M18x R2, speaker LED out

Is it just the left side speaker grill LED? Or is it also the numpad LED zone?

Any chance you can post a photo?

So you replaced the whole LED cable for the front grills? 

@mattyb3​ yeah the left one. I replaced with your cable pictured already, no effect. Lol in fact the left one still out. The number keypad if you can tell still has lights under the keys but its def not lighting up the keys at any angle.

@MyApocalypse​ Looks like the trackpad halo light also isn't working. Have you tried reinstalling AWCC 2.8.8.0? That can sometimes fix this. 

If that doesn't work then the problem is probably on the motherboard 

@mattyb3​ that reminds me i had turned off that trackpad manually, is it still pointing towards the mb? i remember reading before where someone fixed an LED zone by replacing the keyboard on their alienware

On another note my R2 will not post anymore. I tagged you in the same thread where you helped me with setting up the 1070 gtx, the details are in there if you have any idea there thanks as always for being so helpful

@MyApocalypse​  It's possible that the lighting has failed just in that zone so maybe replacing the keyboard will work. It's pretty hard to find keyboards these days. Well, US-International ones anyway. 

I don't see the tag for the other thread, what is happening when you try to turn it on? Are you getting a beep code?

That issue has been resolved now. Short story i put the laptop into discrete gpu mode and then i had a fun time in the afternoon. With so many niche laptops i upgraded i begin to forget the disassembly for another one lol...

If it comes down to keyboard or motherboard, i'm willing to try busting this myth. Looks like a waiting game for sure but considering i did not pay much for my AW an m18 parts unit would be a better option if that ever comes up. Hey another question, here you modded a driver for a 780m https://www.dell.com/community/en/conversations/alienware/m17x-r3-graphics-card-upgrade/647f8e97f4ccf8a8def7f769 would you still have the file? I am doing the same thing on an R3 120hz w/ the 3D screen just waiting on parts :)

@MyApocalypse​ Also, just check the keyboard AlienFX ribbon cable to see if any of the pins are damaged. You can also check the cable and connector for the grill lights. It's possible that just one pin is bent as you only have one light not working. 

I don't think I have the 780M file anywhere so we'll have to work through it when you get the parts in. You have to switch off the HD audio in the BIOS to install the 780M in the R3 and sometimes you can never get the sound back. 

@MyApocalypse Ahh I just realised you meant that you tagged me in the TechInferno post. I don't go on there anymore, the admins/mods on there are crooks. They just want unsuspecting people to pay for old BIOS' when they should be free, like on NotebookTalk.net

@mattyb3 Yeah that is the most kick in the face thing i come across especially when there are a good few dedicated to keep this shindig alive and well. For the light issue i will tackle another disassembly after the parts are in for the R3 sometime this week. I am starting to doubt the single light out is anything but the mb

@MyApocalypse​ There is also the notebooktalk.net forum. The unlocked BIOS' are all there for free and there are a few guys still around there with these old systems. TechInferno died out years ago when they started remotely using peoples PC's to mine. 

I saw the post about you switching the graphics mode and getting the 8 beeps. The 1070 must use SG mode so switching to PEG mode like you did will cause the 8 beeps. That was your issue. Glad you worked it out. 

@mattyb3 After an extended weekend out in the sun i jumped on the R3 and figured I would get the bios flashed but the most Alienware thing happened and Insyde flasher came to tell me my battery is too weak lol... feeling confused I quickly ordered one adding to the list of parts.

Alienwares built a good following with much support i wish the same happened with Toshiba Qosmio lineup some of the best niche laptops to exist

@mattyb3​ an update to my post. Battery is not the issue anymore, the charger i bought for the R3 was causing a bottleneck additionally limited my cpu to 800mhz. Here is a new problem i have received tonight lol :/

After i turned off laptop and removed the battery, turned it back on now i see this permanent vertical red line. It fades towards the bottom of the screen. Line was also present when I did the "hold D" screen test upon boot. Also since i bought this R3 second hand there is an occasional dead pixel flickering on a corner of the screen. I am prepared to know this screen is failing but can i still hope its the gpu? Getting another 3D screen seems real difficult

@mattyb3 successfully flashed unlocked bios. Now greeted with some screens

The I/O screen came up once

This error message comes on all the time. No boot to windows.

@MyApocalypse It looks like you may have to reinstall Windows. It's probably just be because a BIOS setting has been changed after the flash. Can you get into the new BIOS? Can you go to the boot tab and take some photos of the options? Maybe you can make some small changes in there to get the drive to be recognised. Does the boot drive show up in the BIOS? 

With the line of the screen, it is probably a screen issue rather than the GPU. You can sometimes get rid of the lines by pressing gently above or below the line but the screen is protected by a Perspex panel on these models so that probably won't work. 

@mattyb3 under boot I moved up Hard Drive above Second HDD I noticed that didn't do anything, when i was at the boot again the Hard Drive line was not visible but visible after the next boot. Anyways I ended up looking for my misplaced Windows 7 dvd case lol and being tired last night I thought the red line did not appear on the screen and in fact it did not lol