X51 R2, AlienFX, not compatible with Windows update

Question

After the recent windows update I noticed the little alien head was not in my taskbar anymore. Well... this happens sometimes... the software is buggy as heck... hey sorry. So I go to start the program manually and it's a good thing I have it set to not start on the AlienFX tab, because once I clicked on that tab to have the little head come up in my taskbar, crash city. I have tried all different combinations of uninstalling and reinstalling the software, I even did a live customer support with windows. The only solution it seems is to revert the windows update, which will cause god knows how many other problems. Or wait and see if Dell will put out a hot fix.. smh Bottom line, if that little head is not in my taskbar, AlienFX is not running and it does NOT work in any games. It basically turned my computer into a pretty paperweight. If anyone else is experiencing this, please say so, so that word can get out that this is a real issue that needs to be resolved. OR if I'm just dumb and can't figure out what's going on please help me fix this issue. Thank you.

Tesla1856 · Answer

@Angsty Meier Link wrote:

X51 R2

Or wait and see if Dell will put out a hot fix.. smh

No. No fix for machine or software this old.

- What version of Windows?
- What version of AW-CC are you trying to re-install?
- What is the Update number?
- Have you verified removing it fixes the problem?

Angsty Meier Link · Answer

Windows 10

The version of AW-CC that works with the R2 model... sigh 4.0

I have no idea what an update number is

Um ya I just verified it fixes it, I just rolled back my version of windows and I got my AlienFX back.

It's not like I didn't have command center, its just when I clicked on the AlienFX section to kick the drivers into action it crashed. Like, if for some reason they crashed after playing a game and I had to restart them I just ran command center and clicked on that section and the little head popped back up in my taskbar letting me know the drivers are running again. Now when windows started back up after the rollback, the alien head was back in the taskbar all by itself like it should be. SO ... PROBLEM SOLVED.

Oh and along with messing up the AlienFX, it also wrecked my audio drivers. Whenever something messes up my AlienFX it does that too. Don't know why they are so tied together but I got my Alienware audio center back too.

Tesla1856 · Answer

@Angsty Meier Link wrote:

1. Windows 10

2. Um ya I just verified it fixes it, I just rolled back my version of windows and I got my alienfx back.

3. The version of AW-CC that works with the R2 model... sigh 4.0

1. Good

2. Good work

3. v4.0 is not a complete version number ... sigh :Indifferent:

Not sure why it shows two downloads with the same version. Try a clean install of this one.

https://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/drivers/DriversDetails?productCode=alienware-x51-r2&driverId=XRF0N

and, if that one doesn't work ....

https://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/drivers/DriversDetails?productCode=alienware-x51-r2&driverId=JD5K1

... but you might need to clean-install it in Windows-8 Compatibility mode.

Angsty Meier Link · Answer

I have done so many clean installs. I will make sure that's the version that I have. But I used the Dell thing to determine what I needed. Figured that would tell me. Is there more info that you need? Sorry I was angry.

Edit: I am running a rollback version of Windows and it's working so I think that's the solution. Don't know what else to say.

Tesla1856 · Answer

@Angsty Meier Link wrote:

but I used the dell thing to determine what I needed... figured that would tell me...

If you mean "Support-ASSist" I certainly would not depend on it.

I didn't take the time to lookup the correct version for you ... just for the fun of it. :TongueTied:

Filroden · Answer

I can confirm I have exactly the same issue on an Aurora R5 using Command Centre version 4.8.23.0 ,A00

Alienware Desktops

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