Alienware ALX Area-51 Front Panel does not close

The Body is Aluminum, which I think means ALX.  The regular Area-51 is plastic, isn't it?

Also the opening, or down motion on the panel seems motorized to me.  I think it is just manual/gravity on the regulare version. 

I have the same issue with 2 of them. The lid opens with the pressing of the alienhead. Once the door is open, it won't close (by pressing the alienhaed). You can't close it manually because you are pushing against the motor.

Here is the trick.... while its stuck open, force some downward pressure on the lid, at the same time, pressing the alienhead button.

Mogle, you sir (or m'am) are a GOD!

Thank you so much.

I just had my second call with Tech Support and nothing they advised worked, so they told me to return it.

I had spent hours using the Win7 File-Transfer between this and another PC, and was not happy about sending the machine back.  Plus I had to help the tiny Fed-Ex guy haul it from his truck in the first place.

I did as you suggested and it worked fine.  I see that needs to be done all the time, but it's a small price to pay to save me and the tiny Fed-Ex guy from hernias.

I wish Tech-Support knew about this fix.  Okay, I really wish a $6000.00 machine didn't need a "fix", but this ain't bad.  Not like I need the drive bays open that often anyway.

Thanks again.

All Area-51s ALX and Standard are Aluminum

• ALX is anodized Aluminum
• Standard is painted Aluminum

... and now the door won't stay up.

It will close, with the slight downward pressure recommended by Mogle, but then it drops right back down.

Does this whether there is a CD in the drive or not.

Does this whether the machine it turned on or off.

I know it's nit-picking, but for this kind of money, I'd like the thing to work as expected.

Anyone had this issue?  The door just cycles back open everytime I close it.

I am going to call Tech Support now, where they will probably tell me to once again remove all connections and power the machine down... then they will give up and tell me to return it.

If I return this, I think I will just give up on the Alienware and DELL in general.  This is the third tower PC I have purchased from them in the last three years and each has had problems upon arrive.  My XPS 700 had to be replaced due to a motherboard in shipping.  Video Card on my XPS 9000 had to be replaced soon after arrival.  Now this beauty.

When it drops back down, its the motor bringing it down right?

This will sometimes happen if you ever tried to close it manually against the will of the motor.  Did you ever physically close the door? If so, you might have thrown the door off its timed track. (kind of like windshield wipers)

Try to close the door with the help of the motor. When it is half way there, pull down on it (like your fighting against the motor) for a couple seconds. (you should hear some clicking) Then let the door do its own thing again. If it doesn't work, try again.

Dear Mogle,

Will you be my best friend?

I don't know what I can bring to the friendship, maybe I can do the heavy lifting.  You do the thinking... 'cause you are clearly much better that than me.

You are, once again, right on the money.  When I first got the machine, I thought perhaps closing the door manually then powering-down might reset it, so it would raise and lower correctly.

I just followed your steps and reset the cycle.  It took me a few tries to get it right, but now the cycle ends when the door is closed, instead of conintueing and lowering the door again.

DELL is having a local tech all me next week to schedule a front bezel replacement.  I will see how thing go for the weekend, but it looks like that won't be necessary thanks to your help (again).

Thanks so much!

My front panel doesn't react to the pressing of the alien head button anymore. I do not hear the  motor anymore. Are there instructions on how to check the connections and fix this?

I shut down my computer, unplugged it, and then restarted it. Now the front panel opens/closes.

I had the same problem, and thanks to Mogle I was able to fix it.  Mogle you are a legend!  Thanks!!!