Alienware DHS-301 User manual

Alienware DHS 3 Upgrade User’s Guide 1

ALIENWARE DHS 3 Series User Guide
The contents herein are subject to change without notice.
©1996-2005 Alienware Corporation. All rights reserved.
Reproduction of this guide in any manner without the prior written
permission of Alienware Corporation is strictly prohibited.
Trademarks used in this guide: Alienware, the AlienHead logo, InfoPanel,
DHS and AlienAutopsy are trademarks or registered trademarks of Alienware
Corporation. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation. Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel
Corporation. Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this guide
to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their
products. Alienware Corporation disclaims any proprietary interest in
trademarks and trade names other than its own.
Rev 1.1.060605

Alienware DHS 3 Upgrade User’s Guide 3
Table of Contents
Introduction ................................................................... 4
Before You Begin ............................................................ 5
Alienware DHS 3 Upgrade Features ............................................................5
What’s in the box......................................................................................5
What’s not in the box ................................................................................5
Getting Started ............................................................... 5
DHS 3 Upgrade DVD Overview.......................................................... 5
There are three different methods of installing your upgrade DVD ................... 5
DHS 3 Upgrade DVD Methods Overview ........................... 6
1. Direct upgrade from within Windows ....................................................6
2. Clean installation from within Windows ................................................6
3. Clean installation by Booting to the DVD...............................................6
DHS 3 Upgrade DVD Getting Started ................................................. 7
1. Direct upgrade from within Windows.......................................................7
2. Clean installation from within Windows ...................................................9
2. Clean installation by Booting to the DVD ...............................................12
DHS 3 Upgrade DVD Finishing Up................................................... 16
LCDmon Verification: .............................................................................. 16
APPENDIX A:............................................................... 20
TERMS AND CONDITIONS AGREEMENT ..................................................20
APPENDIX B:............................................................... 21
LIMITED PRODUCT WARRANTY: DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES;
AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY ..................................................... 21
Obtaining Warranty Service ......................................................................21
Systems Returned to Alienware for Repair..................................................21
Replacing a Defective Component .............................................................22
Keep in mind..........................................................................................23
30-day Money Back Guarantee........................................................ 24
APPENDIX D: .............................................................. 25
MICROSOFT CRITICAL UPDATES ................................................... 25
APPENDIX E:............................................................... 26
CONTACTING ALIENWARE ............................................................ 26
Sales .....................................................................................................26
Customer Service ....................................................................................26
Technical Support ................................................................................... 26
Corporate Headquarters...........................................................................27

Introduction
Dear Valued Alienware Customer,
Alienware would like to take this opportunity to thank you for purchasing an
award-winning Alienware system and welcome you to a growing family of
dedicated users. Like you, Alienware employees are hardcore computer
users. The staff knows exactly what it takes to design a system that will
exceed your expectations.
The technicians responsible for crafting your machine have spent many
hours ensuring that your computer is properly optimized and performs to its
fullest potential. Alienware technicians build machines with one philosophy
in mind: Build It As If It Were Your Own. The technicians are not happy
unless your new machine meets or exceeds very demanding criteria!
In order to insure the highest levels of performance, your machine has been
extensively tested. In addition to a standard burn-in period, this testing
includes the usage of real-world tools such as synthetic performance
benchmarks and 3D games. The results of all this testing has been
documented and provided for your inspection.
Please do not hesitate to either e-mail or call Alienware with any questions
or concerns – Alienware would like to hear from you. The entire staff
sincerely hopes that you enjoy using your new computer as much as
Alienware enjoyed building it for you.
Sincerely,
Alienware Staff

Alienware DHS 3 Upgrade User’s Guide 5
Before You Begin
Alienware DHS 3 Upgrade Features
•The comfort of upgrading and saving all your media content. This could
include pre-recorded TV shows, Music, Video files, and much more.
•Windows Media Center 2005 will allow you to record one show while
watching another. Hardware support is required.
•The upgrade can update your system with the latest Windows patches
from Microsoft.
•The upgrade can update your system with the latest drivers supported
by Alienware for optimal performance of your system..
What’s in the box
•One DHS 3 Upgrade Manual
•One Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Upgrade DVD
What’s not in the box
•You might have to locate your 2004 COA on your Alienware system.
This will depend on what installation method you choose.
Getting Started
DHS 3 Upgrade DVD Overview
There are three different methods of installing your upgrade DVD
1. Doing a direct upgrade from within Windows
2. Doing a clean install by running the disc from within
Windows.
3. A fresh install, booting to the DVD and installing a fresh
installation of Windows
There are positives and negatives to all methods of installation which
will be explained further in the next section. You and you alone will
need to determine which method best suits your needs.

