DO NOT USE THE RESOURCE DVD!!!!!

Question

Hi all,

I just want to warn everyone not to use the Alienware Resource DVD to reload anything to your laptop or desktop. The version of Command Center on the DVD will re-flash the MIO circuit on the Mother Board, laptop, or the FX board, desktop, and kill the lighting. Dell knows about the problem but they have chosen not to let us know about it. Instead they wait for the service call and if your system is out of warranty then they have you. They will charge you for the call and then tell you that you have to replace your mother board or FX board and you have to cover the cost. That is a high price to pay for using the software that THEY shipped you with the system. So go to there support area and down load the latest drivers and apps from there so you don't get screwed by Dell. The sad part is I have been a Dell fan for a long time, well not anymore. Hope this saves some of you from making a costly mistake.

Scott

kameix1 · Answer

It used to be posted at the top of the page, but now you have to click into the 'alienware documents' thread en.community.dell.com/.../19339913.aspx

sjmadd · Answer

Yea, that would have been go to know info when I was doing a clean re-stall of all my software.  I still say they should have let us know about the problem.  As far as I know you can't buy a new system from Dell with out giving your email address.  So they know who was affected by this problem and they know how to get in touch with the people affected by this problem.  I know they have fixed the problem, or at least they say they have.  But if you didn't know then your screwed.

sjmadd · Answer

I do that.  How ever the drive that I had my back up image on died so I had no other way of doing it.  Also, I never updated Command Center.  I thought the one on the DVD was the one that was on the computer.  Dummy me

89fordprobee · Answer

okay i kow im prolly gonna get flames for thisbut i have to say it

the ORIGINAL CD's that come with the system are FACTORY installations that ORIGINALLY included in the system so it is common practice that when ever i update anything i toss the older cd out and remake a backup this is a common practice why some people dont is beyond me but its like not making backups of important files .... although i said it before the respawn partition is the exception that cant be altered and if used messes everything up anyway so basically its useless and shouldnt be included on the hard drive so Dell should be held responsible for this in the least since its thier partition executing the problem

sjmadd · Answer

I know what you mean.  I work on helicopter flight simulators for a living.  Only a few of the computers in the system are Dell, thank goodness.  The rest are IBM, PcNova and some other brands.  I can’t wait till we get the Dell computers out of the systems.  There are much better out there, just wish I would have shopped more before buying my M17x.

89fordprobee · Answer

yea cant trust dell nomore  for high end products .. if they only put 50% of the quality of the business end (servers,ect) of thier company into alienware it would be a 30000000% improvement and would be awsome to see a gaming rig with dual 8 core,16 threads ..... being 16 cores 32 threads :)

Maderas · Answer

Does this apply to factory image CDs as well? I need to reformat my computer, but now I'm worried it will totally brick the system if I do.

sjmadd · Answer

You can use the windows install disk but not the Resource DVD.  After you install windows go to Dell.com and then to the support area and down load everything from there.  You should be ok that way.  Wish I would have done it that way.  LOL.  Thats all I can do now is laugh about it.  Good luck.  Feel free to ask if you need any help.

Maderas · Answer

Ah, thanks for the reply. So is it only your lighting that doesn't work now, or did it affect your ability to change your fan speed with the Thermal Controller too? Do your fans still spin?

sjmadd · Answer

I bought a refurbished mother board from ebay to use as a test subject to see if I can find the LED controller chip and reset it.  I believe that after the controller chip was flash by the older version of Command Center it caused it to get stuck in a loop or some other strange state.  If I can get the part number off of the chip I should be able to reset it.  I will post what I find out.

sjmadd · Answer

Ment, It only affected.....

sjmadd · Answer

I only affected the lighting, all of the lighting.  All of the other Command Center functions work fine.  I'm trying to find out which chip on the mother board controls the lighting but no luck as of yet.

Tesla1856 · Answer

This is very technical, but check this thead:

en.community.dell.com/.../19925118.aspx

According to the docs, the chip is "in circuit programmable" but you will need:

- The hardware interface

- Pin-outs for the Debug connector and interface cable

- The SDK software

- The proper firmware to re-flash

... and then it should work .

tonycass99 · Answer

Hi Guys,

I came across this thread after doing a clean install of windows. Unfortunately I used the drivers from the resource DVD and have corrupted something like many others.

I could care less about the lights. My concern is the sensors and fan control which all read zero because my board is not detected. If I uninstall command center will windows be able to keep my pc cool with the fans? Are there any other dangers with this issue?

Thanks in advance for your help.

AC

SirVeloz · Answer

I used the resource DVD to reinstall all the drivers and command center on my new Alienware x51 after installing an SSD, and it worked fine.

Locked Topics – Alienware General

DO NOT USE THE RESOURCE DVD!!!!!

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