Thanks for the quick reply Tesla.

Master I/O USB device was not in the list for custom tests. How should I troubleshoot this? I know you've probably answered this a million times already but I found a lot of mixed information about this and I've been trying things for 4 hours now so I appreciate you copy/pasting it one more time for me.

Turn on or boot computer

Press F12 a few times

Press down arrow

Select "Boot to Utility Menu"

-or-

Insert Diagnostics CD (the one you created from "Dell Diags CD Creator" download)

Press F12 a few times

Select CD/DVD-ROM drive

... then

Test System

Custom Test

- Master I/O USB Device (MIO Board)

Run Test

(it should say Passed)

To see if MIO Board is connected and communicating with MotherBoard

USB, USB AW G2 Desktop, USB Device Ping Test

If the above tests Pass, you can also test:

Fans, Sensors, LEDs, MIO Cable Detections

en.community.dell.com/.../20128296.aspx

Try Power Dissipation fix before Diags.

You must get Dell Diags to detect MIO-Board (outside of Windows) before you can proceed.

Did you find the proper Dell Diags? It's NOT a Windows program. It runs from BIOS boot (outside of Windows).

I tried the power dissipation fix and ran Dell Diagnostics. I'm accessing Dell Diags by pressing F12 at the BIOS loading screen and then selecting the utility partition in the menu. It doesn't say Dell Diagnostics anywhere but I assume that's what it is.

In any case, there is no MIO-board in the list of things to test. (inside the custom test interface) I took a look at this thread you linked me but I don't think it applies to my situation because there doesn't seem to be any information on troubleshooting a disconnected MIO-Board. I know I said that it likely wasn't a hardware problem but I'm not married to that idea. If I need to open her up and play around inside, just let me know what I should do.

Thanks!

I took a look at this thread you linked me but I don't think it applies to my situation because there doesn't seem to be any information on troubleshooting a disconnected MIO-Board.

Yes, that is the right page. Read carefully.

If the MIO-Board can't be detected in Dell Diags, it's usually because it's dead, bad, locked-up, or bricked (due to a failed MIO Firmware upgrade).

I went ahead and spelled-out how to check the internal wiring. However, if you are up to troubleshooting at this hardware level ... I shouldn't have to.

Good Luck.

You can try re-seating cables:

1. Motherboard's USB-1 header to MIO-Board.

2. MIO-Board power (larger 4-pin molex)

... and then plug back in and repeat all other diag steps.

If the MIO-Board still doesn't respond, it will have to be replaced. Normal Aurora (non-ALX) and ALX machines use slightly different boards.

when i hit F12, it brings me into something called ePSA.  is that different?

i have installed my own SSD and win7.  how can i get dell diags and run the power dissipation tests or do any of this stuff?

i can't install 2.8.8.0

Mr. Sinatra,

The ePSA is also a diagnostics test, is the newer version of the PSA:

Alienware™ Enhanced Systems Diagnostics (ePSA)

well, i have ePSA and ran the tests, and no errors were found.

but i didn't see a "power dissipation test" or anything about the "MIO" board itself, like the lights and what not.

in other words, i can't install 2.8.8.0 and yet the ePSA gives no clues whatsoever as to why.  so b/c of that, i have to send this thing back to the factory so u guys can figure it out.

can't say i'm happy about it.

sorry Tesla, i forget what thread i'm in.   its a M14x R1.   part of the problem though, as i see it, is that terminology is not defined straight forward anywhere, like a glossary.  i now know that ePSA is basically just the dell diagnostics, but that is not in and of itself obvious.   by the same token, i don't really know what the "MIO board" is, if its different from the motherboard or is the motherboard, and if it should have its own category in the ePSA.  again, this is not explained anywhere i have looked.  i don't know what it is i don't know, but clearly, i don't know much.  :(   when in ePSA, i did not see anywhere to scroll.  the last thing was the memory tests, there shouldn't be anything after that, right?  shouldn't ePSA be aware that a MIO board should be present, but isn't reporting itself if that is in fact the clue?

No problem.

If you have your own dedicated thread, point me to it. If you don't, you should start one and start at the beginning.

Right, so you have an AW laptop ... different story. All my troubleshooting is focused towards full-sized AW Desktops (that have dedicated MIO-boards) because that's what I own.

On an AW laptop, there is not a dedicated MIO-Board ... just a MIO Circuit on the motherboard. You can still do the Power Dissipation fix, but it's a little different. The AW laptop's version of Dell Diags/ePSA is obviously different. I've never been able to get someone to run it (on a working perfectly laptop) and verify that the MIO-Circuit does indeed show up a testable or that's it's even possible.

Are you under extended Dell warranty? What country are you in?

sorry Tesla, i forget what thread i'm in.

its a M14x R1.

part of the problem though, as i see it, is that terminology is not defined straight forward anywhere, like a glossary.  i now know that ePSA is basically just the dell diagnostics, but that is not in and of itself obvious.

by the same token, i don't really know what the "MIO board" is, if its different from the motherboard or is the motherboard, and if it should have its own category in the ePSA.  again, this is not explained anywhere i have looked.  i don't know what it is i don't know, but clearly, i don't know much.  :(

when in ePSA, i did not see anywhere to scroll.  the last thing was the memory tests, there shouldn't be anything after that, right?  shouldn't ePSA be aware that a MIO board should be present, but isn't reporting itself if that is in fact the clue?

well, i have ePSA and ran the tests, and no errors were found.   but i didn't see a "power dissipation test" or anything about the "MIO" board itself, like the lights and what not.   in other words, i can't install 2.8.8.0 and yet the ePSA gives no clues whatsoever as to why.  so b/c of that, i have to send this thing back to the factory so u guys can figure it out.

Well, first of all, you have hijacked an old thread. We don't even know what machine you have.

You are not reading carefully. Power Dissipation is a procedure, not a test.

If ePSA Custom Test does not list the MIO-Board as a test-able device, that is your indication that something is wrong ... that is your clue. Did you scroll down to the bottom of the list of devices?

i'm in the USA, and luckily i still have a couple weeks left of warranty on my laptop.

they said on tuesday i'd have a fed ex box to ship my laptop to them by wednesday.  its now thursday and no fed ex, which i blame mostly on them messing up the address it seems, in spite of me writing it to them.  hopefully i get the box friday.

they seem to think i can't do anything to fix it, which is why they want to see it.  if i get it back in "perfect working order" i will run the ePSA and let you know if any MIO type things show up there.  i have no idea if they will or won't or even if they are supposed to though.

i tried unplugging it, taking the battery out, and holding the power button and pressing it a few times, and then turning it all back on, no change.  

it bothers me that alienware would setup something like this, with hidden drivers and so on, that is so clearly not robust, and not even easily spotted by diags/ePSA.  i mean, when i read various things, like about how u need to uninstall then install, as opposed to simply upgrade from within the app, etc, all this "touchiness" as to how to make this stuff work, its a bit like "happy fun ball" from SNL.  this is one of those things where the concept has far outpaced the implementation, and i think someone should lose a job over it, imo.

dell is RIDICULOUS.

i STILL don't have my fed ex box.  they can't get Substitute character removed as per TOU> together enough to even get my address right.

MONDAY, 6PM, STILL NO BOX!!!

does anyone at dell/alienware care???