Alienware M17X User Manual
ALIENWARE® M17x MOBILE MANUAL
Notes, Cautions, and Warnings
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer.
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.
This item incorporates copy protection technology that is protected by U.S. patents and other intellectual property
rights of Rovi Corporation. Reverse engineering and disassembly are prohibited.
__________________
The contents herein are subject to change without notice.
© 2010 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction of these materials in any manner whatsoever without the prior written permission of Dell Inc. is
strictly prohibited.
Trademarks used in this manual: Alienware®, AlienFX®, and the AlienHead logo are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Alienware Corporation; Dell™ is a trademark of Dell Inc.; Microsoft®, Windows®, and the Windows
start button logo are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United
States and/or other countries; Intel® and SpeedStep® are registered trademarks and Core™ is a trademark of
Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries; Blu‑ray Disc™ is a trademark of the Blu‑ray Disc Association;
Bluetooth® is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc.
Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this manual to refer to either the entities claiming the marks
and names or their products. Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other
than its own.
Regulatory model: P11E Regulatory type: P11E001
Rev. A00 October 2010
CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP ................................................9
Before Setting Up Your Laptop ....................................................10
Connect the AC Adapter...........................................................12
Press the Power Button ...........................................................13
Connect the Network Cable (Optional) .............................................14
Set Up Microsoft Windows ........................................................15
Set Up WirelessHD (Optional) .....................................................16
Set Up Wireless Display (Optional)................................................. 17
Connect to the Internet (Optional).................................................18
CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR LAPTOP ........................................21
Left View Features ................................................................22
Right View Features ..............................................................25
Back View Features ...............................................................27
Display Features................................................................. 28
Computer Base and Keyboard Features ........................................... 30
Status Lights.................................................................... 32
Media Control Keys .............................................................. 33
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CONTENTS
Power Button ................................................................... 34
Function Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
CHAPTER 3: USING YOUR LAPTOP.................................................... 39
Alienware Command Center...................................................... 40
Connecting External Displays .................................................... 40
Using Removable Media and Cards ............................................... 44
Using the Optical Drive .......................................................... 45
Using the Integrated Camera..................................................... 46
Using the Wireless Control ....................................................... 46
Battery Pack .....................................................................47
Power Management ............................................................. 48
nVidia Optimus Technology (Optional) ............................................ 50
Free Fall Sensor ..................................................................52
Conguring the BIOS ............................................................ 53
CHAPTER 4: INSTALLING AND REPLACING COMPONENTS...............................67
Before You Begin ................................................................ 68
Replacing the Battery Pack........................................................72
Upgrading or Replacing Memory...................................................74
Upgrading or Replacing the Hard Drive(s) ..........................................78
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER 5: TROUBLESHOOTING .................................................... 85
Basic Hints and Tips ............................................................. 86
Backup and General Maintenance .................................................87
Software Diagnostic Tools ....................................................... 89
Answers to Common Problems ....................................................91
CHAPTER 6: SYSTEM RECOVERY ..................................................... 99
AlienRespawn .................................................................. 100
My Dell Downloads ..............................................................102
CHAPTER 7: SPECIFICATIONS ........................................................103
APPENDIX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
GENERAL AND ELECTRICAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ................................120
CONTACTING ALIENWARE ........................................................123
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Dear Valued Alienware Customer,
Welcome to the Alienware family. We are thrilled to include you among the growing number
of savvy high‑performance computer users.
e Alienware technicians who have crafted your machine have made certain that your high-
performance system is properly optimized and performs to its fullest potential. We build
machines with one single unwavering purpose: Build It As If It Were Your Own. e technicians
will not rest until your new machine meets or exceeds our very demanding criteria!
We have tested your machine extensively in order to ensure that you enjoy the highest levels
of performance. In addition to a standard burn‑in period, your system has been evaluated
using real‑world tools such as synthetic performance benchmarks.
We invite you to share your experience with your new high‑performance computer with us, so
please do not hesitate to either e-mail or call Alienware with any questions or concerns. e
entire sta shares your enthusiasm for new technology and we hope that you enjoy using
your new computer as much as Alienware enjoyed building it for you.
Sincerely,
Alienware Sta
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CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
CHAPTER 1:
SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
Before Setting Up Your Laptop
Congratulations on the purchase of your Alienware M17x!
Read all safety and setup instructions before connecting your new laptop. Begin by carefully
opening the box and removing all components that were shipped to you.
