17 R5, no supported AlienFX devices were detected

Update 2:   Rebooted the laptop. 

Waited for all the restart stuff. 

Loaded the AWCC--- dreaded "no device" as expected.  

But, after dismissing that?  I'm back to the infinite loop Windows 10 rotating dots thingy....!  

Whaaaat?    Weird, or what? 

Update 3:   I really paid attention this time. 

Previously, I had simply rebooted via Windows power option.  

This time?  After un-installing, deleting files, etc, I decided a full power off.   I was acting on a hunch, and had also un-installed all Logitec software, as it contains senseless keyboard drivers for their stuff (I'm only using a trackball).  There are 3 pieces of Logictec bloatware... 

Anyway, after pulling the Logitec dongle?  I powered down.  Off.  Everything is dark.  Hit that alien-head-- as it powered back up?  Viola!  The BIOS goes through a little light show, on the keyboard, case and touchpad-- pretty!  It fades through the various primary colors:   proof-positive the chip/lights are not at fault at all, if the BIOS can activate all the possible colors upon boot-up.  But once Windoze seizes control?  Generic blue... (yuck!) 

So.  Definitively:  There isn't a darn thing wrong with the friggin HARDWARE-- so a NEW MOTHERBOARD WILL NOT REPAIR THIS ISSUE!   What a senseless waste of money, Dell!!!!! 

Sadly, I must report that removing the Logitec had no effect.  And now?  The stupid AWCC cannot even install the Command Center Suite!  It throws an error cod:  "vendor id invalid" (in the log file).  I'll be rebooting and trying again, just for due diligence.   (dang it-- I already miss my trackball-- I hate 'pads...) 

Okaaaay... a NEW error! 

When launching the Bug-Bomb that is Command Center? 

It wants to update (after the "not found" message-- duuuhhh).  

Okay-- let it trundle.  It does.  Asks for confirmation of impending install-- FAILURE. 

** Vendor Return Code is not found in Mup.xml

I rebooted, just to see-- consistently generates this new error message... Buggier and buggier, Dell...!  

Dang, why can't I just go into the BIOS settings, and put in a default value for these darn lights? 

Seriously-- not complicated.  I do not give a rat's about "custom settings for different software"-- never used it, wish it didn't exist, in fact.  Had a dilly of a time figuring out how to NOT have the stupid library do that "automatically"...!

But anyway, it's obvious the capability exists in the BIOS-- as during boot up, we see a pretty light show.  I COULD HAPPILY DISPENSE WITH THE BUGGY BOTTLE OF USELESSNESS THAT IS COMMAND CENTER, IF I COULD JUST SET THE LIGHTS IN BIOS.... !  

Anyone at Dell listening?   

The buggy software that just keeps on giving and giving-- me a headache

Apparently I have managed to hose the incredibly stupid and dumb "Dell Update Service" that resides in some sort of hidden magical archive deep on my pc. 


MUP.XML is apparently some sort of driver archive/library/BS thing, that I have managed to get this infernal Alienware Command Console removed from entirely... 

And NOTHING on the web talks about fixing MUP.XML files, or even what in the heck they are...

... I do know what XML is-- it's a mark up/programming language.  I cannot locate this MUP file on the web, how it works, what it is supposed to do, none of that-- but it now inhibits ALL downloads from Dell/Store/whatever, using the stupid .EXE installer model that Dell has gone to.   

I absolutely miss the days of driver files  because I know how to force Windoze to use those, at need... 

Okay, I am absolutely going to strangle some **bleep** at Dell.... I found this, this "MUP" file, buried deep in a program I neither wanted, needed and now?  Gotta fix somehow.... 

NO DELL UPDATE FILES WILL NOW RUN ON MY PC.   What?  

I'll be looking at un-installing ANYTHING named "Dell", at this point, selling this stupid paperweight and never-EVER-EVER buying another Dell, nor recommend to anyone to do so... 

WHAT ON EARTH?  I'm ready to bite nails with this crapola!  

Okay, that did, in fact, fix the MUP issue-- I un-installed all things "Dell", specifically all the download/support assist stuff.  Renamed their directories (which I'll delete if this works), and am now in the process of re-installing support assist... 

Geeze, talk about NannyWare.   I *ought* to be able to install the drivers as needed, without any of this bugged stuff too....   but round and round it goes, where it stops?  Nobody knows.  

And, naturally, as with the case of **all** Dell/Alienware software?  They are slooooooooooow to download stuff they need...  and it's now late, and I'm tired, so I'll finish in the AM.... 

But it looks like it's re-creating the MUP junk... good!  This will hopefully remove the stupid Killer Wifi drivers I neither want, nor need (I replaced that useless WiFi card, as it never worked right, from Day 1.  I put in a nice Intel card, on which the Killer is apparently loosely based.... forgetaboutit... the Intel card-- the latest and greatest my MB can handle?  Was a measily $25.  Worth. Every. Penny and then some. ) 

Well this sh just gets better and better /end sarcasm.

