Alienware M14X User manual

ALIENWARE M14x MOBILE MANUAL

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.
This item incorporates copy protection technology that is protected by U.S. patents and other intellectual property
rights of Rovi Corporation. Reverse engineering and disassembly are prohibited.
__________________
The contents herein are subject to change without notice.
© 2010 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®, AlienFX®, and the AlienHead logo are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Alienware Corporation; Dell™ is a trademark of Dell Inc.; 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; Intel®, Centrino®, and SpeedStep®are registered trademarks and Core™ is a trademark
of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries; Blu‑ray Disc™ is a trademark of the Blu‑ray Disc Association;
Bluetooth®is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc.
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.
Regulatory model: P18G Regulatory type: P18G001
Rev. A00 December 2010

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CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP ................................................9
Before Setting Up Your Laptop ....................................................10
Connect the AC Adapter...........................................................12
Press the Power Button ...........................................................13
Connect the Network Cable (Optional) .............................................14
Set Up Microsoft Windows ........................................................15
Set Up Wireless Display (Optional).................................................16
Connect to the Internet (Optional).................................................19
CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR LAPTOP ........................................23
Left View Features................................................................24
Right View Features ............................................................. 28
Back View Features .............................................................. 29
Display Features................................................................. 30
Computer Base and Keyboard Features ........................................... 32
Power Button ................................................................... 34
Function Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
CONTENTS

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CONTENTS
CHAPTER 3: USING YOUR LAPTOP.................................................... 39
Alienware Command Center...................................................... 40
Connecting External Displays .................................................... 40
Using the Wireless Control ....................................................... 44
Battery Pack .................................................................... 45
Power Management ............................................................. 46
nVidia Optimus Technology ...................................................... 48
Free Fall Sensor ................................................................. 50
FastAccess Facial Recognition (Optional) ......................................... 50
Conguring the BIOS .............................................................51
CHAPTER 4: INSTALLING AND REPLACING COMPONENTS...............................65
Before You Begin ................................................................ 66
Replacing the Battery Pack........................................................70
Upgrading or Replacing Memory...................................................74
CHAPTER 5: TROUBLESHOOTING .....................................................79
Basic Hints and Tips ............................................................. 80
Backup and General Maintenance .................................................81
Software Diagnostic Tools ....................................................... 83
Answers to Common Problems ................................................... 85

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CONTENTS
CHAPTER 6: SYSTEM RECOVERY ..................................................... 93
AlienRespawn ................................................................... 94
My Dell Downloads .............................................................. 98
CHAPTER 7: SPECIFICATIONS ........................................................ 99
APPENDIX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
GENERAL AND ELECTRICAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ................................114
Contacting Alienware ............................................................ 117

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Dear Valued Alienware Customer,
Welcome to the Alienware family. We are thrilled to include you among the growing number
of savvy high‑performance computer users.
e Alienware technicians who have crafted your machine have made certain that your
high‑performance system is properly optimized and performs to its fullest potential. We build
machines with one single unwavering purpose: Build It As If It Were Your Own. e technicians
will not rest until your new machine meets or exceeds our very demanding criteria!
We have tested your machine extensively in order to ensure that you enjoy the highest levels
of performance. In addition to a standard burn‑in period, your system has been evaluated
using real‑world tools such as synthetic performance benchmarks.
We invite you to share your experience with your new high‑performance computer with us, so
please do not hesitate to either e-mail or call Alienware with any questions or concerns. e
entire sta shares your enthusiasm for new technology and we hope that you enjoy using
your new computer as much as Alienware enjoyed building it for you.
Sincerely,
Alienware Sta

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CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
CHAPTER 1:
SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP

CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
10
Before Setting Up Your Laptop
Congratulations on the purchase of your Alienware M14x!
Read all safety and setup instructions before connecting your new laptop. Begin by carefully
opening the box and removing all components that were shipped to you.
Before setting up your laptop or components, see the included invoice to verify that all items
ordered are present and be sure to inspect all items for any physical damage that may have
occurred during shipment. Report any missing components or damaged items to customer
service within 5 days of receiving the shipment. Anything reported missing or damaged after
the rst 5 days of receiving a shipment will not be honored. Some of the most common items
to check for include:
Laptop and AC adapter with power cable•
Microsoft CD‑key located at the bottom of the laptop•
Monitor with power cable and video cable (if ordered)•
Keyboard (if ordered)•
Mouse (if ordered)•
Multimedia speakers and sub‑woofer (if ordered)•
Joystick controllers (if ordered)•
You may also need a small athead and/or a Phillips head screwdriver for connecting peripheral
cables to the laptop.

CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
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Product Documentation and Media
e documentation that ships with your Alienware laptop is designed to provide answers to
many of the questions that may arise as you explore your new laptop’s capabilities. You may see
the documentation for technical information or general use as needed to answer questions in
the future, or aid you in nding answers and solutions. e media included with your laptop
is referenced in some sections of the documentation and may be needed to complete certain
tasks. As always, our technical support sta is available to assist you.
Placing Your Laptop
WARNING: Do not place the laptop near or over a radiator or heating vent. If your laptop
is placed in a cabinet, ensure that adequate ventilation is provided. Do not place the
laptop in a humid location or in any area where the laptop may be exposed to rain or
water. Be careful not to spill liquid of any kind on or into the laptop.
When placing your laptop, ensure that:
It is placed on a surface that is both level and stable.•
e power and other cable connectors are not jammed between the laptop and a wall – •
or any other object.
Nothing obstructs airow in front of, behind, or below the laptop.•
e laptop has enough room so that optical drives and other external storage drives can •
be easily accessed.

CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
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Connect the AC Adapter
WARNING: e AC adapter works with electrical outlets worldwide. However, power
connectors and power strips vary among countries. Using an incompatible cable or
improperly connecting the cable to a power strip or electrical outlet may cause re or
equipment damage.

CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
13
Press the Power Button

CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
14
Connect the Network Cable (Optional)

CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
15
Set Up Microsoft Windows
Your computer is precongured with the Microsoft Windows operating system. To set up
Windows for the rst time, follow the instructions on the screen. ese steps are mandatory
and may take some time to complete. e Windows setup screens will take you through
several procedures including accepting license agreements, setting preferences, and setting
up an Internet connection.
CAUTION: Do not interrupt the operating system’s setup process. Doing so may render
your computer unusable and you will need to reinstall the operating system.
NOTE: For optimal performance of your computer, it is recommended that you
download and install the latest BIOS and drivers for your computer available at
support.dell.com.
NOTE: For more information on the operating system and features, see
support.dell.com/MyNewDell.
NOTE: It is recommended that you create a full system backup as soon as you set up
Microsoft Windows.

CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
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Set Up Wireless Display (Optional)
You can set up wireless display using the following optional wireless display technologies:
Intel Wireless Display — Designed for watching DVDs and streaming videos.•
WirelessHD — Designed for graphic intensive applications such as high denition •
gaming.
NOTE: Wireless display may not be supported on all computers.
Hardware Requirements
Intel Wireless Display WirelessHD
Transmitter Intel Centrino wireless WLAN
card
SiBeam WirelessHD 60 GHz card
Receiver Push2TV adapter for Intel
Wireless Display
WirelessHD receiver kit

CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
17
Set Up WirelessHD (Optional)
e WirelessHD feature allows you to share high-denition video from your computer display
to a TV without the use of cables. To set up WirelessHD, use a WirelessHD receiver kit. For
instructions on setting up WirelessHD, see the document that shipped with your WirelessHD
receiver kit.
NOTE: e WirelessHD receiver kit does not ship with your computer and must be
purchased separately.
If your computer supports the WirelessHD feature, the WiHD Application Controller icon
will be available on the Windows desktop.
NOTE: You may have to set up WirelessHD receiver kit before you set up WirelessHD.
For more information on setting up the WirelessHD receiver kit, see the document that
shipped with the WirelessHD receiver kit.
To set up WirelessHD:
Turn on your computer.1.
Ensure that wireless is enabled on your computer.2.
Double‑click the WiHD Application Controller icon3. on the desktop.
e WirelessHD Application Controller window appears.
Follow the instructions on screen.4.

CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
18
Set Up Intel Wireless Display (Optional)
NOTE: It is recommended to use WirelessHD instead of Intel Wireless display for
graphic‑intensive applications as there may be a slight delay between the user input and
on‑screen display.
To set up wireless display:
Turn on your computer.1.
Ensure that wireless is enabled. For more information, see “Using the Wireless Control“ on2.
page 44.
NOTE: e wireless display adapter does not ship with your computer and must be
purchased separately.
Connect the wireless display adapter to the TV.3.
Turn on the TV and the wireless display adapter.4.
Select the appropriate video source for your TV, such as HDMI1, HDMI2, or S-Video.5.
Click the Intel Wireless Display icon6. on the desktop.
e Intel Wireless Display window appears.
Select7. Scan for available displays.
Select your wireless display adapter from the8. Detected wireless displays list.
Enter the security code that appears on your TV.9.