Area-51 m17x - No Lights

After searching around for some time downloading and installing (or in some cases attempting to) various drivers to no avail figured i'd give posting on here a shot.

Basically had my m17x (Pre Dell model) since 2008 upgraded to Win7 ages ago but have been unable to get the keyboard to light up since. Im thinking its either a BIOS update or firmware update of some kind i need but haven't been able to find one specifically for the area-51 m17x at all.

All other lights are working fine, if i check the keyboard there is a very feint red glow but no other colour seems to work.

I've tried various versions of the Command Centre (possibly even a cause of my fault), tried respawning back to factory image with Vista, tried the no lights patch posted on this site. And im slowly running out of ideas.

Found a thread from a few years ago on google someone seemed to have the same fault and managed to resolve it but never went back to the site to post how.

So anyone have any ideas or can point me towards the bios updates or any ideas as cant access My Hive due to being a UK customer.

Thanks in advance
Wayne

 

If ever in the process you installed an older version of the CC than the previous one then you most likely pricked the controller. As the CC install process flashes the keyboards firmware.

But have you tried a full power drain?
Unplug your charger from your laptop
Unplug your battery
Disconnect the coincell CMOS battery
Press the power button for ~20 seconds.
Put everything back. (remember doing so your BIOS settings will be reset to default so make sure to redo your settings if any IE: RAID)

Now install the LATEST version of command center, create a new theme and apply.

If this will work I suggest you always stick with the latest Command center version in the future.

Let us know how you did!

 

Will give this a try lunch time and see what happens.

 

Well im half way there, stripped it down and got to the battery and reset the BIOS etc. Hasn't sorted it on its own by doing that so need to try and find a version of command centre for my model. But i have just refound the link to the .co.uk support site (not .com) so can access the limited MyHive bits so i have access to the latest BIOS and hopefully Command Centre on there (fingers crossed). Will update again depending on how i get on.

 

Sorry to repeat myself but it's important : install the latest version only!

 

The version i can see available is:

Command Center for Mobiles 1.00.33
Alienware Command Center version 1.00.33 for M15x and M17x systems. This applies for Windows Vista 64 bit.

As from then i believe it was the Dell version

 

Go to the alienware website, proceed to the support are, search using area 51 m17x. A specific topic covering M17x keyboard lights not working is there, it details in what order that the drivers must be installed. When followed to the letter the lights return.

Look under Alienware, Command Center, and find fx tester, run it to make sure that everything is up and running.

 

Ok so fresh install of Win7, followed the support area and installed each driver. Including command centre and still no joy.

Board Firmware version is 1.00.35. Running the tests everything but the keyboard lights up / changes colours. The KB still only has a dull red when you look closely to it.

 

CLose theme, create new theme, then you should be good to go. Wait durring the tests your keyboard didnt flash green red, blue, etc? If not you have an issue. Un-plug and make sure the fx cable is pluged in.

 

Tried closing / making new theme. But yea during tests all but keyboard change colour. Have reseated cables also :-S

One thing i meant to ask was, when draining all the power - should this reset the firmware of my fx? as it stays at .35 - just wanted to double check thats all.

 

It doesn't, the firmware is flashed on the keyboard's chip
Could you check with an other owner of the same model for the firmware version he's running. If not the same(and he installed the latest version) then you probably installed an older version than a previous one and bricked it.

 

Here is what id do. Go to your hive an download whatever version of CC is in there. Ive had to reinstall mine a few times, in the process a new firmware will be flashed. Ive gone back and forth on firmware for the fx due to OS changes etc with out issues.

 

Well on the Myhive there is a .28 and .33. Might play around and see if either of those firmwares sort the problem. Cant be any worse then where im at atm

 

start at .28, but do so as you perform a complete instal, than go to .33. I wouldnt go to any higher CC than what is listed in your hive. Yes there are others out there. But the newest one under our hive works flawlessly, can flash the lights, and works well, why mess with it.

 

I can confirm that you can get lucky and not brick the controller by flashing with an older version, i did it by mistake(still functioned) one time and realised after BUT if you have a working keyboard don't take the risk.
@OP they are right if you tried everything i said and didn't succeed, try an earlier version and create a new theme each time (important!) and see if it works.

Good luck!

 

Well as i originally thought i'd broke the keyboard i have 2 so i'll experiment with the US one and keep my original UK one spare for now.

Will let you know how i get on

 

I had the same problem (except the keyboard lights worked on AlienFX Tester). As soon as I close that program the keyboard would go dark again. Keyboard didn't show up inside my AlienFX editor either.

Simple fix if your keyboard lit up durring that test. Download and install the "Lighted Keyboard Patch" from here, restart laptop, open AlienFX editor, Close old theme, & Open New theme, and Keyboard should show up.

 

Hi guys, I had problems with my Area-51 m17x' s keyboard lights.

After a clean install of Windows 7 and installing the command center my keyboard's lights didn't show up.
I tried the registry fix and all but it did not help.
I wasn't able to close the old theme and create a new in the command center, but my keyboard test with the alienware software was ok (all the light's combination test was passed)
I solved the problem founding the position of the Alienware theme, cut it and past on my desktop. Then i went back to the Alienware command center and i was able to change the lights setup of my keyboard.

I hope this can help everybody that has problem with the "old beast"