Dell ALIENWARE AURORA - GAMING MACHINE - ALIENWARE... User manual

01 01
/
ALIENWARE®AURORA
SERVICE MANUAL

02 02
/
e contents herein are subject to change without notice.
©2009-2010 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 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 , and the Windows start button logo are either
trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United
States and/or other countries; Intel and SpeedStep are registered trademarks of
Intel Corporation in the U.S. and 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.
Model: D0IM Type: D0IM001; D0IM002 Rev. A01 FEBRUARY 2010
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.

03 03
/
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1: BEFORE YOU BEGIN......................................... 6
Recommended Tools .............................................. 7
Turning O Your Computer ........................................ 7
Before Working Inside Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
CHAPTER 2: LEFT SIDE-PANEL .......................................... 9
Removing the Left Side-Panel .....................................11
Replacing the Left Side-Panel......................................11
CHAPTER 3: TECHNICAL OVERVIEW .....................................12
Inside View of Your Computer ..................................... 13
System Board Components....................................... 14
Master I/O Board Components .................................... 15
CHAPTER 4: SHROUDS .................................................16
Opening the PCI Shroud .......................................... 18
Closing the PCI Shroud ........................................... 18
Removing the Drive-Bay Shroud .................................. 19
Replacing the Drive-Bay Shroud................................... 19
CHAPTER 5: DRIVE(S) .................................................20
Removing the Hard Drive(s) ......................................22
Replacing the Hard Drive(s).......................................24
Removing the Optical Drive(s) ....................................25
Replacing the Optical Drive(s).....................................26
Removing the Media Card Reader .................................27
Replacing the Media Card Reader .................................29
CHAPTER 6: PCI-EXPRESS CARD(S) ....................................30
Removing the PCI-Express Card(s) ................................32
Replacing the PCI-Express Card(s).................................33
CHAPTER 7: MEMORY MODULE(S)......................................35
Removing the Memory Module(s) .................................37
Replacing the Memory Module(s) .................................38

04 04
/
CONTENTS
CHAPTER 13: SYSTEM BOARD ..........................................66
Removing the System Board......................................68
Replacing the System Board ......................................69
CHAPTER 14: MASTER I/O BOARD ......................................70
Removing the Master I/O Board...................................72
Replacing the Master I/O Board ...................................73
CHAPTER 15: TOP LIGHTING-BOARD.................................... 74
Removing the Top Lighting-Board ................................76
Replacing the Top Lighting-Board .................................76
CHAPTER 16: RIGHT SIDE-PANEL(S) .....................................77
Removing the Right Side-Panel(s) ................................79
Replacing the Right Side-Panel(s)................................. 81
CHAPTER 17: ACTIVE-VENTING ASSEMBLY ..............................82
Removing the Active-Venting Assembly ...........................84
Replacing the Active-Venting Assembly ...........................87
CHAPTER 18: FRONT BEZEL ............................................88
Removing the Front Bezel ........................................90
Replacing the Front Bezel ........................................92
CHAPTER 8: FANS.....................................................40
Removing the Hard-Drive Fan Assembly...........................42
Replacing the Hard-Drive Fan Assembly ...........................43
Removing the PCI-Fan Assembly..................................44
Replacing the PCI-Fan Assembly ..................................45
CHAPTER 9: PROCESSOR LIQUID-COOLING ASSEMBLY...................46
Removing the Processor Liquid-Cooling Assembly .................48
Replacing the Processor Liquid-Cooling Assembly .................49
CHAPTER 10: PROCESSOR .............................................50
Removing the Processor..........................................52
Replacing the Processor ..........................................53
CHAPTER 11: POWER SUPPLY ..........................................55
Removing the Power Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Replacing the Power Supply ......................................59
CHAPTER 12: BATTERY ................................................60
Removing the Coin-Cell Battery ...................................62
Replacing the Coin-Cell Battery ...................................63
Removing the eater-Lighting Batteries .........................64
Replacing the eater-Lighting Batteries..........................65

05 05
/
CONTENTS
CHAPTER 19: BACK BEZEL .............................................93
Removing the Back Bezel.........................................95
Replacing the Back Bezel .........................................97
CHAPTER 20: BLUETOOTH ASSEMBLY ..................................98
Removing the Bluetooth Assembly...............................100
Replacing the Bluetooth Assembly............................... 101
CHAPTER 21: TOP I/O PANEL .......................................... 102
Removing the Top I/O Panel .....................................104
Replacing the Top I/O Panel......................................105
CHAPTER 22: SYSTEM SETUP .........................................106
Conguring the BIOS ............................................107
Clearing Forgotten Passwords and CMOS Settings .................114
APPENDIX A: CONTACTING ALIENWARE ................................117

CHAPTER 1: BEFORE YOU BEGIN
06 06
/
is 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 O 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

07 07
/
CHAPTER 1: BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Turning O Your Computer
CAUTION: To avoid losing data, save and close all open les and exit all
open programs before you turn o your computer.
Save and close all open les and exit all open programs.1.
Click 2. Start → Shut Down.
e computer turns o after the operating system shutdown process 3.
nishes.
Ensure that the computer is turned o. If your computer did not 4.
automatically turn o when you shut down the operating system, press and
hold the power button until the computer turns o.
Recommended Tools
e procedures in this document may require the following tools:
Small at-blade screwdriver•
Phillips screwdriver•
BIOS executable update program available at • support.dell.com

08 08
/
CHAPTER 1: BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Ensure that the work surface is at and clean.1.
Turn o your computer (see “Turning O Your Computer” on page 2. 7).
CAUTION: To disconnect a network cable, rst unplug the cable from
your computer and then unplug the cable from the network device.
Disconnect all telephone or network cables from the computer.3.
Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electrical 4.
outlets.
Disconnect all attached devices from your computer.5.
Press and eject any installed cards from the Media Card Reader.6.
Press and hold the power button to ground the system board.7.
CAUTION: Before touching anything inside your computer, ground
yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface, such as the metal at the
back of the computer. While you work, periodically touch an unpainted
metal surface to dissipate static electricity, which could harm internal
components.
NOTE: For better access to components within your computer, lay your
computer on its side.
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: Only a certied 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 onthecableitself. Some cableshaveconnectorswithlocking
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: LEFT SIDE-PANEL
09 09
/
CHAPTER 2: LEFT SIDE-PANEL
CHAPTER 2: SIDE PANEL

010 010
/
CHAPTER 2: LEFT SIDE-PANEL
Left Side-Panel
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: To guard against likelihood of electric shock, laceration by
moving fan blades, or other unexpected injuries, always unplug your
computer from the electrical outlet before removing the side panel(s).
WARNING: Do not operate your computer with any cover(s) (including
computer covers, bezels, ller brackets, front-panel inserts, etc.)
removed.
CAUTION: Only a certied service technician should perform repairs on
your computer. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell™
is not covered by your warranty.