Alienware M17x-R3 Service
Manual
Regulatory model: P11E Regulatory type: P11E001
Notes, Cautions, and Warnings
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of
your computer.
CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates potential damage to hardware or loss of data if
instructions are not followed.
WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage, personal
injury, or death.
____________________
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 2011 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction of these materials in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc.
is strictly forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text: Dell™ and the DELL logo are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Alienware
®
is
a registered trademark of Alienware Corporation; Bluetooth
®
is a registered trademark owned by
Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and is used by Dell under license; Microsoft
®
, Windows
®
, and the Windows start
button logo are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United
States and/or other countries.
Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming
the marks and names or their products. Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and
trade names other than its own.
Regulatory model: P11E Regulatory type: P11E001
January 2011 Rev. A00
Contents 3
Contents
1 Before You Begin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Recommended Tools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Turning Off Your Computer
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Before Working Inside Your Computer . . . . . . . . . 10
2 Battery Pack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Removing the Battery Pack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Replacing the Battery Pack
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3 Compartment Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Removing the Compartment Door . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Replacing the Compartment Door . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
4 Coin-Cell Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Removing the Coin-Cell Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Replacing the Coin-Cell Battery
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
5 Hard Drive(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Removing the Hard Drive(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
4 Contents
Replacing the Hard Drive(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
6 Memory Module(s). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Removing the Memory Module(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Replacing the Memory Module(s)
. . . . . . . . . . . . 27
7 Graphics-Card Heat Sink Fan . . . . . . . . 31
Removing the Graphics-Card Heat Sink Fan . . . . . . 31
Replacing the Graphics-Card Heat Sink Fan
. . . . . . 32
8 Graphics-Card Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Removing the Graphics-Card Assembly . . . . . . . . . 35
Replacing the Graphics-Card Assembly. . . . . . . . . 36
9 Processor Heat-Sink Fan. . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Removing the Processor Heat-Sink Fan. . . . . . . . . 37
Replacing the Processor Heat-Sink Fan
. . . . . . . . . 38
10 Processor Heat-Sink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Removing the Processor Heat-Sink . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Replacing the Processor Heat-Sink
. . . . . . . . . . . 42
Contents 5
11 Processor Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Removing the Processor Module . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Replacing the Processor Module
. . . . . . . . . . . . 46
12 Center Control Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Removing the Center Control Cover . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Replacing the Center Control Cover
. . . . . . . . . . . 52
13 Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Removing the Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Replacing the Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
14 Wireless Mini-Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Removing the Mini-Card. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Replacing the Mini-Card
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
15 WirelessHD Card (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . 63
Removing the WirelessHD Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Replacing the WirelessHD Card. . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
16 Power Button Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Removing the Power Button Board . . . . . . . . . . . 67
6 Contents
Replacing the Power Button Board . . . . . . . . . . . 68
17 Display Assembly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Removing the Display Assembly. . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Replacing the Display Assembly
. . . . . . . . . . . . 73
18 Status Light Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Removing the Status Light Board . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Replacing the Status Light Board
. . . . . . . . . . . . 76
19 Palm Rest Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Removing the Palm Rest Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Replacing the Palm Rest Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . 81
20 Internal Card With Bluetooth Wireless Technology
83
Removing the Bluetooth Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Replacing the Bluetooth Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
21 Speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Removing the Speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Replacing the Speakers
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Contents 7
22 Optical Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Removing the Optical Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Replacing the Optical Drive
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
23 System Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Removing the System Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Replacing the System Board
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Entering the Service Tag in the BIOS
. . . . . . . . . . 99
24 System Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Configuring the System Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Entering System Setup
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
System Setup Screens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
System Setup Options
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
25 Flashing the BIOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
8 Contents
Before You Begin 9
1
Before You Begin
This manual provides procedures for removing and installing the components
in your computer. Unless otherwise noted, each procedure assumes that the
following conditions exist:
• You have performed the steps in "Turning Off Your Computer" on page 9
and "Before Working Inside Your Computer" on page 10.
• You have read the safety information that shipped with your computer
.
