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October 21st, 2012 16:00
MIO board and AlienFX question
Hello everyone,
I am new in this community and I have one problem now.
I have read all the comments and posts regarding this issue, especially Tesla's ones (Thank you sir for your efforts!), but I am still in an uncertain position right now.
I had some issues with one of my lights (left top side) showing always differnt colors than the rest. After several attempts with a tech guy, they have decided to replace the top light part.
The technician from Dell showed up few weeks ago with the part (the plastic top that contains both horizintal superior LED lights plus the motor and the vents.
He told me that he is doing this for 20 years now. However, he didn't have a clue how to OPEN my ALX! I have showed him the repair manual found by me on the Ipad. He didn't have a manual neither.
I worked in the past as an electronics technician for over 10 years in Hi-Fi audio so I do understand many things.
After a 5 minutes conversation he told me he never opened one so I have decided that I do not need a guy to butcher my toy or learn on it.
I have asked him to leave the part with me, I will replace it myself and I will call him to pick up the defective one.
Pressed by the time I have decided one Sunday to open the beast and see what is going on. I felt bad and not happy to take out my 4 Gb video card, wires, power suppy, ventilation module and all tha jazz, the engineering is terrible in this thing, they should make it simple with light lines for each side that will be easy to replace but no, they decide that is better to pay double and replace the whole thing including the vents motor. Very cost effective Dell!
So, I have opened the thing, did some test and measurements and figured out I have cold solder joints on the board that gave me trouble; due to the poor contact, the second voltage input was on or off, showing me different colors than the rest of the computer. I have repaired with patience the solder joints and everything works fine.
Called the Dell tech guy to come in and pick-up his unused replacement part.
Everything worked so I have decided to buy the Alienware Respawn Premium version to make an image of my disk. If you are looking to upgrade to Premium, I can tell you that this software will not offer you the posibility to make a 1/1 bit image of your disk, so think twice, because Premium Respawn is $41 and Acronis is $30. the funny thing is, no tech guy knows how respawn works, and nobody gives you a book, instructions, support, anything. I have upgraded, received an email from a company in germany with the code, no instructions, no help, no support. very frustrating, nobody knows how this back up system works and if you can actually make an image of your disk with this software (from what I have seeN, it can't).
Anyway, back to my problem. before decided to make a back up I have decided (at Dells' tech instructions) to uninstall my Alien FX software and install the new version of it.
BIG MISTAKE!
I have followed their instructions (which are wrong because the file with the " *.ath" extension it is not under primary user account but under "My Documents" folder. So, watch out what are you guys deleting.
Anyway, I am cleaning everything, step by step, go to their website, input my Tag number and download the suggested Alien FX which actualy was a 2009 version not the new one. So Dell screwed me up in this one.
After install, obviously, my BIOS does not see the MIO board anymore, whatever I do.
I have tried EVERYTHING you guys suggested, uninstall, install, power down, unplug cable, one minut push button, even disconect USB 1 plug from mobo, restart, fresh reinstall, etc, still same black screen with no MIO board.
My fans are running faster and noisier, obviously because I have no control board anymore. No lights at all at this time as well.
Talked to a tech guy again, he decided to send me a new board or a tech with a new MIO board.
My questions are:
1. What board do I need (model, version)? I just want to be sure I will have the proper board installed not a wrong one. I will specify my specs at the end of the message, because I don't know what computer I have (R1, R2, etc.)
2. Does this board have the right Alien FX installed in it from factory?
3. What are the steps before installing it? I do have my factory CC software in the system because I did factory restore. Do I need to do something specific before this guy will show up with the new one, or should I just turn it off, replace card, start, etc? If the tech will be the same, I better know myself what needs to be done.
4. Alienware Respawn is aking me to update from version 9.4.57 to version 9.4.60. Should I do it?
My Computer
Alienware Aurora ALX
Bios A11
Windows 7 Ultimate / service pack 1
IntelCore i7 CPU X990 @ 3.47Ghz running at 3.74
Memory 24 GB
Samsung SSD 512 / Raid 0
AMD radeon HD 6990 4GB SLI enabled
Thank you very much for your help!
