Alienware Area-51 Desktop fans running all the time

Question

Hi all.

I have an older Alienware Area-51 Desktop that I bought in 2010, and have to say, its served me great over the years.

I did have an issue in 2011 with the MIO board bricking after a Command Centre update, but a very helpful Support Specialist sent me a new board along with a pdf for me to change it over, and its been working great every since.

Recently however the fan has been running full speed on boot-up and only goes quiet when I boot into windows (windows 10 now), and the Alienware program and the ThermalControl kick in.

However today, this didn't happen, the Alienware programs both kick in, but the fan is still running 100%.

The Ambient Temperatures all seem fine around the 22C mark, but no matter what I do in the Thermal Control part of the options, it doens't change the fan speed at all, it sits at 100% for both PCI fan, and HardDriveFan1

I have ran the diagnostics, and the MIO board comes up as Pass for all tests; I have done the power off, unplug, dissapate bit too, and no luck.

I have read of other Alienware laptops having this issue after some update, but the services mentioned in those threads don't appear in my list of services.

Any ideas, as its driving both me and my missus crazy.

David

chipsareyummy · Answer

www.hwinfo.com/download.php

I use this to control all my fan speeds, I do have windows 7 though so im not sure if this would work for you. After you download it, open the program as admin then select the box "Sensors-only" then click "Run" at the bottom of the program that pops up is a tiny square button, and if you look closely it looks like a computer fan, click this and set your speed with the slider.

RavyDavy · Answer

Downloaded that, and run it as it you described, but I don't see a little fan icon at all i'm afraid.

Tesla1856 · Answer

How are your cpu core temps ? What version of Windows are you running? What version of AW-CC are you running? Is it clean inside and are the liquid-cooler tube/pipes hot?

chipsareyummy · Answer

It took awhile for me to see as well. It looks like a small brown box. Is there a way to upload a photo so I can show you? You can always try clicking all the buttons until you find it, a box will pop up with about four sliders and a warning at the top saying to use at your own risk. After school I will pm or email you photos. Let me know if you find it. You can set the fans to run as low as you want. I use it to increase my fan speed.

RavyDavy · Answer

I was all ready for replying to your answers and hoping for something to fix it....however...

when I turned on my computer after coming home from work, the fans are quiet :/ so it is sorted for the moment, but I have no idea how, especially i did so many reboots yesterday, did a repair on the Alienware CC etc etc.

For Chipsareyummy, here is a screenshot of the bottom of HWINFO:

For Tesla - you can see the CPU core temperatures in the screenshot above, around about the 40C mark.

I am running Windows 10 - as much as I held off upgrading, it eventually upgraded. And the Alienware Command Centre is version 2.8.9.0.

As I said at the start, not sure how it fixed itself, but will post back if it happens to misbehave itself again.

Thanks

Tesla1856 · Answer

For Tesla -

1. you can see the CPU core temperatures in the screenshot above, around about the 40C mark.

2. I am running Windows 10 - as much as I held off upgrading, it eventually upgraded. And the Alienware Command Centre is version 2.8.9.0.

3. As I said at the start, not sure how it fixed itself, but will post back if it happens to misbehave itself again.

1. Good

2. I've seen AW-CC v2.8.9.0 work on my Aurora-R1 (similar MB and MIO-Board). I've settled on v2.8.11.0 and it has been working fine. That's what I recommend.

http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/t/19679918

Yes, it seems that sometimes, simply clean installing the proper AW-CC driver-suite can fix MIO-Boards and/or re-write some normally off-limits bootload-parameters on MIO-Board.

3. Good. I would not mess with it or question the working status.

Cass-Ole · Answer

Chips Ahoy show us your screen shots if HwInfo controls fans in 51 R1

Cass-Ole · Answer

New/Old Boot Up loud Fan issue Aurora R4

I spoke with our engineering and dispatch team to proceed with the part replacement, and what they advised is that the Command Center for the Aurora R4 has an issue in Windows 10 where the master I/O board does not have the full control of the fans on the Auto mode, but it does on Manual. When the latest version for the Command Center was created, Windows 10 had not been released, so we’ve seen this behavior before, and part replacements don’t fix the problem. The only way to keep the fans down would be by setting them up manually"

When Dell turned their backs on R4 owners - by not releasing a new Cmnd Cntr for Windows 10 to fix 100% fans at Auto?, the one & only support the R4 ever needed for 10? - all Aurora & 51R1 owners were slapped in the face along with them too

For Dell to say they support Aurora R4 on Windows 10, & say it with a straight face ... is a joke

Ravy, I didn't reply lastnight for a reason, I was waiting to see if the Reps here have turned their backs on 51R1 owners over 100% fans also, by ignoring all pleas for help ...

