9 Legend
•
14.6K Posts
0
261
February 26th, 2025 20:08
Area-51 R2, Motherboard Swap How to install AWCC in Windows 11 24H2
this is an old topic. the older way discovered by a bunch of users was to edit registry BIOS key . Similar trick applies to installing AWCC in Area 51 R1 (Phobos), A51 R5, Aurora R1, R4. The key has been published. It works but is a bit cumbersome. Not to mention you have to save a copy of the key somewhere so one day you might need it again.
well, I just discovered a new way of installing AWCC on non-Alienware motherboard. This may or may not work with your motherboard. It really depends on the board maker. In general I have a feeling that ASUS board are more user friendly.
here is my research discovery:
many motherboard use AMI Aptio BIOS.
this includes my experimental board which is old Dell XPS 8300 running i7-2600 mATX. I installed it in a R2 case. connected all the cables.
I installed fresh Win 11 24H2. no issue.
I downloaded from DMI Edit via Windows or EFI for AMI BIOS - Download Portal
- dmi-edit-win64-ami.zip for Windows
this is the direct link https://download.schenker-tech.de/package/dmi-edit-efi-ami/?wpdmdl=3997&refresh=67bf0ea2c69fa1740574370&ind=1647077068432&filename=dmi-edit-win64-ami.zip
I moved the three files inside to a folder C:\Dell\AMI\
I open command prompt window by choose "run as administrator"
change to the directory by typing
CD C:\Dell\AMI
and here is the command to edit the original DMI which has four components
SP, SM, BP, BM
(system product, system manufacturer, baseboard product, baseboard manufacturer)
type these command lines:
AMIDEWinx64.exe /SP "Alienware Area-51 R2"
AMIDEWinx64.exe /SM "Alienware"
AMIDEWinx64.exe /BM "Alienware"
AMIDEWinx64.exe /BP "0XJKKD"
these DMI were also present in the older way of BIOS registry key
"BaseBoardManufacturer"="Alienware"
"BaseBoardProduct"="0XJKKD"
"SystemManufacturer"="Alienware"
"SystemProductName"="Alienware Area-51 R2"
after typing those command lines, now you can install AWCC 4.0.59 which is for Win 10
install runs
it has some new install features I have not seen before
it shows a small firmware window with a moving green bar
then it pops up a bunch of compatibility assistant msg saying one NTIOLib_x64.sys driver is blocked from loading due to security setting.
I think this is because I am installing AWCC for Win 10 in a Win 11 environment and causes some compatibility msg. But no worries, just right click at bottom bar to close all these pop windows.
Install is then done. It asks for restart.
after restart, front LED and side panel LED all turn on beautifully. No error msg.
I then test ran AWCC by clicking desktop shortcut. It works.
good.
redxps630
9 Legend
•
14.6K Posts
0
March 16th, 2025 12:56
pin 1/2 of OP FIO front panel are not wired. That is most likely explanation why FIO was not detected.
(edited)
redxps630
9 Legend
•
14.6K Posts
0
February 26th, 2025 20:12
to view the DMI value without editing
type these command lines:
AMIDEWinx64.exe /SP
AMIDEWinx64.exe /SM
AMIDEWinx64.exe /BM
AMIDEWinx64.exe /BP
syntax of AMIDEWINx64:
AMIDEWinx64.exe /SP
(this shows the current SP value)
AMIDEWinx64.exe /SP "Alienware Area-51 R2"
(this changes SP value to the new value in " ")
(edited)
redxps630
9 Legend
•
14.6K Posts
0
February 27th, 2025 04:57
update:
the registry bios key edit method basically changes SP SM BM just like AMI DMI editor in Windowsx64 does, or Phoenix DMI editor does in DOS mode.
so from this research I find out you do not really to ask some one to give you a key from the original stock motherboard, you can actually export your new non-AW motherboard BIOS registry key and just edit that key by changing the SP SM and BM only.
SM and BM are always just "Alienware". that is easy
SP (system product) will be "Alienware Area-51 R2", or the model of your case (Area-51 R1, R5, Aurora R4 etc.).
so this is a really easy edit of key. you do not need to get an original Alienware key to do it. you do not need to edit BP (baseboard product) to the AW motherboard P/N either. that is not required.
(edited)
I tested install AWCC on old Dell Inspiron motherboard in R2 case, before install I turned off virus and security. this time no more pop up windows come up. Install was very smooth. when done I turned virus and security back on.
I also tested the DMI edit method using Phoenix DMI editor in DOS mode on a Gigabyte Z97 motherboard in R2 case, works well too. GA board is user friendly to allow DMI edits.
(edited)
redxps630
9 Legend
•
14.6K Posts
0
February 27th, 2025 16:02
HP IPM17-DD2 F USB header have 12-2 pins. They work with A51 R2 FIO USB1 using 9 pin female to female USB cable. pin 9-10 of connector should align with two blank spaces of HP USB header.
