Problems with Command Center/AlienFX (No Board Detected). Possible Firmware Malfunction.

I'm having this exact same problem. Everything was working fine last night, then after attempting to install Command Center A08, all the lights on my Aurora went dark and the fan now stays on at an increased speed constantly, 50% sounds about accurate. Any attempts to uninstall/reinstall Command Center lead to the "board not detected" message when the time to flash the alienfx firmware comes up. Did a total system restore to try and fix it, but still nothing. Loud fans, no lights and no loading alienfx controller.

Hoping there's a software solution before having to send my Aurora in for a i/o board replacement. Such a shame, since everything was working just fine prior to this update.

Find your resource CD. On it is the Command Center A00. Install that so it flashes the control board. After its installed try installing the new command center again. I'v done this a few times and it worked for me. Don't bother with uninstalling the old one before the new one this time around. If you boot up after all is done and you still have blank command center shut down,unplug comp and hold power button down for 15sec. Plug it back in and boot up.   If that doesnt work then you need to call dell. Have food and water ready. They will spend about 1.5 hours connected to your computer installing and uninstalling command center trying to get it to work. Then they spend about 1 hour playing with the FX tester. When the guy fails then he will send you a new one.   Side note. When the tech comes to install the new board there is a VERY strong chance he has never done it before. My guy didn't even know how to remove the panel.  After he installs it he wil have something crossed or not fully plugged in. Best to get the tech to leave you the part and do it yourself. All cables are marked but for 2. Mark them yourself. Get your food and water again and go at it.

Thank you, Morblore.

Installing Command Center A00 did not work, unfortunately.

Following that, my experience with Dell Tech support is almost identical to yours. The only difference is that when the tech came, he had the wrong part. He had the Power Button/2x USB Port/1394 port/mic/headphone assembly. I restrained myself from laughing out loud. The tech appologized and called to get Dell to mail me a replacement system. When it gets here, I can just swap the hard drives and mail my old system back.

A minor inconvenience for a shiny new system. I'm satisfied with their service!

Hi all,

I just discovered this thread after a couple of very frustrating days. Up until recently I was quite happy with my Alienware Aurora pc. Then two weeks ago it began to lockup, a few minutes after booting it would freeze. I would have to reboot where after it seemed to work fine. I did some checking and discovered that the AlienFX and specifically the ThermalController was NOT working properly, (the lights failed as well).

Trusting Dell to have proper software (big mistake) I tried to upgrade to a newer version 2.5 A08. Once I rebooted after this 'upgrade' the harddrive fans roared into life. They are very loud, far too loud. It's very annoying. I did some checking and within the system devices I can see that one of the USB devices is showing a warning icon indicating that there is an issue with the IO board or at least the drivers. I have tried the different tricks listed in this forum including installing CC 2.5 A07, 2.5 A08 and 2.6 with no success. Now I have no lights and a pc that is just way too loud.

Of course my Aurora is not under warranty any more, isn't that always the way?

Is Dell working on a fix for this?

Read these carefully and try all the steps:

en.community.dell.com/.../19986589.aspx

en.community.dell.com/.../19888030.aspx

Do the Dell Diagnostics tests for the MIO-Board pass ?

I ran the series of tests, (there are quite a few) after rebooting and hitting F12. All tests passed except the following cryptic error:   Device Initialization Error   Error Code" 5D00:0009   Msg: UUTUSBTM - DEVICE_INITIALIZATION_FAILURE, user must reattacht unit on root hub port 1 and restart test.

Ya, that means it can't find the MIO-Board.

Try all the stuff in those threads I posted. If that all fails, you will have to get the MIO-Board replaced.

I have tried these things and still no luck. It would seem that the board is toast?

I have been trying to contact customer support in the Netherlands. They have transferred my call 3 times and put me on hold for 20 minutes. I must say that Dell support is just terrible. If you want to buy something its' no problem. If you need service, well just forget it. I need to purchase a new laptop soon but based on this experience I doubt it is going to be another Dell product.

I can't believe how bad Dell customer service is. I have been on and off the phone for hours now and talked to no less than 6 different people which means I have had to explain the same story 6 times. I have even just offered to purchase a new MIO-board and install it myself but to no avail. The last kid I had on the phone suggested that I update my bios to A11, (which I did) and of course it didn't help.

