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2494
June 16th, 2022 17:00
Aurora R7, Command Center suddenly not working
Hello all!
I've had this lil guy pinned to my taskbar for as long as I can remember:
Clicking it would normally open up this program:
Also for what it's worth "AWCC" works and opens fine, I don't know why but the program I'm referring to is simply just called "Command Center" and operates independently from "Alienware Command Center:
Using this program I can control the fans within my PC. Loading up my PC just now though, and clicking that shortcut like I do every day, it just isn't opening. It will spin for a second or so and look like the window is about to load, and then nothing happens, the program just doesn't open. I'm scratching my head as to what could have changed with my computer that would make the program act like this.
I'm just a little concerned, because this is usually what I've always used to control my computer's fans. I have MSI Afterburner and that will let me toggle the fan on my GPU, but I don't think I can use it to mess with the actual computer's fans as far as I know.
Any tips or troubleshooting steps would be greatly appreciated, or if you've run into this too, let me know how you might've resolved it. Thanks all!
LuluMae13
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June 17th, 2022 08:00
I accidentally found a very odd workaround for now?!
Right clicking the little Alienware symbol on the very right of the taskbar, then selecting "Alienware AlienFX Editor" will open the program I've BEEN TRYING to open via the "command center" button from the picture in the OP... then from there I can simply click "thermal controls" to switch over to what I've been trying to access... I'm kind of dumbfounded here lmao
LuluMae13
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June 17th, 2022 16:00
Great, and not even a day later my workaround doesn't work, and it acts the same way as I've described in the OP. Yaaay..
LuluMae13
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June 18th, 2022 12:00
So to recap, I'm on an old Alienware Aurora R7, I have been trying to use "command center" as it is compatible with R7s, I am not talking about "Alienware command center" which is a different program and doesn't have compatible thermal controls with my R7.
I've uninstalled, and reinstalled several times, I just now tried all of the steps listed from the Reddit automoderator response (basically completely uninstall EVERYTHING using revo, then reinstall), which unfortunately did not work either. I don't know what to do, seeing as if I want to play more graphics intensive games, I'm kind of out of luck, as I have literally no way of controlling the internal fans in my PC which is absolutely ridiculous to me.
I'm considering dishing out the money for "dell support" to get in touch with a technician, but I have a huge hunch that they're not going to be able to fix it, which will put me out of probably over $100. (The support site claims "no fix no fee, but I kind of doubt that, and the site also mentions possibly being asked to completely reinstall a fresh Windows which.... I really do not want to and shouldn't have to do over an issue like this.)
I apologize for being so crazy and posting so much, like I said, I'm just extremely dismayed that the machine I bought specifically to play games is being held back by janky, proprietary software. Playing recent games my GPU is getting up to and past it's heat limit, and there's nothing I can do about it because with Alienware we seem to only have one option for fan controls, and it isn't working for me!
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
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17.1K Posts
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June 18th, 2022 15:00
You lost me.
Historically, Alienware Command Center is the set of drivers and programs that control the fans, cooling, LED-lights, etc.
On my Auroira-R6 (now running Windows-11), I use Alienware Command Center v.4.8.23 . Among other things, it includes AlienFX Editor (for LED-lights), and the Thermal-Controller (for cooling).
LuluMae13
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June 18th, 2022 16:00
This is the one I've always used, just recently stopped working and am trying to fix.
This is the program it usually opens:
This is a completely separate and different program, than "Command Center". I believe it's the newer version of "command center" but doesn't have compatibility with my system in terms of thermals.
22GREEN
2 Intern
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239 Posts
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June 20th, 2022 20:00
"I'm kind of out of luck, as I have literally no way of controlling the internal fans in my PC which is absolutely ridiculous to me"
"I'm just extremely dismayed that the machine I bought specifically to play games is being held back by janky, proprietary software."
This software by no means should be limiting or holding you back from playing games. I don't follow.
Just curious what video card came with your R7...
