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 Flashing the BIOS  

Alienware M18x Service Manual 

 

 
The BIOS may require flashing when an update is available or when replacing the system board. 

To flash the BIOS: 

 

 

1.

Turn on the computer.  
 

 

  

2.

Go to 

support.dell.com/support/downloads

.  

 

 

  

3.

Locate the BIOS update file for your computer:  
 

If you have your computer's Service Tag: 

a.

 

Click 

Enter a Tag

.  

 

b.

 

Enter your computer's Service Tag in the 

Enter a service tag:

 field, click 

Go

, and proceed to 

step 4

.  

 

If you do not have your computer's Service Tag: 

a.

 

Click 

Select Model. 

 

 

b.

 

Select the type of product in the 

Select Your Product Family

 list.  

 

c.

 

Select the product brand in the 

Select Your Product Line

 list.  

 

d.

 

Select the product model number in the 

Select Your Product Model

 list.  

 

e.

 

Click 

Confirm

.  

 

 

 

4.

A list of results appears on the screen. Click 

BIOS

.  

 

 

  

5.

Click 

Download Now

 to download the latest BIOS file.  

The 

File Download

 window appears.  

 

 

  

6.

Click 

Save

 to save the file on your desktop. The file downloads to your desktop.  

 

 

  

7.

Click 

Close

 if the 

Download Complete

 window appears.  

The file icon appears on your desktop and is titled the same as the downloaded BIOS update file.  
 

 

  

8.

Double-click the file icon on the desktop and follow the instructions on the screen.  
 

Back to Contents Page

 

 

 

 

NOTE: 

The Service Tag for your computer is located on a label at the bottom of the computer.

 

NOTE: 

If you have selected a different model and want to start over again, click 

Start Over

 on the top right of the menu.

Summary of Contents for Alienware M18x

Page 1: ...ntities claiming the marks and names or their products Dell Inc disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own 2011 04 Rev A00 Regulatory model P12E Regulatory typ...

Page 2: ...ntents Page 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 Homep...

Page 3: ...ation 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 disch...

Page 4: ...and to help to ensure your own personal safety 1 Ensure that the work surface is flat and clean to prevent the computer cover from being scratched CAUTION To avoid losing data save and close all open...

Page 5: ...tached devices from your computer 7 Remove the battery pack see Removing the Battery Pack 8 Turn the computer top side up open the display and press the power button to ground the system board Back to...

Page 6: ...AUTION Do not change the settings in System Setup unless you are an expert computer user Certain changes can cause your computer to work incorrectly NOTE Keyboard failure may result when a key on the...

Page 7: ...audio device l Disabled The internal audio device is disabled and is not visible to the operating system l Enabled The internal audio device is enabled SD Card Reader Allows you to enable or disable t...

Page 8: ...bled and is not visible to the operating system l Enabled The internal wireless device is enabled DMC Allows you to enable or disable the internal DMC device Wireless Switch Hotkey Allows you to disab...

Page 9: ...Back to Contents Page...

Page 10: ...the Bluetooth card cable from the connector on the system board 10 Remove the screw that secures the Bluetooth card to the system board 11 Lift the Bluetooth card away from the system board WARNING B...

Page 11: ...Palm Rest 6 Replace the display assembly see Replacing the Display Assembly 7 Replace the macro keyboard see Replacing the Macro Keyboard 8 Replace the keyboard see Replacing the Keyboard 9 Replace th...

Page 12: ...the computer base 4 Connect the coin cell battery cable to the connector on the system board 5 Replace the base cover see Replacing the Base Cover 6 Replace the battery pack see Replacing the Battery...

Page 13: ...Back to Contents Page CAUTION Before turning on the computer replace all screws and ensure that no stray screws remain inside the computer Failure to do so may result in damage to the computer...

Page 14: ...ad 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 Only a c...

Page 15: ...10 Replace the base cover see Replacing the Base Cover 11 Replace the battery pack see Replacing the Battery Pack Back to Contents Page CAUTION To ensure maximum cooling for the processor module do no...

Page 16: ...he processor heat sink out of the computer base Replacing the Processor Heat Sink WARNING Before working inside your computer read the safety information that shipped with your computer For additional...

Page 17: ...he center control cover see Replacing the Center Control Cover 8 Replace the base cover see Replacing the Base Cover 9 Replace the battery pack see Replacing the Battery Pack Back to Contents Page CAU...

Page 18: ...4 Connect the processor heat sink fan cable to the connector on the system board 5 Replace the base cover see Replacing the Base Cover WARNING Before working inside your computer read the safety infor...

Page 19: ...k see Replacing the Battery Pack Back to Contents Page CAUTION Before turning on the computer replace all screws and ensure that no stray screws remain inside the computer Failure to do so may result...

Page 20: ...nector on the system board 10 Close the display and turn the computer over 11 Disconnect the antenna cables from the Mini Card see Removing the Mini Card WARNING Before working inside your computer re...

Page 21: ...ay assembly on the computer base 14 Turn the computer over and open the display 15 Note the routing of the display cable and LED logo board cable and then remove the cables from the routing guides on...

Page 22: ...oard 5 Slide the Mini Card antenna cables through the slot on the computer base 6 Close the display and turn the computer over 7 Route the Mini Card antenna cables through the routing guides on the co...