Anyone know how to get support for an Alienware Aurora pc?

Whenever my aurora starts up I am greeted with a number of error messages. The ventilator that sits perpendicular to the harddrives continues to roar away a ear shattering decibels. There have been no lights for long while now. My experience Dell support was unpleasant. There were people with a rudimentary grasp of english, others with no clue and astonishing just tried to talk through me instead attempting to help. I have included here under the stack trace and list of loaded .Net assemblies for the CommandCenter problems if any support personel has actual code knowledge.

On the bright side I have purchased a HP Elitebook 8540w. It's running fine and feels really solid. With 16 Gb RAM and a SSD I should be able to get a lot of work done. I am very happy with it. Oh ya, and it's very quiet.

See the end of this message for details on invoking

just-in-time (JIT) debugging instead of this dialog box.

************** Exception Text **************

System.Threading.ThreadStateException: Thread is running or terminated; it cannot restart.

Server stack trace:

  at System.Threading.Thread.StartInternal(IPrincipal principal, StackCrawlMark& stackMark)

  at System.Threading.Thread.Start()

  at AlienLabs.CommandCenter.RemotingService.Domain.Classes.ApplicationLaunchedQueueProcessor.initiateApplicationLaunchedThread()

  at AlienLabs.CommandCenter.RemotingService.Domain.Classes.ApplicationLaunchWatcherClass.Start()

  at System.Runtime.Remoting.Messaging.StackBuilderSink._PrivateProcessMessage(IntPtr md, Object[] args, Object server, Int32 methodPtr, Boolean fExecuteInContext, Object[]& outArgs)

  at System.Runtime.Remoting.Messaging.StackBuilderSink.SyncProcessMessage(IMessage msg, Int32 methodPtr, Boolean fExecuteInContext)

Exception rethrown at [0]:

  at System.Runtime.Remoting.Proxies.RealProxy.HandleReturnMessage(IMessage reqMsg, IMessage retMsg)

  at System.Runtime.Remoting.Proxies.RealProxy.PrivateInvoke(MessageData& msgData, Int32 type)

  at AlienLabs.CommandCenter.RemotingService.Domain.ApplicationLaunchWatcher.Start()

  at AlienLabs.CommandCenter.RemotingService.Domain.Classes.ApplicationLaunchWatcherHolder.InitWatcher()

  at AlienLabs.AlienFX.Controller.ControllerMainForm.init()

  at AlienLabs.AlienFX.Controller.ControllerMainForm.load(Object sender, EventArgs e)

  at System.Windows.Forms.Form.OnLoad(EventArgs e)

  at System.Windows.Forms.Form.OnCreateControl()

  at System.Windows.Forms.Control.CreateControl(Boolean fIgnoreVisible)

  at System.Windows.Forms.Control.CreateControl()

  at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmShowWindow(Message& m)

  at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)

  at System.Windows.Forms.ScrollableControl.WndProc(Message& m)

  at System.Windows.Forms.Form.WmShowWindow(Message& m)

  at System.Windows.Forms.Form.WndProc(Message& m)

  at AlienLabs.AlienFX.Controller.ControllerMainForm.WndProc(Message& m)

  at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)

  at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)

  at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)

************** Loaded Assemblies **************

mscorlib

   Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0

   Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.239 (RTMGDR.030319-2300)

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.NET/Framework/v4.0.30319/mscorlib.dll

----------------------------------------

AlienwareAlienFXController

   Assembly Version: 2.6.17.0

   Win32 Version: 2.6.17.0

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/Alienware/Command%20Center/AlienwareAlienFXController.exe

----------------------------------------

AlienwareAlienFXTools

   Assembly Version: 2.6.17.0

   Win32 Version: 2.6.17.0

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/AlienwareAlienFXTools/v4.0_2.6.17.0__bebb3c8816410241/AlienwareAlienFXTools.dll

----------------------------------------

Alienlabs.CommandCenter.Tools

   Assembly Version: 2.6.17.0

   Win32 Version: 2.6.17.0

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/Alienlabs.CommandCenter.Tools/v4.0_2.6.17.0__bebb3c8816410241/Alienlabs.CommandCenter.Tools.dll