Before setting up your laptop or components, see the included invoice to verify that all items
ordered are present and be sure to inspect all items for any physical damage that may have
occurred during shipment. Report any missing components or damaged items to customer
service within 5 days of receiving the shipment. Anything reported missing or damaged after
the rst 5 days of receiving a shipment will not be honored. Some of the most common items
to check for include:
Laptop and AC adapter with power cable •
Microsoft CD‑key located at the bottom of the laptop •
Monitor with power cable and video cable (if ordered) •
Keyboard (if ordered) •
Mouse (if ordered) •
Multimedia speakers and sub‑woofer (if ordered) •
Joystick controllers (if ordered) •
You may also need a small athead and/or a Phillips head screwdriver for connecting peripheral
cables to the laptop.
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CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
Product Documentation and Media
e documentation that ships with your Alienware laptop is designed to provide answers to
many of the questions that may arise as you explore your new laptop’s capabilities. You may see
the documentation for technical information or general use as needed to answer questions in
the future, or aid you in nding answers and solutions. e media included with your laptop
is referenced in some sections of the documentation and may be needed to complete certain
tasks. As always, our technical support sta is available to assist you.
Placing Your Laptop
WARNING: Do not place the laptop near or over a radiator or heating vent. If your laptop
is placed in a cabinet, ensure that adequate ventilation is provided. Do not place the
laptop in a humid location or in any area where the laptop may be exposed to rain or
water. Be careful not to spill liquid of any kind on or into the laptop.
When placing your laptop, ensure that:
It is placed on a surface that is both level and stable. •
e power and other cable connectors are not jammed between the laptop and a wall – •
or any other object.
Nothing obstructs airow in front of, behind, or below the laptop. •
e laptop has enough room so that optical drives and other external storage drives can •
be easily accessed.
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CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
Connect the AC Adapter
WARNING: e AC adapter works with electrical outlets worldwide. However, power
connectors and power strips vary among countries. Using an incompatible cable or
improperly connecting the cable to a power strip or electrical outlet may cause re or
equipment damage.
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Press the Power Button
CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
13
CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
Connect the Network Cable (Optional)
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CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
Set Up Microsoft Windows
Your computer is precongured with the Microsoft Windows operating system. To set up
Windows for the rst time, follow the instructions on the screen. ese steps are mandatory
and may take some time to complete. e Windows setup screens will take you through
several procedures including accepting license agreements, setting preferences, and setting
up an Internet connection.
CAUTION: Do not interrupt the operating system’s setup process. Doing so may render
your computer unusable and you will need to reinstall the operating system.
NOTE: For optimal performance of your computer, it is recommended that you
download and install the latest BIOS and drivers for your computer available at
support.dell.com.
NOTE: For more information on the operating system and features, see
support.dell.com/MyNewDell.
NOTE: It is recommended that you create a full system backup as soon as you set up
Microsoft Windows.
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CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
Set Up WirelessHD (Optional)
e WirelessHD feature allows you to share high-denition video from your computer display
to a TV without the use of cables. To set up WirelessHD, use a WirelessHD kit. For instructions
on setting up WirelessHD, see the document that shipped with your WirelessHD kit.
NOTE: e WirelessHD kit does not ship with your computer and must be purchased
separately.
If your computer supports the WirelessHD feature, the WiHD Application Controller icon
will be available on the Windows desktop.
NOTE: You may have to set up WirelessHD kit before you set up WirelessHD. For more
information on setting up the WirelessHD kit, see the document that shipped with the
WirelessHD kit.
To set up WirelessHD:
Turn on your computer.1.
Ensure that wireless is enabled on your computer.2.
Double‑click the WiHD Application Controller icon 3. on the desktop.
e WirelessHD Application Controller window appears.
Follow the instructions on screen.4.
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CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
Set Up Wireless Display (Optional)
NOTE: e wireless display feature may not be supported on all computers. For information
about the hardware and software requirements for setting up wireless display, see
www.intel.com.
NOTE: e wireless display feature is available on your computer only if you ordered an
Intel Wi‑Fi WLAN card and nVidia graphics card with Optimus technology or AMD Radeon
graphics card at the time of purchase.
NOTE: It is recommended to use WirelessHD instead of wireless display for
graphic-intense applications such as high-denition gaming. For more information, see
“Set Up WirelessHD (Optional)” on page 16.
e Intel wireless display feature allows you to share your computer display to a TV without
the use of cables. You must connect a wireless display adapter to your TV before setting up
wireless display.
NOTE: e wireless display adapter does not ship with your computer and must be
purchased separately.
NOTE: For information on setting up the wireless display, see the document that shipped
with the wireless display adapter.
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CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
Connect to the Internet (Optional)
Setting Up a Wired Connection
If you are using a dial‑up connection, connect the telephone line to the optional external •
USB modem and to the telephone wall jack before you set up your Internet connection.
If you are using a DSL or cable/satellite modem connection, contact your ISP or cellular •
telephone service for setup instructions.
