The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    (AW15 R1) Left section of keyboard (no. 2) sometimes backlight with lower intensity

    Discussion in '2015+ Alienware 13 / 15 / 17' started by Durendal, Apr 18, 2016.

  1. Durendal

    Durendal Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    62
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Hi,
    sometimes when I start my Alienware 15 R1 left section of keyboard (no.2 in command center) is backlighted with lower intensity than rest of the sections. It's always this part. When Windows is logged in and Command Center started, profile is reloaded and everything is ok. But during POST startup and Windows loading, backlight is not consistent. This happens from time to time. Looks like error in bios or wherever this settings are stored. Anyone got similar issues?
     
  2. Alienware-L_Porras

    Alienware-L_Porras Company Representative

    Reputations:
    3,658
    Messages:
    6,874
    Likes Received:
    969
    Trophy Points:
    281
    I haven't seen that in the past, it's either always dimmed or always strong. It does look like a software problem but it may as well be the LED that is failing.
     
  3. Durendal

    Durendal Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    62
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    16
    I don't know if this is an LED issue, because dimmed is always whole section of keyboard. I don't know how many LEDs are for each of four sections on the keyboard (each button has LED?). Also when I load profile again in Command Center, everything is ok. LEDs are ok and nothing is blikning or so. Is there a new version of Command Center for Alienware 15 R1? Or can I download Command Center from R2 drivers site (will this version, which is newer than on R1 page work with old A15?).

    Strange thing is that this happens when notebook starts (after switch notebook on and backlight appears, sometimes section one is already dimmed). Where is the profile settings store? Is BIOS controling this?

    UPDATE
    There are lots of complaints about AlienFX, please check this topic: http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/t/19645509. I also can observe that it takes long time backlight to show. And sometimes this one zone is dimmed. I have reinstalled Command Center and will observe. Please Porras let me know if

    1. I can download version 4.0.53.0 from somewhere? Or you can link it here
    2. Does the version 4.5.19.1 will work with R1?

    I wonder also if SupportAssist can have something to do with this, but I assume problem is probably in Command Center.
     
    Last edited: Apr 20, 2016