Alienfx Download Windows 11

[Jennifer Downey]

Thisguide is to help anyone that fell prey to Dell's corrupted Alienware Command Center Application that was sent out on many M15x and M17x R1/R2 Resource CD's. Installing this Application from the CD would brick the AlienFX chip on the board so the lights went permanently dark. Dell's only out of warranty advice was to replace the board at the users expense.

I managed to find this cable on an old broken laptop. I just removed the connector from one end and stripped some insulation from each wire so they could be inserted into the debugger connector. You may have to search eBay for something suitable

To access this connector you will need to remove the palmrest tray. I used a Dremel tool to cut an opening in the tray for easy access. Be careful not to damage the board if you decide to cut this hole without removing the palmrest tray first

You should now have fully functioning AlienFX lighting again and you can reinstall the Alienware Command Center Application. Only use the version from the Dell Support website and not from the Resource CD.

I think I'm having this issue with my Alienware M17x R1 as well. However, I ran some program called alienfx-cli and typed alienfx-cli status and the damn lights came on. I noticed there was an extra item in the HID section, and the alienware command center let me change colors and whatnot. I thought ok, lets reboot and see. then nope no lights again. no HID device and running alienfx-cli status shows no devices. was it a fluke? or do I still need to reflash this chip. keep in mind, I got this off ebay as an AS-IS laptop for 40 bucks, so I don't know if the previous user borked their chip or if the connection to the lighting is loose inside. thoughts? that being said, is the service port for the M17x R1 in the same place as the above picture for the m15x? Thanks for anyone's help.

I had originally written this guide just for the M15x but then I came across an M17x with the same issue so I added the information for that one once I fixed it but didn't post a photo of the service port location. I'll have to pull out an old M17x board and see if I can locate it for you.

Well surprisingly enough, I took off the palm rest/trackpad part, which was easy to slide off, and voila there's a little 4-pin service port! So I went ahead and bought that USB MCU emulator and got everything ready only to find out the little plastic 4-pin service port connector I have in my kit is too big! Looks like I need something called a picoblade 4-pin connector and I don't have anything I can tear apart right now so I've just bought a new motherboard for the damn thing, cause outside of the alienFX lighting, the MXM GPU ports don't work either. Seems like this AS-IS $40 laptop is gonna be costing me much more than that hahah but it's fun and it's a challenge so we shall see. maybe if I find one of those connectors for the service port in the meantime I'll try out this alienfx chip method.

Yeah, it usually always costs way more to refurbish these old laptops than you think it will. Once you have to start replacing GPUs, the costs can really add up. It's more for the fun of it though, like you say.

Keep in mind that these laptops will usually not boot if everything isn't hooked up properly, including the keyboard. It was a weird design idea which they scrapped from the R3 onwards. You'd think that the system was completely dead until you realised that the keyboard ribbon cable wasn't seated properly.

So I am working on an M17x r1 that has this issue and would like to try to fix it before I just part it out. I have the touchpad off and there is an empty 4 pin connector on the left side near the bluetooth board. Is this the service port? If so are the connections the same as above?

Yes I believe that is the port but it's been a while since I did it. Yes, the wiring is exactly the same as for the M15x. If you follow the wiring guide you shouldn't have an issue. I have done this fix on the M15x and M17x R1/R2.

Just an update! Got the new (used) motherboard for the m17x R1! took the whole thing apart, which was ever-so-much-fun, and while I was in there, swapped out the CPU for the q9300 extreme, cause why not lol, and hooked everything back up and hit the power button and voila! ALL the lighting is working right off the pop! I was very excited!!! Now, the GPU I believe was already dead when I got it, so I tried an MXM nvidia 675m and it doesn't work, or more importantly, the system won't accept it I guess. doesn't even show up in device manager. so I put the dead 260m back in and it shows up but doesn't work. so I bought a used 280m. is there a way to force a 675m to work or is it bios locked to only accept certain cards? got 2 sata SSDs in, one for windows 11 and one for windows 7! was a bitch to get that dell 370 bluetooth card working, as that didn't even show up in device mananger until you start installing the driver. then boom she pops up. Got any other tips or tricks for these puppies? Thanks!

I have never worked on an R1 before, I have one but the board is dead. I've worked on a few R2's though. I was under the impression that the 600M series worked in the R1 but I'd have to do some research before I'm sure. The old NBR archive is available and it will have plenty of information that can help you.

Thanks Maxware79! I'm waiting for the 280m to arrive in the mail. I did find a GTX 670mx that I found a german site that another user had gotten working with a modded driver, so I *tried* picking up one of those on ebay, but the seller had sent me a question about what laptop I planned on putting it in. When I said the Alienware M17x-R1, they said we don't think that will work and suggest cancelling the order so that we didn't have to go through the return process lol so I just cancelled it. In the german forum I was reading the user stated that the 675m did NOT work, but the 670mx did, the important thing was the "x" part of the 670mx because it was Kepler architecture. But alas, I wasn't arguing with the seller. They don't want my money, fine by me. It was just for fun anyway, it's an old laptop that I wanted to refurb. I'll have a look at the archive you attached! Thanks!

Hi guys! I will be attempting the fix too, as I just acquired a second M15x that does not light up and also some missing keys which will also need replacing. Other than that it is in pretty good shape! I have only one question, the 4 diy cable, can it be completely random cable for example from 4 pin fan with the only important part to keep the pin-scheme? :-) Thanks a lot! I hope to keep one more machine up and kicking. Thanks!

Hi guys! I will be attempting the fix too, as I just acquired a second M15x that does not light up and also some missing keys which will also need replacing. Other than that it is in pretty good shape! I have only one question, the 4 diy cable, can it be completely random cable for example from 4 pin fan with the only important part to keep the pin-scheme? ? Thanks a lot! I hope to keep one more machine up and kicking. Thanks!

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