Tesla1856
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October 21st, 2012 18:00
It sounds like you are under Dell extended warranty contract? If so, this is a covered repair.
1. According to my records you need to have installed:
DPN: 2JXP2 - Aurora R1-x58 (Deimos)/Aurora R2 (Voltaire) ALX Master I/O Board
Unless you can get the current one to respond in Dell Diags. Try Power Dissipation fix again with AA Batteries for Interior Lighting removed (just keep them removed until this is all working).
Note: The other non-ALX version of the board will not work fully with your hardware. It doesn't support the additional "ALX features". Don't accidentally order and install the wrong one.
2 & 3. When the good board is installed, have all prior versions of Command Center already removed from Windows.
- Shut-Down, Unplug, and do Power Dissipation Fix (to get machine as ready as possible). Have AA Batteries removed.
- Install new board. Be very carefull with all those connectors. The wires are very thin and fragile.
- Run Dell Diags (outside of Windows) and make sure it can be detected and MIO-Board specific tests appear and can be used (to test Lights for example). If tests are positive continue.
- Do Power Dissipation Fix (to get machine as ready as possible).
- Disable Virus Checker
- Install Command Center (for Desktops) v2.6.17.0 or newer
- Reboot and then check operation.
- Dell Downloads is always messed up these days. Try entering database from Generic List (without Service Tag).
4. Sorry. I already commented on Respawn. I could point you to many threads about it's problems, refusing to work, no one at Dell seems to support it. I also wrote a thread on how to properly uninstall it and it's Services. It's not a simple "uninstall" from Programs and Features.
Tesla1856
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October 21st, 2012 17:00
As you found out ... Electronics Technician skills come in handy. Not just being able to work on stuff you've never seen before (armed with only the manual) but also being able to troubleshoot complex machines in general. Being able to read a schematic and using a Multi-Meter properly is also a valuable skill. So you apply it to computers ... the machines are totally different but the theory is the same.
Good job finding the cold-solder joint. That's part is done so I won't comment further.
Yes ... back-flashing an MIO-Board with an old version of CommandCenter is a sure was to brick it. The Download Center is seriously messed up. I've told Dell many times that old CC v2.5.x is being incorrectly offered and bricking MIO-Boards.
Run Dell Diags from outside of Windows and make sure the MIO-Board is really bricked.
Yes, Dell Data Safe Local (or Alien Re-Spawn) or whatever they are calling it these days is very lame and un-supported. Use Acronis or similar commercial partition Imaging software.
Click my name or see my Favorite posts:
http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/p/19376654/19866250.aspx#19866250
1. It depends on what exact Aurora model you have. Are you saying you have a Aurora ALX (Release 1) with a Intel x58 chipset and Intel i7-990x processor? ALX model with motor controlled louver fins on top and extra lights in front?
2. Dell-Chris-M assured us a while back that all factory shipped MIO-Boards (from now on) will be flashed with the 2.x firmware. This means they are compatible with Command Center versions 2.6.x and higher.
http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/p/19454040/20128296.aspx#20128296
Personal Notes: At support.dell.com for your Service Tag, you will see 2 different CommandCenter for Desktops versions. v2.5.x is the older version. v2.6.x is the newer version. To get v2.6 installed, you have to install .Net 4.0 first. The first time v2.6 is installed on a machine, it will permanently upgrade the MIO-Board firmware from v1.x to v2.x . Therefore, you should keep running CC v2.6 (or higher) on that machine.
3. I'll post this later
4. Never update CC from inside CC itself (see links above) ... read all carefully.
AA7
54 Posts
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October 21st, 2012 18:00
AA7
54 Posts
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October 21st, 2012 19:00
Ok, found the batteries. I am gona try again to uninstal CC and disipate the power, restart and run the PSA. I will come back with the results.
The virus checker was refering to the antivirus?
Question: after doing all that, if I will ever do the factory restore, the partition will install the CC that the computer came initialy or it will " memorize" the one that I will download prior to MIO board reinstall?
