Dell Alienware 13 User manual

Alienware 13
Service Manual
Computer Model: Alienware 13
Regulatory Model: P56G
Regulatory Type: P56G001

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 © 2014 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 - 01
Rev. A00

Contents
Before Working Inside Your Computer...................... 10
Before You Begin .............................................................................................. 10
Safety Instructions............................................................................................10
Recommended Tools......................................................................................... 12
After Working Inside Your Computer..........................13
Removing the Base Panel................................................. 14
Procedure...........................................................................................................14
Replacing the Base Panel..................................................17
Procedure........................................................................................................... 17
Removing the Memory Module(s)................................ 18
Prerequisites......................................................................................................18
Procedure...........................................................................................................18
Replacing the Memory Module(s)................................20
Procedure..........................................................................................................20
Post-requisites...................................................................................................21
Removing the Solid-State Drive................................... 22
Prerequisites..................................................................................................... 22
Procedure.......................................................................................................... 22
Replacing the Solid-State Drive....................................26
Procedure.......................................................................................................... 26
Post-requisites..................................................................................................26

Removing the Hard Drive................................................. 27
Prerequisites..................................................................................................... 27
Procedure.......................................................................................................... 27
Replacing the Hard Drive.................................................. 31
Procedure...........................................................................................................31
Post-requisites.................................................................................................. 31
Removing the Palm Rest.................................................. 32
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................32
Procedure..........................................................................................................33
Replacing the Palm Rest.................................................. 39
Procedure..........................................................................................................39
Post-requisites..................................................................................................39
Removing the Touchpad..................................................40
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................40
Procedure..........................................................................................................40
Replacing the Touchpad...................................................42
Procedure..........................................................................................................42
Post-requisites..................................................................................................42
Removing the Keyboard.................................................. 43
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................43
Procedure..........................................................................................................44
Replacing the Keyboard................................................... 47
Procedure.......................................................................................................... 47
Post-requisites.................................................................................................. 47

Removing the Power-Button Board............................48
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................48
Procedure..........................................................................................................49
Replacing the Power-Button Board............................. 51
Procedure...........................................................................................................51
Post-requisites.................................................................................................. 51
Removing the Status-Light Board...............................52
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................52
Procedure..........................................................................................................53
Replacing the Status-Light Board............................... 55
Procedure..........................................................................................................55
Post-requisites..................................................................................................55
Removing the Display Assembly..................................56
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................56
Procedure..........................................................................................................56
Replacing the Display Assembly................................... 61
Procedure...........................................................................................................61
Post-requisites..................................................................................................62
Removing the Power-Adapter Port.............................63
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................63
Procedure..........................................................................................................63
Replacing the Power-Adapter Port............................. 67
Procedure.......................................................................................................... 67
Post-requisites.................................................................................................. 67

Removing the Heat-Sink Assembly............................ 68
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................68
Procedure..........................................................................................................69
Replacing the Heat-Sink Assembly..............................71
Procedure........................................................................................................... 71
Post-requisites...................................................................................................71
Removing the Wireless Card...........................................72
Prerequisites..................................................................................................... 72
Procedure.......................................................................................................... 72
Replacing the Wireless Card........................................... 74
Procedure.......................................................................................................... 74
Post-requisites.................................................................................................. 74
Removing the Coin-Cell Battery....................................75
Prerequisites..................................................................................................... 75
Procedure.......................................................................................................... 75
Replacing the Coin-Cell Battery.....................................77
Procedure...........................................................................................................77
Post-requisites.................................................................................................. 77
Removing the System Board..........................................78
Prerequisites..................................................................................................... 78
Procedure.......................................................................................................... 78
Replacing the System Board..........................................80
Procedure..........................................................................................................80
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 80

