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Alienware goes unresponsive and power seems to fade in and out
I have a 2012 Alienware Aurora R3 desktop running the latest updated Windows 7 which will randomly experience issues (sometimes after 2 hours sometimes after 5 minutes) where the keyboard and mouse stop working (although the light on the keyboard stays on, the light on the mouse fades on and off), and I can hear one of the fans in the computer spinning up and slowing down repeatedly. The Alienhead also cycles from its normal color to yellow, then repeats, in sync with the fan spinning up and down. The computer does seem to stay active, with programs still running.
I tried replacing the power supply with another dell PSU (exact same model) and after a couple of hours the problem started again.
I have blown all the dust out of the computer twice with no success.
I would appreciate any suggestions and help. Thank you!
DELL-Milena M
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May 29th, 2015 15:00
In that case I would recommend you to run a PSA diagnostic, as well try one memory stick at the time, update BIOS to the latest version you find in the Dell support website and let us know go it goes.
dhatch01
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May 29th, 2015 18:00
Thank you for the suggestions Milena! I have run the system diagnostics that you can get to by hitting F12 at boot up and a full extended test showed no issues. I also updated the bios to version 6 which is what the Dell Support website recommended for the system.
I have not yet tried the memory stick idea. I will try that and respond back when I have results. Thank you!
dhatch01
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May 31st, 2015 00:00
I tried removing one memory stick at a time and tested all 4, but the problem still occurred each time.
If you have any other suggestions, I'd appreciate it.
Thank you
dhatch01
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May 31st, 2015 00:00
I found this video on youtube. It is exactly what's happening with our computer, but there's no comment offering a solution.
[View:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-a8Ya_PiDU:550:0]
At least you can actually see and hear what's happening.
dhatch01
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June 2nd, 2015 20:00
Some other things I've tried:
Booting into Safe Mode - No help
Made sure all fans running and system free of dust - No help
I will probably try replacing the graphics card tomorrow to see if that helps, but I don't think it's the graphics card. I'm just running out of ideas.
Please help!
Cass-Ole
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June 3rd, 2015 06:00
on a side note, a free attempt at a fix, unplug machine, hold top power button down one minute, allow machine to rest 5 minutes, plug in, see what happens ('the m i/o power dissipation fix') or reinstall windows on a new different hard drive, see if problem returns during or after install. if so, replace with new parts.
Cass-Ole
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June 3rd, 2015 06:00
that's an odd symptom in that video. I'm surprised the psu you bought did not cure yours. It doesn't 'feel' like a graphics card issue, feels more like a master i/o or top i/o ... more like the mthrbrd but perhaps replace that last as it costs the most ... maybe replace that 1st though, I wish I knew:
It's not my fault if those parts up there in that order don't help. You should ask that person on utube what they did to fix theirs, leave a comment, see if they reply fast to your qwery before you start buying parts. I know it sux when you buy & try pricey new parts & they don't cure the symptom, but if it were my machine & I was faced with what you have going on there, & I'd tried a new psu that did not fix it, I'd go with other likely parts as I myself wouldn't know what else to try on such an odd thing as what you stated and what I watched on utube. Tougher to diagnose now when the psu was the likely cure. The mio and top io both have either diodes capacitors & resistors which might go bad over time, so I suggested those as remote possibility 'odd but true' items ... I don't know what is wrong with yours, sorry. good luck?