We cannot replicate this issue. Send me the following in a private conversation (Click my name, click Send a Message) -
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1) System does not resume from hibernation if AC power unplugged
We followed these proposed steps trying to replicate:
Switch back and forth between AC plugged and unplugged
Switch back and forth between Integrated and Discrete cards
Tried different video drivers

2) Fn+F4/Fn+F5 does not control brightness as indicated
Brightness indication pops up and works as intended
What OSD version is installed?

3) AlienFX lighting HATES multiple users logged on simultaneously
This is under investigation with the Alien Command Center team

I see the same issue with Fn-f4/f5 stopping working after the system has been running for some time.

Killing and restarting the OSD process fixes the issue.

(The OSD installed is the latest available from the dell support site.)

Skywing:

Try the hibernate thing.  Hibernate while on AC power then unplug from AC power and try to resume... I can't imagine this is an individual problem.

I sent over the service tag info etc.  The OSD is version .9 (this is what shipped with it)

On the hibernation issue, it will resume with the AC unplugged... as long as it was unplugged when I hibernated.  It's like it has to be how it remembers it when it was hibernated.  If it freezes on resuming, I can hold the power button down to turn it off, plug the AC in, and it'll resume fine.  It just refuses to resume until I either plug or unplug the AC (depending on how it was when put into hibernation)

I don't enable hibernate on my system.  Frequently, hibernate causes the Intel GS45 graphics to get stuck driving the external VGA port (only), such that you can only use integrated graphics with an external display (not the LCD) -- you're forced to use the battery-hungry nvidia graphics for driving the internal display.

While in this state the integrated graphics won't detect the built-in display at all if you do hook an external VGA cable up and go to the monitor configuration page in win7.

Skywing, cartossin,

We want to capture your PCs. We will setup like for like system exchanges. Once complete, we would send you the dispatch exchange number. You will also receive a special Return Airbill so that your original PC will come to our lab. You will keep the original PC until you receive the replacement PC. Do you want us to proceed?

Chris: Sure I'll do it.  As an IT professional who deals with lots of hardware all the time, I don't think there's anything wrong with my hardware, but if this helps you reproduce and track down an issue, I'm all for it.

Skywing: I run intel gfx most of the time and I haven't had a problem with hibernate besides the AC power thing.  I've hibernated on nvidia too, and it doesn't break anything. I do recall it did before, but I reinstalled the nvidia and intel gfx from the dell website and it didnt do it anymore. (another odd thing, it seems the gfx must be on INTEL mode to install the NVIDIA gfx driver... very strange, but no biggie)

Sure, that's OK with me.

So anyway, the purpose of this hardware swap is the hibernate issue right? The brightness thing *clearly* isn't hardware. (right?)

Assuming the new one has the same issue with hibernate, should I just send it back?

EDIT: Note to anyone reading this: Dell canceled my replacement  without notifying me and has given no reason.  Dell/alienware has thus far done NOTHING to fix my problems.

I'm seeing issue #3 on my M17X10 with Win7 Home x64.

It appears to be isolated to the scenario where:

1. Two users are logged in

2. The system is put to Sleep (not Hibernate)

3. The system is woken up 

At this point, the AlienFX will begin blinking back and forth between each user's settings.

Logging in as one of the previously logged in users will not correct the problem.

It is necessary to logout a user and then re-login to obtain the correct AlienFX settings.