----------------------------------------

System.Windows.Forms

   Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0

   Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.235 built by: RTMGDR

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Windows.Forms/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Windows.Forms.dll

----------------------------------------

System.Drawing

   Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0

   Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.1 built by: RTMRel

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Drawing/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Drawing.dll

----------------------------------------

System

   Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0

   Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.236 built by: RTMGDR

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll

----------------------------------------

AlienLabsTools

   Assembly Version: 2.6.17.0

   Win32 Version: 2.6.17.0

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/AlienLabsTools/v4.0_2.6.17.0__bebb3c8816410241/AlienLabsTools.dll

----------------------------------------

System.Configuration

   Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0

   Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.1 (RTMRel.030319-0100)

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Configuration/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Configuration.dll

----------------------------------------

System.Xml

   Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0

   Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.233 built by: RTMGDR

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Xml/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Xml.dll

----------------------------------------

WindowsBase

   Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0

   Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.233 built by: RTMGDR

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/WindowsBase/v4.0_4.0.0.0__31bf3856ad364e35/WindowsBase.dll

----------------------------------------

PresentationFramework

   Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0

   Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.233

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/PresentationFramework/v4.0_4.0.0.0__31bf3856ad364e35/PresentationFramework.dll

----------------------------------------

PresentationCore

   Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0

   Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.233 built by: RTMGDR

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_32/PresentationCore/v4.0_4.0.0.0__31bf3856ad364e35/PresentationCore.dll

----------------------------------------

System.Management

   Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0

   Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.1 (RTMRel.030319-0100)

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Management/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Management.dll

----------------------------------------

AlienLabs.MasterIOBoard.Communication

   Assembly Version: 2.6.17.0

   Win32 Version: 2.6.17.0

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/AlienLabs.MasterIOBoard.Communication/v4.0_2.6.17.0__bebb3c8816410241/AlienLabs.MasterIOBoard.Communication.dll

----------------------------------------

AlienFX.DeviceDiscovery

   Assembly Version: 2.6.17.0

   Win32 Version: 2.6.17.0

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/AlienFX.DeviceDiscovery/v4.0_2.6.17.0__bebb3c8816410241/AlienFX.DeviceDiscovery.dll

----------------------------------------

AlienLabs.MasterIOBoard.Communication.Core

   Assembly Version: 2.6.17.0

   Win32 Version: 2.6.17.0

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/AlienLabs.MasterIOBoard.Communication.Core/v4.0_2.6.17.0__bebb3c8816410241/AlienLabs.MasterIOBoard.Communication.Core.dll

----------------------------------------

AlienFX.Communication

   Assembly Version: 2.6.17.0

   Win32 Version: 2.6.17.0

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/AlienFX.Communication/v4.0_2.6.17.0__bebb3c8816410241/AlienFX.Communication.dll

----------------------------------------

System.Core

   Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0

   Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.233 built by: RTMGDR

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Core/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Core.dll

----------------------------------------

AlienFX.Communication.XPS

   Assembly Version: 2.6.17.0

   Win32 Version: 2.6.17.0

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/AlienFX.Communication.XPS/v4.0_2.6.17.0__bebb3c8816410241/AlienFX.Communication.XPS.dll

----------------------------------------

AlienFX.Communication.PID0x522

   Assembly Version: 2.6.17.0

   Win32 Version: 2.6.17.0

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/AlienFX.Communication.PID0x522/v4.0_2.6.17.0__bebb3c8816410241/AlienFX.Communication.PID0x522.dll

----------------------------------------

AlienFX.Communication.PID0x521

   Assembly Version: 2.6.17.0

   Win32 Version: 2.6.17.0

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/AlienFX.Communication.PID0x521/v4.0_2.6.17.0__bebb3c8816410241/AlienFX.Communication.PID0x521.dll

----------------------------------------

AlienFX.Communication.PID0x520

   Assembly Version: 2.6.17.0

   Win32 Version: 2.6.17.0

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/AlienFX.Communication.PID0x520/v4.0_2.6.17.0__bebb3c8816410241/AlienFX.Communication.PID0x520.dll

----------------------------------------

AlienFX.Communication.PID0x518

   Assembly Version: 2.6.17.0

   Win32 Version: 2.6.17.0

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/AlienFX.Communication.PID0x518/v4.0_2.6.17.0__bebb3c8816410241/AlienFX.Communication.PID0x518.dll

