Dell M14XR2 User Manual

Alienware M14xR2

Owner’s Manual

Regulatory model: P18G Regulatory type: P18G002

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.

____________________

Reproduction of these materials in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden.

Trademarks used in this text: Dell™ and the DELL logo are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Alienware® is a trademark or registered trademark of Alienware Corporation; Microsoft Windows start button logo are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries; Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and is used by Dell under license.

Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document 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.

®

is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth

®

, Windows® , and the

Regulatory model: P18G Regulatory type: P18G002

2012 - 04 Rev. A00

Before You Begin

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

3

4

5

Click

Start

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.

Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets.

Disconnect all telephone cables, network cables, and attached devices from your computer.

After the computer is unplugged, press and hold the power button for about 5 seconds to ground the system board.

and click

Shut Down

.

Before You Begin 11

Safety Instructions

Use the following safety guidelines to protect your computer from potential damage and ensure your personal safety.

WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information

that shipped with your computer. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.

CAUTION: To avoid damaging the computer, ensure that the work surface is flat

and clean.

CAUTION: To avoid damaging the components and cards, handle them by their

edges and avoid touching pins and contacts.

WARNING: Disconnect 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 to the power source.

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 an unpainted metal surface to dissipate static electricity, which could harm internal components.

CAUTION: When you disconnect a cable, pull on its connector or on its pull-tab,

not on the cable itself. Some cables have connectors with locking tabs or thumb-screws that you must disengage before disconnecting the cable. When disconnecting cables, keep them evenly aligned to avoid bending any connector pins. When connecting cables, ensure that the connectors and ports are correctly oriented and aligned.

CAUTION: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your

computer and then unplug the cable from the network device.

Recommended Tools

The procedures in this document may require the following tools:

• Small flat-blade screwdriver

• Phillips screwdriver

• Plastic scribe

Before You Begin 12

2

After Working Inside Your Computer

After you complete the 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. Failure to do so may damage your computer.

After Working Inside Your Computer

13

After Working Inside Your Computer 14

Base Cover

1

2

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 11. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.

Removing the Base Cover

Procedure

1

Turn the computer over.

2

Loosen the captive screws that secure the base cover to the computer base.

3

Slide and lift the base cover off the computer base.

3

1 captive screws (2) 2 base cover

Base Cover

15

Replacing the Base Cover

Procedure

1

Align the tabs on the base cover with the slots on the computer base and slide the base cover until it snaps into place.

2

Tighten the captive screws that secure the base cover to the computer base.

Postrequisites

1

Follow the instructions in "After Working Inside Your Computer" on page 13.

Base Cover 16

Battery

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 11. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.

Removing the Battery

Prerequisites

1

Remove the base cover. See "Removing the Base Cover" on page 15.

Procedure

1

Disconnect the battery cable from the connector on the system board.

2

Loosen the captive screws that secure the battery to the computer base.

4

Battery 17

3

1

2

3

4

Using the pull-tab, lift the battery off the computer base.

1 3 battery

captive screws (2)

2 4 pull-tab

battery cable

Replacing the Battery

Procedure

1

Place the battery in the battery bay and tighten the captive screws that secure the battery to the computer base.

2

Connect the battery cable to the connector on the system board.

Postrequisites

1

Replace the base cover. See "Replacing the Base Cover" on page 16.

2

Follow the instructions in "After Working Inside Your Computer" on page 13.

Battery 18

Optical Drive

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 11. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.

Removing the Optical Drive

Prerequisites

1

Remove the base cover. See "Removing the Base Cover" on page 15.

2

Remove the battery. See "Removing the Battery" on page 17.

Procedure

1

Lift the connector latch and use the pull-tab to disconnect the optical-drive cable from the connector on the system board.

5

Optical Drive 19

2

1

3

4

5

2

Loosen the four captive screws that secure the optical drive to the computer base.

3

Using the pull-tab, lift the optical drive off the computer base.

1 optical-drive cable 2 connector latch

3 optical drive 4 pull tab

5 captive screws (4)

4

Remove the screws that secure the optical-drive cable connector to the optical drive.

5

Disconnect the optical-drive cable connector from the connector on the optical drive.

Optical Drive 20

6

1

2

3

Gently peel the optical-drive cable from the optical-drive bracket.