Removing the Battery........................................................ 81
Prerequisites......................................................................................................81
Procedure...........................................................................................................81
Replacing the Battery........................................................83
Procedure..........................................................................................................83
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 83
Removing the Speakers................................................... 84
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................84
Procedure..........................................................................................................84
Replacing the Speakers....................................................86
Procedure..........................................................................................................86
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 86
Removing the Computer Base....................................... 87
Prerequisites..................................................................................................... 87
Procedure.......................................................................................................... 87
Replacing the Computer Base....................................... 89
Procedure..........................................................................................................89
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 89
Removing the Display Bezel...........................................90
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................90
Procedure..........................................................................................................90
Replacing the Display Bezel............................................94
Procedure..........................................................................................................94
Post-requisites..................................................................................................94

Removing the Display Panel...........................................95
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................95
Procedure..........................................................................................................95
Replacing the Display Panel........................................... 98
Procedure..........................................................................................................98
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 98
Removing the Camera....................................................... 99
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................99
Procedure..........................................................................................................99
Replacing the Camera......................................................102
Procedure........................................................................................................ 102
Post-requisites................................................................................................102
Removing the Display Hinges......................................103
Prerequisites................................................................................................... 103
Procedure........................................................................................................ 103
Replacing the Display Hinges...................................... 105
Procedure........................................................................................................ 105
Post-requisites................................................................................................105
Removing the Display Back-Cover.............................106
Prerequisites................................................................................................... 106
Procedure.........................................................................................................107
Replacing the Display Back-Cover.............................. 110
Procedure......................................................................................................... 110
Post-requisites.................................................................................................110

System Setup.........................................................................111
Overview ...........................................................................................................111
Entering System Setup .................................................................................... 111
System Setup Options................................................................................ 111
Boot Sequence................................................................................................. 115
Boot Options...............................................................................................116
Changing Boot Sequence for the Current Boot......................................... 116
Changing Boot Sequence for Future Boots................................................117
Flashing the BIOS................................................................ 118
Getting Help and Contacting Alienware.................. 119
Self-Help Resources......................................................................................... 119
Contacting Alienware.......................................................................................119

Before Working Inside Your
Computer
CAUTION: To avoid damaging the components and cards,
handle them by their edges and avoid touching pins and
contacts.
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 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.
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 dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
10

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, make sure 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: Only a certified service technician is authorized to
remove the computer cover and access any of the
components inside the computer. See the safety
instructions for complete information about safety
precautions, working inside your computer, and protecting
against electrostatic discharge.
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, make
sure that the ports and connectors are correctly oriented
and aligned.
CAUTION: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the
cable from your computer and then unplug the cable from
the network device.
CAUTION: Press and eject any installed card from the media-
card reader.
11

Recommended Tools
The procedures in this document may require the following tools:
• Philips screwdriver
• Plastic scribe
12

After Working Inside Your
Computer
CAUTION: Leaving stray or loose screws inside your
computer may severely damage your computer.
1 Replace all screws and make sure 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 part(s) 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.
13

Removing the Base Panel
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
dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Close the display and turn the computer over.
2 Loosen the captive screws that secure the base panel to the computer
base.
14

3 Using a plastic scribe, gently release the tabs that secure the base panel to
the computer base.
1 computer base 2 captive screws (2)
3 base panel 4 plastic scribe
15

4 Disconnect the battery cable from the battery-cable connector.
1 battery cable 2 battery-cable connector
5 Turn the computer over.
6 Press and hold the power button for 5 seconds to ground the system
board.
16

Replacing the Base Panel
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
dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Connect the battery cable to the battery-cable connector.
2 Align the tabs on the base panel with the slots on the computer base and
snap the base panel into place.
3 Tighten the captive screws that secure the base panel to the computer
base.
17

Removing the Memory
Module(s)
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
dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
Remove the base panel.
Procedure
1 Using your fingertips, carefully spread apart the securing clips on each end
of the memory-module slot until the memory module pops up.
18

2 Slide and remove the memory module from the memory-module slot.
1 securing clips (2) 2 memory modules (2)
3 memory-module slot
19

Replacing the Memory
Module(s)
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
dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Align the notch on the memory module with the tab on the memory-
module slot.
20