Dell XPS 8900 User manual

XPS 8900
Service Manual
Computer Model: XPS 8900
Regulatory Model: D14M
Regulatory Type: D14M002

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.
Copyright ©2015 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. This product is protected by U.S. and
international copyright and intellectual property laws. Dell™and the Dell logo are trademarks
of Dell Inc. in the United States and/or other jurisdictions. All other marks and names
mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies.
2015 - 08
Rev. A00

Contents
Before working inside your computer...................................11
Before you begin ............................................................................................. 11
Safety instructions............................................................................................ 11
Recommended tools....................................................................................... 12
After working inside your computer......................................14
Technical overview....................................................................15
Inside view of your computer..........................................................................15
System-board components............................................................................ 16
Removing the computer cover .............................................. 18
Procedure.........................................................................................................18
Replacing the computer cover .............................................. 19
Procedure.........................................................................................................19
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 19
Removing the memory modules............................................20
Prerequisites.................................................................................................... 20
Procedure........................................................................................................ 20
Replacing the memory modules............................................ 22
Procedure.........................................................................................................22
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 23
Removing the chassis fan........................................................ 24
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................24
Procedure........................................................................................................ 24
3

Replacing the chassis fan.........................................................26
Procedure........................................................................................................ 26
Post-requisites.................................................................................................26
Removing the front bezel ....................................................... 27
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................27
Procedure.........................................................................................................27
Replacing the front bezel........................................................ 29
Procedure........................................................................................................ 29
Post-requisites.................................................................................................29
Removing the graphics-card bracket (optional).................30
Prerequisites.................................................................................................... 30
Procedure........................................................................................................ 30
Replacing the graphics-card bracket (optional)................. 32
Procedure.........................................................................................................32
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 32
Removing the graphics card (optional).................................33
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................33
Procedure.........................................................................................................33
Replacing the graphics card (optional)................................. 35
Procedure.........................................................................................................35
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 35
Removing the wireless card.................................................... 36
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................36
Procedure........................................................................................................ 36
4

Replacing the wireless card.....................................................38
Procedure........................................................................................................ 38
Post-requisites.................................................................................................38
Removing the solid-state drive...............................................39
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................39
Procedure........................................................................................................ 39
Replacing the solid-state drive............................................... 41
Procedure.........................................................................................................41
Post-requisites.................................................................................................42
Removing the solid-state drive board...................................43
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................43
Procedure........................................................................................................ 43
Replacing the solid-state drive board................................... 45
Procedure........................................................................................................ 45
Post-requisites.................................................................................................46
Removing the primary hard-drive..........................................47
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................47
Procedure.........................................................................................................47
Replacing the primary hard-drive .........................................49
Procedure........................................................................................................ 49
Post-requisites.................................................................................................49
Removing the hard-drive cage............................................... 50
Prerequisites.................................................................................................... 50
Procedure........................................................................................................ 50
5

Replacing the hard-drive cage................................................52
Procedure.........................................................................................................52
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 52
Removing the secondary hard-drive (optional).................. 53
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................53
Procedure.........................................................................................................53
Replacing the secondary hard-drive (optional)...................55
Procedure.........................................................................................................55
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 55
Installing the tertiary hard-drive (optional)..........................56
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................56
Procedure........................................................................................................ 56
Replacing the tertiary hard-drive...........................................60
Procedure........................................................................................................ 60
Post-requisites.................................................................................................60
Removing the optical drive......................................................61
Prerequisites ....................................................................................................61
Procedure.........................................................................................................61
Replacing the optical drive......................................................63
Procedure........................................................................................................ 63
Post-requisites.................................................................................................63
Removing the top cover.......................................................... 64
Prerequisites.................................................................................................... 64
Procedure........................................................................................................ 64
6

Replacing the top cover...........................................................66
Procedure........................................................................................................ 66
Post-requisites.................................................................................................66
Removing the antenna............................................................. 67
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................67
Procedure........................................................................................................ 68
Replacing the antenna............................................................. 70
Procedure........................................................................................................ 70
Post-requisites.................................................................................................70
Removing the media-card reader...........................................71
Prerequisites..................................................................................................... 71
Procedure......................................................................................................... 71
Replacing the media-card reader...........................................73
Procedure.........................................................................................................73
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 73
Removing the top I/O-panel...................................................74
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................74
Procedure.........................................................................................................74
Replacing the top I/O-panel................................................... 76
Procedure.........................................................................................................76
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 76
Removing the front USB-panel...............................................77
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................77
Procedure.........................................................................................................77
7

Replacing the front USB-panel...............................................79
Procedure.........................................................................................................79
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 79
Removing the power-button module...................................80
Prerequisites.................................................................................................... 80
Procedure.........................................................................................................81
Replacing the power-button module................................... 83
Procedure........................................................................................................ 83
Post-requisites.................................................................................................83
Removing the processor fan and heat-sink assembly....... 84
Prerequisites.................................................................................................... 84
Procedure........................................................................................................ 84
Replacing the processor fan and heat-sink assembly........86
Procedure........................................................................................................ 86
Post-requisites.................................................................................................86
Removing the processor..........................................................87
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................87
Procedure.........................................................................................................87
Replacing the processor.......................................................... 89
Procedure........................................................................................................ 89
Post-requisites.................................................................................................90
Removing the coin-cell battery..............................................91
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................91
Procedure.........................................................................................................91
8

