Are51m 766 (need help finding older bios and disassembly)

Ok, here is my problem. I can't for the life of me get the goddamn remote on this thing working. I know the IR port is enabled in the BIOS

When installing the software (Remote Master 2.2n) I get a "IR501 device not found (E00C) error". I've seen it before on this board with no solutions.

This tells me that either I've got the wrong software, or the port got disconnected somehow internally (after all it is called a "USB remote"). I honestly think the wrong software came with the computer, because I vaguely remember downloading the right stuff some time many years ago when I first got the remote working, but I've exhausted all avenues of approach with regards to software up to this point.

I initially suspected a BIOS issue as the previous thread on this board suggested, so I upgraded the bios to 1.21W, then rolled it back to 1.16W from a CD I tossed in the gun cabinet for target practice some day. I've been through 3 different BIOS', so I doubt that's the problem. But I am still hunting for an older BIOS if someone can help me find one.

Barring my finding the right software, my other angle of attack is to take the whole thing apart completely just to look at the IR receiver and see if it is damaged.

I WILL find the solution to this problem, but I could use some help. I'm stuck at the disassembly. I've taken out all the screws I can, but the machine isn't coming apart any more. Anyone have a guide or can hint me through this, or provide any help at all with any of these issues?

I'd really appreciate it.

Woops, forgot to mention a few things here then:

A) I did format and reinstall. I had read about some problems with WinXP Sp2 and IR ports, so I upgraded to Sp3, tried, still no success, then crushed and restarted from scratch installing drivers in proper order and so on. No success.

With regards to "does it show up in my device manager". I'm not sure. The 766 (when you get the Remote) comes with two ports, one on the left hand side near the CDRom and one under the screen on the front right hand side. I am picking up an IrDA port in the device manager, but my understanding is that the remote should show up as a USB HID device, so I'm assuming that it is not because I don't see a USB HID device, and only one IrDA port shows up. As far as I know IrDA ports aren't designed for use with a remote.

Thanks for finding those ressource pages Hammerhead, I can't believe I hadn't come across them earlier to be honest (I've been combing the Alienware support page for like two days), but I've already covered those.

As for the drivers, there are no actual drivers per-se. Aside from the Remote Master application (which doesn't seem to install any drivers for hardware) there's nothing. I would assume that Windows should automatically detect the reciever.

Thanks for the help though!

If I have to take that route I'll probably just get an air mouse. Im basically using the laptop as an HTPC.

I'm assuming the cable is disconnected hence the reason I want to take the laptop apart, but after giving it a shot I decided that the risk doesn't outweight the benefits. Don't get me wrong, I live tearing into electronics but this particular machine is hardly a lost cause at this point so why bother.

I just noticed that I wasn't the only person having this problem so I figured I'd give it a solid go, but without a dissassembly guide, and me not being able to get past a certain stage it wasn't worth the effort.

I basically had to compromise. The CDROM drive on the machine was failing as well, so I accepted that hardware failure was a good possibility. I called tech support and got nothing. After reinstalling Windows with a USB key, I looked into the mobo, and I THINK I found the version but it didn't help (I dont remember what it was). But the same shitty non working software kept coming up. I looked into the remote and found out that it is a rather obscure remote with absolutely no support. I also tried a ton of 3rd party IR drivers and software with no luck.

At the end of the day I was forced to accept that the price of an IR receiver was not worth the potential cost of destroying the laptop for such a simple thing as getting an IR port working.

Instead I just installed VNC on it and used my computer which is in the same room to control it from a distance, and later installed a PS3 to replace it. Now the laptop sits in a corner alone and unloved. Wish I had better news for you. If you have better success let me know!

I have the "correct" drivers that I pulled off the AW site, but no luck.

Yes as a matter of fact I do! Only problem is I only have a burnt CD, no binairies. I made an image, hope it's good. Just burn to disk and reboot and it should boot from the cd

You can get it from http://www.etherealnet.ca/aw/aw121w.rar

Do you have the non-W? If so maybe I should give it a go.

So you're saying you got the remote working under Windows 7?