Maxware79 Posted January 27, 2022 Share Posted January 27, 2022 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. Alienware Aurora R15 - i9-13900KF - RTX 4090 - 32GB DDR5 Alienware M18x R2 - i7-3920XM - GTX 970M - 16GB 1866Mhz DDR3L - Samsung 970 Evo with MXM to NVMe Adapter - Custom Delft Blue Alienware X51 - i7-3770 - NO GPU - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Alienware M17x R3 - i7-2760QM - GTX 580M - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Alienware Area 51 ALX - i7-975 Extreme - GTX 980 - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Alienware Aurora R2 - i7-3770K - GTX 670FTW - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Alienware Aurora R4 ALX - i7-3930K - GTX 1060 - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Alienware Aurora R4 ALX - i7-3930K - GTX 670FTW - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssj92 Posted January 27, 2022 Share Posted January 27, 2022 Thanks for making the tutorial. I should have taken pics when I did mine lol Alienware m18 : Intel Core i9 13900HX | nVidia GeForce RTX 4090 | K1675 | 2x1TB SSDs Alienware Area-51M : Intel Core i9-9900K @ 5.3Ghz | nVidia GeForce RTX 2080 | AX210 | Samsung 970 Evo+ Alienware M18x R2 : Intel Core i7 3920XM @ 4.7Ghz | nVidia Quadro RTX 3000 | AX210 | Samsung 980 PRO Clevo X170SM-G: Intel Core i7 10700K @ Stock | nVidia GeForce RTX 2070S | AX210 | 256GB+2x512GB More Laps: M14x (555m) | M14xR2 (650m) | M15x (980m) | M17xR3 (880m) | M18xR1 (880m SLI) | 18 R1 (RTX 3000) DT: Aurora R4 (i9 10980XE/RTX 4070) | Area-51 R2 (22-Core Xeon/2x Titan V) | SR-2 [2x6-Core/3x980Ti] | Mac Studio CS Studios YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CSStudiosYT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxware79 Posted January 31, 2022 Author Share Posted January 31, 2022 I forgot to take pics of the flash utility while I was using it. I guess I could set it all again though. Alienware Aurora R15 - i9-13900KF - RTX 4090 - 32GB DDR5 Alienware M18x R2 - i7-3920XM - GTX 970M - 16GB 1866Mhz DDR3L - Samsung 970 Evo with MXM to NVMe Adapter - Custom Delft Blue Alienware X51 - i7-3770 - NO GPU - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Alienware M17x R3 - i7-2760QM - GTX 580M - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Alienware Area 51 ALX - i7-975 Extreme - GTX 980 - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Alienware Aurora R2 - i7-3770K - GTX 670FTW - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Alienware Aurora R4 ALX - i7-3930K - GTX 1060 - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Alienware Aurora R4 ALX - i7-3930K - GTX 670FTW - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toenail Posted March 27 Share Posted March 27 Im following your tutorial and cannot get a connection to the m15x service port. Any suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxware79 Posted March 27 Author Share Posted March 27 Have you wired up the connector properly? Just double check that it's correct and maybe post some images if you can. Alienware Aurora R15 - i9-13900KF - RTX 4090 - 32GB DDR5 Alienware M18x R2 - i7-3920XM - GTX 970M - 16GB 1866Mhz DDR3L - Samsung 970 Evo with MXM to NVMe Adapter - Custom Delft Blue Alienware X51 - i7-3770 - NO GPU - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Alienware M17x R3 - i7-2760QM - GTX 580M - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Alienware Area 51 ALX - i7-975 Extreme - GTX 980 - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Alienware Aurora R2 - i7-3770K - GTX 670FTW - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Alienware Aurora R4 ALX - i7-3930K - GTX 1060 - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Alienware Aurora R4 ALX - i7-3930K - GTX 670FTW - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toenail Posted March 28 Share Posted March 28 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxware79 Posted March 28 Author Share Posted March 28 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 Alienware Aurora R15 - i9-13900KF - RTX 4090 - 32GB DDR5 Alienware M18x R2 - i7-3920XM - GTX 970M - 16GB 1866Mhz DDR3L - Samsung 970 Evo with MXM to NVMe Adapter - Custom Delft Blue Alienware X51 - i7-3770 - NO GPU - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Alienware M17x R3 - i7-2760QM - GTX 580M - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Alienware Area 51 ALX - i7-975 Extreme - GTX 980 - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Alienware Aurora R2 - i7-3770K - GTX 670FTW - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Alienware Aurora R4 ALX - i7-3930K - GTX 1060 - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Alienware Aurora R4 ALX - i7-3930K - GTX 670FTW - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxware79 Posted March 29 Author Share Posted March 29 @Toenail please keep me updated on how it all goes. Alienware Aurora R15 - i9-13900KF - RTX 4090 - 32GB DDR5 Alienware M18x R2 - i7-3920XM - GTX 970M - 16GB 1866Mhz DDR3L - Samsung 970 Evo with MXM to NVMe Adapter - Custom Delft Blue Alienware X51 - i7-3770 - NO GPU - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Alienware M17x R3 - i7-2760QM - GTX 580M - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Alienware Area 51 ALX - i7-975 Extreme - GTX 980 - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Alienware Aurora R2 - i7-3770K - GTX 670FTW - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Alienware Aurora R4 ALX - i7-3930K - GTX 1060 - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Alienware Aurora R4 ALX - i7-3930K - GTX 670FTW - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toenail Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 Works! this is amazing to have these lights working after 8 years! lol ! Thank you for sharing this great info and for the pointers 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxware79 Posted March 29 Author Share Posted March 29 Excellent! Really glad it worked out for you! Alienware Aurora R15 - i9-13900KF - RTX 4090 - 32GB DDR5 Alienware M18x R2 - i7-3920XM - GTX 970M - 16GB 1866Mhz DDR3L - Samsung 970 Evo with MXM to NVMe Adapter - Custom Delft Blue Alienware X51 - i7-3770 - NO GPU - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Alienware M17x R3 - i7-2760QM - GTX 580M - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Alienware Area 51 ALX - i7-975 Extreme - GTX 980 - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Alienware Aurora R2 - i7-3770K - GTX 670FTW - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Alienware Aurora R4 ALX - i7-3930K - GTX 1060 - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Alienware Aurora R4 ALX - i7-3930K - GTX 670FTW - 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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