Alienware M15x and M17x R1/R2 - GUIDE - How to reflash the AlienFX chip and get your lights back!

[Maxware79]

Big thanks to @ssj92 for guidance on how to get this fix done. 

This guide 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. 

You will need:

C8051F MCU Emulator USB Debugger

Connector cable (for connection between Debugger and M15x or M17x port)

M15x HEX File or M17x HEX File (See below for link)

Silicon Labs Flash Utility

To locate the hidden Service Port on the M15x and M17x R1/R2

Second Laptop or Desktop for flashing

 

C8051F MCU Emulator USB Debugger

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/313304447036

 

Connector cable (4 pin connector for connection between Debugger and M15x port)

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

Make sure the cable is wired correctly into the debugger connector. See below.

 

M15x HEX File

https://www.dropbox.com/s/mb0vfnp24uq0giy/code_m15x_r1.hex?dl=0

 

M17x R1/R2 HEX File

https://www.dropbox.com/s/hd7dwdfouq5tupu/code_m17x_r1.hex?dl=0

 

Silicon Labs Flash Utility

https://getwinpcsoft.com/Silicon-Laboratories-FLASH-Programming-Utilities-238798/download/

 

Locate the hidden Service Port on M15x

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

 

Locate the hidden Service Port on M17x R1/R2

 

TBA

 

Process

1. Uninstall any traces of Alienware Command Center, if still installed.

2. Turn on the laptop and enter the BIOS

3. Using the secondary computer, download and save the HEX file (link above), Download and install the Flash Utility (link above)

4. Plug the USB Debugger into the secondary laptop

5. Plug the connector cable into the Service Port on the M15x (location shown above)

6. Run the Flash Utility. In the Connect/Disconnect tab, press Connect. If it doesn't connect then select the USB Debugger option and try again

7. Go to the Download Hex File/Go/Stop tab and browse your system for the HEX file you saved earlier. 

8. Enter 000000 in the Hex File Start Address field

9. Check the Erase All Code Space Before Download

10. Press Download (the download should begin)

11. Press the Verify Download button

12. Press Go

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.

 

[ssj92]

Thanks for making the tutorial. I should have taken pics when I did mine lol 

[Maxware79]

I forgot to take pics of the flash utility while I was using it. I guess I could set it all again though.

 

[Toenail]

Im following your tutorial and cannot get a connection to the m15x service port. Any suggestions?

[Maxware79]

Have you wired up the connector properly? Just double check that it's correct and maybe post some images if you can. 

[Toenail]

Ok, so I did have the wires in the wrong order. Am able to connect now. does it take a while for the reflash to complete?

[Maxware79]

It happened pretty quickly from memory. I've done this on the M15x and M17x R2 and I believe it flashed almost instantly.

 

Just remember to do parts 11 and 12 in the guide above

 

 

[Maxware79]

@Toenail please keep me updated on how it all goes. 

[Toenail]

Works! this is amazing to have these lights working after 8 years! lol ! Thank you for sharing this great info and for the pointers

[Maxware79]

Excellent! Really glad it worked out for you!

[WhiteLighter]

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.

[Maxware79]

On 3/13/2024 at 12:37 PM, WhiteLighter said:

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.

 

Not sure about that program you mentioned, never used it. Very interesting that it let you change the colours once and then stopped working. You can definitely try reflashing the chip though.

 

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. 

Even if the wiring connection is loose, it should still recognise the AlienFX chip so it shouldn't say there are no devices detected. 

[WhiteLighter]

On 3/17/2024 at 5:07 PM, Maxware79 said:

 

Not sure about that program you mentioned, never used it. Very interesting that it let you change the colours once and then stopped working. You can definitely try reflashing the chip though.

 

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. 

Even if the wiring connection is loose, it should still recognise the AlienFX chip so it shouldn't say there are no devices detected. 

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.

[Maxware79]

1 hour ago, WhiteLighter said:

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. 

 

Good luck with the refurb!

[D3M3Nt3D1]

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? 

[Maxware79]

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.

Let me know if you have any issues when you get to try it. 

[WhiteLighter]

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!

[Maxware79]

On 3/31/2024 at 8:37 AM, WhiteLighter said:

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. 

 

 

 

[WhiteLighter]

50 minutes ago, Maxware79 said:

 

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!

[Matej]

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!

[D3M3Nt3D1]

Ok so I had success with the M17x R1 following the guide here. Thanks a million guys!!

[katalin_2003]

13 hours ago, Matej said:

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!

Hello @Matej the connector needs to match the pitch of the service connector on the motherboard. I believe it’s 1.25mm.

 

Another way you could accomplish this, without worrying about the pitch, is to use some Dupont style individual wires with a 0.08mm2 area (28 AWG).

[Matej]

Hi @katalin_2003, thanks a lot for the reply! I disassembled the machine yesterday and I was able to locate the service port, I also needed to get rid of the hdd that was in place of optical drive. I am based in Czech Republic and I so far, I have been able only to find out these Dupont cables: https://dratek.cz/arduino/1214-40-x-m-f-dupont-kabel-20-cm.html I think they will work, but they are somewhere listed as 26 AWG? Does that matter a lot? 

Thanks!

[Maxware79]

On 4/8/2024 at 1:41 AM, Matej said:

Hi @katalin_2003, thanks a lot for the reply! I disassembled the machine yesterday and I was able to locate the service port, I also needed to get rid of the hdd that was in place of optical drive. I am based in Czech Republic and I so far, I have been able only to find out these Dupont cables: https://dratek.cz/arduino/1214-40-x-m-f-dupont-kabel-20-cm.html I think they will work, but they are somewhere listed as 26 AWG? Does that matter a lot? 

Thanks!

 

I just used an old 4-pin fan cable so you should be good with anything that matches up. 

[Maxware79]

On 4/6/2024 at 11:44 AM, D3M3Nt3D1 said:

Ok so I had success with the M17x R1 following the guide here. Thanks a million guys!!

 

Awesome! I'm glad another board has been resurrected!

If only Dell released the information on how to fix this issue 15 years ago!