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Extremely loud fans all the time; Command Center not displaying anything - Alienware Area 51 Desktop
Specs:
Intel i7 960 @ 3.20 GHz
12GB RAM
Windows 7 64-bit Home Premium
Problem:
Fan has been running loud all the time for years, but I think that it has gotten worse recently, or I have become more irritated by it recently. No matter whether I run the computer for 5 minutes or 5 days, the fan is still loud like a vacuum cleaner.
Command Center is not working either. All fans are displayed as 0 RPM (Techician did come down to replace fans twice before, but that didn't fix both the command center and the noise level). Ambient sensors are also listed as 0C, while CPU Pump is listed as 'failed'.
I can feel that there is at least one fan working, but I can't tell which is it.
LED lights are also listed as failed.
What I tried:
I have tried everything in this post http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/t/19338298.aspx to reinstall the Command Center/reset MIO board.
Tried updating BIOS to A10 too -- no changes in noise level.
Results of AlienFX:
Results from HW Monitor:
Would appreciate any help; the noise is driving me crazy and it's the only computer I have
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
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December 8th, 2013 13:00
The CPU cooler, sensors, lights, and extra case fans are controlled by the MIO-Board, so trouble-shooting should start there.
Shut-down machine properly so it will turn off. Unplug from wall or UPS. Hold down power button for 20 seconds to dissipate any electricity in machine and MIO-Board. Wait another 20 secs before powering up. See if that very simple procedure resets MIO-Board.
Run Dell Diagnostic on the MIO-Board (outside of Windows). You can access it via F12 on boot or create a bootable version. If Dell Diagnostics doesn't detect a MIO-Board at startup, the MIO-Board tests will not be available or listed. All the other tests that ARE listed, will likely test good. If this is happening, it must be corrected first. You really have to observe these MIO-Board tests, because the results are very important to the progression of steps to the final diagnosis or repair. If the MIO-Board detection or tests fail in Dell Diagnostics, there is really no chance it will operate in Windows with Command Center software.
If the Dell Diagnostics MIO-Board tests pass, this tells us quite a bit:
1. The MIO-Board is getting power
2. The MIO-Board is connected to the motherboard's USB-1 port header (and communication is working).
3. The MIO-Board is operational and not locked up or in a loop.
4. The various devices (lights, fans, etc.) that the tests successfully exercised are connected properly.
Dell Diagnostic (specifically the MIO-Board tests). This will check it and also has been known to reset it in some fashion. If it is detected and tests good, but still won't work, try re-installing the software ...
Completely Uninstall Command Center and reboot.
Power down, unplug the power cord from the back of you PC, then press and hold the power button down for 10 seconds to drain residual power from MIO board to further reset it and to insure a trouble-free CC install. Then, power back up and go into Windows.
Disable your Anti-Virus software.
Install the latest Command Center (for desktops) and reboot. (ie v2.6.17.0 or newer)
Note: The first time this version is installed, it will upgrade the MIO-Board's firmware to v2.x
Microsoft Net 4.0 Client Framework is required for install. You can get it from Windows Update.
Test operation.
Never use the Upgrade feature inside Command Center. Always, uninstall old, reboot, install new fresh.
Cass-Ole
2 Intern
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December 9th, 2013 23:00
Dude, that sounds heinous. You must be miserable.
It sounds like the Master I/O (daughterboard) in your case floor is unplugged, or worse. Check the bottom right of your motherboard that your usb_1 usb_2 usb_3 connectors are all properly seated. Trace your usb_3 connector to the master i/o to be sure the usb connector is properly seated in the master i/o usb socket labeled: MB_1 . This is to make sure the master i/o is in fact properly connected to the mthrbrd through their shared usb cable... When your pc is plugged in, power off, or power on, does the orange led light up down there on the mi/o board? If it does it has power. If not, reseat your power connections. When Tesla advises to run Dell Diagnostics outside of Windows as a preboot assessment, Dell diag's is either on your partition (pre-boot hit F12, run diag tool), or, you must create a bootable cd (or flashdrive) with this 32 bit diagnostics software provided by Dell for Alienware pc's:
http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/DriverDetails/Product/alienware-area51?driverId=R267117&osCode=W764&fileId=2731113571&languageCode=en&categoryId=DI
When you're on this online page, be sure to scroll down and read the "Installation Instructions", whether Linux or Windows based, for instructions on how to download, unzip, then create this bootable media on a cd, or flashdrive, or hard drive image.
Boot up into the cd or flashdrive you've made with that software above, & run Dell diagnostics on the MI/O board, to determine if it & the motherboard are properly connected, (if the mi/o is detected then you're good) and if it is detected, is it working? Is it passing Dell Diagnostic tests? On a system that is behaving like yours, Tesla always recommends the Dell Diag's tests FIRST. Why? Because as he said, if it fails Dell diag's, it can not be expected to work inside windows with CmndCntr. A working unit, a working mi/o board, is both detected and normally passes all tests in Dell diag's. So. Determine if your wiring is ok, your power is ok, and your board is working by running a pre-boot dell diagnostics on it ... A mi/o that is detected and passes all tests can then be expected to have CmndCntr reinstalled ... and working ... post your dell diag's test results so we can be sure your board and wiring are ok.