The same experiment is being conducted by me with Kanes_Inferno, an R4 owner plagued by issues whoi can not, can not get Rep help for his Aurora R4 here or on Alien Arena; my conclusion is they're tired of helping R4 owners & if that is so it will translate into 51R1 owners, like you ... where is your Rep help? ... ... ... ... ... ... had you posted on Arena your post would still be there next year unanswered, feel me? but I did prep for an answer, I took some screen shots for you last night:

stay on 2.8.9 for now as Tesla said
later, clik this link to 2.8.11 & get your copy saved

100% fans has been known to plague Aurora R1-R4 owners & several 51R1 owners on W10, but not me, not yet, & that is probably because I always use manual fixed fans, I've never used the auto fans feature, I suspect 100% fans affects owner's who use Auto Fans. If yours acts up again?

1st line of defense: Set to Manual

launch CC, setup your PCI & HDD fan

fixed means constant speed >< Curve means thermally monitored

[View:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPO3vcB5vyU:550:0]

2nd line of defense? Install in Compatibility Mode

Cmnd Cntr 2.8.9 is for W7, 2.8.11 is W8 compatible; when installing either on W10:

2.8.9 just install it as normal
2.8.9 use W7 Compatibility Mode
2.8.9 use W8 CM & W8.1 CM

four ways to try to install it right?

2.8.11 just install it as normal
use W8 CM next
W8.1 CM & W7 CM as last resort

the idea is that uninstalling CC & reinstalling in one of those 4 ways might fix 100% fans, if they spazz out in Manual Mode, where Auto Mode may be broken as we read at the top of the page.

If fans spazz out, good advice: image / clone your drive, attempt repairs in the clone, when you find the correct procedure, translate it back into your everyday use drive; if everyday use drive is also cured, reimage your cloned drive so that one day you can fall back on a working image (=

If 2.8.9 works, if it ain't broke don't fix it. I agree that 2.8.11 is probably a better fit to 10, however people like you still on 2.8.9 shows that it is a valid version. It is possible a new W10 update can breaj your fans, so we have that to worry about

Last, when using 2.8.11, I check to make sure .netframework3.5 is enabled in 'turn on windows 10 features' ...

Reading Materials

Area-51 R1 W10 Success CmndCntr 2.8.11 / 2.8.9 & Top Vents Issue / Fix

Aurora 4 Fan/MIO Problems (I'm found jabbering here)

Sample random fix: "Hi, I've been struggling with this for a while now, but I've finally found a fix that no one has pointed out on any forums I've been to. The problem with Command Center (Thermal Controller and Alien FX) is that windows 10 disables the service that helps detecting hardware monitoring. You need to reactivate it in the "Services". Go to Services, and set "Windows Sensor Monitoring Service" to active, & startup mode to "Automatic". It should fix it"

@Alien Tech Support: Aurora R4 Windows 10 Fans @ 100% on start-up ... is there a fix?

Note that Piriform CCleaner 'registry cleaner' can be used after Cmnd Cntr uninstall (& a restart), & before installing new version of Cmnd Cntr

1. Uninstall Command Center from the Control Panel > Programs and Features.

2. Open My Computer, click Folder and Search Options, choose the View Tab and enable Show hidden files and folders. Click OK.

3. Go to C:/Program Data/Alienware/Command Center/Thermal Controls and delete the Profile.xml file.

4. Go to C:/Users//AppData/Local/Alienware/Alienware AlienFX/Themes and delete all *.ath files.

5. Verify that the device manager doesn't have any unknown devices under Universial Serial Bus Controllers. If there are unknown devices see the note below.

6. Restart the computer.

7. Download the latest version of Command Center available and run it.

8. Complete the Alien Command Center installation by answer Yes to all dialogue pop-ups. During the installation process, the Master I/O board firmware will be updated. Do not shut down the computer at this time. If the firmware update process fails, please contact Alienware for support.

9. Restart the computer.

10. Verify that there are no Unknown devices under Universal serial Bus Controllers. If there are unknown devices see the note below.

11. Launch AlienCommand Center.

Note: If there are unknown devices on the device manager, or no device is detected please do the following:

a. Verify the Master I/O board USB cable is properly connected to the motherboard and to the Master I/O board.

b. Drain the MB power for 1 minute.

Locked Topics – Alienware General

Alienware Area-51 Desktop fans running all the time

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