Dell Alienware M17x Service Guide

CHAPTER 14: INPUT/OUTPUT BOARD 
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CHAPTER 13: INPUT/OUTPUT BOARD
CHAPTER 14: INPUT/OUTPUT BOARD 

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CHAPTER 14: INPUT/OUTPUT BOARD 
Removing the Input/Output Board
Follow the instructions in “Before You Begin” on page 1. 6.
Remove the battery pack (see “Removing the Battery Pack” on page 2. 11).
Remove the center control cover (see “Removing the Center Control Cover” 3. on page 33).
Remove the keyboard (see “Removing the Keyboard” on page 4. 38).
Remove the palm rest (see “Removing the Palm Rest” on page 5. 42).
Remove the left and right brackets (see “Removing the Brackets” on 6. page 47)....

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CHAPTER 14: INPUT/OUTPUT BOARD 
Disconnect the speaker cable, right speaker light cable, and audio cable from 9. the respective connectors on the system board and remove the cables from the routing guides. 
1
2
354
1speaker cable connector4earthing cable
2right speaker light cable connector5audio cable connector
3input/output board
Release the connector latches on both ends of the ExpressCard cable and 8. remove the cable.
12
1input/output board2ExpressCard cable 

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CHAPTER 14: INPUT/OUTPUT BOARD 
Replacing the Input/Output Board
Place the input/output board in the computer base. 1. 
Replace the earthing cable and the three screws that secure the input/2. output board to the system board.
Route and connect the speaker cable, right speaker light cable, and audio 3. cable to the respective system board connectors.
Slide the ExpressCard cable into the connector and pull down the connector 4. latches at both ends of the ExpressCard cable to secure the cable to...

CHAPTER 15: OPTICAL DRIVE 
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CHAPTER 14: OPTICAL DRIVE
CHAPTER 15: OPTICAL DRIVE 

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CHAPTER 15: OPTICAL DRIVE 
Removing the Optical Drive
Follow the instructions in “Before You Begin” on page 1. 6.
Remove the battery pack (see “Removing the Battery Pack” on page 2. 11).
Remove the center control cover (see “Removing the Center Control Cover” 3. on page 33).
Remove the keyboard (see “Removing the Keyboard” on page 4. 38).
Remove the palm rest (see “Removing the Palm Rest” on page 5. 42).
Remove the left and right brackets (see “Removing the Brackets” on 6. page 47).
Remove the...

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CHAPTER 15: OPTICAL DRIVE 
Remove the five screws that secure the optical drive bracket to the optical 11. drive.
1
2
3
1optical drive3screws (5)
2optical drive bracket
Remove the two screws that secure the optical drive to the computer base.9. 
Release the connector latch and disconnect the optical drive cable from the 10. system board connector.
1
2
3
4
1optical drive cable3optical drive
2screws (2)4connector latch 

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CHAPTER 15: OPTICAL DRIVE 
Replacing the Optical Drive
Connect the optical drive cable to the optical drive. 1. 
Replace the five screws that secure the optical drive bracket to the optical 2. drive.
Place the optical drive in the computer base.3. 
Slide the optical drive cable into the system board connector and pull down 4. the connector latch to secure the cable to the connector.
Replace the two screws that secure the optical drive to the computer base.5. 
Replace the input/output board (see...

CHAPTER 16: WIRELESS MINI-CARD(S) 
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If  you  ordered  a  wireless  Mini-Card  with  your  computer,  the  card  is  already installed.
Your computer has two Mini-Card slots:
one Full Mini-Card slot• 
one Half Mini-Card slot• 
The types of Mini-Cards supported are:
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) — Half Mini-Card• 
Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) or Internal Card with Bluetooth• ® Wireless Technology — Full Mini-Card
NOTE: The WLAN slot supports a half Mini-Card.
NOTE: Depending  on  the...

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CHAPTER 16: WIRELESS MINI-CARD(S) 
Wireless Mini-Card(s)
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 www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance. 
CAUTION:  To  avoid  electrostatic  discharge,  ground  yourself  by  using  a wrist  grounding  strap  or  by  periodically  touching  an  unpainted  metal surface (such as a connector on the...