As we see in your AlienFx screen shot, there is no Master I/O board detected; most likely that is either because its usb connector is unplugged, its power connector is unplugged, or, the board's crapped out - which happens. Recheck the usb & power connections, then run Dell diagnostics on it. Due to the fact there could be 5 other reasons it isn't being detected, you must troubleshoot with the basics before moving into more subtle areas to discover what is going on with it ... until dell diagn's can do the minimum of "detecting" the board, then something is very wrong with it or with its wiring ... yes?
Aristeia
3 Posts
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December 11th, 2013 21:00
Hi, there were no MIO test listed in the boot setup menu.
I have tried powering up/down a couple of times, to no avail. Also did a clean install (with CC Cleaner too) of Alienware Command Centre twice, but it doesn't help.
Cass-Ole
2 Intern
2 Intern
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1.8K Posts
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December 11th, 2013 22:00
"Desktop MIO (Master I/O) board Diagnostics
MIO Diagnostics from Bios
* Restart the PC
* Press F12 at the BIOS screen
* Cursor down to the Utility Partition [press Enter]
* Run the diagnostics on the MIO board. This will test it and sometimes reset it so that it will work the next time the Command Center is loaded fresh."
If you still have the original Dell/Alienware utility partition, then boot into it ... like in the menu option in your pic ...
If not? Like I said, burn a bootable cd, and boot into it.
Click on the link I gave you; that takes you to the Dell Area 51 Drivers/Software page ... 32 bit diagnostics ... read the drop down for Installation Instructions, to download, unzip, burn file onto cd or flashdrive ...
Cass-Ole
2 Intern
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1.8K Posts
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December 11th, 2013 22:00
Is your tiny green Master I/O board green jumper pin present, & placed on the correct pins/poles? I suppose if it was missing or on the wrong poles it would not be a good thing.
If you aren't sure, then peak into your case floor. Check the bottom left corner closest to you of your mio board. At bottom left corner, between the black screw & the blue usb connector header, there should be a tiny green pin "jumper". There are 3 pins-poles ... the "bottom + middle" pins get the green jumper, while the 3rd pin - the "top" pin - is bare. Just thought I'd mention that ...
Cass-Ole
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1.8K Posts
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December 11th, 2013 22:00
Listen.
The reason installing CmndCntr fails, is because the mthrbrd itself may not be detecting the MI/O board.
Either your MI/O to MthrBrd USB connector(s) is unplugged, your MI/O has no power (orange led unlit), or your MI/O board is toast.
Check your usb_3 connector at the mthrbrd, check your MB_1 connector at the MI/O, check your white power connector from the power supply to the MI/O board (orange led should be lit on the MI/O when pc plugged in "off", or pc powered on).
If your connections are correct, but installing Cmnd Cntr fails ... you HAVE to run 32 bit diagnostics on the MI/O, as outlined in prior posts.
The diagnositcs test checks to make sure your mthrbrd is in fact detecting (talking to) your MI/O. If it isn't detected, something is wrong with the wiring or the board itself, ok? If it is detected by Diagnostics, then it must then pass all tests ...
You can not install CmndCntr on a MI/O which is not being detected in diagnostics ... run diagnostics 1st please ... to make sure the mthrbrd does in fact detect the board. If it doesn't detect it, power down, check your connections etc ... you will get no where with your Master I/O board unless & until diagnostics says it is detected ... yes? Make a cd and boot into it! The link I gave you is a link for the same diagnostic software that would have been on your utility partition when the pc shipped new ...
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
8 Wizard
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17K Posts
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December 11th, 2013 23:00
No, not there. You have to actually run the Hardware Diagnostics. You will see a bunch of tests. Then, re-read my post directions.
Or, just create the bootable USB and/or Disc of it.
Aristeia
3 Posts
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December 16th, 2013 22:00
Hi, the orange light is lit up all the time. I get an error that says 'Utility Partition not found' when I selected it.
Bought a usb online; waiting for the mail. My current usb sticks cannot work as they are larger than 2GB (Dell Diags refuse to install on large space thumbdrives). Sorry for the wait.
Cass-Ole
2 Intern
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1.8K Posts
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December 17th, 2013 01:00
unable to burn it on a cd huh?
Remember to read the Installation Instructions, which is part of that download page, to make a bootable usb drive.
Orange led lit up is a good sign it gets power. Your utility partition probably got lost if you ever reinstalled Windows. In the meantime, you might disconnect usb_3 connector from very bottom middle of motherboard (trace it back to M I/O MB_1 connector); I'm basically saying start up your pc with the M I/O disconnected, power down, reconnect it, power up & see if Windows "reinstalls" the M I/O usb drivers, if it detects it of course. If you see Windows reinstalling drivers, uh, why not try to reinstall CmndCntr, see if CmndCntr detects it too.
You did say you tried the factory jumper reset, as outlined above, right?