----------------------------------------

AlienFX.Communication.PID0x516

   Assembly Version: 2.6.17.0

   Win32 Version: 2.6.17.0

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/AlienFX.Communication.PID0x516/v4.0_2.6.17.0__bebb3c8816410241/AlienFX.Communication.PID0x516.dll

----------------------------------------

AlienFX.Communication.PID0x515

   Assembly Version: 2.6.17.0

   Win32 Version: 2.6.17.0

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/AlienFX.Communication.PID0x515/v4.0_2.6.17.0__bebb3c8816410241/AlienFX.Communication.PID0x515.dll

----------------------------------------

AlienFX.Communication.PID0x514

   Assembly Version: 2.6.17.0

   Win32 Version: 2.6.17.0

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/AlienFX.Communication.PID0x514/v4.0_2.6.17.0__bebb3c8816410241/AlienFX.Communication.PID0x514.dll

----------------------------------------

AlienFX.Communication.PID0x513

   Assembly Version: 2.6.17.0

   Win32 Version: 2.6.17.0

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/AlienFX.Communication.PID0x513/v4.0_2.6.17.0__bebb3c8816410241/AlienFX.Communication.PID0x513.dll

----------------------------------------

AlienFX.Communication.PID0x512

   Assembly Version: 2.6.17.0

   Win32 Version: 2.6.17.0

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/AlienFX.Communication.PID0x512/v4.0_2.6.17.0__bebb3c8816410241/AlienFX.Communication.PID0x512.dll

----------------------------------------

AlienFX.Communication.PID0x511

   Assembly Version: 2.6.17.0

   Win32 Version: 2.6.17.0

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/AlienFX.Communication.PID0x511/v4.0_2.6.17.0__bebb3c8816410241/AlienFX.Communication.PID0x511.dll

----------------------------------------

System.Runtime.Remoting

   Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0

   Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.1 (RTMRel.030319-0100)

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Runtime.Remoting/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Runtime.Remoting.dll

----------------------------------------

AlienLabs.MasterIOBoard.Communication.PID0x513

   Assembly Version: 2.6.17.0

   Win32 Version: 2.6.17.0

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/AlienLabs.MasterIOBoard.Communication.PID0x513/v4.0_2.6.17.0__bebb3c8816410241/AlienLabs.MasterIOBoard.Communication.PID0x513.dll

----------------------------------------

AlienFX.Communication.Core

   Assembly Version: 2.6.17.0

   Win32 Version: 2.6.17.0

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/AlienFX.Communication.Core/v4.0_2.6.17.0__bebb3c8816410241/AlienFX.Communication.Core.dll

----------------------------------------

LightFX

   Assembly Version: 2.6.17.0

   Win32 Version: 2.6.17.0

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/LightFX/v4.0_2.6.17.0__bebb3c8816410241/LightFX.dll

----------------------------------------

AlienwareAlienFXModelResources

   Assembly Version: 2.6.17.0

   Win32 Version: 2.6.17.0

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/AlienwareAlienFXModelResources/v4.0_2.6.17.0__bebb3c8816410241/AlienwareAlienFXModelResources.dll

----------------------------------------

wfk03ozr

   Assembly Version: 2.6.17.0

   Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.236 built by: RTMGDR

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll

----------------------------------------

System.Xaml

   Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0

   Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.1 built by: RTMRel

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Xaml/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Xaml.dll

----------------------------------------

2gnegfyk

   Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0

   Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.236 built by: RTMGDR

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll

----------------------------------------

AlienLabs.CommandCenter.RemotingService.Domain

   Assembly Version: 2.6.17.0

   Win32 Version: 2.6.17.0

   CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/AlienLabs.CommandCenter.RemotingService.Domain/v4.0_2.6.17.0__bebb3c8816410241/AlienLabs.CommandCenter.RemotingService.Domain.dll

----------------------------------------

************** JIT Debugging **************

To enable just-in-time (JIT) debugging, the .config file for this

application or computer (machine.config) must have the

jitDebugging value set in the system.windows.forms section.

The application must also be compiled with debugging

enabled.

For example:

When JIT debugging is enabled, any unhandled exception

will be sent to the JIT debugger registered on the computer

rather than be handled by this dialog box.