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23562
May 2nd, 2015 22:00
M18X-R2 Lighting issue & Media buttons
I am currently having three problems with my laptop that I hope someone can help me with.
1) Left speaker LED no longer works, before it was very dim compared to the right but would act normally while booting sometimes sadly it remains dead for now.
2) Macro keys do not light up except key 5. The other macro keys do have there LED's on but they are to dim to see.
3) I have to push the WiFi media button more than the others to get it to work, while the other buttons give me some feedback when pressed the WiFi button does not. could this mean I need to replace the board ?
I have tried reinstalling AlienFX and draining the power for the LED problems but so far nothing has worked for me. Could this be an issue with the LED components since everything else lights up and works perfectly.
Alienware - Rodrigo
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May 4th, 2015 12:00
Make sure you are using the latest version for the command center. Click here for the latest command center version download link. There is a test for the Alien FX lights known as the Alien FX tester. Click here for a video which explains how to access the test.
Try running this test to determine if the left speaker LED lights up at all. If it does not, that LED part will most likely need to be replaced. You can also try flashing the Bios to the latest version, even if you have the latest version you can still re-flash the Bios. Click here for the latest Bios download link. This may help with the macro keys not working and the dimmed LEDs. If you continue to have the same issues after trying this, the media button assembly would need to be replaced as well.
Please let me know how it goes.
DavidM88
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May 4th, 2015 14:00
Well I have re-installed the command centre & flashed the Bios however this did not seam to have any effect what so ever.
I ran the AlienFX test and this is where it gets interesting, when running the test the left speaker LED got a lot brighter but still not the same as the right side. I also noted that during the test setting the LED's to white the left speaker LED changed to red.
When I exited the Test program however the left speaker LED went out and you can just make out some red light inside.
The macro keys during the test still remain dim / dead but changed colour properly, while number 5 remained bright as it should be and also passed the test. One problem that has developed now is that the macro keys do not work, I have tried changing there function to open things like my computer or media player but they are unresponsive.
DavidM88
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May 5th, 2015 10:00
Unfortunately I am in the UK and the warranty ran out in 2013. You are right in that it is a hardware problems as I have done some more testing and found that only two of the macro keys actually work.
Is the LED control board part of the main board or is it part of the daughter board ? looking at everything it seams like I will need to replace the macro board
Alienware - Rodrigo
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4.4K Posts
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May 5th, 2015 10:00
Thank you for confirming this. It appears that the problem with the macro keys and the left speaker LED are more hardware related. Unfortunately, there aren't any other procedures that we can try to fix the issues.
If you are in the US or Canada and the system is still in warranty, please send me a PM with your service tag so we can provide further assistance.
Alienware - Rodrigo
9 Technologist
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4.4K Posts
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May 6th, 2015 10:00
The Led control board is part of the daughter board. If you are going to purchase the part from sales, make sure that they confirm it includes the media touch button assembly.
Please let me know if you have any other questions.