 3 or 4 times along w/ uninstall-reinstall CmndCntr
If all that fails?, were it me I'd go ahead & buy another MIO & put it in since they're inexpensive these days. I've said for years that all owners need to buy & have a spare test MIO onhand anyways, just in case
Also were it me, in the time you're waiting for spare MIO to get there, I'd take a spare HDD - disconnect MIO USB3 mthrbrd connector (an MIO connected to mthrbrd by USB cable -'online'- during clean W7 install has been known to 'soft-brick' it, so we disconnect its USB from header during 7/10 install to bypass that soft-brick' issue) - & install Win7 SP1 clean. Post-install (install chipset & usb drivers 1st I suppose), power down if u like or stay powered up, but reconnect USB_3, & install CmndCntr 2.8.9, restart & see if MIO works or not. It just might. If it does then a good chance it's a software issue w/W10, not a hardware fault w/MIO
If no joy, feel free to go back over troubleshooting steps, power drain / jumper resets etc. While MIOs may get fussy w/ W10, no excuse not to work w/ W7 using my help-posts unless it's just fried or malfunctioned (they're almost 10years old by now, it's a wonder the capacitors etc still work) & needs swapped out
Put some time in & report back so we know how it panned out
Cass-Ole
6 Professor
•
1.9K Posts
0
December 28th, 2019 17:00
FWIW, 3weeks ago Tai did swaps w/ Asus Strix Z390F 9700k 2080Ti EVGA 1300w
Imagine same possibilities will exist in a few years w/ newer CPU/MthrBrd/GPU etc
My AIO cooler swap go-to choice here is Asetek 570LX 240x38mm ... 670LT also possible, so are 240x27mm 670LS / H100i types etc, also seen 120x49mm H80i V2 work in 51R1. At some point, upgrade the ~10yo ageing stock 120x27mm alien-rad-cooler (which had a 5year life expectancy ... owners that got 8/9/10 years of service out of original cooler did well, same goes for original PSU/MthrBrd that still works after a ~decade)
Below, Jason did Ryzen 3700x 1080 + Seasonic PSU back in July
(check back if Tai & Jason's swap pics didn't publish yet, they will soon)