Dell Alienware M17xR4 Motherboard Removal and Installation

Created by on August 12, 2015
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In this Dell laptop tutorial we are going to show you how to install and replace the Motherboard on your Alienware M17xR4 laptop. These installation instructions have be made into 30 easy to follow printable steps. We have also create a video tutorial that shows you how to install your Alienware M17xR4 Motherboard.

Before you begin

Please take the time read the following safety guidelines when working on static sensitive electrical components.
Dell repair manual service precautions

Tools needed for this laptop repair

  • 1 x small phillips head screwdriver
  • 1 x small plastic scribe
Alienware M17xR4 Motherboard

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Alienware M17xR4 Motherboard


Installation and Removal Instructions
Alienware M17xR4 Motherboard

Lift the battery out of the laptop.

Step 1

  • Slide the latch over to unlock the battery.
  • Lift the battery out of the laptop.
Lift the battery out of the laptop.Slide the latch over to unlock the battery.Slide the latch over to unlock the battery.
Remove the SD card if one is installed

Step 2

  • Remove the SD card if one is installed
Remove the SD card if one is installedRemove the SD card if one is installed
Slide the door down and remove it from the laptop.

Step 3

  • Remove the screws.(2 - M2.5 x 5mm)
  • Slide the door down and remove it from the laptop.
Slide the door down and remove it from the laptop.Remove the screws.Remove the screws.
Remove the CMOS battery.

Step 4

  • Remove the CMOS battery.
Remove the CMOS battery.Remove the CMOS battery.
Lift the hard drive out of the laptop.

Step 5

  • Loosen the hard drive screws.(3 - M2 x 3mm)
  • Lift the hard drive out of the laptop.
Lift the hard drive out of the laptop.Loosen the hard drive screws.Loosen the hard drive screws.
Lift the hard drive out of the laptop.

Step 6

  • Loosen the hard drive screws.(3 - M2 x 3mm)
  • Lift the hard drive out of the laptop.
Lift the hard drive out of the laptop.Loosen the hard drive screws.Loosen the hard drive screws.
Repeat for the second memory stick.

Step 7

  • Separate the clips & remove the memory.
  • Repeat for the second memory stick.
Repeat for the second memory stick.Separate the clips & remove the memory.Separate the clips & remove the memory.Separate the clips & remove the memory.
Unplug the cable.

Step 8

  • Loosen the screws.(3 - M2 x 3mm)
  • Unplug the cable.
  • Remove the GPU cooling fan.
Unplug the cable.Remove the GPU cooling fan.Loosen the screws.Loosen the screws.
Remove the heatsink.

Step 9

  • Loosen the captive screws.(4 - M2 x 3mm)
  • Remove the heatsink.
Remove the heatsink.Loosen the captive screws.Loosen the captive screws.
Remove the graphics card.

Step 10

  • Remove the graphics card screws.(2 - M2.5 x 5mm)
  • Remove the graphics card.
Remove the graphics card.Remove the graphics card screws.Remove the graphics card screws.
Unplug the cable.

Step 11

  • Loosen the screws.(3 - M2 x 3mm)
  • Unplug the cable.
  • Remove the CPU cooling fan
Unplug the cable.Remove the CPU cooling fanLoosen the screws.Loosen the screws.
Remove & clean the heatsink.

Step 12

  • Loosen the screws.
  • Remove & clean the heatsink.
Remove & clean the heatsink.Loosen the screws.Loosen the screws.
Remove the processor from the laptop.

Step 13

  • Turn the locking screw to unlock the processor.
  • Remove the processor from the laptop.
Remove the processor from the laptop.Turn the locking screw to unlock the processor.Turn the locking screw to unlock the processor.
Remove the bottom palmrest screws.

Step 14

  • Remove the bottom center control cover screws.(5 - M2.5 x 8mm)
  • Remove the bottom palmrest screws.(3 - M2 x 3mm)(2 - M2.5 x 5mm)
  • Turn the laptop over & open it up.
Remove the bottom palmrest screws.Turn the laptop over & open it up.Remove the bottom center control cover screws.
Lift the control cover up & unplug the media cable.

