Aurora R12, won't power on

Question

Okay hi, I want to first start by saying I'm extremely new to computers and this is the first time I've ever purchased a computer for myself, nevertheless a gaming one.  So, my Aurora R12 came in a few days ago, everything was fine when I started it up, worked like a dream. I began installing some applications (i'm not sure if that's an oopsie right off the bat but :(). I left it on overnight because it was still installing some stuff as I was about to sleep.  Something to note is that right before I went to sleep the pc started blinking with a orange or 'amber' (as I've now found out) light. I know that's pretty bad news right off the bat but at the time I didn't think anything of it. I didn't count the number of blinks or anything but it was a fair few.  It turned back on fine after that though, so again I literally didn't think anything of it and went to sleep. Well, this morning I woke up and noticed my computer was off. A little weird but I thought, whatever it might just automatically shut off after a certain amount of inactivity.  When I tried to turn it back on however, the Alienware head didn't light up at all, and my monitor lit up briefly and I saw something about 'Alienware repairs' or something before it turned off. I tried all the fixes like taking the power cord out and pressing on the power button but none of it worked. I'm really certain I need a replacement or something. I can actually hear my PC running though, that's the weird thing. It's definitely not my monitor or any other cord I have plugged in either.  My father is actually a computer technician so I'm probably going to get him to look at it before I do anything else, but is there anything anyone can recommend that might be a fix to solve this issue? Does anyone know why I can hear the PC start, but the power button doesn't light up and the screen goes black? It's really stressing me out, I payed so much money and after the first day I'm already having so many problems. Feeling a bit helpless.  Sorry this was super long. ANY HELP WILL BE APPRECIATED

r72019 · Accepted Answer

If the PC is on, but you're just not getting any signal, and it was working before, it may have been a BIOS update. The BIOS update for DSC has been doing this to people connecting via displayport. If you're using a displayport cable, try connecting via HDMI instead and then seeing if you can boot.

r72019 · Answer

Another thing to do is you can try a CMOS reset (which requires removing the battery from the motherboard, not just unplugging the PC).

Nollcraft · Answer

Same issue starting today post update.  I tried swapping out the displayport to an HDMI and even swapped the video card, reset the cmos and replaced the cmos battery.  The unit won't post after the update.

Nollcraft · Answer

Removing the battery is really not the best way to accomplish this.  It is very likely they end user will damage the socket rending the motherboard useless.  Much better and risk free to use the CMOS jumper to reset.  Am I missing something?

r72019 · Answer

@Nollcraft wrote:

Removing the battery is really not the best way to accomplish this. It is very likely they end user will damage the socket rending the motherboard useless. Much better and risk free to use the CMOS jumper to reset. Am I missing something?

CMOS battery is above the GPU, so it can be easily popped out without removing any internal components.

Jumper cables are way in the back under the GPU so you may have to remove it to reset the jumpers, which a lot of users might not feel comfortable doing.

I suppose it's possible to break the plastic on the CMOS battery holder, just like it's possible to bend a PIN on the CMOS reset jumper. Personally, I've never experienced that happening. It's a battery. It's designed to be replaced.

Either method will work. Do what you feel comfortable with.

karthik999 · Answer

I have exactly the same issue now. I have multiple Alienware PCs (R10, R11 & R12s) it happened to one of my R12 2 days ago. After a shutdown it did not come back up. I tried every possible thing following the online help, nothing worked, tech support scheduled Mother Board replacement which is backordered for an estimated 70 days. And worst part yesterday it happened to my other R12, after shutdown it did not come back up. This time it confirmed me that it has something to do with the bios update which showed up on both the machines. I spoke to tech support and they did the same mother board replacement request. Its frustrating that I now have 2 PCs down and I am afraid it would happen to my other R12 as well.

Very unhappy

Vandalis7 · Answer

Do you have a 4k60 pro in any of them? Thats what my problem was when they came swap out the mother boards

Vandalis7 · Answer

Do you have a 4k60 pro installed in any of these pcs? Thats what my problem was when they came to swap out my mother board

Vanadiel · Answer

What is a 4K60 pro?

Lemon0960 · Answer

Just happened to my R12. Won't power on at all. Push the button on yhe back and the led flashes and goes off and won't turn on again. Can't get any power from the machine at all... And it's only 2 WEEKS OLD!!!!!

yyfeng · Answer

Hi,  how did you solve the issue at the end? Are your PCs working properly now? I am having the same issue right now and have no idea how to solve it.

Blah_NZ · Answer

Having same issue, is there a resolution for this?

Alienware Desktops

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