Error on boot: Alienware AlienFX Controller

Think I'll try antivir. Used to use that all the time and never had a problem. I'll give that a shot and see if the issue returns.

The only silver lining to this issue...my drivers are all up to date! ha Because I used the same protocol everyone else used...updated the drivers.

Okay. Re-downloaded MSE and excluded every file that says Alienware.  So far so good. I rebooted and my wireless came on immediately just like it did when new. 

Thanks guys! If the problem returns, i'll re-post.

Excluding C:\Program Files\Alienware fixes the symptoms. The problem however remains of why MSE is hanging while scanning files in this directory. Untill this is addressed, this directory will be a great place for viruses.

Dell support: Why is MSE hanging while scanning files in the Alienware directory? Can you provide a fix?

Hello everyone, I've received the same error message for about a week now and noticed I only got it after the windows update. I have tried everything this forum thread has suggested and the only successful thing has stopped the error with the tray icons and the anti virus and the wireless not being connected but actually is/ is by going into WSE --> settings --> excluded files and locations --> browse for C:/Program Files/Alienware. It has helped me and i haven't had a problem since. I have literally gone to rebooting my PC to factory resetting it and this has been the only solution. Thanks to everyone on this thread for the help and suggestions. BTW i own an alienware m17xr4 laptop, so i know everyone's frustration here. Hope this helps like it did mine! goodluck people.

Alienware: M17XR4

Like many others here I have also started receiving these Alienware FX CC errors as well.  The error prevents programs from fully loading in my system tray, prevents MSE from using real time protection and prevents loading of web browsers. 

What I initially did to try and solve this issue worked fine at first (System restore to the date of Windows critical update). I then began troubleshooting further to see if maybe if I updated Command Center and then updated windows again, things would be okay.

As soon as I updated CC the error returned. 

I have uninstalled Command Center now, and the problem has gone away. I will not re-install it until DELL addresses this issue. As it stands the current version of Command Center does not allow my laptop to function (with MSE anyway). 

I have restored my computer 4 times to its factory image in the last 7 days and this problem keeps happening just like everyone else

I too have MSE and did exclude the files but my problem still persists. I did a restore to earlier today when my laptop was working correctly but it has not helped

Not sure what else to do here as sometimes my comp won't POST and give me 6,5,8 beeps sometimes too

So done with Dell and their lack of help here

I ended up reformatting again and still have an older version my alienware cc on my computer. I also have not installed MSE again to see if that helps. I also went further and did not install any windows updates from Sept 10/2013 as people think those are the ones causing the problems. 

So far no problem but time will tell as the problem always comes back after my laptop has been totally turned off for a period of time. 

I have an M17XR4 and had the same problem pop up Thursday evening so I reformatted my laptop (was planning on doing it anyway). It didn't work and it was taking 20 minutes or longer for everything to boot up after everything was re-installed. I tried removing Alienware Control Center and excluding the program from Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) but it still didn't help. The one thing I have found that helps is turning off real time protection in MSE before I shutdown and then re-enabling after everything loads on a start up, so far no problems and it boots right up. Not a fix but you can leave all your programs on your laptop and hope there is an actual fix for this soon.

Follow-up on my M17xR4.:

I reformatted and re-installed everything including MSE but this time excluded C:\Program Files\Alienware in the MSE settings.  I also downloaded and installed every MS critical and recommended update and patch (147 of them).  I did make a backup prior to installing the 147.  I have had no issues in almost 24 hours now and have rebooted several times.  

Has anyone tried to exclude MSE? I have been very happy with MSE but until this issue is resolved maybe the solution is another vius application.

Suggestions?

I went back to Mcafee. I didn't want to as I have my own issues with it on my Alienware m17x R4 laptop when it wakes up from sleep mode. 

Even after a fresh format and install I still get the same problem. At least it's easier to deal with them this current problem. 

So far no MSE and no problems yet but I haven't updated everything yet

Just want to thank everyone for their great contributions--you all saved me a lot of time trying to figure out what the heck was going on.  I have a M17x R4 and I got this error starting yesterday.  Like many others, my wifi was all crazy (saying it was connecting when I could access the Internet) and half my programs weren't working properly--including MSE.  I can confirm that the simplest fix is to simply have Microsoft Security Essentials exclude any folders entitled Alienware.  I also disabled run-time protection for good measure.  I just wanted to give a step-by-step of what I did just in case it might help other users.

1. Boot to safe mode (tap F8 repeatedly during bootup).  My computer worked fine from safe mode (including wifi when I booted into safe mode with Internet access).  In normal mode everything was slowing done and/or hanging including MSE and Windows uninstaller refused to work (the first thing I tried was uninstalling both Alienware Command Center and Microsoft Security Essentials).
2. Open Microsoft Security Essentials.  Do a program search for it from the start menu if you're not sure where it is.
3. Open the "Settings" tab.  Should be the last one on the right
4. Click on the excepted file locations.  In the left-hand bar ('m on a Japanese OS, so I'm not sure exactly what it's called in English).
5. Hit the Browse button and select the Alienware Folder.  I did a file search from Windows Explorer and found that aside from shortcuts and user preferences most Alienware files were stored in C:\Program Files\Alienware.
6. Click "Add".
7. Click "Save changes."
   
8. Click the real-time protection.  Again, in the left-hand bar... not exactly sure if the English name is the same.
9. Unclick real-time protection (if it is enabled).
10. Click "Save changes."
11. Reboot. 

Hope this helps the less technically inclined out there to fix the problem.  My Alienware is running peachy again.  No BIOS updates, no uninstalling/reinstalling Alienware command center, no rolling back to a previous system restore point (I couldn't anyway, all of my restore points were after the Windows update that borked MSE/ACC).  Just changed a couple of setting in MSE.  I'll probably uninstall MSE after this fiasco and go with something else like AVG.

Yep the MSE exclusion seems to be working. What I noticed on all the other fixes is that it would seem to work on simple restarts, however, a full shutdown would reveal the issues once more.

Even though excluding the alienware file in MSE seems to have fixed the start program hang-ups, it still seems like my system is a minute or two slower in gettin up and going. I really hope dell or microsoft releases something on this issue as I am curious as to what is going on. 

UPDATE:

In MSE I decided to excluded two "files and locations" in addition to Program Files/Alienware. I excluded Program Files (x86)/Alienrespawn, Program Files (x86)/Alienware On-Screen Display, and Program Files/AlienAutopsy. 

After doing this I noticed that the rest of my start up programs booted significantly faster. Maybe it's just coincidence but I don't think so as the difference was by almost 1 minute.