Dell Alienware 15 User manual

Alienware 15
Service Manual
Computer Model: Alienware 15
Regulatory Model: P42F
Regulatory Type: P42F001

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 - 01
Rev. A00

Contents
Before working inside your computer...................................12
Before you begin .............................................................................................12
Safety instructions............................................................................................12
Recommended tools....................................................................................... 13
After working inside your computer......................................15
Removing the base panel.........................................................16
Procedure.........................................................................................................16
Replacing the base panel......................................................... 19
Procedure.........................................................................................................19
Removing the memory modules............................................20
Prerequisites.................................................................................................... 20
Procedure........................................................................................................ 20
Replacing the memory modules............................................ 22
Procedure.........................................................................................................22
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 23
Removing the solid-state drives.............................................24
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................24
Procedure........................................................................................................ 24
Replacing the solid-state drives............................................. 26
Procedure........................................................................................................ 26
Post-requisites.................................................................................................26

Removing the hard drive..........................................................27
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................27
Procedure........................................................................................................ 28
Replacing the hard drive..........................................................32
Procedure.........................................................................................................32
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 32
Removing the wireless card.................................................... 33
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................33
Procedure.........................................................................................................33
Replacing the wireless card.....................................................35
Procedure.........................................................................................................35
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 35
Removing the palm rest........................................................... 36
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................36
Procedure........................................................................................................ 36
Replacing the palm rest........................................................... 43
Procedure........................................................................................................ 43
Post-requisites.................................................................................................43
Removing the touch pad......................................................... 44
Prerequisites.................................................................................................... 44
Procedure........................................................................................................ 44
Replacing the touch pad..........................................................48
Procedure........................................................................................................ 48
Post-requisites.................................................................................................48

Removing the keyboard...........................................................49
Prerequisites.................................................................................................... 49
Procedure........................................................................................................ 49
Replacing the keyboard........................................................... 55
Procedure.........................................................................................................55
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 55
Removing the power-button board...................................... 56
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................56
Procedure........................................................................................................ 56
Replacing the power-button board.......................................59
Procedure........................................................................................................ 59
Post-requisites.................................................................................................59
Removing the status-light board........................................... 60
Prerequisites.................................................................................................... 60
Procedure.........................................................................................................61
Replacing the status-light board............................................63
Procedure........................................................................................................ 63
Post-requisites.................................................................................................63
Removing the I/O board.......................................................... 64
Prerequisites.................................................................................................... 64
Procedure........................................................................................................ 64
Replacing the I/O board...........................................................66
Procedure........................................................................................................ 66
Post-requisites.................................................................................................66

Removing the speakers............................................................ 67
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................67
Procedure.........................................................................................................67
Replacing the speakers............................................................ 70
Procedure........................................................................................................ 70
Post-requisites.................................................................................................70
Removing the front AlienFX LED boards............................... 71
Prerequisites..................................................................................................... 71
Procedure......................................................................................................... 71
Replacing the front AlienFX LED board.................................73
Procedure.........................................................................................................73
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 73
Removing the hinge covers.....................................................74
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................74
Procedure.........................................................................................................74
Replacing the hinge covers..................................................... 76
Procedure.........................................................................................................76
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 76
Removing the display assembly..............................................77
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................77
Procedure.........................................................................................................77
Replacing the display assembly.............................................. 81
Procedure.........................................................................................................81
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 81

Removing the display bezel.................................................... 83
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................83
Procedure........................................................................................................ 83
Replacing the display bezel.....................................................87
Procedure.........................................................................................................87
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 87
Removing the display panel.................................................... 88
Prerequisites.................................................................................................... 88
Procedure........................................................................................................ 88
Replacing the display panel.....................................................91
Procedure.........................................................................................................91
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 91
Removing the display hinges.................................................. 92
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................92
Procedure........................................................................................................ 92
Replacing the display hinges.................................................. 94
Procedure........................................................................................................ 94
Post-requisites.................................................................................................94
Removing the display back-cover..........................................95
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................95
Procedure........................................................................................................ 95
Replacing the display back-cover..........................................98
Procedure........................................................................................................ 98
Post-requisites.................................................................................................98

Removing the camera.............................................................. 99
Prerequisites.................................................................................................... 99
Procedure...................................................................................................... 100
Replacing the camera.............................................................102
Procedure...................................................................................................... 102
Post-requisites...............................................................................................102
Removing the Alienware AlienHead LED board................ 103
Prerequisites...................................................................................................103
Procedure...................................................................................................... 103
Replacing the Alienware AlienHead LED board................ 106
Procedure...................................................................................................... 106
Post-requisites...............................................................................................106
Removing the display-panel AlienFX LEDs.........................107
Prerequisites...................................................................................................107
Procedure...................................................................................................... 108
Replacing the display-panel AlienFX LEDs......................... 110
Procedure.......................................................................................................110
Post-requisites............................................................................................... 110
Removing the logo board.......................................................111
Prerequisites....................................................................................................111
Procedure....................................................................................................... 111
Replacing the logo board.......................................................113
Procedure....................................................................................................... 113
Post-requisites................................................................................................113

Removing the system board..................................................114
Prerequisites...................................................................................................114
Procedure.......................................................................................................114
Replacing the system board.................................................. 118
Procedure.......................................................................................................118
Post-requisites............................................................................................... 119
Removing the heat-sink assembly.......................................120
Prerequisites...................................................................................................120
Procedure...................................................................................................... 120
Replacing the heat-sink assembly....................................... 122
Procedure.......................................................................................................122
Post-requisites............................................................................................... 122
Removing the fans...................................................................123
Prerequisites...................................................................................................123
Procedure.......................................................................................................123
Replacing the fans...................................................................125
Procedure.......................................................................................................125
Post-requisites............................................................................................... 125
Removing the power-adapter port......................................126
Prerequisites...................................................................................................126
Procedure.......................................................................................................126
Replacing the power-adapter port...................................... 128
Procedure...................................................................................................... 128
Post-requisites...............................................................................................128

Removing the coin-cell battery............................................129
Prerequisites...................................................................................................129
Procedure.......................................................................................................129
Replacing the coin-cell battery............................................ 131
Procedure....................................................................................................... 131
Post-requisites................................................................................................131
Removing the battery............................................................. 132
Prerequisites...................................................................................................132
Procedure.......................................................................................................132
Replacing the battery............................................................. 135
Procedure.......................................................................................................135
Post-requisites............................................................................................... 135
Removing the computer base...............................................136
Prerequisites...................................................................................................136
Procedure.......................................................................................................136
Replacing the computer base...............................................138
Procedure.......................................................................................................138
Post-requisites...............................................................................................138
BIOS setup program................................................................139
Overview........................................................................................................ 139
Entering BIOS setup program....................................................................... 139
BIOS setup program options...................................................................139
Boot sequence...............................................................................................145
Boot options.............................................................................................145
Changing boot sequence for the current boot......................................146
Changing boot sequence for future boots.............................................146
Flashing the BIOS.................................................................... 148