The much vaunted "dell support assist" is even worse software than Alienware Command Center. 

No,  seriously -- it is.  Bog help you if you delete the infernal thing-- 'CAUSE YOU SURE AS HECK WON'T GET IT RE-INSTALLED!

I found multiple "help" pages, right here on dell.com, that supposedly told how to clear out that bugware. 

I followed to the letter-- including a REGEDIT.  Reboot.  Re-download a fresh copy of the STUB FILE.

NO WHERE CAN YOU JUST DOWNLOAD THE WHOLE THING-- ALWAYS, IT'S A CRAPPY STUB FILE--WHICH DOES NOT APPEAR TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO INTERNET... 

... always the same thing:   Download the tiny stub-- launch the tiny stub-- it immediately tries to go download more stuff.   BUT IT DOES NOTHING OF THE SORT.  I have Task Manager open, to check network activity-- ZERO.  NADA.  NOTHING.  The ONLY thing it does?  Is bump the GPU up to 2%, briefly, then back to zero.  NETWORKING?  Zip.  DISK ACTIVITY?  Zip.  

Beyond sickening, is what it is-- why cannot I just download the whole infernal thing, and install THAT?  Sheeze, Louize this is the most unprofessional pile of I've had to deal with in 20 years of computing... 

Update:  I did finally get Support Assist re-installed. 

I had to enable the hidden, but built-in Administrator account, however. 

I strongly suspect it's the Microsoft UAE.   With a normal user-created account, even one that is administrator, you are required to answer the UAE prompts.  

But with the built-in Administrator account?  That is bypassed. 

That's how I got Support Assistant re-installed, and working.  

There are any number of How To on the web, to enable the administrator account-- and even if your main account has administrator privileges?  The UAE will prevent a valid install. 

Hi,

For everyone having issues with AWCC, please try the following steps:

•  Download AWCC full from https://dell.to/31YG8CM or Download AWCC from MS Store.
• After running the app post-installation, a green button should appear on the top-right corner asking to Get Updates. Once clicked, an MS Store pop-up will ask for MSA information before proceeding to install all add-ons. If this fails, download these add-ons from the MS Store (In the store application, look for My Library, these should appear under Alienware Command Center):
• • FXSystems: AlienFX Chassis Images - Area 51 R5, R6, R7 , Aurora R8, Alienware m15 & m17, Alienware 15 R4 and 17 R5
  • FX02: AlienFX Chassis Images - Area 51m, Alienware m15 R2 & m17 R2, Vulcan and Selek (G series)
  • FX"https://dell.to/31YG9qk" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow ugc noopener noreferrer">https://dell.to/31YG9qk
  • Sound Center: Sound management https://dell.to/31YGauo
  • Control Center: Keyboard and mouse https://dell.to/31VZ2Km

EDIT:  After several reboots?  The Command Center now works from within my Default Account.   I will be re-disabling the Admin account, as that's pretty easy to do. 

Final Update:  

The link that Alienware-Eimy first listed, does not work.  Tried it-- it just goes to a generic Dell page.  

I did look at the Microsoft store for the other components Alienware-Eimy mentioned?  None were listed-- only Alienware Command Center, Pointing Device and other such.  

Trying to re-install using my default profile gave the same errors as before;  No Device. 

However, having had such luck using the full-on Administrator Account?  I switched accounts to that-- and? 

I had control of the Lights, macros, etc.  Amazing!  It did try to "update" itself, but that failed-- and the log file won't open. I may or may not investigate, as I could set the lights to my liking, and create a macro. 

So I set the lights, then switched back to my normal User-Admin account.  The lights remain, even though the Command Center is still non-functional.   Perhaps it's a profile issue?  I doubt that-- as I had tried yesterday, using a brand-spanking new User-Admin account, same errors. 

I think it's an Access To Files issue with the latest Windows update, or the UAC, refusing to allow modification of Protected Directories.   

It'd be nice if this was actually fixed, rather than jumping through hoops... 

... I haven't tried using the macro function yet, as frankly?  I'm a wee bit afraid of breaking the lighting.  I have a Kludge Work Around now.  

I'm loathe to break it again.  

BOTTOM LINE:  USE THE BUILT IN, BUT HIDDEN ADMINISTRATOR ACCOUNT TO RE-INSTALL CONTROL CENTER.  USE THAT SAME ACCOUNT TO CHANGE SETTINGS.  

I was going to re-hide it, but now I just set a strong password instead.  I may have to switch back to it, yet again at some point in the future..... 

Same issue here... This **bleep**!!!

SO IN CONCLUSION HOW DO I FIX THE "NO SUPPORTED DEVICES DETECTED"

The quickest solution would be to use the latest version from our support website. Or checking the previous messages posted.