I have an R7 that I bought with the 1080Ti and I never messed with AWCC. I use it for the case lights. I felt no need to mess with the default settings. I never had one single issue running games. I sold the 1080 and put a EVGA - GeForce RTX 2080 Ti XC Ultra Gaming 11GB card in it and left it all default. No issues with heat ever. The GPU's have fans on them they will kick on when it gets warmer when playing games. Why mess with fan control? is it really going to make that big of a difference..?
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
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17.1K Posts
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June 20th, 2022 22:00
1. The only "Command Center" I'm aware of is "Alienware Command Center". There is Alienware Command Center for Desktops, and Alienware Command Center for Laptops. Among other things, they include AlienFX Editor (for LED-lights), and the Thermal-Controller (for cooling).
2. Since 2010, I've been running various older (Dell provided) versions of AW-CC .on my Aurora-R1. First working on Windows-7, then Windows-8, and now finally I use Alienware Command Center v2.8.11.0 on Windows-10 Pro (64 bit) v.21H2 .
On my Aurora-R6, I use Alienware Command Center v.4.8.23 . It has worked on Windows-10 for many years, and now even works on Windows-11 Pro (64 bit)
3. You already posted you are using AfterBurner for the GPU (fans). Then, you just use Thermal Controller to set the Front Fan to Manual, with a nice little up-hill curve.
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
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17.1K Posts
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June 20th, 2022 22:00
If you don't mind, could you please post the version of Alienware Command Center and Windows that you are running on your Aurora-R7 ?
I'll use that info (along with what Dell Support file area says is latest Validated version for the Aurora-R7) ... to make a recommendation to this user.
I think if they can uninstall all the other versions, and then clean-install the proper AW-CC version ... it should work.
22GREEN
2 Intern
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239 Posts
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June 21st, 2022 06:00
4.8.20.0
Windows 10 latest build
** I couldn't edit my last post. I guess I was half asleep last night I didn't see where he mentioned he controls his GPU fans with MSI. He's using AWCC to control fans in the R7 my mistake.
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
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17.1K Posts
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June 21st, 2022 09:00
Uninstall all existing Command Centers and Alienware Command Centers.
I would suggest also uninstalling MSI AfterBurner for now (you can re-install it later if you still need it).
Reboot your Aurora-R7.
Clean-Install this version of Alienware Command Center (4.8.20.0) :
https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=f8p3v&oscode=wt64a&productcode=alienware-aurora-r7-desktop
LuluMae13
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June 21st, 2022 13:00
Running 2/3 or 3/3 of the fans within the computer compared to solely just running my gpu fans? Yes it makes a huge difference lol. The gpu fans by themselves barely lower the GPU temperature at all when I'm playing intensive games, again compared to if I have two of the PC's fans running.
LuluMae13
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June 21st, 2022 14:00
Hey! So I'm running Windows 10 home, and the version, according to system info is 10.0.19044 Build 19044. From what I'm seeing, where I believe my command center version is "4.8.20.0, A00". It is indeed very old, but I got it straight from the "my product" page or whatever on the Dell site where you can download specific drivers for your specific computer.
I'm gonna be honest, uninstalling the last two Windows updates that installed last week......seemed to have fixed the issue and command center opens and works like normal now. I feel like this obviously isn't... necessarily a great fix lmao, but idk what else to do because again, this specific program is what controls the 3 separate fans within my computer. (NOT the gpu fans, those I can control w/ MSI.)
22GREEN
2 Intern
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239 Posts
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June 22nd, 2022 20:00
You missed my other reply when I said I mis-read your post. I realized you were talking about the case fans not just the GPU fan. And to comment on that I never messed with my R7 case fans. You do know they work normally w/o controlling them right? - you mentioned you couldn't even game anymore. lol that is not possible your fans will work regardless and you can still game.
They work 100% as intended and I'm a huge gamer playing with everything cranked up including the new GPU max settings in all games. Never one crash or lock up. I play downstairs where its a little cooler. My temps are always pretty good. R7 fans work w/o any added settings. That version is the latest and greatest for our PC's (R7's)
Looks like from your last post you got it back working. Odd that a WU would mess with it. I have the latest Windows 10 updates from 2 weeks ago that came down in June. I believe there was only one Cumulative update. Anyway good luck.