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Alienware M17x R4
Owner’s Manual
Computer model: M17x R4
Regulatory model: P11E
Regulatory type: P11E002
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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
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Contents 1 Before You Begin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Turn Off Your Computer and Connected Devices. . . . 9 Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Recommended Tools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 2 After Working Inside Your Computer 11 3 Removing the Battery Pack. . . . . . . . . . 12 Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 4 Replacing the Battery Pack . . . . . . . . . . 13 Procedure . . . . . . . . . . .
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10 Replacing the Hard Drive(s) . . . . . . . . . . 21 Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Postrequsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 11 Removing the Memory Module(s) . . . . 22 Prerequsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 12 Replacing the Memory Module(s) . . . . 24 Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Postrequs
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18 Replacing the Graphics-Card Assembly 34 Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Postrequsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 19 Removing the Processor Heat-Sink 35 Prerequsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 20 Replacing the Processor Heat-Sink 37 Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Postrequsites . . . . . . . .
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26 Replacing the Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Postrequsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 27 Removing the Mini-Card . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Prerequsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 28 Replacing the Mini-Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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34 Replacing the Display Assembly 60 Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Postrequsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 35 Removing the Status Light Board 61 Prerequsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 36 Replacing the Status Light Board 63 Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Postrequsites . . . . . . . . . . .
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Postrequsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 43 Removing the Optical Drive . . . . . . . . 73 Prerequsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 44 Replacing the Optical Drive . . . . . . . . . 76 Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Postrequsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 45 Removing the System Board. . . . . . . . . 77 Pre
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Before You Begin 1 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 comp
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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
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After Working Inside Your Computer 2 After you complete 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. Fa
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Removing the Battery Pack 3 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 9. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at dell.com/ regulatory_compliance. Procedure 1 Slide the battery latch to the unlock position as shown. The battery pack pops up. 2 Remove the battery pack. 2 1 1 battery pack 2 battery latch 12 | Removing the Bat
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Replacing the Battery Pack 4 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 9. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at dell.com/ regulatory_compliance. Procedure CAUTION: To avoid damage to the computer, use only the battery designed for this particular Alienware computer. Align the tabs on the battery with the slots on the bat
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Removing the Compartment Door 5 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 9. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at dell.com/ regulatory_compliance. Prerequsites Remove the battery pack. See "Removing the Battery Pack" on page 12. Procedure 1 Remove the screws that secure the compartment door to the computer base. 2 Slide an
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Replacing the Compartment Door 6 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 9. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at dell.com/ regulatory_compliance. Procedure 1 Align the tabs on the compartment door with the slots on the computer base and slide the compartment door into place. 2 Replace the two screws that secure the com
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Removing the Coin-Cell Battery 7 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 9. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at dell.com/ regulatory_compliance. Prerequsites 1 Remove the battery pack. See "Removing the Battery Pack" on page 12. 2 Remove the compartment door. See "Removing the Compartment Door" on page 14. Procedure Use
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Replacing the Coin-Cell Battery 8 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 9. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at dell.com/ regulatory_compliance. Procedure 1 Hold the coin-cell battery with the positive side facing up. 2 Slide the coin-cell battery into the slot and gently press until it snaps into place. Postrequsites
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Removing the Hard Drive(s) 9 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 9. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at dell.com/ regulatory_compliance. WARNING: If you remove the hard drive from the computer when the drive is hot, do not touch the metal housing of the hard drive. CAUTION: To help prevent damage to the system b
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Primary hard-drive assembly 1 2 1 captive screws (3) 2 primary hard-drive assembly Secondary hard-drive assembly 2 1 1 captive screws (3) 2 secondary hard-drive assembly Removing the Hard Drive(s) | 19
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4 Remove the screws that secure the hard drive to the hard-drive bracket. 5 Lift the hard-drive off the hard-drive bracket. 6 Remove the interposer from the hard drive. 2 2 1 4 1 interposer 2 screws (4) 3 hard drive 4 hard-drive bracket CAUTION: When the hard drive is not in the computer, store it in protective antistatic packaging. See "Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge" in the safety instructions that shipped with your computer. 20 | Removing the Hard Drive(s)