(edited)
redxps630
9 Legend
•
14.6K Posts
0
February 27th, 2025 16:07
HP F USB 12-2 header. I verified this works in A51 R2 on two HP models, one i7-4770 the other i7-7770.
(edited)
redxps630
9 Legend
•
14.6K Posts
0
February 28th, 2025 16:00
so if your non-AW new motherboard supports Windowsx64 DMI edit, you can use the AMIDEWinx64 to edit SM BM SP
the nice feature of AWCC install on Win 11 is the small firmware window showing FIO board is being detected. If you do not see this window during install, you have not connected the cables correctly btn FIO and new mobo.
if your new board does not allow Win 64 DMI edit, you can still use the older registry edit BIOS key trick, which is now simplified by editing only SM BM SP too.
both paths lead to success.
YoiLikeOrange
1 Rookie
•
10 Posts
0
March 14th, 2025 18:01
Hello!
I stumbled upon your post, and what you are trying to do is what I'm aiming to do with a B650-A Asus motherboard on Windows 10.
I followed your instructions to the best of my ability, and can't seem to get it to work for me. All parameters show that I indeed changed it to be an R2 machine. Trying to install the linked version of AWCC brings up an error at the end, saying that my "system is not compatible". I also did all this with security off.
Is there anything I need to know / do differently? I'm a bit stuck.
YoiLikeOrange
1 Rookie
•
10 Posts
0
March 14th, 2025 18:21
Just tried a full uninstall of AWCC and a reboot. All parameters are still changed correctly in command prompt. Still says the installation package in not compatible with my system.
redxps630
9 Legend
•
14.6K Posts
0
March 14th, 2025 18:21
Re: B650-A Asus motherboard
AWCC uninstall is messy. try a clean install of Windows 11, get a new download of AWCC 4.0.59 in case the first DL has issue. try either BIOS key trick (old way) or DMI edit (new way). I did this three times on three different mobo, all worked.
(edited)
YoiLikeOrange
1 Rookie
•
10 Posts
0
March 14th, 2025 19:01
@redxps630
Would this work on 10, in theory? I mentioned I am still currently on Windows 10 atm.
YoiLikeOrange
1 Rookie
•
10 Posts
0
March 14th, 2025 21:25
Okay, I got it to install. But now I'm running into an issue where Command Center just isn't responding. It's either crashing or totally unresponsive. Kinda stuck on where I'm at now.
My computer recognized my Area-51 front IO now, though.
YoiLikeOrange
1 Rookie
•
10 Posts
0
March 14th, 2025 22:46
No clue what's going on, going to have to give up for now. PC sometimes recognizes the R2 board and have AWCC 4.0 installed, but they fail to recognize each other. If you have any more tips it'd be appreciated.
Also could not install AlienFXTester, says I require a dell board despite the BIOS trick.
redxps630
9 Legend
•
14.6K Posts
0
March 15th, 2025 01:23
I have not tried the new way in Win 10, but the old way was validated in Win 10.
first confirm you do have a R2 case and both USB and FIO cables are connected btn ASUS and FIO. the stock cables are too short. you would have to use custom longer cables for both.
If you could not install before now you can, retrace your steps to understand why.
AlienFxtester is part of AWCC package. if AWCC can complete install, you can go find the tester exe in AWCC folder to test run it.
Installing in Win 11 has the advanrage of showing firmware being detected by OS on the fly
YoiLikeOrange
1 Rookie
•
10 Posts
0
March 15th, 2025 01:39
I actually bought a FIO R2 daughter board for my R5 case, which everything is the same, but they made the cables for the motherboard proprietary (changed the header size and pins) and added a few extra things. I have the R2 FIO inside the case running everything besides the USB 3.0 headers that are on the R5 FIO instead. So essentially, I am running an R2.
I bought USB 2.0 cables that run between them, and confirmed they are hooked in correctly- the USB1 header into my motherboard 2.0 header. My Bios is also set correctly in regedit, all still Alienware and Alienware Area-51 R2 per the commands you listed. AWCC is installed but now my R2 FIO is set as an "Unknown USB Device. (Device Descriptor request failed)"
I think I will try going to Win 11 now, I have my gripes with it, but I need to get with the times anyway. The old way for Win 10 didn't work and neither did the new way.
redxps630
9 Legend
•
14.6K Posts
0
March 15th, 2025 02:08
if I recall correctly, the side panel of R5 uses different circuit from R2. they have different part numbers too for a good reason. even though the panel looks identical on the outside, those panels are not interchangeable. you have R5 panel plugged in R2 FIO, that is a possible mismatch problem source.
we had one user who had both R5 and R2 case and swapped side panels between cases and experienced frustrating experiences.