1 screws (2) 2 optical-drive cable connector

3 optical-drive cable

Optical Drive 21

7

1

2

3

Remove the screws that secure the optical-drive bracket to the optical drive.

8

Using the pull-tab, lift the optical-drive bracket off the optical drive.

1 screws (4) 2 optical-drive bracket 3 pull tab

Replacing the Optical Drive

Procedure

1

Place the optical-drive bracket on the optical drive and then align the screw holes on the optical-drive bracket with the screw holes on the optical drive.

2

Replace the screws that secure the optical-drive bracket to the optical drive.

3

Connect the optical-drive cable connector to the connector on the optical drive.

Optical Drive 22

4

Replace the screws that secure the optical-drive cable connector to the optical drive.

5

Adhere the optical-drive cable to the optical-drive bracket.

6

Place the optical drive in the optical-drive bay.

7

Tighten the captive screws that secure the optical drive to the computer base.

8

Slide the optical-drive cable into the connector on the system board, and press down on the connector latch to secure the cable.

Postrequisites

1

Replace the battery. See "Replacing the Battery" on page 18.

2

Replace the base cover. See "Removing the Base Cover" on page 15.

3

Follow the instructions in "After Working Inside Your Computer" on page 13.

Optical Drive 23

24 Optical Drive

Hard Drive

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 11. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.

CAUTION: To avoid data loss, do not remove the hard drive while the computer is

On or in Sleep state.

CAUTION: Hard drives are extremely fragile. Exercise care when handling the

hard drive.

NOTE: Dell or Alienware does not guarantee compatibility or provide support for

hard drives from sources other than Dell or Alienware.

NOTE: If you are installing a hard drive from a source other than Dell or Alienware,

you need to install an operating system, drivers, and utilities on the new hard drive.

Removing the Hard Drive

Procedure

1

Remove the base cover. See "Removing the Base Cover" on page 15.

2

Remove the battery pack. See "Removing the Battery" on page 17.

3

Follow the instructions from step 1 to step 3 in "Removing the Optical Drive" on page 19.

6

Procedure

1

Loosen the three captive screws that secure the hard-drive assembly to the computer base.

2

Using the pull-tab, gently lift the hard-drive assembly and then disconnect the hard-drive interposer.

Hard Drive 25

3

1

2

3

4

Lift the hard-drive assembly off the computer base.

1 hard-drive interposer 2 captive screws (3)

3 pull-tab 4 hard-drive assembly

26

Hard Drive

4

1

3

2

Remove the four screws that secure the hard-drive bracket to the hard drive.

5

Lift the hard-drive bracket off the hard drive.

1 pull-tab 2 screws (4) 3 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.

Replacing the Hard Drive

Procedure

1

Place the hard drive in the hard-drive bracket.

2

Replace the four screws that secure the hard-drive bracket to the hard drive.

3

Connect the interposer to the hard drive.

4

Place the hard-drive assembly in the computer base.

5

Tighten the three captive screws that secure the hard-drive assembly to the computer base.

Hard Drive 27

Postrequisites

1

Follow the instructions from step 6 to step 8 in "Replacing the Optical Drive" on page 22.

2

Replace the battery. See "Replacing the Battery" on page 18.

3

Replace the base cover. See "Replacing the Base Cover" on page 16.

4

Follow the instructions in "After Working Inside Your Computer" on page 13.

Hard Drive 28

Memory Module(s)

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 11. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.

NOTE: Memory modules purchased from Dell or Alienware are covered under your

computer warranty.

Your computer has two user-accessible SODIMM connectors.

Removing the Memory Module(s)

Prerequisites

1

Remove the base cover. See "Removing the Base Cover" on page 15.

2

Remove the battery. See "Removing the Battery" on page 17.

7

Memory Module(s) 29

Procedure

1

2

1

Loosen the captive screws that secure the memory-module cover to the computer base.

2

Lift and slide the tabs on the memory-module cover out of the slots on the computer base.

1 captive screws (2) 2 memory-module cover

CAUTION: To prevent damage to the memory-module connector, do not use tools

to spread the memory module securing clips.

3

Use your fingertips to carefully spread apart the securing clips on each end of the memory-module connector until the memory module pops up.

Memory Module(s) 30

4

3

1

Slide the memory module out of the memory-module connector.

