Alienware Area 51 - Command Center can't install

http://ftp.dell.com/published/Pages/alienware-area51.html

On Win7-64 (concentrate on that for now), try installing Dot Net 4.0 client Framework first. Might also just be a corrupt download.

Yes, that v2.6.17.0 should work. v2.8.9.0 is what I run on my x58-chipset based Aurora R1 (very similar motherboard). It should also work, but some users have mentioned having to go back a few version on Area-51 (due to minor problems).

Check MIO-Board from Dell Diags to make sure it's working in the first place.

http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/t/19454040.aspx

Win8 and Win8.1 is a whole different set of problems. However, Dual-Boot is smart (if nothing else, good way to check hardware against original, supported OS).

http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/t/19473432.aspx

If you mainly run Win7, you can try NOT loading CommandCenter in Win8 at all. In that case, the MIO-Board should just continue to run whatever config is loaded on it.

I do not see anything about diagnostics on the POST screen, bios settings, or boot options. How do I access it or install it?

F12 on boot.

You can also create a boot-able version:

http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/t/19530277.aspx

Gonna try a bootable cd version i found called Alienware/Dell Diagnostics Distribution Package. Really would love to get the partition version set up later. I'll let you know if it works and what it says.

Gonna try a bootable cd version i found called Alienware/Dell Diagnostics Distribution Package. Really would love to get the partition version set up later. I'll let you know if it works and what it says.

What motherboard and BIOS version are you running?

What logo appears on-screen while Bios Posts?

Got an error when booting it saying it couldn't load the kernel. That's when loading the bootable cd. Its late, so I'll figure it out tomorrow.

However, it should be on the F12 Utility Partition ... unless you clean-installed Windows and erased the Partition. I would rather have the Windows Recovery partition there ... so the Dell Diags gets run from optical as needed.

When I got the PC last week, it only had Ubuntu on it (no other partitions, not even swap), so i threw my 1TB and 500GB hard drives in it and installed Win 8 and Win 7. So it never hard recovery or diag partitions on it that I know of.

Btw, the lights sometimes don't turn at all when I boot it up.

Phoenix Awardbios and also something about NVIDIA. 

Phoenix Awardbios and also something about NVIDIA.

Here's the readout from CPU-Z's validation thing: http://valid.canardpc.com/2jicpc

Cool. What year did Dell buyout Alienware? Wouldn't mind knowing how old this computer could be. It runs really good, and definitely way better than the 2008 Macbook I traded for it, lol.

EDIT: How can I find out what model my Alienware is, since CPU-Z and SIW both say "Alienware Alienware"?