AA7
54 Posts
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October 21st, 2012 19:00
Tesla1856
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October 21st, 2012 19:00
AA batteries are inside machine ... behind black side cover for Optical drives. Yes, connected to MIO-Board ... and some users have reported that the Power Dissipation Fix doesn't work if they are installed.
Users have reported that after multiple attempts of various things, MIO-Board eventually comes to life inside Dell Diags.
The proper one will not only look like the old one, but have header connectors ready to accept the "ALX options" like extra lights and louver fins. Also, later, you will see the proper zones in Command Center.
The only "software": on the MIO-Board itself is the firmware. It should be 2.x . The Command Center has the Windows-7 drivers and apps. It all must match. Do as I previously instructed and it should work fine.
AA7
54 Posts
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October 21st, 2012 19:00
Sir, you are perfectly righ. On the board it says 02JXP2. Man, you are good.
Tesla1856
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October 21st, 2012 20:00
1. Good. Yes, repeat all tests.
2. Yes. Also, uninstall McAfee if expired. You can install Microsoft Security Essentials for free. It has a "Real-Time Checker" that can be turned off temporarily.
3. As it says in my "Win-7 Clean Install doc" ... you can't ever use the Dell Restore again. It will try to re-install CC 2.5.x and brick your MIO-Board again. Yes, it has happened to people. Another reason why its un-usable (if you can get it to work in the first place).
I suggest you think about a clean install, and make your own "recovery points" with something like Acronis. Command Center isn't installed until the very end so it won't be included in most of the images. And even if it is, it will be v 2.6.x (or better) so no harm will come to your machine. v2.6.x and greater all use the same (v2.x) firmware. Also, the v2.x firmware and new Command Center version supposedly have code to prevent "back-flashes" and therefore prevents bricking (this way anyway).
AA7
54 Posts
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October 21st, 2012 20:00
Hello Tesla,
I know it might sound stupid but one reason I bought this computer for is to bring it back anytime I need without any hassle. For me reonstalling windows and all that jazz not to mention God knows what kind of conflicts I might have, it is a pain in the. I HATE IT!
I have run the tests, same answer ,same code, user must reattach unit on ROOT HUB part 1 and restart test.
If I will install the new MIO board and run PSA tests and then just run respawn with factory image to install the same software that my original MIO board came with, shouldn't work?
I really need that factory image. Specailly if they are now, stupid proof so no "back flashes" are allowed?
I have an old Aurora 9700 and man, that respawn did it always, never gave me trouble since 2006 when I bought it. Still works like new today.
Tesla1856
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October 21st, 2012 21:00
AA7
54 Posts
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October 21st, 2012 21:00
I apologize, I dont intend to be a pest, I am ok with hardware repair but I am totally paralel with software things. This is why I am puting all kind of questions that might sound stupid for you.
Yes, you make yourself clear. I am still looking to find a way without clean install, I really dont want that, and to be honest this is not what I want to do after spending over 6 k on a computer.
I guess the best ideea is to wait for the new board, install it, see if everything ok and installAcronis and run it.
The problem is, I never used Acronis, I dont know how to use it to make a partition that will help me bring the computer back anytime I need.
I bought it for my 9700 because it neeeds too many updates if restore to factory settings; however, I didn'tt use it yet, I dont mind using it for Alx.
To be honest, I will pay someone to do this for me, just to have peace in mind, I dont want to screw something again... :(
Tesla1856
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October 21st, 2012 21:00
AA7
54 Posts
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October 21st, 2012 21:00
Hello Tesla,
I have looked for the CC soft that dell has. It is now version 2.8.9.0 from 09/07/2012. I hope this is ok.
Mine is an R1 or R2?
Thankyou
AA7
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October 21st, 2012 22:00
Tesla1856
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October 21st, 2012 22:00
You got an Aurora ALX R1 in January 2012 ?
From Dell Outlet Center I suppose ... or a third party?
...
You are welcome. Glad to help.