Dell Alienware 17 R4 Service Manual
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Dell Alienware 17 R4 Service Manual

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Alienware 17 R4
Service Manual
Regulatory Model: P31E
Regulatory Type: P31E001
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Summary of Contents for Dell Alienware 17 R4

  • Page 1 Alienware 17 R4 Service Manual Regulatory Model: P31E Regulatory Type: P31E001...
  • Page 2 WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death. © 2018 - 2019 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.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Contents 1 Before working inside your computer....................9 Before you begin .................................9 Safety instructions.................................9 Recommended tools................................9 Screw list..................................... 10 2 After working inside your computer....................11 3 Removing the base cover........................12 Procedure....................................12 4 Replacing the base cover........................14 Procedure....................................14 5 Removing the hard drive........................
  • Page 4 12 Replacing the memory modules......................23 Procedure................................... 23 Post-requisites..................................23 13 Removing the rear-I/O cover......................24 Prerequisites..................................24 Procedure................................... 24 14 Replacing the rear-I/O cover......................25 Procedure................................... 25 Post-requisites..................................25 15 Removing the computer base......................26 Prerequisites..................................26 Procedure................................... 26 16 Replacing the computer base......................28 Procedure...................................
  • Page 5 Prerequisites..................................36 Procedure................................... 36 24 Replacing the subwoofer........................37 Procedure....................................37 Post-requisites..................................37 25 Removing the system-board assembly.....................38 Prerequisites..................................38 Procedure................................... 38 26 Replacing the system board......................41 Procedure....................................41 Post-requisites..................................41 27 Removing the heat-sink assembly....................42 Prerequisites..................................42 Procedure................................... 42 28 Replacing the heat-sink assembly....................44 Procedure...................................
  • Page 6 35 Removing the battery........................51 Prerequisites..................................51 Procedure....................................51 36 Replacing the battery........................52 Procedure................................... 52 Post-requisites..................................52 37 Removing the touchpad........................53 Prerequisites..................................53 Procedure................................... 53 38 Replacing the touchpad........................54 Procedure................................... 54 Post-requisites..................................55 39 Removing the keyboard........................56 Prerequisites..................................56 Procedure................................... 56 40 Replacing the keyboard........................58 Procedure...................................
  • Page 7 Procedure................................... 66 Post-requisites..................................66 47 Removing the logo board........................67 Prerequisites..................................67 Procedure................................... 67 48 Replacing the logo board........................69 Procedure................................... 69 Post-requisites..................................69 49 Removing the display panel......................70 Prerequisites..................................70 Procedure................................... 70 50 Replacing the display panel......................72 Procedure................................... 72 Post-requisites..................................72 51 Removing the camera........................
  • Page 8 Clearing BIOS (System Setup) and System passwords.....................84 Clearing CMOS settings..............................84 Flashing the BIOS................................84 Boot menu..................................85 Boot menu enhancements..............................85 58 Diagnostics............................86 59 Getting help and contacting Alienware...................87...

  • Page 9: Before Working Inside Your Computer

    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.

  • Page 10: Screw List

    Screw list Table 1. Screw list Component Secured to Screw type Quantity Screw image Base cover Palm-rest assembly M2.5x13 Battery Palm-rest assembly M2.5x5 Computer base Palm-rest assembly M2.5x8 Display assembly Palm-rest assembly M2.5x5 Hard-drive assembly Computer base M2.5x5 Hard-drive bracket Hard-drive assembly M3x3 Heat-sink assembly...

  • Page 11: After Working Inside Your Computer

    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.

  • Page 12: Removing The Base Cover

    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. Remove the six screws (M2.5x13) that secure the base cover to the computer base.
  • Page 13 6. Press and hold the power button for five seconds to ground the system board.

  • Page 14: Replacing The Base Cover

    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. Connect the battery cable to the system board. 2. Tighten the captive screw that secures the base cover to the computer base.

  • Page 15: Removing The Hard Drive

    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.
  • Page 16 7. Disconnect the interposer from the hard drive.

  • Page 17: Replacing The Hard Drive

    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. Procedure 1.

  • Page 18: Removing The Wireless Card

    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.

  • Page 19: Replacing The Wireless Card

    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 CAUTION: To avoid damaging the wireless card, do not place any cables under it.

  • Page 20: Removing The Solid-State Drive

    After working inside your computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at www.dell.com/ regulatory_compliance. CAUTION: Solid-state drives are fragile. Exercise care when handling the solid-state drive. CAUTION: To avoid data loss, do not remove the solid-state drive while the computer is in sleep or on state.

  • Page 21: Replacing The Solid-State Drive

    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: Solid-state drives are fragile. Exercise care when handling the solid-state drive. Procedure 1.