Replacing the coin-cell battery.............................................. 93
Procedure........................................................................................................ 93
Post-requisites.................................................................................................93
Removing the power-supply unit.......................................... 94
Prerequisites.................................................................................................... 94
Procedure........................................................................................................ 94
Replacing the power-supply unit...........................................96
Procedure........................................................................................................ 96
Post-requisites.................................................................................................96
Removing the system board....................................................97
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................97
Procedure.........................................................................................................97
Replacing the system board....................................................99
Procedure........................................................................................................ 99
Post-requisites.................................................................................................99
Entering the Service Tag in the BIOS setup program.................................. 100
BIOS setup program................................................................101
Overview.........................................................................................................101
Entering BIOS setup program........................................................................101
Clearing forgotten passwords....................................................................... 101
Prerequisites.............................................................................................102
Procedure.................................................................................................102
Post-requisites......................................................................................... 102
Clearing CMOS settings................................................................................ 103
Prerequisites.............................................................................................103
Procedure.................................................................................................103
Post-requisites.........................................................................................104
Flashing the BIOS.................................................................... 105
9

Getting help and contacting Dell.........................................106
Self-help resources....................................................................................... 106
Contacting Dell..............................................................................................107
10

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.
– Windows 10: Click or tap Start → Power → Shut down.
– Windows 8.1: On the Start screen, click or tap the power icon →
Shut down.
– Windows 7: Click or tap 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 cables such as telephone cables, network cables and so
on, from your computer.
5 Disconnect all attached devices and peripherals, such as keyboard,
mouse, monitor, and so on, from your computer.
6 Remove any media card and optical disc from your computer, if
applicable.
7 After the computer is unplugged, press and hold the power button for 5
seconds to ground the system board.
Safety instructions
Use the following safety guidelines to protect your computer from potential
damage and ensure your personal safety.
11

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.
WARNING: Disconnect all power sources before opening the
computer cover or panels. After you finish working inside the
computer, replace all covers, panels, and screws before connecting to
the power source.
CAUTION: To avoid damaging the computer, ensure that the work
surface is flat and clean.
CAUTION: To avoid damaging the components and cards, handle
them by their edges and avoid touching pins and contacts.
CAUTION: You should only perform troubleshooting and repairs as
authorized or directed by the Dell technical assistance team. Damage
due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your
warranty. See the safety instructions that shipped with the product or
at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
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.
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 or thumb-screws that you must disengage before
disconnecting the cable. When disconnecting cables, keep them
evenly aligned to avoid bending any connector pins. When connecting
cables, ensure that the ports and connectors are correctly oriented
and aligned.
CAUTION: Press and eject any installed card from the media-card
reader.
Recommended tools
The procedures in this document may require the following tools:
• Philips screwdriver
12

• Flat-head screwdriver
• Plastic scribe
13

After working inside your
computer
CAUTION: Leaving stray or loose screws inside your computer may
severely damage your computer.
1 Replace all screws and ensure that no stray screws remain inside your
computer.
2 Connect any external devices, peripherals, and cables you removed
before working on your computer.
3 Replace any media cards, discs, and any other parts that you removed
before working on your computer.
4 Connect your computer and all attached devices to their electrical
outlets.
5 Turn on your computer.
14

Technical overview
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before working inside your computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After working inside your
computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Inside view of your computer
1 power supply 2 optical drive
3 front bezel 4 primary hard-drive
5 secondary hard-drive 6 graphics card
7 card-retention bracket
15

System-board components
1 chassis-fan connector
(FAN_SYS2) 2 power connector (ATX_CPU)
3 processor cover 4 processor-fan connector
(FAN_CPU)
5 memory-module slot (DIMM3) 6 memory-module slot (DIMM1)
7 memory-module slot (DIMM4) 8 memory-module slot (DIMM2)
9 power-button connector
(F_PANEL1) 10 SATA 6 Gbps drive connector (SATA 1)
11 main-power connector
(ATX_SYS_2) 12 SATA 6 Gbps drive connector (SATA 2)
13 Front2-USB connector (F_USB4) 14 Front-USB connector (F_USB3)
15 Front-USB connector (F_USB2) 16 solid-state drive slot
16

17 SATA 6 Gbps drive connector
(SATA 0) 18 SATA 6 Gbps drive connector (SATA 4)
19 SATA 6 Gbps drive connector
(SATA 3) 20 password-reset jumper (PSWD)
21 front-panel audio connector
(F_AUDIOINT_SPKR) 22 CMOS-reset jumper (CMCLR)
23 PCI-Express x16 card slot
(SLOT4) 24 PCI-Express x1 card slot (SLOT3)
25 PCI-Express x16 card slot
(SLOT1) 26 wireless-card slot (M.2_SLOT1)
27 battery socket (BATTERY) 28 processor socket
17

Removing the computer cover
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before working inside your computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After working inside your
computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Lay the computer on its side with the computer cover facing up.
2 Remove the thumbscrew that secures the computer cover to the chassis,
using a screw driver if necessary.
3 Release the computer cover by sliding it away from the front of the
computer.
4 Lift the cover away from the computer and set it aside.
1 thumbscrew 2 computer cover
18

Replacing the computer cover
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before working inside your computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After working inside your
computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Ensure that no tools or extra parts are left inside the computer.
2 Align the tabs at the bottom of the computer cover with the slots located
along the edge of the chassis.
3 Press the computer cover down and slide it towards the front of the
computer.
4 Replace the thumbscrew that secures the computer cover to the chassis.
5 Place the computer in an upright position.
Post-requisites
Follow the instructions in “After working inside your computer”.
19

Removing the memory
modules
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before working inside your computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After working inside your
computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
Remove the computer cover.
Procedure
1 Locate the memory-module slot on the system board.
For more information, see “System-board components”.
2 Press out the securing clip at each end of the memory-module slot.
NOTE: If the memory module is difficult to remove, gently ease the
memory module back and forth to remove it from the slot.
20