DHS 3 Upgrade DVD Methods Overview
1. Direct upgrade from within Windows
This method will allow you to run the upgrade DVD from with
in Windows. This will be the choice to upgrade when asked by
the Installation interface.
Positives:
1. You get to save all your media files from your prior
Windows installation
2. You get to keep all drivers that are on your system, no
need to re-install drivers.
3. All software will be present that was pre-installed on the
system before upgrade.
Negatives:
1. You will not have all MCE 2005 updates installed on your
system until you update manually.
2. You will not get the latest Alienware drivers automatically
loaded upon installation.
3. You will have to register your copy of Windows with
Microsoft after installation
2. Clean installation from within Windows
This method will allow you to run the upgrade DVD from with
in Windows. This will be the choice to execute a complete
installation when asked by the Installation interface.
Positives:
1. Will keep all drivers that are on your system, no need to re-
install drivers
Negatives:
1. You will not get to save all your media files from your prior
Windows installation
2. You will not have all MCE 2005 updates installed on your
system until you update manually.
3. You will not get the latest Alienware drivers automatically
loaded upon installation.
4. You will have to register your copy of Windows with
Microsoft after installation.
3. Clean installation by Booting to the DVD
This method will allow you to boot to the upgrade DVD. This
requires you to change a setting in the BIOS. It is also
recommended by Alienware for best upgrade results.
Positives:

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1. You will have all MCE 2005 updates installed on your
system automatically installed.
2. You will get all the latest validated drivers from Alienware,
no need to install drivers
3. You do not have to register your copy of Windows.
Negatives:
1. You get to save all your media files from your prior
Windows installation.
DHS 3 Upgrade DVD Getting Started
Now you have had a chance to read through the different methods of
installation. You will need to decide which method is best for you. Here is
where we will begin to upgrade your Alienware DHS system. Please refer to
the section that pertains to which method you have chosen.
1. Direct upgrade from within Windows
Step 1. Locate your DVD and place it in your optical drive. The disc
should automatically run and a window below should open
up.
If the disc did not run automatically, navigate to your optical drive usually
D:\, this can be accomplished by going to My Computer. Then double click
your optical drive.
Step 2. Click the option Install Windows.
Step 3. Once this is complete you will be presented with a choice
for installation type to either “Upgrade” or “New
Installation”. You will need to choose “Upgrade.”

Step 4. The nest window that should be presented is the License
agreement from Microsoft. Click “I accept this agreement”
then next and the installation will continue.
Step 5. The following step requires you to locate your COA which is
located on your chassis on the outside. The installation is
asking you to enter the Windows XP Media Center Edition
2004 COA.
Step 6. Next you will follow any on screen instructions. The next
screen you could see is shown below. Click “Yes” and the
installation will continue. If you do not see this screen then

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just proceed to the next step. There are no issues if you do
not see this screen.
Step 7. Now at Step 6 you should reach the Microsoft Welcome.
The first screen is shown below; follow all the on screen
instructions. Once this is complete you should be on your
desktop in Windows XP Media Center 2005.
2. Clean installation from within Windows
Step 1. Locate your DVD and place it in your optical drive. The disc
should automatically run and a window below should open
up.

If the disc did not run automatically, navigate to your optical drive usually
D:\, this can be accomplished by going to My Computer. Then double click
your optical drive.
Step 2. Click the option Install Windows.
Step 3. Once this is complete you will be presented with a choice
for installation type to either “Upgrade” or “New
Installation”. You will need to choose “New Installation.”
Step 4. The nest window that should be presented is the License
agreement from Microsoft. Click “I accept this agreement”
then next and the installation will continue.
Step 5. The following step requires you to locate your COA which is
located on your chassis on the outside. The installation is
asking you to enter the Windows XP Media Center Edition
2004 COA.

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Step 6. Now you will be asked what setup options you would like.
Alienware recommends that you click next unless you are
an advanced user and want to explore any customization
option available.
Step 7. Finally you will be asked to get updated setup files.
Alienware recommends if you have a high speed connection
and you connected then you may download them, if not
continue by selecting “No, skip this step and continue
installing Windows”.

