Dell Alienware 15 Partial Palm Rest Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          25 minutes - 1 hour

Sections

Base Panel
3 steps
Memory Module
4 steps
M.2 Solid State Drive
5 steps
Palm Rest
5 steps

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Introduction

The palm rest assembly contains the keyboard, track pad, and palm rest portions of the computer. Removing the palm rest requires the removal of the memory and SSDs as well, along with several keyboard connection ribbon cables. Note that you should not reinsert new memory modules or solid state disks until after you have affixed the replacement palm rest assembly.

This portion of the palm rest assembly does not cover the removal of the keyboard or track pad from the palm rest assembly.

The information and pictures in this guide have been taken from the service manual from this device, listed on the product page. If you need any additional information on disassembling this device, please consult the service manual.

What you need

Step 1

              Turn Off and Turn Over the Computer

After turning the computer off, close the display and turn the computer over.

After turning the computer off, close the display and turn the computer over.

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Step 2

              Remove the Back Panel Screws and Lift

After the computer base (#1) is facing up, use a Philips screwdriver to remove the two captive screws (#2) which hold the base panel (#3) down.
Then, use a spudger (#4) to lift up the panel. You can also use your fingernail to lift it as well.
After the front has been lifted up a bit, the non-screw side of the panel will need to be slid forward a little to finish lifting out the base panel from the computer.

After the computer base (#1) is facing up, use a Philips screwdriver to remove the two captive screws (#2) which hold the base panel (#3) down.

Then, use a spudger (#4) to lift up the panel. You can also use your fingernail to lift it as well.

After the front has been lifted up a bit, the non-screw side of the panel will need to be slid forward a little to finish lifting out the base panel from the computer.

Step 3

              Optional: Disconnect the Battery

You don’t need to disconnect the laptop’s battery if you are only replacing the back panel: only perform this step if you will be handling or replacing the electrical components of the computer.
Disconnect the battery cable from the system board by pulling up on the battery connector (#1).
Turn the computer back over and open the display to the point where you can press the power button.
Press and hold the power button for 4 seconds to ground the system board so that you can safely remove components such as the RAM.

You don’t need to disconnect the laptop’s battery if you are only replacing the back panel: only perform this step if you will be handling or replacing the electrical components of the computer.

Disconnect the battery cable from the system board by pulling up on the battery connector (#1).

Turn the computer back over and open the display to the point where you can press the power button.

Press and hold the power button for 4 seconds to ground the system board so that you can safely remove components such as the RAM.

Step 4

              Memory Securing Clips

WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer.
Using your fingertips, carefully spread apart the securing clips on each end of the memory-module slot until the memory module pops up.

WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer.

Using your fingertips, carefully spread apart the securing clips on each end of the memory-module slot until the memory module pops up.

Step 5

              Remove Memory Module

Slide and remove the memory module from any memory-module slots that you would like to repopulate.

Slide and remove the memory module from any memory-module slots that you would like to repopulate.

Step 6

              Adding New Memory Module

Align the notch on the New memory module with the tab on the memory- module slot.

Align the notch on the New memory module with the tab on the memory- module slot.

Step 7

              Firmly Press the Memory Module Down.

Slide the memory module firmly into the slot at an angle and press the memory module down until it clicks into place. Do this individually for each memory module that is replaced.
NOTE : If you do not hear the click, remove the memory module and reinstall it.

Slide the memory module firmly into the slot at an angle and press the memory module down until it clicks into place. Do this individually for each memory module that is replaced.

NOTE : If you do not hear the click, remove the memory module and reinstall it.

Step 8

              Remove Solid-State screw

WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer.
CAUTION : Solid-state drives are fragile. Exercise care when handling the solid-state drives, and avoid touching the gold contact pins.
CAUTION : To avoid data loss, do not remove the solid-state drive while the computer is in sleep or on state.
Remove the screw that secures the solid-state drive to the computer base.

CAUTION : Solid-state drives are fragile. Exercise care when handling the solid-state drives, and avoid touching the gold contact pins.

CAUTION : To avoid data loss, do not remove the solid-state drive while the computer is in sleep or on state.

Remove the screw that secures the solid-state drive to the computer base.

Step 9

              Slide the Solid-State Drive

Slide and remove the solid-state drive from the solid-state drive slot.

Slide and remove the solid-state drive from the solid-state drive slot.

Step 10

              Slide the Solid-state Drive

Slide the solid-state drive into the solid-state drive slot.

Slide the solid-state drive into the solid-state drive slot.

Step 11

              Align the screw

Align the screw hole on the solid-state drive with the screw hole on the computer base.

Align the screw hole on the solid-state drive with the screw hole on the computer base.

Step 12

              Replace the Screw

Replace the screw that secures the solid-state drive to the computer base.

Replace the screw that secures the solid-state drive to the computer base.

Step 13

              Preparations for Removing Cables

Remove the keyboard-backlight cable, keyboard cable, and macro-keys cable from the routing guides (the small plastic tabs) on the computer base.
Do not force the cables out of the system board without lifting up the latches that hold them down first. Forcing out cables could result in them snaping or tearing, rendering them unusable.
You do not need to remove the hard drive to remove the battery, but it is advisable that you do so if you are concerned about dropping the computer while removing the battery.

Remove the keyboard-backlight cable, keyboard cable, and macro-keys cable from the routing guides (the small plastic tabs) on the computer base.

Do not force the cables out of the system board without lifting up the latches that hold them down first. Forcing out cables could result in them snaping or tearing, rendering them unusable.

You do not need to remove the hard drive to remove the battery, but it is advisable that you do so if you are concerned about dropping the computer while removing the battery.

Step 14

              Lift Cable Latches and Remove

Carefully lift the white latches (like #3) and remove all 4 of the keyboard and macro-key cables from their sockets.
Don’t forget to lift the smaller black latch and remove the macro-key backlight cable (#5) to the right of the other cables!

Carefully lift the white latches (like #3) and remove all 4 of the keyboard and macro-key cables from their sockets.

Don’t forget to lift the smaller black latch and remove the macro-key backlight cable (#5) to the right of the other cables!

Step 15

              Unscrewing the Computer Base

Remove all 15 screws which hold down the computer base. Two screws are located near the RAM slot, while the others are situated mostly around the outside of the computer.

Remove all 15 screws which hold down the computer base. Two screws are located near the RAM slot, while the others are situated mostly around the outside of the computer.

Step 16

              Press to Remove Palm Rest

Open the computer’s display and lay the computer down on the back of its open display.
Using your finger or a screwdriver, push inside the palm rest release hole (#3 in image 1) to release the palm rest from the tabs that hold it down.
Using a plastic scribe, pry up along the edges of the palm-rest assembly. After the palm rest is no longer attached to the computer via any tabs, try lifting up the palm-rest assembly.
Make sure that no cables or other fragile objects are still attached to the palm-rest assembly as you pull it out.

Open the computer’s display and lay the computer down on the back of its open display.

Using your finger or a screwdriver, push inside the palm rest release hole (#3 in image 1) to release the palm rest from the tabs that hold it down.

Using a plastic scribe, pry up along the edges of the palm-rest assembly. After the palm rest is no longer attached to the computer via any tabs, try lifting up the palm-rest assembly.

Make sure that no cables or other fragile objects are still attached to the palm-rest assembly as you pull it out.

Step 17

              Ready for Battery Removal

If you are only replacing the battery, you do not need to perform this step.
Pull the power-button cable horizontally to remove it from the palm rest assembly.

If you are only replacing the battery, you do not need to perform this step.

Pull the power-button cable horizontally to remove it from the palm rest assembly.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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                    William Daniels

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Introduction

What you need