To complete setting up your wired Internet connection, follow the instructions in “Setting Up
Your Internet Connection” on page 20.
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CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
Setting Up a Wireless Connection
NOTE: To set up your wireless router, see the documentation that shipped with your
router.
Before you can use your wireless Internet connection, you need to connect to your wireless
router.
To set up your connection to a wireless router:
Ensure that wireless is enabled on your computer.1.
Save and close any open les, and exit any open programs.2.
Click 3. Start → Control Panel.
In the search box, type 4. network, and then click Network and Sharing Center→ Connect
to a network.
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup.5.
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CHAPTER 1: SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP
Setting Up Your Internet Connection
ISPs and ISP oerings vary by country. Contact your ISP for oerings available in your
country.
If you cannot connect to the Internet but have successfully connected in the past, the Internet
Service Provider (ISP) might have a service outage. Contact your ISP to check the service
status, or try connecting again later.
Have your ISP information ready. If you do not have an ISP, the Connect to the Internet wizard
can help you get one.
Save and close any open les, and exit any open programs.1.
Click 2. Start → Control Panel.
In the search box, type 3. network, and then click Network and Sharing Center→ Set up a
new connection or Network→ Connect to the Internet.
e Connect to the Internet window appears.
NOTE: If you do not know which type of connection to select, click Help me choose or
contact your ISP.
Follow the instructions on the screen and use the setup information provided by your ISP 4.
to complete the setup.
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CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO
KNOW YOUR LAPTOP
CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW
YOUR LAPTOP
CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR LAPTOP
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
is chapter provides information about your new laptop to familiarize you with its various
features, and get you up and running quickly.
Left View Features
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CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR LAPTOP
1
Security cable slot — Attaches a commercially available security cable to the
computer.
NOTE: Before you buy a security cable, ensure that it ts into the security cable slot on
your computer.
2
3
4
5
Network connector — Connects your computer to a network or broadband
device.
VGA connector — Connects your computer to a monitor or projector.
HDMI-output connector — Connects to a TV for both multi‑channel digital audio
and video signals.
NOTE: For a monitor without built‑in speakers, only the video signal will be read.
Mini-DisplayPort connector — Connects your computer to external DisplayPort
monitors and projectors.
NOTE: e mini-DisplayPort connector also connects to a VGA connector through an
optional mini-DisplayPort adapter. You can purchase the VGA cable and the
mini-DisplayPort adapter at www.dell.com.
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CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR LAPTOP
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9
USB 3.0 connectors (2) — Provide faster data transmission between your
computer and USB devices.
Audio-out/Headphone/S/PDIF connector — Connects to amplifiers, speakers,
or TVs for digital audio output. Can also be used to connect to a pair of headphones,
powered speakers, or sound system.
NOTE: Use the S/PDIF adapter that shipped with your computer, to connect a TOSLINK
optical cable.
Microphone connector — Connects to a microphone or inputs signal for use with
audio programs.
Headphone connectors (2) — Connect to a pair of headphones or to a powered
speaker or sound system.
CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR LAPTOP
1 2 3 4 5
Right View Features
1 Optical drive — Plays or records only standard-size (12 cm) CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray Discs
(optional). Ensure that the side with print or writing is facing upward when inserting
discs. For more information, see “Using the Optical Drive“ on page 45.
2
and share digital photos, music, videos, and documents.
3
printer, external drive, or MP3 player.
9-in-1 Media Card Reader — Provides a fast and convenient way to view
USB 2.0 connectors (2) — Connect to USB devices, such as a mouse, keyboard,
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CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR LAPTOP
26
4
5
eSATA/USB combo connector with USB PowerShare — Connects to eSATA
compatible storage devices (such as external hard drives or optical drives) or USB
devices (such as a mouse, keyboard, printer, external drive, or MP3 player).
e USB Powershare feature allows you to charge USB devices when the computer is
powered on/o or in sleep state.
NOTE: Certain USB devices may not charge when the computer is powered o or in sleep
state. In such cases, turn on the computer to charge the device.
NOTE: You can enable or disable the option of charging the USB devices when the
computer is powered o or in sleep mode through the BIOS settings.
NOTE: If you turn o your computer while charging a USB device, the device stops
charging. To continue charging, disconnect the USB device and connect it again.
NOTE: e USB PowerShare is automatically shut o when only 10% of the total battery
life remains.
HDMI-input connector — Connects to the HDMI‑output connector on your video
device such as a DVD player, camcorder, or gaming device.
NOTE: e HDMI-input connector works only when the computer is on.
Back View Features
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CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR LAPTOP
1
AC adapter connector — Connects to an AC adapter to power the computer and
charge the battery.
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CHAPTER 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR LAPTOP
1 2 3 4 5
Display Features
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