M17x R1, Windows 10, lighting not working

Our users need to know the specific model. Go HERE. Enter the private Service Tag number. What model? What version of AWCC did you install?

@DELL-Chris M​ 

The service tag on my computer is <It is the 2009 M17x R1. DELL-Chris M>, but I get nothing when I search for it. And I installed the Windows 7 version of AWCC. I tried the Windows 8 version but it says that its not compatible.

The 2009 M17x R1 was only tested/validated by Dell in Windows Vista/7.

All you can do is test/install the available Windows 10 versions of AWCC to see if any work.

Was the lighting working before you installed Win10? If not, then you have a bigger issue than software. If you tried using an old M17x driver resource CD to install AWCC then you may have bricked your AlienFX chip on the motherboard. 

Did you try to install the correct version of AWCC for your R1? The newer versions aren't compatible with these older machines. 

You will need this version for your system

https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-au/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=d96j2&oscode=wv64&productcode=alienware-m17x

@mattyb3​ I tried installing the version you recommended but i get System.NullReferenceException at AlienLabs.AlienFX.Controller.ControllerMainForm.ClosingApplication()

and AlienLabs.AlienFX.Controller.ControllerMainForm.ControllerMainForm_formClosing()

@FOX025​ Are any of the lights currently working or is everything dark?

@FOX025​ 

Hi,

I am writing this from an old M17x R3 (2 versions newer than yours) and both AWCC and AlienFX-Tools work fine (although the latest version of AlienFX-Tools that works on this machine is v8.0.2.0, so you need to try that version or maybe 1 or 2 versions older).

The Dell Website (Drivers and Downloads) has versions of AWCC for M17x and M17x R2 (but not R1 specifically) but it seems that the M17x would be yours as the drivers date back to 2009.

I have Windows 10 running on this machine, even though it came with Windows 7 also, and the version of AWCC from the Dell Website, that was released for Windows 7, also works fine with Windows 10 on my system.

Regards

M17x with no notation after it implies R1. I add it for clarity.

* Open the Pinned Posts = FAQ Alienware Laptops
* Open = Alienware Laptops naming confusion

M17x R1 (6/02/2009) Drivers & Downloads page

M17x R2 (1/15/2010) Drivers & Downloads page

M17x R3 (1/08/2011) Drivers & Downloads page