Command Center Problems

Question

Hello, I am having problems with my Alienware command center. I have read over all the suggestions I could find and spent many hours trying to correct my problem with no luck. I have the Aurora R1 and the lights on my tower are stuck on the same color. Also, the thermal controls read 0 for all of the fans and sensors while the pump shows failed as the status. I bought this computer back in August 2010 and haven’t had any problems using the alienfx program until recently. The problem started when I noticed there was an update available for the command center and I went ahead and chose to update. If only I had known that you shouldn’t use the updater as it is meant to be used. After the update I was unable to change the colors on the tower or get any readings on the thermal control panel. I do have the TactX keyboard which does respond and changes colors as it should. I don’t change the colors too often, but I do know that it was working as intended less than 2 weeks ago because I was showing someone how it worked. At first I tried uninstalling and reinstalling the command center using the method described in article ID 536385. That didn’t work so I tried restoring the computer to the time right before I performed the update with no success. I performed the uninstall/install process 3 times with a couple different versions. The version before I updated was 2.6.1.0 with the updated version being 2.8.9.0. I used CCleaner to help with a clean uninstall and to ensure there registry was ok. In between all of the install cycles I used the power dissipation method as well. The master I/O board passes the test in the diagnostics within the f12 boot menu. The LED diagnostics test successfully cycled through the colors of all 4 zones in the tower. Another possible solution I tried was moving the jumper on the MIO board to the other pins/removed the jumper/and back to the original position restarting between each variation (power was up for at 1 minute on each variation). I ran the Alienware AlienFX Tester program and at the top it shows no board detected – current version: (blank) Upgrading to 2.02.00, then Firmware Upgrade Skipped, Set LEDs RED Failed. The keyboard did change to red, but the tower did not. Could the Tactx keyboard profiles possibly interfere and be causing any problems? It seems as though the memory of the last colors (neon yellow on tower) are stuck. I had a the colors set to morph from blue to green on the tower’s alien head during sleep mode, and after all the reinstalls and profile/.ath file removals it continues to show the same morphing sleep mode colors. I am not under warranty and unsure what else I can try to fix this problem. Thanks in advance for any help.   Josh   Alienware Aurora R1 Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit Bios version A09 CurrentCommand Center version 2.8.9.0

Tesla1856 · Accepted Answer

I actually tried the dell diagnostics from the utility partition. The MIO board passed as well as the sensors. I also used the LED diagnostics within the same menu and was able to cycle through all the colors successfully.

Ok, good. At least your MIO-Board isn't bricked.

If a clean install of Command Center doesn't work, then you will have to clean install Windows.

Clean Install of Command Center:

Completely Uninstall Command Center and reboot.

Power down, unplug the power cord from the back of your PC, then press and hold the power button down for 10 seconds to drain residual power from MIO board to further reset it and to insure a trouble-free CC install. Then, power back up and go into Windows.

Disable your Anti-Virus software.
Install the latest Command Center (for desktops) and reboot. v2.6.17.0 or higher
Note: The first time a v2.6.x version (or higher) is installed, it will upgrade the MIO-Board's firmware to v2.x
Microsoft Net 4.0 Client Framework is required for install. You can get it from Windows Update.
Test operation.

Never use the Upgrade feature inside Command Center. Always, uninstall old, reboot, install new fresh.

Joshuwa · Answer

Hi there Tesla,

Thanks for the quick reply. I actually tried the dell diagnostics from the utility partition. The MIO board passed as well as the sensors. I also used the LED diagnostics within the same menu and was able to cycle through all the colors successfully. However, I still have the stuck color/sensor problem.

Tesla1856 · Answer

Run Dell Diags outside of Windows to test MIO-Board: en.community.dell.com/.../20318511.aspx

Joshuwa · Answer

Okay, so I tried the complete uninstall and clean install a few different times, but I had no luck. I will look into a clean install of Windows, but I'll have to wait until I have more time to do so. Does a clean install of Windows usually fix this type of problem?

Tesla1856 · Answer

Okay, so I tried the complete uninstall and clean install a few different times, but I had no luck. I will look into a clean install of Windows, but I'll have to wait until I have more time to do so. Does a clean install of Windows usually fix this type of problem?

Yes. Sometimes you even have to do it two times in a row to get it to work.

Run Dell Diags (outside of Windows) and make sure your MIO-Board is still working.

You are doing everything right so far (like trying with clean installing Command Center). Good Luck.

Tesla1856 · Answer

Glad to hear you got it sorted out.

Yes, others have reported that a clean install of Windows was required to get MIO-Board/ Command-Center working again. Something with the strange bundled drivers I think.

Joshuwa · Answer

Well, I finally got around to reinstalling Windows because I had to lol. My computer got a blue screen with an atikmdag.sys error and would not load Windows. The start-up repair wouldn't fix the problem either. After some research and trying various unsuccessful fixes, I decided to just reinstall Windows. The clean install did fix my Alienware Command Center issue with the lighting and sensors. Thanks for all your help.

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