Step 15

  • Carefully unsnap the center control cover, starting at the top of the keyboard & working your way around the edges.
  • Lift the control cover up & unplug the media cable.
  • Remove the control cover.
Lift the control cover up & unplug the media cable.Remove the control cover.Carefully unsnap the center control cover, starting at the top of the keyboard & working your way around the edges.
Lift the keyboard up & turn it over.

Step 16

  • Remove the keyboard screws.(5 - M2 x 3mm)
  • Lift the keyboard up & turn it over.
Lift the keyboard up & turn it over.Remove the keyboard screws.
Remove the keyboard.

Step 17

  • Unplug the backlight cable & the keyboard cable.
  • Remove the keyboard.
Remove the keyboard.Unplug the backlight cable & the keyboard cable.
Remove the memory cover.

Step 18

  • Remove the memory cover screws.(3 - M2 x 3mm)
  • Remove the memory cover.
Remove the memory cover.Remove the memory cover screws.Remove the memory cover screws.
Repeat for the second memory stick.

Step 19

  • Separate the clips & remove the memory.
  • Repeat for the second memory stick.
Repeat for the second memory stick.Separate the clips & remove the memory.Separate the clips & remove the memory.Separate the clips & remove the memory.
Remove the screw.

Step 20

  • Unplug the antenna cables.
  • Remove the screw.(1 - M2 x 3mm)
  • Remove the wireless card.
Remove the screw.Remove the wireless card.Unplug the antenna cables.Unplug the antenna cables.
Unplug & loosen the display and camera cable.

Step 21

  • Loosen the antenna cables.
  • Unplug & loosen the display and camera cable.
Unplug & loosen the display and camera cable.Loosen the antenna cables.
Remove the display assembly.

Step 22

  • Remove the hinge screws.(6 - M2.5 x 8mm)
  • Remove the display assembly.
Remove the display assembly.Remove the hinge screws.
Unplug the power button cable.

Step 23

  • Remove the screws.(2 - M2 x 3mm)
  • Unplug the power button cable.
  • Remove the power button.
Unplug the power button cable.Remove the power button.Remove the screws.Remove the screws.
Unplug & loosen the cable.

Step 24

  • Remove the screws.(2 - M2 x 3mm)
  • Unplug & loosen the cable.
  • Remove the circuit board.
Unplug & loosen the cable.Remove the circuit board.Remove the screws.Remove the screws.
Unplug the media card reader.

Step 25

  • Unplug the palmrest cables.
  • Unplug the media card reader.
Unplug the media card reader.Unplug the palmrest cables.
Unsnap & remove the palmrest.

Step 26

  • Remove the palmrest screws.(3 - M2.5 x 5mm)
  • Unsnap & remove the palmrest.
Unsnap & remove the palmrest.Remove the palmrest screws.
Unplug the cable.

Step 27

  • Remove the screw.(1 - M2 x 3mm)
  • Unplug the cable.
  • Remove the bluetooth card.
Unplug the cable.Remove the bluetooth card.Remove the screw.Remove the screw.
Remove the screws.

Step 28

  • Unplug & loosen the cable.
  • Remove the screws.(4 - M2 X 3mm Wafer)
  • Remove the speakers.
Remove the screws.Remove the speakers.Unplug & loosen the cable.Unplug & loosen the cable.
Remove the screw.

Step 29

  • Unplug the cable.
  • Remove the screws.(2 - M2.5 x 5mm)
  • Remove the optical drive.
Remove the screw.Remove the optical drive.Unplug the cable.Unplug the cable.
Remove the motherboard.

Step 30

  • Remove the motherboard screws.(6 - M2.5 x 5mm)
  • Remove the motherboard.
Remove the motherboard.Remove the motherboard screws.Remove the motherboard screws.
Alienware M17xR4 Motherboard

Dell Laptop Replacement Parts Needed

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Eligible for FREE Economy Shipping.
Out Of Stock - Get notified when it returns.
46D3T Image
Eligible for $5.00 1st Class Shipping.
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screw_driver Image
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DIY Discount - Parts-People.com offers 5% off to all DO-IT-YOURSELFERS!
Use this coupon code to save 5% off these parts
DIYM514
Alienware M17xR4 Motherboard

Topics: Dell Alienware Repair Manuals Dell Laptop Repair Dell Repair Manuals Alienware M17xR4 Motherboard

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