Dell Alienware 17 User manual

Alienware 17
Service Manual
Regulatory Model: P43F
Regulatory Type: P43F001

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.
Updated - 2015 - 12
Rev. A01

Contents
1 Before working inside your computer........................... 11
Before you begin ........................................................11
Safety instructions...................................................... 12
Recommended tools.....................................................12
2 After working inside your tablet..................................14
3 Removing the base panel...........................................15
Procedure.................................................................15
4 Replacing the base panel...........................................18
Procedure.................................................................18
5 Removing the memory modules.................................. 19
Prerequisites............................................................. 19
Procedure.................................................................19
6 Replacing the memory modules.................................. 21
Procedure.................................................................21
Post-requisites........................................................... 22
7 Removing the solid-state drives.................................. 23
Prerequisites............................................................. 23
Procedure.................................................................23
8 Replacing the solid-state drives.................................. 25
Procedure.................................................................25
Post-requisites........................................................... 25
9 Removing the hard drive........................................... 26
Prerequisites............................................................. 26
Procedure.................................................................26
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10 Replacing the hard drive......................................... 29
Procedure.................................................................29
Post-requisites........................................................... 29
11 Removing the palm rest...........................................30
Prerequisites............................................................. 30
Procedure.................................................................30
12 Replacing the palm rest...........................................37
Procedure.................................................................37
Post-requisites........................................................... 38
13 Removing the power-button board............................. 39
Prerequisites............................................................. 39
Procedure.................................................................39
14 Replacing the power-button board............................. 41
Procedure.................................................................41
Post-requisites........................................................... 41
15 Removing the status-light board................................ 42
Prerequisites............................................................. 42
Procedure.................................................................42
16 Replacing the status-light board................................ 44
Procedure.................................................................44
Post-requisites........................................................... 44
17 Removing the keyboard...........................................45
Prerequisites............................................................. 45
Procedure.................................................................45
18 Replacing the keyboard........................................... 49
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Procedure.................................................................49
Post-requisites........................................................... 50
19 Removing the touch pad.......................................... 51
Prerequisites............................................................. 51
Procedure.................................................................51
20 Replacing the touch pad.......................................... 54
Procedure.................................................................54
Post-requisites........................................................... 54
21 Removing the display assembly................................. 55
Prerequisites............................................................. 55
Procedure.................................................................55
22 Replacing the display assembly................................. 59
Procedure.................................................................59
Post-requisites........................................................... 60
23 Removing the battery............................................. 61
Prerequisites............................................................. 61
Procedure.................................................................61
24 Replacing the battery............................................. 64
Procedure.................................................................64
Post-requisites........................................................... 64
25 Removing the I/O board...........................................65
Prerequisites............................................................. 65
Procedure.................................................................65
26 Replacing the I/O board...........................................67
Procedure.................................................................67
Post-requisites........................................................... 67
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27 Removing the speakers........................................... 68
Prerequisites............................................................. 68
Procedure.................................................................68
28 Replacing the speakers........................................... 71
Procedure.................................................................71
Post-requisites........................................................... 71
29 Removing the front AlienFX LED boards.......................72
Prerequisites............................................................. 72
Procedure.................................................................72
30 Replacing the front AlienFX LED board........................ 74
Procedure.................................................................74
Post-requisites........................................................... 74
31 Removing the processor fan..................................... 75
Prerequisites............................................................. 75
Procedure.................................................................75
32 Replacing the processor fan..................................... 78
Procedure.................................................................78
Post-requisites........................................................... 78
33 Removing the system board......................................79
Prerequisites............................................................. 79
Procedure.................................................................79
34 Replacing the system board......................................83
Procedure.................................................................83
Post-requisites........................................................... 84
35 Removing the wireless card......................................85
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Prerequisites............................................................. 85
Procedure.................................................................85
36 Replacing the wireless card...................................... 87
Procedure.................................................................87
Post-requisites........................................................... 88
37 Removing the heat sink........................................... 89
Prerequisites............................................................. 89
Procedure.................................................................89
38 Replacing the heat sink........................................... 91
Procedure.................................................................91
Post-requisites........................................................... 91
39 Removing the coin-cell battery................................. 93
Prerequisites............................................................. 93
Procedure.................................................................93
40 Replacing the coin-cell battery..................................95
Procedure.................................................................95
Post-requisites........................................................... 95
41 Removing the video-card fan.................................... 96
Prerequisites............................................................. 96
Procedure.................................................................96
42 Replacing the video-card fan.................................... 98
Procedure.................................................................98
Post-requisites........................................................... 98
43 Removing the power-adapter port..............................99
Prerequisites............................................................. 99
Procedure.................................................................99
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44 Replacing the power-adapter port............................ 101
Procedure............................................................... 101
Post-requisites..........................................................101
45 Removing the subwoofer........................................102
Prerequisites............................................................102
Procedure............................................................... 102
46 Replacing the subwoofer........................................104
Procedure............................................................... 104
Post-requisites..........................................................104
47 Removing the display bezel.................................... 105
Prerequisites............................................................105
Procedure............................................................... 105
48 Replacing the display bezel.................................... 110
Procedure............................................................... 110
Post-requisites..........................................................110
49 Removing the display panel.................................... 111
Prerequisites............................................................111
Procedure............................................................... 111
50 Replacing the display panel.................................... 114
Procedure............................................................... 114
Post-requisites..........................................................114
51 Removing the display hinges................................... 115
Prerequisites............................................................115
Procedure............................................................... 115
52 Replacing the display hinges................................... 118
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Procedure............................................................... 118
Post-requisites..........................................................118
53 Removing the computer base.................................. 119
Prerequisites............................................................119
Procedure............................................................... 119
54 Replacing the computer base.................................. 121
Procedure............................................................... 121
Post-requisites..........................................................121
55 Removing the logo board........................................122
Prerequisites............................................................122
Procedure............................................................... 122
56 Replacing the logo board........................................125
Procedure............................................................... 125
Post-requisites..........................................................125
57 Removing the camera............................................126
Prerequisites............................................................126
Procedure............................................................... 126
58 Replacing the camera............................................128
Procedure............................................................... 128
Post-requisites..........................................................128
59 Removing the display-panel AlienFX LEDs...................129
Prerequisites............................................................129
Procedure............................................................... 129
60 Replacing the display-panel AlienFX LEDs...................132
Procedure............................................................... 132
Post-requisites..........................................................132
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61 Removing the Alienware AlienHead LED board.............133
Prerequisites............................................................133
Procedure............................................................... 133
62 Replacing the Alienware AlienHead LED board.............136
Procedure............................................................... 136
Post-requisites..........................................................136
63 Removing the display back-cover............................. 137
Prerequisites............................................................137
Procedure............................................................... 137
64 Replacing the display back-cover............................. 140
Procedure............................................................... 140
Post-requisites..........................................................140
65 BIOS setup program.............................................. 142
Overview................................................................ 142
Entering BIOS setup program ........................................ 142
BIOS setup program options.......................................... 142
Boot sequence.......................................................... 148
Boot options........................................................148
Changing boot sequence for the current boot................ 149
Changing boot sequence for future boots..................... 149
66 Flashing the BIOS................................................. 151
67 Getting help and contacting Alienware...................... 152
Self-help resources.................................................... 152
Contacting Alienware..................................................153
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