1 memory-module connector 2 securing clips (2) 3 memory module

Replacing the Memory Module(s)

Procedure

NOTE: If you need to install memory modules in both memory-module connectors,

install a memory module in the lower connector before you install a memory module in the upper connector.

1

Align the notch in the memory module with the tab in the memorymodule connector.

Memory Module(s) 31

2

1

2

3

4

Slide the memory module firmly into the connector at a 45-degree angle, and then press the memory module down until it clicks into place. If you do not hear the click, remove the memory module and reinstall it.

NOTE: Your computer may not boot if the memory module is not installed properly.

1 memory-module connector 2 tab 3 notch 4 memory module

3

Slide the tabs on the memory-module cover into the slots on the computer base and lower the memory-module cover into place.

4

Tighten the captive screws that secure the memory-module cover to the computer base.

Postrequisites

1

Replace the battery. See "Replacing the Battery" on page 18.

2

Replace the base cover. See "Replacing the Base Cover" on page 16.

3

Follow the instructions in "After Working Inside Your Computer" on page13.

Memory Module(s) 32

Dell M14XR2 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Contents

Before You Begin

Turn Off Your Computer and Connected Devices

Safety Instructions

Recommended Tools

After Working Inside Your Computer

Base Cover

Removing the Base Cover

Procedure

Turn the computer over.

Loosen the captive screws that secure the base cover to the computer base.

Slide and lift the base cover off the computer base.

Replacing the Base Cover

Procedure

Align the tabs on the base cover with the slots on the computer base and slide the base cover until it snaps into place.

Tighten the captive screws that secure the base cover to the computer base.

Postrequisites

Follow the instructions in "After Working Inside Your Computer" on page 13.

Battery

Removing the Battery

Prerequisites

Remove the base cover. See "Removing the Base Cover" on page 15.

Procedure

Disconnect the battery cable from the connector on the system board.

Loosen the captive screws that secure the battery to the computer base.

Using the pull-tab, lift the battery off the computer base.

Replacing the Battery

Procedure

Place the battery in the battery bay and tighten the captive screws that secure the battery to the computer base.

Connect the battery cable to the connector on the system board.

Postrequisites

Replace the base cover. See "Replacing the Base Cover" on page 16.

Follow the instructions in "After Working Inside Your Computer" on page 13.

Optical Drive

Removing the Optical Drive

Prerequisites

Procedure

Replacing the Optical Drive

Procedure

Postrequisites

Hard Drive

Removing the Hard Drive

Procedure

Remove the base cover. See "Removing the Base Cover" on page 15.

Remove the battery pack. See "Removing the Battery" on page 17.

Follow the instructions from step 1 to step 3 in "Removing the Optical Drive" on page 19.

Procedure

Loosen the three captive screws that secure the hard-drive assembly to the computer base.

Using the pull-tab, gently lift the hard-drive assembly and then disconnect the hard-drive interposer.

Lift the hard-drive assembly off the computer base.

Remove the four screws that secure the hard-drive bracket to the hard drive.

Lift the hard-drive bracket off the hard drive.

Replacing the Hard Drive

Procedure

Place the hard drive in the hard-drive bracket.

Replace the four screws that secure the hard-drive bracket to the hard drive.

Connect the interposer to the hard drive.

Place the hard-drive assembly in the computer base.

Tighten the three captive screws that secure the hard-drive assembly to the computer base.

Postrequisites

Follow the instructions from step 6 to step 8 in "Replacing the Optical Drive" on page 22.

Replace the battery. See "Replacing the Battery" on page 18.

Replace the base cover. See "Replacing the Base Cover" on page 16.

Follow the instructions in "After Working Inside Your Computer" on page 13.

Memory Module(s)

Removing the Memory Module(s)

Prerequisites

Remove the base cover. See "Removing the Base Cover" on page 15.

Remove the battery. See "Removing the Battery" on page 17.

Procedure

Loosen the captive screws that secure the memory-module cover to the computer base.

Lift and slide the tabs on the memory-module cover out of the slots on the computer base.

Use your fingertips to carefully spread apart the securing clips on each end of the memory-module connector until the memory module pops up.

Slide the memory module out of the memory-module connector.

Replacing the Memory Module(s)

Procedure