Hi @Cattleya922 welcome to this free user to user Alienware laptop discussion forum. This is not Dell Support. 

You have identified the problem to be display port cable does not fully plug into laptop. Either the laptop port or display cable has an alignment insertion fault. Hopefully you have another display cable to test if laptop port has a fault. If other display cable can be fully inserted, the original display cable has fault and requires replacement cable. Do not use excessive force to insert cable into laptop port. 

Cattleya922,

The m17 R4 doesn't have a full size DisplayPort. Are you referring to the #2 smaller Mini DisplayPort?

thank you Chris, you are correct.. I was referring to the mini display port. The cable is NOT loose when plugged in, so perhaps that is not the issue.

So I have been just living with this issue since last year and noticed on the wide screen monitor that is connected with the mini DisplayPort connection that I was getting a message saying something about the DisplayPort settings could be mis-matched. I believe that the DisplayPort on this laptop is 1.2, and the monitor was set at 1.4. I changed the setting on the monitor and, while I still get a blinking when changing applications, it is not happening as often as before. What I want to know is where can I find the setting for the DisplayPort on the laptop of are the specs on Dell's website correct that the DP is 1.2? (Alienware 17 R4 Setup and Specifications | Dell US)

The older January 2022 Rev. 04 m17 R4 Setup and Specifications PDF states = One Mini DisplayPort 1.4

The newer April 2023 Rev. 05 m17 R4 Setup and Specifications PDF states = One Mini DisplayPort 1.2

I would go with the newer revision data.