Dell Alienware M17x Service Guide
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0202/ The contents herein are subject to change without notice. © 2009 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of these materials in any manner whatsoever without the prior written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly prohibited. Trademarks used in this manual: Alienware is a registered trademark of Alienware Corporation. Dell and the Dell Logo are trademarks of Dell Inc. Bluetooth is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and is used by Dell under license. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista, and Windows Vista 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 manual 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. Rev. A00 MAY 2009 Notes, Cautions, and Warnings NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer. CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the problem. WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death.
0303/ CONTENTS CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: BEFORE YOU BEGIN.........................................6 Recommended Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Turning Off Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Before Working Inside Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 CHAPTER 2: BATTERY PACK.............................................9 Removing the Battery Pack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Replacing the Battery Pack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 CHAPTER 3: COMPARTMENT DOOR......................................12 Removing the Compartment Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Replacing the Compartment Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 CHAPTER 4: HARD DRIVE(S) ............................................15 Removing the Hard Drive(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Replacing the Hard Drive(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 CHAPTER 5: PROCESSOR THERMAL FAN................................20 Removing the Processor Thermal Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Replacing the Processor Thermal Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 CHAPTER 6: COIN-CELL BATTERY ......................................23 Removing the Coin-Cell Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Replacing the Coin-Cell Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 CHAPTER 7: MEMORY MODULE(S)......................................26 Removing the Memory Module(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Replacing the Memory Module(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 CHAPTER 8: CENTER CONTROL COVER ..................................31 Removing the Center Control Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 Replacing the Center Control Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 CHAPTER 9: KEYBOARD ...............................................36 Removing the Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Replacing the Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 CHAPTER 10: PALM REST ..............................................40 Removing the Palm Rest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Replacing the Palm Rest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
0404/ CONTENTS CHAPTER 16: WIRELESS MINI-CARD(S) .................................69 Removing the Mini-Card(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71 Replacing the Mini-Card(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73 CHAPTER 17: PROCESSOR HEAT SINK...................................74 Removing the Processor Heat Sink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76 Replacing the Processor Heat Sink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77 CHAPTER 18: GRAPHICS CARD(S).......................................78 Removing the Graphics Card(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 Replacing the Graphics Card(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81 CHAPTER 19: GRAPHICS CARD FAN(S) ..................................82 Removing the Graphics Card Fan(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84 Replacing the Graphics Card Fan(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85 CHAPTER 20: GRAPHICS CARD BLANK..................................86 Removing the Graphics Card Blank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88 Replacing the Graphics Card Blank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88 CHAPTER 21: SYSTEM BOARD..........................................89 Removing the System Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90 Replacing the System Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92 CHAPTER 11: BRACKETS ...............................................45 Removing the Brackets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 Replacing the Brackets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 CHAPTER 12: MAGNESIUM COVER......................................48 Removing the Magnesium Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Replacing the Magnesium Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 CHAPTER 13: DISPLAY.................................................52 Removing the Display Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 Replacing the Display Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 Removing the Display Back Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Replacing the Display Back Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Removing the AlienHead Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Replacing the AlienHead Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 CHAPTER 14: INPUT/OUTPUT BOARD....................................61 Removing the Input/Output Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 Replacing the Input/Output Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 CHAPTER 15: OPTICAL DRIVE...........................................65 Removing the Optical Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Replacing the Optical Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
0505/ CONTENTS CHAPTER 22: SPEAKERS...............................................93 Removing the Speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95 Replacing the Speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95 CHAPTER 23: CONSUMER IR BOARD....................................96 Removing the Consumer IR Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98 Replacing the Consumer IR Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98 CHAPTER 24: BATTERY LATCH ASSEMBLY ..............................99 Removing the Battery Latch Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101 Replacing the Battery Latch Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101 CHAPTER 25: FLASHING THE BIOS ....................................102 Flashing the BIOS from a CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103 Flashing the BIOS from the Hard Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104
CHAPTER 1: BEFORE YOU BEGIN 0606/ This section 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 • 7 and “Before Working Inside Your Computer” on page 8. 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. CHAPTER 1: BEFORE YOU BEGIN CHAPTER 1: BEFORE YOU BEGIN
0707/ CHAPTER 1: BEFORE YOU BEGIN 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. Save and close all open files and exit all open programs.1. In Microsoft2. ® Windows Vista®, click Start (Windows Vista® logo), click the arrow , and then click Shut Down. The computer turns off after the operating system shutdown process finishes. Ensure that the computer and any attached devices are turned off. If your 3. 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. Recommended Tools The procedures in this document may require the following tools: Small flat-blade screwdriver• Phillips screwdriver• Processor extraction tool• BIOS upgrade CD•
0808/ CHAPTER 1: BEFORE YOU BEGIN Ensure that the work surface is flat and clean to prevent the computer cover 1. from being scratched. Turn off your computer (see “Turning Off Your Computer” on page 2. 8). If the computer is connected to a docking device (docked), undock it. See the 3. documentation that came with your docking device for instructions. CAUTION: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your computer and then unplug the cable from the network device. Disconnect all telephone or network cables from the computer.4. Press and eject any installed cards from the ExpressCard slot and the 8-in-1 5. Memory Card Reader. Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electrical 6. outlets. CAUTION: To help prevent damage to the system board, you must remove the battery from the battery bay before you service the computer. CAUTION: To avoid damage to the computer, use only the battery designed for this particular Dell computer. Do not use batteries designed for other Dell computers. Remove the battery (see “Removing the Battery Pack” on page 7. 11). Press the power button to ground the system board.8. 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 you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions that shipped with your computer. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance. CAUTION: Handle components and cards with care. Do not touch the components or contacts on a card. Hold a card by its edges. 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.
CHAPTER 2: BATTERY PACK 0909/ CHAPTER 2: BATTERY PACK CHAPTER 2: BATTERY PACK
010010/ CHAPTER 2: BATTERY PACK 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. WARNING: Before performing these procedures, turn off the computer, disconnect the AC adapter from the electrical outlet and the computer, disconnect the modem from the wall connector and the computer, and remove any other external cables from the computer. 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 the back of the computer). CAUTION: To help prevent damage to the system board, remove the main battery (see “Removing the Battery Pack” on page 11) before working inside the computer.