Dell XPS 15 User manual

XPS 15
Service Manual
Computer Model: XPS 9550
Regulatory Model: P56F
Regulatory Type: P56F001

Notes, cautions, and warnings
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make
better use of your product.
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 ©2016 Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. All rights reserved. Dell, EMC, and other
trademarks are trademarks of Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. Other trademarks may be
trademarks of their respective owners.
2016–12
Rev. A02

Contents
Before working inside your computer............................ 9
Before you begin ...................................................................................... 9
Safety instructions.................................................................................... 9
Recommended tools................................................................................10
After working inside your computer.............................. 11
Removing the base cover............................................. 12
Procedure................................................................................................12
Replacing the base cover............................................. 15
Procedure................................................................................................15
Removing the battery...................................................16
Prerequisites............................................................................................16
Procedure................................................................................................16
Replacing the battery...................................................18
Procedure................................................................................................18
Post-requisites.........................................................................................18
Removing the hard drive.............................................. 19
Prerequisites............................................................................................19
Procedure................................................................................................19
Replacing the hard drive.............................................. 23
Procedure............................................................................................... 23
Post-requisites........................................................................................23
3

Removing the solid-state drive (half-length)............... 24
Prerequisites........................................................................................... 24
Procedure............................................................................................... 24
Replacing the solid-state drive (half-length)................27
Procedure............................................................................................... 27
Post-requisites........................................................................................ 27
Removing the solid-state drive (full-length)................ 28
Prerequisites........................................................................................... 28
Procedure............................................................................................... 28
Replacing the solid-state drive (full-length)................. 31
Procedure................................................................................................31
Post-requisites.........................................................................................31
Removing the speakers................................................32
Prerequisites........................................................................................... 32
Procedure............................................................................................... 32
Replacing the speakers................................................34
Procedure............................................................................................... 34
Post-requisites........................................................................................34
Removing the wireless card......................................... 35
Prerequisites........................................................................................... 35
Procedure............................................................................................... 35
Replacing the wireless card..........................................37
Procedure............................................................................................... 37
Post-requisites........................................................................................ 37
4

Removing the fans.......................................................38
Prerequisites........................................................................................... 38
Procedure............................................................................................... 38
Replacing the fans........................................................41
Procedure................................................................................................41
Post-requisites.........................................................................................41
Removing the heat-sink assembly................................42
Prerequisites........................................................................................... 42
Procedure............................................................................................... 42
Replacing the heat-sink assembly................................44
Procedure............................................................................................... 44
Post-requisites........................................................................................44
Removing the memory modules...................................45
Prerequisites........................................................................................... 45
Procedure............................................................................................... 45
Replacing the memory modules................................... 47
Procedure............................................................................................... 47
Post-requisites........................................................................................48
Removing the system board........................................ 50
Prerequisites...........................................................................................50
Procedure...............................................................................................50
Replacing the system board.........................................54
Procedure............................................................................................... 54
Post-requisites........................................................................................54
5

Removing the audio daughter board............................ 56
Prerequisites...........................................................................................56
Procedure............................................................................................... 57
Replacing the audio daughter board............................ 59
Procedure............................................................................................... 59
Post-requisites........................................................................................59
Removing the coin-cell battery....................................60
Prerequisites...........................................................................................60
Procedure............................................................................................... 60
Replacing the coin-cell battery.................................... 62
Procedure............................................................................................... 62
Post-requisites........................................................................................62
Removing the keyboard............................................... 63
Prerequisites........................................................................................... 63
Procedure............................................................................................... 63
Replacing the keyboard............................................... 67
Procedure............................................................................................... 67
Post-requisites........................................................................................67
Removing the display assembly................................... 68
Prerequisites........................................................................................... 68
Procedure............................................................................................... 68
Replacing the display assembly....................................72
Procedure............................................................................................... 72
Post-requisites........................................................................................ 72
6

