Alienware m15 R6

Service Manual

Notes, cautions, and warnings

①

⑪ 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.

Contents

Chapter 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
Chapter 2: Removing and installing components.....9
Recommended tools.....9
Screw list.....9
Major components of Alienware m15 R6.....10
Base cover.....12
Removing the base cover.....12
Installing the base cover.....15
Battery.....17
Lithium-ion battery precautions.....17
Removing the battery.....18
Installing the battery.....19
Battery cable.....20
Lithium-ion battery precautions.....20
Removing the battery cable.....20
Installing the battery cable.....21
Solid-state drive.....22
Removing the 2230 solid-state drive in SSD slot one.....22
Installing the 2230 solid-state drive in SSD slot one.....23
Removing the 2280 solid-state drive in SSD slot one.....24
Installing the 2280 solid-state drive in SSD slot one.....25
Removing the 2230 solid-state drive in SSD slot two.....26
Installing the 2230 solid-state drive in SSD slot two.....27
Removing the 2280 solid-state drive in SSD slot two.....28
Installing the 2280 solid-state drive in SSD slot two.....29
Procedure to move the screw mount in SSD slot one.....30
Procedure to move the screw mount in SSD slot two.....31
Speakers.....32
Removing the speakers.....32
Installing the speakers.....33
Audio and ethernet daughterboard.....34
Removing the audio and ethernet daughterboard (FFC).....34
Installing the audio and ethernet daughterboard (FFC).....35
Removing the audio and ethernet daughterboard (M.2 interface).....37
Installing the audio and ethernet daughterboard (M.2 interface).....38
Memory module.....39
Removing the memory module.....39
Installing the memory module.....40

Wireless card.....41
Removing the wireless card.....41
Installing the wireless card.....42
Rear-I/O cover.....44
Removing the rear I/O-cover.....44
Installing the rear I/O-cover.....45
Touchpad.....46
Removing the touchpad.....46
Installing the touchpad.....47
Power-adapter port.....49
Removing the power-adapter port.....49
Installing the power-adapter port.....50
Display assembly.....51
Removing the display assembly.....51
Installing the display assembly.....53
Keyboard-controller board.....56
Removing the keyboard-controller board.....56
Installing the keyboard-controller board.....56
System board.....57
Removing the system board.....57
Installing the system board.....63
Heat-sink assembly.....68
Removing the heat-sink assembly.....68
Installing the heat-sink assembly.....69
USB board.....71
Removing the USB board.....71
Installing the USB board.....72
Power button.....73
Removing the power button.....73
Installing the power button.....74
Palm-rest and keyboard assembly.....75
Removing the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.....75
Installing the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.....76
Chapter 3: Drivers and downloads.....78
Chapter 4: System setup.....79
BIOS overview.....79
Entering BIOS setup program.....79
Navigation keys.....79
Boot Sequence.....79
System setup options.....80
System and setup password.....90
Assigning a system setup password.....90
Deleting or changing an existing system setup password.....91
Clearing CMOS settings.....91
Clearing BIOS (System Setup) and System passwords.....92
Updating the BIOS.....92
Updating the BIOS in Windows.....92

Updating the BIOS using the USB drive in Windows.....92
Updating the BIOS from the F12 One-Time boot menu.....92

Chapter 5: Troubleshooting.....94
Handling swollen Lithium-ion batteries.....94
SupportAssist diagnostics.....94
Recovering the operating system.....95
System-diagnostic lights.....95
Backup media and recovery options.....96
WiFi power cycle.....96
Drain residual flea power (perform hard reset).....96

Chapter 6: Getting help and contacting Alienware.....98

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