Alienware m15 R7

Service Manual

Notes, cautions, and warnings

⑪

⑪ 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.

Contents

Chapter 1: Working inside your computer.....5
Before working inside your computer.....5
Safety instructions.....5
Electrostatic discharge—ESD protection.....6
ESD field service kit.....6
Transporting sensitive components.....7
After working inside your computer.....7
Chapter 2: Removing and installing components.....9
Recommended tools.....9
Screw list.....9
Major components of Alienware m15 R7.....10
Disassembly and reassembly.....12
Base cover.....12
Solid-state drive.....17
Memory.....27
Wireless card.....29
Rear-I/O cover.....32
Battery.....34
Battery cable.....36
Speakers.....38
Power-adapter port.....39
Touchpad.....41
Display assembly.....44
Keyboard-controller board.....48
System board.....50
Fan and heat-sink assembly.....56
Ethernet and audio board.....59
USB board.....60
Power button.....62
Palm-rest and keyboard assembly.....64
Chapter 3: Drivers and downloads.....67
Chapter 4: System setup.....68
BIOS overview.....68
Entering BIOS setup program.....68
Navigation keys.....68
Boot Sequence.....68
System setup options.....69
System and setup password.....79
Assigning a system setup password.....79
Deleting or changing an existing system setup password.....80
Clearing CMOS settings.....80

Clearing BIOS (System Setup) and System passwords.....80
Updating the BIOS.....81
Updating the BIOS in Windows.....81
Updating the BIOS using the USB drive in Windows.....81
Updating the BIOS from the F12 One-Time boot menu.....81
Chapter 5: Troubleshooting.....83
Handling swollen Lithium-ion batteries.....83
SupportAssist diagnostics.....83
System-diagnostic lights.....84
Recovering the operating system.....85
Backup media and recovery options.....85
WiFi power cycle.....85
Drain residual flea power (perform hard reset).....85
Chapter 6: Getting help and contacting Alienware.....87

Working inside your computer Before working inside your computer

About this task

⑪ NOTE: The images in this document may differ from your computer depending on the configuration you ordered.

Steps

1. Save and close all open files and exit all open applications.

2. Shut down your computer. Click Start > ☐ Power > 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.

△CAUTION: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your computer and then unplug the cable from the network device.

5. Remove any media card and optical disc from your computer, if applicable.

Safety instructions

Use the following safety guidelines to protect your computer from potential damage and to ensure your personal safety. Unless otherwise noted, each procedure included in this document assumes that you have read the safety information that shipped with your computer.

WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that is shipped with your computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.

WARNING: Disconnect your computer from 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 your computer to an electrical outlet.

△CAUTION: To avoid damaging the computer, ensure that the work surface is flat, dry, and clean.

△CAUTION: To avoid damaging the components and cards, handle them by their edges, and avoid touching the pins and the 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 is 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 it by its connector or its pull tab, not the cable itself. Some cables have connectors with locking tabs or thumbscrews that you must disengage before disconnecting the cable. When disconnecting cables, keep them evenly aligned to avoid bending the connector pins. When connecting cables, ensure that the ports and the connectors are correctly oriented and aligned.

△CAUTION: Press and eject any installed card from the media-card reader.

△CAUTION: Exercise caution when handling Lithium-ion batteries in laptops. Swollen batteries should not be used and should be replaced and disposed properly.