Alienware 15 R3 User manual

Alienware 13 R3
Service Manual
Computer Model: Alienware 13 R3
Regulatory Model: P81G
Regulatory Type: P81G001

Notes, cautions, and warnings
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make
better use of your product.
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.
Copyright © 2016 Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. All rights reserved. Dell, EMC, and
other trademarks are trademarks of Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. Other trademarks may be
trademarks of their respective owners.
2016 - 12
Rev. A01

Contents
Before working inside your computer........................ 10
Before you begin ...........................................................................10
Safety instructions...........................................................................10
Recommended tools........................................................................ 11
Screw list........................................................................................ 12
After working inside your computer.......................... 14
Removing the base cover.............................................15
Procedure.......................................................................................15
Replacing the base cover.............................................17
Procedure.......................................................................................17
Removing the wireless card.........................................18
Prerequisites................................................................................... 18
Procedure.......................................................................................18
Replacing the wireless card........................................ 20
Procedure......................................................................................20
Post-requisites................................................................................ 21
Removing the solid-state drive................................... 22
Prerequisites.................................................................................. 22
Procedure...................................................................................... 22
3

Replacing the solid-state drive................................... 24
Procedure......................................................................................24
Post-requisites............................................................................... 25
Removing the memory modules..................................26
Prerequisites.................................................................................. 26
Procedure......................................................................................26
Replacing the memory modules..................................28
Procedure...................................................................................... 28
Post-requisites............................................................................... 29
Removing the rear-I/O cover.....................................30
Prerequisites.................................................................................. 30
Procedure......................................................................................30
Replacing the rear-I/O cover..................................... 32
Procedure...................................................................................... 32
Post-requisites................................................................................32
Removing the computer base......................................33
Prerequisites...................................................................................33
Procedure...................................................................................... 33
Replacing the computer base......................................36
Procedure...................................................................................... 36
Post-requisites................................................................................36
Removing the coin-cell battery...................................37
Prerequisites...................................................................................37
Procedure...................................................................................... 37
4

Replacing the coin-cell battery...................................39
Procedure...................................................................................... 39
Post-requisites................................................................................39
Removing the heat-sink assembly..............................40
Prerequisites.................................................................................. 40
Procedure......................................................................................40
Replacing the heat-sink assembly.............................. 42
Procedure......................................................................................42
Post-requisites................................................................................42
Removing the battery..................................................43
Prerequisites.................................................................................. 43
Procedure...................................................................................... 43
Replacing the battery..................................................45
Procedure......................................................................................45
Post-requisites............................................................................... 45
Removing the touch pad............................................. 46
Prerequisites.................................................................................. 46
Procedure......................................................................................46
Replacing the touch pad............................................. 50
Procedure......................................................................................50
Post-requisites............................................................................... 50
Removing the system board........................................51
Prerequisites...................................................................................51
Procedure......................................................................................52
5

Replacing the system board........................................55
Procedure......................................................................................55
Post-requisites............................................................................... 56
Removing the speakers............................................... 57
Prerequisites...................................................................................57
Procedure...................................................................................... 57
Replacing the speakers............................................... 59
Procedure......................................................................................59
Post-requisites............................................................................... 59
Removing the power-adapter port.............................60
Prerequisites.................................................................................. 60
Procedure......................................................................................60
Replacing the power-adapter port.............................62
Procedure......................................................................................62
Post-requisites............................................................................... 62
Removing the power-button board............................63
Prerequisites.................................................................................. 63
Procedure...................................................................................... 63
Replacing the power-button board............................65
Procedure......................................................................................65
Post-requisites............................................................................... 65
Removing the keyboard..............................................66
Prerequisites.................................................................................. 66
Procedure......................................................................................66
6

Replacing the keyboard..............................................69
Procedure......................................................................................69
Post-requisites............................................................................... 69
Removing the display assembly.................................. 71
Prerequisites................................................................................... 71
Procedure.......................................................................................71
Replacing the display assembly..................................74
Procedure...................................................................................... 74
Post-requisites................................................................................74
Removing the palm rest.............................................. 76
Prerequisites...................................................................................76
Procedure...................................................................................... 76
Replacing the palm rest...............................................78
Procedure...................................................................................... 78
Post-requisites................................................................................78
Removing the display bezel........................................ 79
Prerequisites...................................................................................79
Procedure...................................................................................... 79
Replacing the display bezel........................................ 82
Procedure...................................................................................... 82
Post-requisites................................................................................82
Removing the camera cable........................................ 83
Prerequisites...................................................................................83
Procedure...................................................................................... 83
7

Replacing the camera cable........................................ 85
Procedure......................................................................................85
Post-requisites................................................................................85
Removing the camera..................................................86
Prerequisites.................................................................................. 86
Procedure......................................................................................86
Replacing the camera..................................................88
Procedure...................................................................................... 88
Post-requisites................................................................................88
Removing the display panel........................................89
Prerequisites.................................................................................. 89
Procedure......................................................................................89
Replacing the display panel........................................ 92
Procedure......................................................................................92
Post-requisites............................................................................... 92
Removing the display hinges...................................... 94
Prerequisites.................................................................................. 94
Procedure......................................................................................94
Replacing the display hinges...................................... 98
Procedure......................................................................................98
Post-requisites................................................................................98
Removing the display back-cover and antenna
assembly.................................................................... 100
Prerequisites................................................................................ 100
Procedure.....................................................................................101
8

Replacing the display back-cover and antenna
assembly.....................................................................102
Procedure.................................................................................... 102
Post-requisites..............................................................................102
BIOS overview...........................................................103
Entering the BIOS setup program..................................................103
Timing key sequences................................................................... 103
System setup options.................................................................... 103
Clearing forgotten passwords....................................................... 109
Clearing CMOS settings............................................................... 109
Flashing the BIOS..........................................................................110
Boot menu....................................................................................110
Boot menu enhancements...............................................................111
Diagnostics.................................................................112
Flashing the BIOS......................................................114
Getting help and contacting Alienware....................115
Self-help resources........................................................................115
Contacting Alienware....................................................................115
9

Before working inside your
computer
NOTE: The images in this document may differ from your computer
depending on the configuration you ordered.
Before you begin
1 Save and close all open files and exit all open applications.
2 Shut down your computer.
The shut-down instruction varies depending on the operating system installed
on your computer.
– Windows 10: Click Start → Power → Shut down.
– Windows 8.1: On the Start screen, Click the power icon → Shut down.
– Windows 7: Click Start → Shut down.
NOTE: If you are using a different operating system, see the
documentation of your operating system for shut-down instructions.
3 Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electrical
outlets.
4 Disconnect all attached network devices and peripherals, such as keyboard,
mouse, and monitor, from your computer.
5 Remove any media card and optical disc from your computer, if applicable.
6 Close the display and turn the computer over.
Safety instructions
Use the following safety guidelines to protect your computer from potential
damage and ensure your personal safety.
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at www.dell.com/
regulatory_compliance.
10