  • Page 22: Removing The Memory Modules

    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.

  • Page 23: Replacing The Memory Modules

    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 notch on the memory module with the tab on the memory-module slot and slide the memory module firmly into the slot at an angle.

  • Page 24: Removing The Rear-I/O Cover

    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.

  • Page 25: Replacing The Rear-I/O Cover

    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 tabs on the rear-I/O cover with the slots on the computer base and snap the rear-I/O cover into place.

  • Page 26: Removing The Computer Base

    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 1. Remove the base cover.
  • Page 27 6. Using a plastic scribe, gently release the tabs on the computer base from the slots on the palm-rest assembly. 7. Lift the computer base off the palm-rest assembly.

  • Page 28: Replacing The Computer Base

    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 computer base with the screw holes on the palm-rest assembly.

  • Page 29: Removing The Coin-Cell Battery

    After working inside your computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at www.dell.com/ regulatory_compliance. CAUTION: Removing the coin-cell battery resets the BIOS setup program’s settings to default. It is recommended that you note the BIOS setup program’s settings before removing the coin-cell battery.

  • Page 30: Replacing The Coin-Cell Battery

    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. Adhere the coin-cell battery to the palm-rest assembly. 2. Adhere the tape that secures the coin-cell battery to the palm-rest assembly.

  • Page 31: Removing The Speakers

    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 1. Remove the base cover.

  • Page 32: Replacing The Speakers

    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. Using the alignment posts, place the speakers on the palm-rest assembly.

  • Page 33: Removing The I/O Board

    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 1. Remove the base cover.

  • Page 35: Replacing The I/O Board

    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. Connect the subwoofer cable to the I/O board. 2. Turn the I/O board over.

  • Page 36: Removing The Subwoofer

    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 1. Remove the base cover.

  • Page 37: Replacing The Subwoofer

    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 subwoofer with the screw holes on the palm-rest assembly.

  • Page 38: Removing The System-Board Assembly

    After working inside your computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at www.dell.com/ regulatory_compliance. NOTE: Your computer’s Service Tag is stored in the system board. You must enter the Service Tag in the BIOS setup program after you replace the system board.
  • Page 39 8. Disconnect the coin-cell battery cable from the system board. 9. Peel off the tape that secures the coin-cell battery cable to the system board. 10. Disconnect the power-adapter port cable from the system board. 11. Disconnect the speaker cable from the system board. 12.
  • Page 40 22.Remove the heat-sink assembly. 23.After performing all the above steps, you are left with the system board.

  • Page 41: Replacing The System Board

    After working inside your computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at www.dell.com/ regulatory_compliance. NOTE: Your computer’s Service Tag is stored in the system board. You must enter the Service Tag in the BIOS setup program after you replace the system board.

  • Page 42: Removing The Heat-Sink Assembly

    After working inside your computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at www.dell.com/ regulatory_compliance. NOTE: The heat sink may become hot during normal operation. Allow sufficient time for the heat sink to cool before you touch it.

  • Page 44: Replacing The Heat-Sink Assembly

    After working inside your computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at www.dell.com/ regulatory_compliance. CAUTION: Incorrect alignment of the heat sink can damage the system board and processor. NOTE: If either the system board or the fan and heat-sink assembly is replaced, use the thermal pad/paste provided in the kit to ensure that thermal conductivity is achieved.

  • Page 45: Removing The Power-Adapter Port

    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 1. Remove the base cover.

  • Page 46: Replacing The Power-Adapter Port

    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 power-adapter port in the slot on the palm-rest assembly.

  • Page 47: Removing The Power-Button Board

    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 1. Remove the base cover.

  • Page 48: Replacing The Power-Button Board

    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. Using the alignment posts, place the power-button board on the palm-rest assembly.

  • Page 49: Removing The Display Assembly

    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 1. Remove the base cover.

  • Page 50: Replacing The Display Assembly

    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 display hinges with the screw holes on the palm-rest assembly.

  • Page 51: Removing The Battery

    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 1. Remove the base cover.

  • Page 52: Replacing The Battery

    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. Using the alignment post, place the battery on the palm-rest assembly.

  • Page 53: Removing The Touchpad

    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 1. Remove the base cover.

  • Page 54: Replacing The Touchpad

    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 NOTE: Clean the adhesive thoroughly on the palm-rest assembly to avoid having gap between the touchpad and the palm-rest assembly.

  • Page 55: Post-Requisites

    Post-requisites 1. Replace the battery. 2. Replace the computer base. 3. Replace the rear-I/O cover. 4. Replace the solid-state drive. 5. Replace the wireless card. 6. Replace the base cover.

