Alienware 15 R4 Service Manual

Notes, cautions, and warnings

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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.

© 2018 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.

2018-03

Contents

Before working inside your computer.....10
Before you begin .....10
Safety instructions.....10
Recommended tools.....11
Screw list.....12
After working inside your computer.....14
Removing the base cover.....15
Procedure.....15
Replacing the base cover.....18
Procedure.....18
Removing the wireless card.....21
Prerequisites.....21
Procedure.....22
Replacing the wireless card.....24
Procedure.....24
Post-requisites.....25
Removing the hard drive.....26
Prerequisites.....26
Procedure.....26

Replacing the hard drive.....29
Procedure.....29
Post-requisites.....31

Removing the solid-state drive.....32
Prerequisites.....32
Procedure.....32

Replacing the solid-state drive.....34
Procedure.....34
Post-requisites.....35

Removing the memory modules.....36
Prerequisites.....36
Procedure.....36

Replacing the memory modules.....38
Procedure.....38
Post-requisites.....39

Removing the rear-I/O cover.....40
Prerequisites.....40
Procedure.....40

Replacing the rear-I/O cover.....42
Procedure.....42
Post-requisites.....43

Removing the computer base.....44
Prerequisites.....44
Procedure.....44

Replacing the computer base.....48
Procedure.....48
Post-requisites.....50

Removing the coin-cell battery.....51
Prerequisites.....51
Procedure.....51

Replacing the coin-cell battery.....53
Procedure.....53
Post-requisites.....54

Removing the battery.....55
Prerequisites.....55
Procedure.....55

Replacing the battery.....57
Procedure.....57
Post-requisites.....58

Removing the touchpad.....59
Prerequisites.....59
Procedure.....59

Replacing the touchpad.....62
Procedure.....62
Post-requisites.....63

Removing the I/O board.....64
Prerequisites.....64
Procedure.....64

Replacing the I/O board.....66
Procedure.....66
Post-requisites.....67

Removing the speakers.....68
Prerequisites.....68
Procedure.....68

Replacing the speakers.....70
Procedure.....70
Post-requisites.....71

Removing the system board.....72
Prerequisites.....72
Procedure.....72

Replacing the system board.....78
Procedure.....78
Post-requisites.....82

Removing the keyboard.....83
Prerequisites.....83
Procedure.....83

Replacing the keyboard.....86
Procedure.....86
Post-requisites.....87

Removing the macro keys.....88
Prerequisites.....88
Procedure.....89

Replacing the macro keys.....90
Procedure.....90
Post-requisites.....91

Removing the heat-sink assembly.....92
Prerequisites.....92
Procedure.....92

Replacing the heat-sink assembly.....95
Procedure.....95
Post-requisites.....97

Removing the power-adapter port.....98
Prerequisites.....98
Procedure.....98

Replacing the power-adapter port.....100
Procedure.....100
Post-requisites.....101

Removing the power-button board.....102
Prerequisites.....102
Procedure.....102

Replacing the power-button board.....104
Procedure.....104
Post-requisites.....105

Removing the palm rest.....106
Prerequisites.....106
Procedure.....107

Replacing the palm rest.....108
Procedure.....108
Post-requisites.....108

Removing the display assembly.....109
Prerequisites.....109
Procedure.....110

Replacing the display assembly.....113
Procedure.....113
Post-requisites.....115

Downloading drivers.....116
Operating system.....116
Downloading the audio driver.....116
Downloading the graphics driver.....116
Downloading the USB driver.....117
Downloading the Wi-Fi driver.....118
Downloading the media-card reader driver.....119
Downloading the chipset driver.....120
Downloading the network driver.....120

System setup.....122
Boot Sequence.....122
Navigation keys.....122
BIOS overview.....123
Entering BIOS setup program.....123
Enabling or disabling the USB in BIOS setup program.....124
Identifying the hard drive in BIOS setup program.....124
Checking the system memory in BIOS setup program.....124
System setup options.....125

Troubleshooting.....133
Flashing the BIOS.....133
Flashing BIOS (USB key).....133
Reinstall Windows using a USB recovery drive.....134
Enhanced Pre-Boot System Assessment (ePSA) diagnostics.....135
Running the ePSA diagnostics.....135
Diagnostics.....136
Wi-Fi power cycle.....137
Flea power release.....138
Getting help and contacting Alienware.....139
Self-help resources.....139
Contacting Alienware.....139

Before working inside your computer