Area-51 R2, migrated to Windows 11, AWCC doesn't function

Question

I put Windows 11 on my Area 51 by cloning my Aurora R8 and installing that drive in my Area 51. I had to do this as I didn't have the means of buying Windows 11 for my Area 51.

Everything is working great except the command center no longer works. It will start but then close. When I manually open it all thermal controls are greyed out. Only thing that works is the color picker but it shows my Aurora and not my Area 51. When I select the Area 51 in the graphic to the right it just fails.

Any help is appreciated I want to ramp up my fans so I don't fry my 7900 XTX.

redxps630 · Answer

AWCC for R2 is different from that for R8.  your cloned AWCC would not be c/w R2 FIO etc.

redxps630 · Answer

If you want to run Win 11 on R2, but you only have valid license on R8, try do a clean install of Win 11 on R8 without AWCC then move the hdd to R2. Use registry key trick to install AWCC for R2.

beware there is no officially validated AWCC of R2 for Win 11. it would be a trial and error experiment to run AWCC R2 for Win 10 in Win 11.

Gorilla Jones · Answer

@redxps630​  Do you have any links to this registry key trick?  I can't reinstall Windows on the R2, there is too much customization I would need to do to software, settings, etc that I have been using for years.Any further guidance is appreciated.

Gorilla Jones · Answer

@redxps630​ I also don't know what a FIO is or c/w, what does this mean?  :(

redxps630 · Answer

FIO = front IO board

registry key trick:

Area-51 R2 > copy the below text, paste into NotePad, name it R2Bios.reg, save it as a .reg file (aka All Files); once converted into .reg file, read Guide, & when ready, click on it to merge into your registry as a temporary surrogate R2 Bios key

______________________________

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\BIOS]

"BiosMajorRelease"=dword:00000005

"BiosMinorRelease"=dword:00000006

"ECFirmwareMajorRelease"=dword:0000000e

"ECFirmwareMinorRelease"=dword:00000007

"BaseBoardManufacturer"="Alienware"

"BaseBoardProduct"="0XJKKD"

"BaseBoardVersion"="A00"

"BIOSReleaseDate"="07/13/2015"

"BIOSVendor"="Alienware"

"BIOSVersion"="A03"

"SystemFamily"=""

"SystemManufacturer"="Alienware"

"SystemProductName"="Alienware Area-51 R2"

"SystemSKU"="064C"

"SystemVersion"=""

__________________________________

guide for R2:

1) copy and paste above text between lines into text editor

2) rename the above text file as R2BIOS.reg
3) save it on a portable flash drive

LET FUN BEGIN….

6) Run Regedit.exe on Desktop (non-Dell board in R2 case)

a. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\BIOS

b. Select BIOS key and right mouse click and select “Export” and save on selected drive call it “BIOS.reg” (backup copy of BIOS key)

7) Import “R2BIOS.reg” from your portable drive. The New Desktop BIOS key should have the same BIOS key as the AW desktop from step1 (compare as required by looking at the .reg file)

Keep Regedit running, don’t exit

9) Install AWCC

a. When complete (and if it has worked) select Reboot Later button on Install Page

10) Go to Regedit (important: Follow this Step if the install has failed)

a. Select “File” menu to replace back the original BIOS key. Select Import and select the “BIOS.reg” that you saved in previous step.

b. Check the Import go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\BIOS

c. Exit Regedit.

NOTE: You can select the reboot option as your system will place back the BIOS key based on the Motherboard you have in the system.

11) REBOOT

Gorilla Jones · Answer

@redxps630​  Thank you!!!  I'm going to try on Friday when I'm back home.  You rock!

Gorilla Jones · Answer

@redxps630​ unfortunately when I go to import it says cannot import R2Bios.reg.  The specified file is not a registry file.  :(

redxps630 · Answer

You probably saved it as .reg.txt but the .txt extension was hidden.  Change view file options to 'do not hide known file extension'.  Delete the .txt extension.

Gorilla Jones · Answer

I got it to work thank for the help. I noticed that my CPU pump says failed! Should I be worried LOL? It's been running for months like this and I don't notice anything overheating. Not sure. I noticed it's showing an Aurora instead of my Area 51 in the pic.

redxps630 · Answer

you may be using an incorrect version of AWCC but if the lights work it did not matter.

Alienware Desktops

Area-51 R2, migrated to Windows 11, AWCC doesn't function

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