  • Page 56: Removing The Keyboard

    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 1. Remove the base cover.

  • Page 58: Replacing The Keyboard

    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 CAUTION: Ensure that there are no cables under the keyboard.

  • Page 59: Post-Requisites

    Post-requisites 1. Replace the battery. 2. Replace the power-adapter port. 3. Replace the subwoofer. 4. Replace the board. 5. Replace the coin-cell battery. 6. Replace the computer base. 7. Replace the rear-I/O cover. 8. Replace the memory modules. 9. Replace the solid-state drive.

  • Page 60: Removing The Palm Rest

    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 1. Remove the base cover.

  • Page 61: Replacing The Palm Rest

    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 Place the palm rest on a flat surface. Post-requisites 1.

  • Page 62: Removing The Display Bezel

    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 1. Remove the base cover.
  • Page 63 5. Remove the tobii eye-tracker module.

  • Page 64: Replacing The Display Bezel

    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. Replace the tobii eye-tracker module.

  • Page 65: Removing The Tobii Eye-Tracker Module

    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 1. Remove the base cover.

  • Page 66: Replacing The Tobii Eye-Tracker Module

    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 NOTE: After replacing the Tobii eye-tracker module, launch the EyeX application with internet connection to update the firmware automatically.

  • Page 67: Removing The Logo Board

    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 1. Remove the base cover.

  • Page 69: Replacing The Logo Board

    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. Connect the tron-light cables, the logo-board cable, and the Alienhead cable to the logo board.

  • Page 70: Removing The Display Panel

    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 1. Remove the base cover.

  • Page 72: Replacing The Display Panel

    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 display panel on the display back-cover. 2. Slide the display cable into the connector on the display panel and close the latch to secure the cable.

  • Page 73: Removing The Camera

    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 1. Remove the base cover.

  • Page 74: Replacing The Camera

    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. Connect the camera cable to the camera module. 2. Place the camera module on the display back-cover and antenna assembly.

  • Page 75: Removing The Display Hinges

    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 1. Remove the base cover.
  • Page 76 7. Peel off the tape that secures the display hinge to the display back-cover and antenna assembly. 8. Remove the 12 screws (M2.5x3) that secure the hinges to the display back-cover and antenna assembly. 9. Lift the hinges from the display back-cover and antenna assembly.

  • Page 77: Replacing The Display Hinges

    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 display hinges with the screw holes on the display back-cover and antenna assembly.

  • Page 78: Removing The Display Back-Cover And Antenna Assembly

    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 1. Remove the base cover.

  • Page 80: Replacing The Display Back-Cover And Antenna Assembly

    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 display back-cover and antenna assembly on a clean and flat surface.

  • Page 81: Bios Overview

    Entering the BIOS setup program 1. Turn on or restart your computer. 2. Press F2 when the Dell logo is displayed on the screen to enter the BIOS setup program. You can change the user-definable settings in BIOS setup program.
  • Page 82 Main M.2 PCIe SSD-3 Displays the type of third SSD installed. Table 4. System setup options—Advanced menu Advanced Intel(R) SpeedStep Technology Allows you to enable or disable Intel (R) Speedstep Technology. NOTE: If enabled, the processor clock speed and core voltage are adjusted dynamically based on the processor load.
  • Page 83 Default: Disabled SupportAssist System Resolution Auto OS Recovery Threshold Control the automatic boot flow for SupportAssist System Resolution Console and for Dell OS Recovery tool. Table 5. System setup options—Security menu Security Unlock Setup Status Displays if the setup status is unlocked.

  • Page 84: Clearing Bios (System Setup) And System Passwords

    Save Changes Allows you to save the changes for all system setup options. Clearing BIOS (System Setup) and System passwords Contact Dell technical support to clear the forgotten passwords. For more information, see www.dell.com/contactdell. Clearing CMOS settings 1. Remove the base cover.

  • Page 85: Boot Menu

    5. Select the operating system installed on your computer. 6. Scroll down the page and expand BIOS. 7. Click Download to download the latest version of the BIOS for your computer. 8. After the download is complete, navigate to the folder where you saved the BIOS update file. 9.

  • Page 86: Diagnostics

    Diagnostics Power and battery-status light: Indicates the power and battery-charge status. Solid amber – Computer is running on battery and the battery has less than 10 percent charge. User-defined color (AC mode) – Power adapter is connected and the battery is fully charged. User-defined color (Battery mode) –...

  • Page 87: Getting Help And Contacting Alienware

    NOTE: Availability varies by country and product, and some services may not be available in your country. NOTE: If you do not have an active internet connection, you can find contact information on your purchase invoice, packing slip, bill, or Dell product catalog.

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