IO Boards keep failing.

1. because of the fans running very fast and won't go back to their normal speeds.

2. They also mentioned I may have to format the hard drive and re-install Windows. I don't see the connection there.

1. They might have truly failed but often this just means some low-level setting is not getting written to MIO-Board. It is an independent "computer" inside your Windows computer.

2. Yes, over the years I've seen that being required to get it going. I think it has to do with the strange way the drivers install for the MIO-Board. As you know, the various drivers come with Command Center.

You also have to be careful which version of AW-CC you install, depending on machine and version of Windows installed.

Thanks for that information.

Every time they changed the  MIO-Board  they removed then reinstall the AW-CC program. In fact today the tech did it twice.

Their 3rd level support isn't there on the weekends so they won't be getting back to me until tomorrow or Tuesday.

My biggest concern is, if I should have to re-install Windows and that doesn't fix the problem, what next.

The computer will be 5 years old in Oct and has served me well. I don't know how long the Alienware is good for. They had to change the liquid CPU unit 2 years ago, other than that the only problems have been fans.

Will let you know how this comes out.

Again, thanks for that information.

Wayne3842 wrote:

1. Every time they changed the  MIO-Board  they removed then reinstall the AW-CC program. In fact today the tech did it twice.

2. My biggest concern is, if I should have to re-install Windows and that doesn't fix the problem, what next.

3. The computer will be 5 years old in Oct and has served me well. I don't know how long the Alienware is good for.

4. They had to change the liquid CPU unit 2 years ago, other than that the only problems have been fans.

1. Yes, I'm sure they did. That's how you get related drivers and apps installed and find out if MIO-Board is going to work with your motherboard and Windows.

2. Whatever it takes. Maybe another MIO-Board. You can Image Backup whole system first if you want.

3. I still have an Aurora-R1 from 2010.  Running a SSD, Nvidia GTX-1070, and Windows-10/64bit these days. Never had a problem with MIO-Board, Liquid-Cooler, or anything really ... other than one spinning HDD.

4. Yes, common according to forum reports. Some machines got some bad ones a while back.

If you still have valid extended maintenance contract, Dell will get you fixed up, one-way-or-the-other. 

They gave the problem to 3rd level engineering who said the problem is not a software problem.

They wanted me to take a picture of the board and email it to them. I sent them 5 at different angles just to make sure.

They think something had been hooked up wrong causing the board to die after a time.

That could happen if the first tech hooked it up wrong and the second one just followed his hookup.

I did see the board was made in 1996. It says MS4194 Ver 1.1 if that means anything.

Just have to wait and see what they come up with now.

I have a laptop to use so not dead in the water, but but really need the Alienware ASAP

Wayne3842 wrote:

1. They think something had been hooked up wrong causing the board to die after a time.

2. I did see the board was made in 1996.

3. It says MS4194 Ver 1.1 if that means anything.

1. I can't image what.

2. The "N1996" means something else. It was likely built in 2009 or later.

3. Right. That's MSI's model number.

I was wondering the same thing. It worked for 3 weeks before it died so can't see that something was hooked up wrong.

I didn't think that was the manufactured date, but that's the only thing on the board that resembles a date.

Just hope they get it figured out before next week as I have a bunch of wedding pictures to process with Adobe and can't do that on my laptop.

Does it hurt the computer to run it with the fans going that fast?

The noise is annoying, but could put up with it if necessary.

After a few calls to Alienware 3L tech support, taking pictures of the inside of the computer and sending them in. They say they will have to change the motherboard and MIO-board.

I don't know how they determined that. I looked very close at the motherboard and see nothing like bulged capacitors, burned streaks or any visible damage.

Since they moved the tech support to Costa Rica it is excellent. The tech I spoke with really knew her job and spoke perfect English. When you are 79 years old and use hearing aids, that is a big bonus.

She got into the system and changed the fan speed to normal so I can use the computer until the replace the motherboard next week.