Alienware 14 Fx Lighting problems

First, is to do a backup.    There are ways to do that without buying the Alienware ReSpawn upgrade.    Might look at things like:  

Since I buy Seagate drives to do back up on.  I use the free product provided by Seagate to get a clone of my hard drive.   One installs the Seagate disk Wizard to a working computer, and it will let you create a stand alone back-up CD that will do clones and restore the OS from the clone.

If you have not done it, this is also the time to create the Windows Restore DVD, and Windows Repair CD that is available through Alienware Respawn and/or Windows itself. 

While having a back up is a good idea always.   I like to do more than one backup if I am going to fool with the OS, as you are about to do.   I like to make sure that at least one of my backups is a Clone, I distrust so call time interval backups, as they find unique and creative ways to fail.  Altho they are necessary when just trying to keep a running backup and not use up a huge amount of external hard drive space.

Look to find all the Activation/Registration codes for all the software products you have, and put them together in a USB drive, and perhaps on paper as well.  It is unbelievable how these things get lost when I was sure I had them in exactly one place already.  I know that if one has Microsoft Office, if one did not buy it from Microsoft themselves, that Dell needs a really good reason to give you the Activation code again.   (It came on a piece of paper in the box with the computer originally).   Likewise, make sure you have the Windows Registration number.      Might need an Registration code for you Antivirus, and other things you purchase, like games.  

Then I would suggest that you save a copy of the Registry, as it is right now.   And do a System checkpoint.   I have not looked but I think Alienware Support has some really good writeups on how to do these things that is far superior to what I might write.   Plus, get a list of the ways to startup the Alienware to different modes before you clobber the OS.

After you do all that, in my case, as I am still in Warranty, I know the best thing is to call Alienware Technical support, let them remote the Desktop, and see if they can fix it while you watch.  

If Alienware Tech support can not help, or you do not have Warranty.  Then it is possible to restore the OS without clobbering your personal data.  WHEW.  Most likely the computer did a System Checkpoint when it installed a new Video Driver.   It is also possible to reinstall All the OS back to day one receipt of computer, and not damage your personal Data, that is without formatting the entire disk.    However, all the third party programs will not be there when the computer comes back up.  So you will have to reinstall those third party programs, and Activate/Register them.  

I will guess the Alienware tech guys will come along and give you links to how to save a copy of the Registry, how to start the OS reinstall and all their support stuff.

What they may not mention, if you are trying to start the computer and push down an F key to start one of special programs related to OS tinkering.  One must often hold the function key down first, then press the Power button.   You bought a fast computer, and it is faster than your ability to press the Power Key and get to the Function key in time. 

Best wishes.

I should say one other thing, if you reinstall the OS, and you start the computer, and if the computer  can find a way to get online, it is likely to interrupt starting to the desktop, and the screen go black, and stay black while the OS is downloading and installing things, like all the Windows Updates.  I think that is all night.  Gets confusing as it will use any Encrypted WiFi connection that you previously had.  (Yeah, funny right it reinstalled the OS, but kept the Password to an encrypted connection.)   and also because the computer screen can go into rest mode, so you may get up and the screen be black, while it is actually not downloading, but waiting for you to tell it to re-start.   Don't let the black screen throw you, it is normal part of Windows Re-installing updates.   Be better if it had a splash screen telling you what was going on.  I hope Windows Ten is better.   Sigh.   Might give you some reassurance if you turn off the WiFi before you restored the OS, also unplugging the cable.   then you should get back into the initial Windows more directly the first time, but you are going to have to sit through the updates anyway. and black screen, Sometime