Alienware Area51 - ALX Light&Thermal Problem

Question

Hi All,

I got my Area51 about 1 year ago. After 1 year my front bezel stopped working so i called the technical support. They came and changed my front bezel. But, after that command center can't able to see my chassis. It sees my Tactx Mouse without any problem. I tried reinstalling command center and restoring my PC to factory image but it doesn't make a difference.

When i open command center it shows all temperatures and fan speeds at 0. In alienfx it shows my mouse but not my chassis as if i only connected my mouse. I think it's not a software problem. maybe it's about the cables i really don't know. Please HELP :/

NOTE: Sorry for language mistakes. I am still trying to learn. :)

Tesla1856 · Answer

Test MIO-Board with Dell Diags: en.community.dell.com/.../20128296.aspx

AW51 · Answer

How can i Run Dell Diagnostic on the MIO-Board? :)

Tesla1856 · Answer

How can i Run Dell Diagnostic on the MIO-Board? :)

F12 on Boot

Boot to Utility Partition

Test System - Diagnostics

Custom Test

CPU Fan on/off

- This test will speed up and slow down System/Radiator fan. Mine shows between 1200-4000 rpm

- - You might have to exit Diags and reboot to get fan speed back down to normal.

There is another test right below it that will show stats on all sensors/fans. Maybe run that one first. In this test, the "CPU Fan" is correctly called "System Fan".

You can also play with the lights while in there to make sure the MIO-Board is working.

You can also burn a bootable CD with the latest version of Dell-AW Diagnostics, and use that instead.

Sensors Test
-------------
- System Fan (Correct name for Radiator fan)
PWM 100 , RPM 1188

- CPU Pump
PWM 100 , RPM 1404

- the above are correct, but I notice some others are incorrect or miss-placed.
A newer version might have fixes. This is the old version loaded on my Aurora back in 2009.

CPU Fan Test (Incorrect name for System/Radiator fan)
------------
RPMs should be 1200-4000
On-Off test will work (low to high) but might leave fan on high and require a reboot to get back down to normal

Master IO USB Device
-------------------
This test is at the very bottom (might have to scroll down) ... but only if the MIO-Board is detected and not locked up

Tesla1856 · Answer

Good ... now: 1. Test MIO-Board 2. Change lights color from Dell Diags. ... If you can do all that, the MIO-Board is working.

AW51 · Answer

I started CPU fan test in this order;

F12 on Boot> Boot to Utility Partition> Test System> Custom Test> Fans> CPU Fan

It started 2 test 1)CPU Fan On/Off Test 2)CPU Fan RPM test both passed.

on high it shows about 3000 RPM

on low it shows about 1000 RPM

AW51 · Answer

I had a problem in here; i can't find a title-place to change lights in F12 on Boot> Boot to Utility Partition> Test System> Custom Test>

Tesla1856 · Answer

Did you scroll down the list of available tests? If the MIO-Board is not detected, it's test will not be available in Dell Diags. The test to exercise the lights will likely also be missing.

AW51 · Answer

Any Answers?

AW51 · Answer

I looked for all available test but i can't found something about lights. What does it could mean?

Tesla1856 · Answer

Not sure about 'Lights' test ... but it's irrelevant. It's the 'MIO-Board' test that you should be looking for. Be sure you are reading my posts (and the one I linked to) carefully.

AW51 · Answer

I made an extended test in Dell Diags. It tested everything it can found and took about 11 Hours. I made this test before(about 2-3 weeks ago) and it tested my chassis lights but the test i did it today didn't test my lights. I think the technician(who changed my front bezel) forgot to plug one of the cable or plug them in wrong places.

I looked inside the chassis and found one cable called MB_USB1 which is unplugged Could it be about that or a different cable?

Tesla1856 · Answer

I made an extended test in Dell Diags. It tested everything it can found and took about 11 Hours. I made this test before(about 2-3 weeks ago) and it tested my chassis lights but the test i did it today didn't test my lights. I think the technician(who changed my front bezel) forgot to plug one of the cable or plug them in wrong places.

I looked inside the chassis and found one cable called MB_USB1 which is unplugged Could it be about that or a different cable?

Obviously, all cables have to be connected properly inside machine.

I don't have an Area-51, but there should be a cable from the MIO-Board to the MotherBoard. This is how the MIO communicates with the MB. It usually goes to USB-1 header on MB.

If machine was just serviced, and now not working properly ... shouldn't you be working with phone support as a warranty or service re-call issue?

AW51 · Answer

Obviously, all cables have to be connected properly inside machine.

I don't have an Area-51, but there should be a cable from the MIO-Board to the MotherBoard. This is how the MIO communicates with the MB. It usually goes to USB-1 header on MB.

If machine was just serviced, and now not working properly ... shouldn't you be working with phone support as a warranty or service re-call issue?

I looked MIO-Board cable configuration in service manual and I understand MB USB1 cable must plug in right place so I plugged it into the right place and all problems solved.All lights.Vents and Thermals are working properly. :)

Many Thanks!! :)

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Alienware Area51 - ALX Light&Thermal Problem

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