Alienware m15 R3

Service Manual

Notes, cautions, and warnings

i) 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.

© 2020 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.

Contents

1 Working inside your computer.....6
Before working inside your computer.....6
Safety instructions.....6
Electrostatic discharge—ESD protection.....7
ESD field service kit.....7
Transporting sensitive components.....8
After working inside your computer.....8
2 Removing and installing components.....9
Recommended tools.....9
Screw list.....9
Base cover.....10
Removing the base cover.....10
Installing the base cover.....13
Battery.....15
Lithium-ion battery precautions.....15
Removing the battery.....15
Installing the battery.....16
M.2 solid-state drive.....17
Removing the M.2 2230 solid-state drive.....17
Installing the M.2 2230 solid-state drive.....19
Removing the M.2 2280 solid-state drive.....21
Installing the M.2 2280 solid-state drive.....23
M.2 2230 WWAN/solid-state drive.....24
Removing the M.2 2230 WWAN/solid-state drive.....24
Installing the M.2 2230 WWAN/solid-state drive.....25
Rear-I/O cover.....26
Removing the rear I/O-cover.....26
Installing the rear I/O-cover.....28
Display assembly.....29
Removing the display assembly.....29
Installing the display assembly.....32
Speakers.....35
Removing the speakers.....35
Installing the speakers.....36
Touchpad.....37
Removing the touchpad.....37
Installing the touchpad.....37
Keyboard-controller board.....38
Removing the keyboard-controller board.....38
Installing the keyboard-controller board.....39
Right I/O-board.....40
Removing the right I/O-board.....40

Installing the right I/O-board.....41
System board.....43
Removing the system board.....43
Installing the system board.....45
Left I/O-board.....48
Removing the left I/O-board.....48
Installing the left I/O-board.....49
Fan and heat-sink assembly.....50
Removing the fan and heat-sink assembly.....50
Installing the fan and heat-sink assembly.....52
Power-adapter port.....54
Removing the power-adapter port.....54
Installing the power-adapter port.....55
Power-button assembly.....56
Removing the power-button assembly.....56
Installing the power-button assembly.....57
Keyboard.....58
Removing the keyboard.....58
Installing the keyboard.....60
Palmrest.....62
Removing the palmrest.....62
Installing the palmrest.....63
3 Drivers and downloads.....65
4 System setup.....66
Entering BIOS setup program.....66
Navigation keys.....66
One time boot menu.....66
System setup options.....67
Main.....67
Advanced.....67
Security.....69
Secure boot.....71
Secure boot.....71
Updating the BIOS in Windows.....72
Updating BIOS on systems with BitLocker enabled.....73
Updating your system BIOS using a USB flash drive.....73
Flashing the BIOS from the F12 One-Time boot menu.....73
System and setup password.....76
Assigning a system setup password.....77
Deleting or changing an existing system setup password.....77
Clearing CMOS settings.....77
Clearing BIOS (System Setup) and System passwords.....78
5 Troubleshooting.....79
Recovering the operating system.....79
System diagnostic lights.....79
Flea power release.....80

WiFi power cycle.....80
6 Getting help.....81
Contacting Dell.....81

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.

NOTE: 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.

⑪ NOTE: 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 $ \underline{\text{www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance}} $.

CAUTION: Before touching