• A component can be replaced or—if purchased separately—installed by
performing the removal procedure in reverse order.
Recommended Tools
The procedures in this document may require the following tools:
• Small flat-blade screwdriver
•Phillips screwdriver
•Plastic scribe
• BIOS executable update program at
support.dell.com
Turning Off Your Computer
CAUTION: To avoid losing data, save and close all open files and exit all open
programs before you turn off your computer.
1
Save and close all open files and exit all open programs.
2
Click
Start
, and then click
Shut Down
.
The computer turns off after the operating system shutdown process
finishes.
3
Ensure that the computer and any attached devices are turned off. If your
computer and attached devices did not automatically turn off when you
shut down your operating system, press and hold the power button for at
least 8 to 10 seconds until the computer turns off.
10 Before You Begin
Before Working Inside Your Computer
Use the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer from
potential damage and to help to ensure your own personal safety.
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information
that shipped with your computer. For additional safety best practices information,
see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
CAUTION: To avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by using a wrist
grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface (such as a
connector on your computer).
CAUTION: Handle components and cards with care. Do not touch the components
or contacts on a card. Hold a card by its edges or by its metal mounting bracket.
Hold a component such as a processor by its edges, not by its pins.
CAUTION: Only a certified service technician should perform repairs on your
computer. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell™ is not covered
by your warranty.
CAUTION: When you disconnect a cable, pull on its connector or on its pull-tab,
not on the cable itself. Some cables have connectors with locking tabs; if you are
disconnecting this type of cable, press in on the locking tabs before you
disconnect the cable. As you pull connectors apart, keep them evenly aligned to
avoid bending any connector pins. Also, before you connect a cable, ensure that
both connectors are correctly oriented and aligned.
CAUTION: To avoid damaging the computer, perform the following steps before
you begin working inside the computer.
1
Ensure that the work surface is flat and clean to prevent the computer
cover from being scratched.
2
Turn off your computer (see "Turning Off Your Computer" on page 9).
CAUTION: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your
computer and then unplug the cable from the network device.
3
Disconnect all telephone or network cables from the computer.
4
Press and eject any installed cards from the 9-in-1 Media Card Reader.
5
Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electrical
outlets.
6
Disconnect all attached devices from your computer.
Before You Begin 11
CAUTION: To help prevent damage to the system board, remove the main battery
(see "Removing the Battery Pack" on page 13) before working inside the computer.
7
Remove the battery pack (see "Removing the Battery Pack" on page 13).
8
Turn the computer top-side up, open the display, and press the power
button to ground the system board.
12 Before You Begin
Battery Pack 13
2
Battery Pack
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information
that shipped with your computer. For additional safety best practices information,
see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
CAUTION: To avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by using a wrist
grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface (such as a
connector on your computer).
CAUTION: Only a certified service technician should perform repairs on your
computer. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by
your warranty.
CAUTION: To avoid damage to the computer, use only the battery designed for
this particular Alienware computer. Do not use batteries designed for other
Alienware computers.
Removing the Battery Pack
1
Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9.
2
Shut down the computer and turn it over.
3
Slide the battery latch to the unlock position as shown.
The battery pack pops up.
4
Remove the battery pack.
14 Battery Pack
Replacing the Battery Pack
CAUTION: To avoid damage to the computer, use only the battery designed for
this particular Alienware computer.
1
Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9.
2
Align the tabs on the battery with the slots on the battery bay and snap the
battery into place.
1 battery pack 2 battery latch
1
2
Compartment Door 15
3
Compartment Door
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information
that shipped with your computer. For additional safety best practices information,
see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
CAUTION: To avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by using a wrist
grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface (such as a
connector on your computer).
CAUTION: Only a certified service technician should perform repairs on your
computer. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by
your warranty.
CAUTION: To help prevent damage to the system board, remove the main battery
(see "Removing the Battery Pack" on page 13) before working inside the computer.
Removing the Compartment Door
1
Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9.
2
Remove the battery pack (see "Removing the Battery Pack" on page 13).
