Alienware Command Center has Recurring Access Violation Errors

Affected Products:

• Alienware Command Center 5.x and 6.x
• Alienware 7.1 Gaming Headset AW510H
• Alienware Wireless Gaming Headset AW988

Steps to recreate:

1. Install AWCC 5.x or 6.x
2. Connect an Alienware (AW) AW510H or AW988H headset
3. Launch Control panel > Apps and Features to find out all headset components
4. Uninstall them manually (all headset components).

Expected outcome: AW headset components should be removed completely.

Actual outcome: AW Headset components are removed, but AWHeadset Service32 and AWHeadset Service64 are still running in Task Manager.

Older versions of Awheadsetsvc32 were found to have memory scaling issues, eventually leading to a process fault due to resource exhaustion.

The service crash associated with these EOL headsets is a fault offset at 0x00024ce0 within AWHeadsetSvc32.exe.

Workaround:

Disabling the headset service in Windows Services and restarting the computer mitigates the issue (the headset service no longer runs)

How to disable headset service:

1. Press the Windows Key + R to open Windows Services.
2. Locate AWHeadset Service.
3. Right-click the service and select Properties.
4. Open the General tab.
5. Set the Startup type to Disabled.
   
6. Restart the computer.