Removing the power-adapter port...............................73
Prerequisites........................................................................................... 73
Procedure............................................................................................... 73
Replacing the power-adapter port............................... 75
Procedure............................................................................................... 75
Post-requisites........................................................................................75
Removing the antenna cover....................................... 76
Prerequisites........................................................................................... 76
Procedure................................................................................................77
Replacing the antenna cover........................................79
Procedure............................................................................................... 79
Post-requisites........................................................................................79
Removing the display hinges........................................80
Prerequisites...........................................................................................80
Procedure................................................................................................81
Replacing the display hinges........................................83
Procedure............................................................................................... 83
Post-requisites........................................................................................83
Removing the antenna module.....................................84
Prerequisites........................................................................................... 84
Procedure............................................................................................... 84
Replacing the antenna module.....................................86
Procedure............................................................................................... 86
Post-requisites........................................................................................86
7

Removing the palm-rest assembly............................... 87
Prerequisites........................................................................................... 87
Procedure............................................................................................... 87
Replacing the palm-rest assembly............................... 89
Procedure............................................................................................... 89
Post-requisites........................................................................................89
Flashing the BIOS........................................................90
Getting help and contacting Dell.................................. 91
Self-help resources..................................................................................91
Contacting Dell........................................................................................92
8

Before working inside your
computer
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.
The shut-down instruction varies depending on the operating system installed on
your computer.
– Windows 10: Click Start → Power → Shut down.
– Windows 8.1: On the Start screen, Click the power icon → Shut down.
– Windows 7: Click 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 attached network devices and peripherals, such as keyboard,
mouse, and monitor, from your computer.
5 Remove any media card and optical disc from your computer, if applicable.
6 Close the display and turn the computer over.
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 www.dell.com/
regulatory_compliance.
9

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 electrical outlet.
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.
CAUTION: You should only perform troubleshooting and repairs as
authorized or directed by the Dell technical assistance team. Damage due to
servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your warranty. See
the safety instructions that shipped with the product or at www.dell.com/
regulatory_compliance.
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 ports and
connectors are correctly oriented and aligned.
CAUTION: Press and eject any installed card from the media-card reader.
Recommended tools
The procedures in this document may require the following tools:
• Philips screwdriver
• Flat-head screwdriver
• Torx #5 (T5) screwdriver
• Plastic scribe
10

After working inside your
computer
CAUTION: Leaving stray or loose screws inside your computer may severely
damage your computer.
1 Replace all screws and ensure that no stray screws remain inside your computer.
2 Connect any external devices, peripherals, or cables you removed before
working on your computer.
3 Replace any media cards, discs, or any other parts 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.
11

Removing the base cover
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 www.dell.com/
regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Close the display and turn the computer over.
2 Turn the system badge over and place it on the base cover.
12

3 Remove the screws that secure the base cover to the palm-rest assembly.
1 base cover 2 system badge
3 screws (12)
13

4 Using your fingertips, gently pry the base cover off the palm-rest assembly.
1 base cover
14

Replacing the base cover
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 www.dell.com/
regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Place the base cover on the palm-rest assembly and snap it into place.
2 Replace the screws that secure the base cover to the palm-rest assembly.
3 Turn the system badge over and snap it into place.
4 Turn the computer over.
15

Removing the battery
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 www.dell.com/
regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
Remove the base cover.
Procedure
NOTE: The images in this document may differ from your computer
depending on the configuration you ordered.
1 Remove the screws that secure the battery to the palm-rest assembly.
2 Disconnect the battery cable from the system board.
16

3 Lift the battery off the palm-rest assembly.
1 battery cable 2 screws (4)
3 battery 4 palm-rest assembly
4 Turn the computer over, open the display, and press the power button for five
seconds to ground the system board.
17

Replacing the battery
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 www.dell.com/
regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Align the screw holes on the battery with the screw holes on the palm-rest
assembly.
2 Replace the screws that secure the battery to the palm-rest assembly.
3 Connect the battery cable to the system board.
Post-requisites
Replace the base cover.
18

Removing the hard drive
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 www.dell.com/
regulatory_compliance.
CAUTION: Hard drives are fragile. Exercise care when handling the hard
drive.
CAUTION: To avoid data loss, do not remove the hard drive while the
computer is in sleep or on state.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the base cover.
2 Remove the battery.
Procedure
1 Remove the screws that secure the hard-drive assembly to the palm-rest
assembly.
19

2 Lift the hard-drive cage off the hard-drive assembly.
1 screws (4) 2 hard-drive cage
3 hard-drive assembly
3 Using the pull tab disconnect the hard-drive cable from the system board.
20