How to identify my Alienware 17" laptop & get drivers?

Hello everyone.

I have in my possession an Alienware 17" laptop that I've been trying to get up and running for some time. I have no discs, software, or anything else with it other than the charger, and laptop itself. This laptop came with a Vista Home Prem sticker so it tells me it's probably the pre-Dell Alienware system. But I'm not sure.

This system has listed on the bottom "Alienware Corp m17x-R1" (That's a lowercase m and lower case x).

I have found drivers for the M17 alienware series, but these drivers do not seem to match up to the hardware in side this laptop which includes a Core2Duo T8100, GeForce 8700M GT. If that helps to identify it.

I have manually found some hardware drivers online which seems to get me partially up and running. The biggest issue is that no matter what control center version I use, I'm left either without an AlienFX install, or the AlienFX install simply will not cause the led colors to change under any circumstances. I did come across the 1.0.35 Command Center which indicated it was updating the FX board firmware to that version. However I am left with all white LED's, except the leftside of the keyboard (Shift Key through V key) are blinking between yellow and white. I assume I have the wrong version here.

Any help in pointing me in the right direction to fix the LED issue and getting correct drivers for this model would be GREATLY appreciated! Thank you!

 

Look on the bottom at the sticker and find the service tag. If no sticker hit f2 when you turn it on and find the service tag in the bios. Then go to support.dell.com and put in the service tag. It will bring everything up about the laptop, then sound load the drivers for whatever OS you have.

 

I checked and the computer is definitely not a Dell Alienware. No service tag sticker on the bottom and when going into the BIOS (F2 doesn't work for that) it shows it's an AMIBIOS version 306.

Now that brings up the question, where can I get drivers, and namely the Control Center with AlienFX for this model? Right now the only Control Center downloads I'm finding on this forum are for the Dell version of the M17 (I read that capital M designates Dell and the lowercase m designates pre-dell versions/models?)

 

Maybe post a picture of the machine and let users see what it is your working on since your not sure the machine type.

 

Here are photos of the m17x-R1 I have that I just took.

 

That is a legacy Area 51 M17x-R1 from before Dell purchased Alienware. The controller board for the AlienFX lighting may be messed up. If the Command Center version you installed was not correct for your AlienFX controller it may have messed it up. If you can identify what version it is supposed to use and find that package for download, there is a chance it may fix the problem, but you might need to re-flash the board.

It is very difficult to find the proprietary drivers for these legacy models. Dell no longer hosts any web pages with driver support for the pre-Dell models. All of the links to those old support pages are dead now.

Here is an old thread with links for drivers, but Command Center is not listed: Area-51 m17x Driver List

This thread at Dell Community Alienware Club relating to what I think may be the same machine you have could be of some value: AlienFX repair.....WORKING LEDS at last!!