Dell Alienware M14x R2 User manual

Alienware M14xR2
Owner’s Manual
Regulatory model: P18G Regulatory type: P18G002

Notes, Cautions, and Warnings
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of
your computer.
CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates potential damage to hardware or loss of data if
instructions are not followed.
WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage, personal
injury, or death.
____________________
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 2012 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction of these materials in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc.
is strictly forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text: Dell™ and the DELL logo are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Alienware® is
a trademark or registered trademark of Alienware Corporation; 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; Bluetooth®is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth
SIG, Inc. and is used by Dell under license.
Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document 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: P18G Regulatory type: P18G002
2012 - 04 Rev. A00

Contents 3
Contents
1 Before You Begin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Turn Off Your Computer and Connected Devices . . . . 11
Safety Instructions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Recommended Tools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2 After Working Inside Your Computer. . . . 13
3BaseCover. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Removing the Base Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Replacing the Base Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
4Battery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Removing the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Replacing the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
5 Optical Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Removing the Optical Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Replacing the Optical Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

4Contents
6 Hard Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Removing the Hard Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Replacing the Hard Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
7 Memory Module(s). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Removing the Memory Module(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Replacing the Memory Module(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
8 Center-Control Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Removing the Center-Control Cover . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Replacing the Center-Control Cover . . . . . . . . . . . 35
9 Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Removing the Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Replacing the Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
10 Palm-Rest Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Removing the Palm-Rest Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Replacing the Palm-Rest Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Contents 5
11 Wireless Mini-Card(s)/WirelessHD Card
(Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Removing the Mini-Card(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Replacing the Mini-Card(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
12 Power-Button Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Removing the Power-Button Board . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Replacing the Power-Button Board . . . . . . . . . . . 50
13 Status-Lights Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Removing the Status-Lights Board . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Replacing the Status-Lights Board . . . . . . . . . . . 55
14 Speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Removing the Speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Replacing the Speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
15 Subwoofer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Removing the Subwoofer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Replacing the Subwoofer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

6Contents
16 Internal Card with Bluetooth Wireless Technology
65
Removing the Bluetooth Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Replacing the Bluetooth Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
17 Coin-Cell Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Removing the Coin-Cell Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Replacing the Coin-Cell Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
18 Display Assembly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Removing the Display Assembly. . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Replacing the Display Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
19 Mini-Card Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Removing the Mini-Card Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Replacing the Mini-Card Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
20 System Board. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Removing the System Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Replacing the System Board. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Entering the Service Tag in the BIOS . . . . . . . . . . 85

Contents 7
21 Thermal Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Removing the Thermal Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Replacing the Thermal Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
22 Thermal Cooling Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Removing the Thermal Cooling Assembly . . . . . . . 89
Replacing the Thermal Cooling Assembly . . . . . . . 90
23 Processor Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Removing the Processor Module . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Replacing the Processor Module . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
24 System Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Entering System Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
25 Flashing the BIOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

8Contents

Before You Begin 11
1
Before You Begin
Turn Off Your Computer and Connected Devices
CAUTION: To avoid losing data, save and close all open files and exit all open
programs before you turn off your computer.
1 Save and close all open files and exit all open programs.
2 Click Start and click Shut Down .
Microsoft Windows shuts down and then the computer turns off.
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 telephone cables, network cables, and attached devices
from your computer.
5 After the computer is unplugged, press and hold the power button for
about 5 seconds to ground the system board.

12 Before You Begin
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 additional safety best practices information,
see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
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.
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: 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, ensure that the connectors and ports 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.
Recommended Tools
The procedures in this document may require the following tools:
• Small flat-blade screwdriver
• Phillips screwdriver
• Plastic scribe

After Working Inside Your Computer 13
2
After Working Inside Your Computer
After you complete the replacement procedures, ensure the following:
• Replace all screws and ensure that no stray screws remain inside
your computer
• Connect any external devices, cables, cards, and any other part(s)
you removed before working on your computer
• Connect your computer and all attached devices to their electrical outlets
CAUTION: Before turning on your computer, replace all screws and ensure
that no stray screws remain inside the computer. Failure to do so may damage
your computer.

14 After Working Inside Your Computer

Base Cover 15
3
Base Cover
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information
that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in "Before You Begin" on
page 11. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory
Compliance Homepage at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Removing the Base Cover
Procedure
1 Turn the computer over.
2 Loosen the captive screws that secure the base cover to the computer base.
3 Slide and lift the base cover off the computer base.
1 captive screws (2) 2 base cover
1
2

16 Base Cover
Replacing the Base Cover
Procedure
1 Align the tabs on the base cover with the slots on the computer base and
slide the base cover until it snaps into place.
2 Tighten the captive screws that secure the base cover to
the computer base.
Postrequisites
1 Follow the instructions in "After Working Inside Your Computer" on page 13.

Battery 17
4
Battery
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information
that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in "Before You Begin" on
page 11. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory
Compliance Homepage at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Removing the Battery
Prerequisites
1 Remove the base cover. See "Removing the Base Cover" on page 15.
Procedure
1 Disconnect the battery cable from the connector on the system board.
2 Loosen the captive screws that secure the battery to the computer base.

18 Battery
3 Using the pull-tab, lift the battery off the computer base.
Replacing the Battery
Procedure
1 Place the battery in the battery bay and tighten the captive screws that
secure the battery to the computer base.
2 Connect the battery cable to the connector on the system board.
Postrequisites
1 Replace the base cover. See "Replacing the Base Cover" on page 16.
2 Follow the instructions in "After Working Inside Your Computer" on page 13.
1 battery 2 pull-tab
3 captive screws (2) 4 battery cable
1
2
3
4

Optical Drive 19
5
Optical Drive
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information
that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in "Before You Begin" on
page 11. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory
Compliance Homepage at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Removing the Optical Drive
Prerequisites
1 Remove the base cover. See "Removing the Base Cover" on page 15.
2 Remove the battery. See "Removing the Battery" on page 17.
Procedure
1 Lift the connector latch and use the pull-tab to disconnect the
optical-drive cable from the connector on the system board.

20 Optical Drive
2 Loosen the four captive screws that secure the optical drive to
the computer base.
3 Using the pull-tab, lift the optical drive off the computer base.
4 Remove the screws that secure the optical-drive cable connector to
the optical drive.
5 Disconnect the optical-drive cable connector from the connector on
the optical drive.
1 optical-drive cable 2 connector latch
3 optical drive 4 pull tab
5 captive screws (4)
1
3
4
5
2

Optical Drive 21
6 Gently peel the optical-drive cable from the optical-drive bracket.
1 screws (2) 2 optical-drive cable connector
3 optical-drive cable
1
2
3

22 Optical Drive
7 Remove the screws that secure the optical-drive bracket to
the optical drive.
8 Using the pull-tab, lift the optical-drive bracket off the optical drive.
Replacing the Optical Drive
Procedure
1 Place the optical-drive bracket on the optical drive and then align the
screw holes on the optical-drive bracket with the screw holes on
the optical drive.
2 Replace the screws that secure the optical-drive bracket to
the optical drive.
3 Connect the optical-drive cable connector to the connector on
the optical drive.
1 screws (4) 2 optical-drive bracket
3 pull tab
1
2
3