Alienware Aurora R4 MIO Board Light Blinking?

Hello, 

Can you confirm if the AlienFX lights are working properly (the lights on the side panels and the alien head)? Please open the Alienware Command Center and try adjusting the lights with different colors to make sure they are working properly. Let us know how it goes. 

I just tried that and it worked. All colors worked when changing either a single zone or all zones. And since I've noticed this issue a few days ago the lights have still been working as usual. I don't really know what is causing it. 

We do not believe this is a problem with the MIO-Board. Please click here to view another thread about this topic for more information. Let us know if you have any questions. 

I read the thread but I still don't understand what to do exactly. What does it mean to reset the master i/o board with the jumper and how do I do that?

there's a little info here:

• Alien 51 ATX - MIO flashing Blue LED ??
• http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/p/19384097/20746396#20746396

When your AlienFx has a hiccup, we do a power-dissipation / power-drain 'reset' (PDR):

• unplug machine; press top power-on button down for 30-60 seconds, allow machine to rest 5 minutes, plug-in, power-up

A 'jumper reset' procedure works like this, which I personally do a PDR to press the reset point:

• decide if you are or aren't going to do a do a PDR during this process
• if not, see next step, if so, drain power but do not power back up yet
• find your MI/O green jumper pin
• place green jumper on the pole / pin next to where it sits right now
• power up, when u reach your desktop, shut down
• do a PDR
• take green jumper off, place it to the side, power up, power down
• PDR. place green jumper back on its original poles, power up ... see if it fixed it

note: I believe led blinks due to the need for new rechargeable batteries ... theory, not a fact ...

Okay. I did it but the light still started blinking after I got to desktop. I'm gonna try to do it in different orders and stuff to see if I can get this to work. 

I'm assuming this is what you were talking about:

Is it bad to leave the jumper in the top pins rather than the bottom ones as it was regularly? Because the blue light wasn't blinking when I booted with the jumper in the other pins.

Anyway. There is one question I have. There's a red light on the MIO board now that's bright, and I don't remember if that is normally lit up or not. I haven't accessed that part of my case before while the PC was on, but this time I did and I noticed this red light.

Is this normal? Or did I screw something up?

Any other fixes for this? I just changed the MIO board from USB 1 to USB 2 on the motherboard and it still didn't fix it after a restart. Do I need a new MIO board?

Hi, 

The light blinking does not mean there is a problem with the MIO board, especially if everything is working fine with the system. We checked this with some of our Alienware Aurora R4s and the same thing happens, the light seems to blink randomly. I don't believe this is something you need to worry about. 

Okay, I didn't know. I just knew that this behavior used to not occur on my Aurora and was assuming that meant it was an issue as it never happened before. There's no rechargeable battery I need to replace or anything?

Thanks. :)