3
Remove the two screws that secure the compartment door to the
computer base.
4
Slide and lift the compartment door away from the computer.
16 Compartment Door
Replacing the Compartment Door
1
Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9.
2
Align the tabs on the compartment door with the slots on the computer
base and slide the compartment door into place.
3
Replace the two screws that secure the compartment door to the computer
base.
4
Replace the battery pack (see "Replacing the Battery Pack" on page 14).
CAUTION: Before turning on the computer, replace all screws and ensure that no
stray screws remain inside the computer. Failure to do so may result in damage to
the computer.
1 compartment door 2 screws (2)
2
1
Coin-Cell Battery 17
4
Coin-Cell Battery
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information
that shipped with your computer. For additional safety best practices information,
see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
CAUTION: To avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by using a wrist
grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface (such as a
connector on your computer).
CAUTION: Only a certified service technician should perform repairs on your
computer. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by
your warranty.
CAUTION: To help prevent damage to the system board, remove the main battery
(see "Removing the Battery Pack" on page 13) before working inside the computer.
Removing the Coin-Cell Battery
1
Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9.
2
Remove the battery pack (see "Removing the Battery Pack" on page 13).
3
Remove the compartment door (see "Removing the Compartment Door"
on page 15).
4
Use a plastic scribe to pry up the coin-cell battery from the slot on the
system board.
18 Coin-Cell Battery
Replacing the Coin-Cell Battery
1
Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9.
2
Hold the coin-cell battery with the positive side up.
3
Slide the coin-cell battery into the slot and gently press until it snaps into
place.
4
Replace the compartment door (see "Replacing the Compartment Door"
on page 16).
5
Replace the battery pack (see "Replacing the Battery Pack" on page 14).
CAUTION: Before turning on the computer, replace all screws and ensure that no
stray screws remain inside the computer. Failure to do so may result in damage to
the computer.
1 plastic scribe 2 coin-cell battery
1
2
Hard Drive(s) 19
5
Hard Drive(s)
WARNING: If you remove the hard drive from the computer when the drive is hot,
do not touch
the metal housing of the hard drive.
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information
that shipped with your computer. For additional safety best practices information,
see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
CAUTION: To avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by using a wrist
grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface (such as a
connector on your computer).
CAUTION: To help prevent damage to the system board, remove the main battery
(see "Removing the Battery Pack" on page 13) before working inside the computer.
CAUTION: To prevent data loss, turn off your computer (see "Turning Off Your
Computer" on page 9) before removing the hard-drive assembly. Do not remove the
hard drive while the computer is On or in Sleep state.
CAUTION: Hard drives are extremely fragile. Exercise care when handling the
hard drive.
CAUTION: Only a certified service technician should perform repairs on your
computer. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by
your warranty.
CAUTION: When you disconnect a cable, pull on its connector or on its pull-tab,
not on the cable itself. Some cables have connectors with locking tabs; if you are
disconnecting this type of cable, press in on the locking tabs before you
disconnect the cable. As you pull connectors apart, keep them evenly aligned to
avoid bending any connector pins. Also, before you connect a cable, ensure that
both connectors are correctly oriented and aligned.
NOTE: Dell or Alienware does not guarantee compatibility or provide support for
hard drives from sources other than Dell.
NOTE: If you are installing a hard drive from a source other than Dell or Alienware,
you need to install an operating system, drivers, and utilities on the new hard drive.
20 Hard Drive(s)
Removing the Hard Drive(s)
1
Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9.
2
Remove the battery pack (see "Removing the Battery Pack" on page 13).
3
Remove the compartment door (see "Removing the Compartment Door"
on page 15).
4
Loosen the three captive screws that secure the hard-drive assembly to the
computer base.
5
Using the pull-tab, lift the hard-drive assembly to disconnect it from the
connector on the system board.
6
Lift the hard-drive assembly out of the computer base.
Primary hard-drive assembly
Secondary hard-drive assembly
1 captive screws (3) 2 primary hard-drive assembly
1
2
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