Dell Alienware M11x R3 User manual

ALIENWARE®M11x MOBILE MANUAL

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.
__________________
The contents herein are subject to change without notice.
© 2011 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®, AlienFX®, and the AlienHead logo are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Alienware Corporation; Dell™ is a trademark of Dell Inc.; 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 and Core™ is a trademark of
Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries; Blu‑ray Disc™ is a trademark of the Blu‑ray Disc Association;
Bluetooth®is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc.
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.
Regulatory model: P06T Regulatory type: P06T003
Rev. A01 2011 - 05

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CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP ................................................9
Before Setting Up Your Laptop ....................................................10
Connect the AC Adapter...........................................................12
Press the Power Button ...........................................................13
Connect the Network Cable (Optional) .............................................14
Set Up Microsoft Windows ........................................................15
Set Up Wireless Display (Optional).................................................16
Connect to the Internet (Optional).................................................18
CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR LAPTOP ........................................21
Left View Features................................................................22
Right View Features ..............................................................26
Back View Features ...............................................................27
Display Features................................................................. 28
Computer Base and Keyboard Features ........................................... 30
Power Button ................................................................... 32
Function Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
CONTENTS

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CONTENTS
CHAPTER 3: USING YOUR LAPTOP.....................................................37
Alienware Command Center...................................................... 38
FastAccess Facial Recognition (Optional) ..........................................42
Battery Pack .....................................................................42
Using the Wireless Control ....................................................... 44
Power Management ............................................................. 45
NVIDIA Optimus Technology ......................................................47
Conguring the BIOS ............................................................ 49
CHAPTER 4: INSTALLING AND REPLACING COMPONENTS...............................59
Before You Begin ................................................................ 60
Replacing the Battery Pack....................................................... 64
Upgrading or Replacing Memory...................................................67
Upgrading or Replacing the Hard Drive Assembly...................................70
CHAPTER 5: TROUBLESHOOTING .....................................................75
Basic Hints and Tips ..............................................................76
Backup and General Maintenance .................................................77
Software Diagnostic Tools ........................................................79
Answers to Common Problems ....................................................81

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CONTENTS
CHAPTER 6: SYSTEM RECOVERY ..................................................... 89
AlienRespawn ................................................................... 90
My Dell Downloads .............................................................. 94
CHAPTER 7: SPECIFICATIONS .........................................................95
APPENDIX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
GENERAL AND ELECTRICAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ................................110
Contacting Alienware ............................................................113

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Dear Valued Alienware Customer,
Welcome to the Alienware family. We are thrilled to include you among the growing number
of savvy high‑performance mobile users.
e Alienware technicians who have crafted your machine have made certain that your high-
performance mobile is properly optimized and performs to its fullest potential. We build
machines with one single unwavering purpose: Build It As If It Were Your Own. e technicians
will not rest until your new machine meets or exceeds our very demanding criteria!
We have tested your machine extensively in order to ensure that you enjoy the highest levels
of performance. In addition to a standard burn‑in period, your system has been evaluated
using real‑world tools such as synthetic performance benchmarks.
We invite you to share your experience with your new high‑performance mobile with us, so
please do not hesitate to either e-mail or call Alienware with any questions or concerns. e
entire staff shares your enthusiasm for new technology and we hope that you enjoy using
your new mobile as much as Alienware enjoyed building it for you.
Sincerely,
Alienware Staff

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CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
CHAPTER 1:
SETTINGUPYOURLAPTOP

CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
10
Before Setting Up Your Laptop
Congratulations on the purchase of your Alienware M11x!
Read all safety and setup instructions before connecting your new laptop. Begin by carefully
opening the box and removing all components that were shipped to you.
Before setting up your laptop or components, see the included invoice to verify that all items
ordered are present and be sure to inspect all items for any physical damage that may have
occurred during shipment. Report any missing components or damaged items to customer
service within 5 days of receiving the shipment. Anything reported missing or damaged after
the rst 5 days of receiving a shipment will not be honored. Some of the most common items
to check for include:
•Laptop and AC adapter with power cable
•Microsoft CD‑key located at the bottom of the laptop
•Monitor with power cable and video cable (if ordered)
•Keyboard (if ordered)
•Mouse (if ordered)
•Multimedia speakers and sub‑woofer (if ordered)
•Joystick controllers (if ordered)
You may also need a small athead and/or a Phillips head screwdriver for connecting peripheral
cables to the laptop.

CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
11
Product Documentation and Media
e documentation that ships with your Alienware laptop is designed to provide answers to
many of the questions that may arise as you explore your new laptop’s capabilities. You may see
the documentation for technical information or general use as needed to answer questions in
the future, or aid you in nding answers and solutions. e media included with your laptop
is referenced in some sections of the documentation and may be needed to complete certain
tasks. As always, our technical support staff is available to assist you.
Placing Your Laptop
WARNING: Do not place the laptop near or over a radiator or heating vent. If your laptop
is placed in a cabinet, ensure that adequate ventilation is provided. Do not place the
laptop in a humid location or in any area where the laptop may be exposed to rain or
water. Be careful not to spill liquid of any kind on or into the laptop.
When placing your laptop, ensure that:
•It is placed on a surface that is both level and stable.
•e power and other cable connectors are not jammed between the laptop and a wall –
or any other object.
•Nothing obstructs airow in front of, behind, or below the laptop.
•e laptop has enough room so that optical drives and other external storage drives can
be easily accessed.

CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
12
Connect the AC Adapter
WARNING: e AC adapter works with electrical outlets worldwide. However, power
connectors and power strips vary among countries. Using an incompatible cable or
improperly connecting the cable to a power strip or electrical outlet may cause re or
equipment damage.

CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
13
Press the Power Button

CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
14
Connect the Network Cable (Optional)

CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
15
Set Up Microsoft Windows
Your computer is precongured with the Microsoft Windows operating system. To set up
Windows for the rst time, follow the instructions on the screen. ese steps are mandatory
and may take some time to complete. e Windows setup screens will take you through
several procedures including accepting license agreements, setting preferences, and setting
up an Internet connection.
CAUTION: Do not interrupt the operating system’s setup process. Doing so may render
your computer unusable and you will need to reinstall the operating system.
NOTE: For optimal performance of your computer, it is recommended that you download
and install the latest BIOS and drivers for your computer available at support.dell.com.
NOTE: For more information on the operating system and features, see
support.dell.com/MyNewDell.
NOTE: It is recommended that you create a full system backup as soon as you set up
Microsoft Windows.

CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
16
Set Up Wireless Display (Optional)
e Intel wireless display feature allows you to share your computer display to a TV without
the use of cables. You must connect a wireless display adapter to your TV before setting up
wireless display.
You will require the following to set up wireless display on your computer:
Transmitter Intel Centrino wireless WLAN card
Receiver Push2TV adapter for Intel Wireless Display
NOTE: If your computer supports the wireless display feature, the Intel Wireless Display
icon will be available on your Windows desktop.

CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
17
To set up wireless display:
1. Turn on your computer.
2. Ensure that wireless is enabled. For more information, see “Using the Wireless Control“ on
page 44.
3. Connect the wireless display adapter to theTV.
4. Turn on the TV and the wireless display adapter.
5. Select the appropriate video source for your TV, such as HDMI1, HDMI2, or S-Video.
6. Click the Intel Wireless Display icon on the desktop.
e Intel Wireless Display window appears.
7. Select Scan for available displays.
8. Select your wireless display adapter from the Detected wireless displays list.
9. Enter the security code that appears on yourTV.

CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
18
Connect to the Internet (Optional)
Setting Up a Wired Connection
•If you are using a dial‑up connection, connect the telephone line to the optional external
USB modem and to the telephone wall jack before you set up your Internet connection.
•If you are using a DSL or cable/satellite modem connection, contact your ISP or cellular
telephone service provider for setup instructions.
To complete setting up your wired Internet connection, follow the instructions in “SettingUp
Your Internet Connection” onpage20.