Step 8. Next you will follow any on screen instructions. The next
screen you could see is the screen shown below. Click “Yes”
and the installation will continue. If you do not see this
screen then just proceed to the next step. There are no
issues if you do not see this screen.
Step 9. Now you should have reached the Microsoft OOBE. The first
screen is shown below; follow all the on screen instructions.
Once this is complete you should be on your desktop in
Windows XP Media Center 2005.
Step 10. See section LCDmon verification.
2. Clean installation by Booting to the DVD
Step 1. You need to verify that your boot order in the BIOS is
correct before beginning the Windows instillation. Restart
your computer and on the Alienware splash screen press
<del> key.

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Step 2. Once in the BIOS you will need to push the right arrow key
and navigate to “BOOT”. Then press the down key until you
highlight “Boot Device Priority”
Step 3. Now in the “Boot Device Priority” menu make sure to make
your optical drive the first boot device.
Step 4. Now press <esc> and press the right arrow to navigate to
exit and make sure to exit the bios by choosing “Exit Saving
Changes”.

Step 5. During the booting of you computer you will be prompted to
press any key to
Step 6. Once the installation should begin you will be asked to
delete and create a new partition on your hard drive.
6-1. Press the letter <D>
6-2. Press <Enter>
6-3. Press the letter <L>
6-4. Press <Enter>
Step 7. After you have deleted the partition you will need to create
your new one. You will need to format this partition. You
can either choose the quick or normal partition. The quick
partition does a quicker partition; the choice is up to the
user.

Alienware DHS 3 Upgrade User’s Guide 15
Step 8. The next window you will see in the installation process is
the License Agreement from Microsoft. Click I accept this
agreement and next and the installation process will
continue.
Step 9. The next Window you encounter will prompt you for a name
and organization; this step is entirely optional. You can
continue without entering any information.
Step 10. Once the installation restarts for the last time you will
presented with the following two Windows. Please click OK
for both Windows.

Step 11. Now you should have reached the Microsoft OOBE. The
first screen is shown below; follow all the on screen
instructions. Once this is complete you should be on your
desktop in Windows XP Media Center 2005.
Step 12. Once in Windows you will see a lot of screens that look like
they are installing software and drivers. This is exactly what
is happening; the Alienware upgrade disc installs all the
latest drivers and software for your system.
Step 13. See section LCDmon verification.
DHS 3 Upgrade DVD Finishing Up
LCDmon Verification:
This step is important as this the font LCD which displays information when
in Windows. This will display DVD titles, music track information, TV show
titles, and etc.

Alienware DHS 3 Upgrade User’s Guide 17
Step 1. Step 1: Locate the LCD in front of the chassis.
Step 2. Next make sure you’re in Windows before checking the LCD.
Once you verify you are in Windows look at the LCD and
make sure you can see the information it displays.
If you’re LCD displays the below information when in Windows
then this means your drivers and software installed are working
correctly. You can stop and your installation is now complete.
If you’re LCD displays the below information when in Windows
then this means your drivers and software are not installed or
working correctly. You can proceed to Step 3
Step 3. Shut down your system completely, this does not mean
restart. You will have to choose shut down by going to Start
ÆTurn Off Computer ÆTurn Off
Step 4. Turn on the system, once you are in Windows you should
see the below image.
4-1. Make sure “No, not this time” is checked and then hit Next.

4-2. Once this is done on the next screen you will choose “Install the
software automatically (Recommended)” and click Next.
4-3. Next you the screen will be say that Files Needed. This screen is
asking you for the LCDmon.sys file. Click Browse and navigate to
C:\Windows\system32\drivers and you should find LCDmon.sys; next
click Open then click OK.
Step 5. Click Finish once the driver has been updated.
Step 6. Restart your system.

Alienware DHS 3 Upgrade User’s Guide 19
Step 7. Verify that your LCD now displays the following image when
in Windows. If it does not follow steps 1-7 again. If this
does not resolve the issue please contact Alienware Support.

APPENDIX A:
TERMS AND CONDITIONS AGREEMENT
Please visit http://www.alienware.com/terms to view the terms and
conditions agreement. We recommend that you print a copy and file it with
your invoice for future reference.