Page 23: ...d in the Select Your Product Line list d Select the product model number in the Select Your Product Model list e Click Confirm 4 A list of results appears on the screen Click BIOS 5 Click Download Now...

Page 24: ...n your computer CAUTION To help prevent damage to the system board remove the main battery see Removing the Battery Pack before working inside the computer CAUTION To prevent data loss turn off your c...

Page 25: ...he hard drive bracket 5 Replace the four screws that secure the primary hard drive HDD 0 6 If applicable replace the four screws that secure the secondary hard drive HDD 1 to the hard drive bracket 7...

Page 26: ...er 12 Replace the battery pack see Replacing the Battery Pack 13 Install the operating system for your computer if needed 14 Install the drivers and utilities for your computer if needed Back to Conte...

Page 27: ...ng 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_c...

Page 28: ...ts on the palm rest assembly and snap the center control cover into place 4 Close the display and turn the computer over 5 Replace the five screws that secure the center control cover to the computer...

Page 29: ...Back to Contents Page...

Page 30: ...eo card heat sink fan to the computer base WARNING Before working inside your computer read the safety information that shipped with your computer For additional safety best practices information see...

Page 31: ...te the primary video card heat sink fan cable through the routing guides on the computer base 6 Connect the primary video card heat sink fan cable to the connector on the system board 7 Connect the se...

Page 32: ...Dell Inc is strictly forbidden Trademarks used in this text Dell and the DELL logo are trademarks of Dell Inc Alienware is a registered trademark of Alienware Corporation Bluetooth is a registered tra...

Page 33: ...stem board 11 Remove the five screws that secure the I O board to the computer base 12 Gently lift the I O board and ease the connectors on the I O board out of the slots on the computer WARNING Befor...

Page 34: ...he Palm Rest 6 Replace the display assembly see Replacing the Display Assembly 7 Replace the macro keyboard see Replacing the Macro Keyboard 8 Replace the keyboard see Replacing the Keyboard 9 Replace...

Page 35: ...ead 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 avoi...

Page 36: ...and lower the keyboard into place 4 Replace the five screws that secure the keyboard to the computer base 5 Replace the center control cover see Replacing the Center Control Cover 6 Replace the base...

Page 37: ...ve the cable from the routing guides 10 Remove the screw that secures the status light board to the palm rest assembly WARNING Before working inside your computer read the safety information that ship...

Page 38: ...ly 5 Follow the instructions from step 4 to step 7 in Replacing the Palm Rest 6 Replace the display assembly see Replacing the Display Assembly 7 Replace the macro keyboard see Replacing the Macro Key...

Page 39: ...ro keyboard backlight cable from the connectors on the system board WARNING Before working inside your computer read the safety information that shipped with your computer For additional safety best p...

Page 40: ...t assembly and lower the macro keyboard into place 4 Replace the screw that secures the macro keyboard to the computer base 5 Replace the center control cover see Replacing the Center Control Cover 6...

Page 41: ...puter 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...

Page 42: ...r see Replacing the Base Cover 7 Replace the battery pack see Replacing the Battery Pack 8 Turn on the computer If you add more memory to your computer as the computer boots it detects the additional...

Page 43: ...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...

Page 44: ...he computer store it in protective antistatic packaging For more information see Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge in the safety information that shipped with your computer CAUTION Use firm a...

Page 45: ...ble from the connector on the system board and then gently peel off the optical drive cable from the computer base 12 Remove the three screws that secure the optical drive assembly to the computer bas...

Page 46: ...posts on computer base and place the optical drive assembly in the computer 5 Replace the three screws that secure the optical drive assembly to the computer base 6 Adhere the optical drive cable to t...

Page 47: ...r 14 Replace the battery pack see Replacing the Battery Pack Back to Contents Page CAUTION Before turning on the computer replace all screws and ensure that no stray screws remain inside the computer...

Page 48: ...pad cable and video card connector cable from the connectors on the system board WARNING Before working inside your computer read the safety information that shipped with your computer For additional...

Page 49: ...computer base 17 Remove the power button board see Removing the Power Button Board 18 Remove the status light board see Removing the Status Light Board Replacing the Palm Rest 1 Follow the instructio...

Page 50: ...ce the macro keyboard see Replacing the Macro Keyboard 10 Replace the keyboard see Replacing the Keyboard 11 Replace the center control cover see Replacing the Center Control Cover 12 Follow the instr...

Page 51: ...palm rest assembly 3 Replace the two screws that secure the power button board to the palm rest assembly 4 Connect the power button board cable to the connector on the system board WARNING Before wor...

Page 52: ...ase cover see Replacing the Base Cover 7 Replace the battery pack see Replacing the Battery Pack Back to Contents Page CAUTION Before turning on the computer replace all screws and ensure that no stra...

Page 53: ...computer base 11 Remove the four screws that secure the speakers to the computer base 12 Lift the speakers along with the speaker cable off the computer base WARNING Before working inside your comput...

Page 54: ...step 4 to step 7 in Replacing the Palm Rest 5 Replace the display assembly see Replacing the Display Assembly 6 Replace the macro keyboard see Replacing the Macro Keyboard 7 Replace the keyboard see...

Page 55: ...ctions in Before You Begin 2 Align the screw holes on the subwoofer with the screw holes on the computer base 3 Replace the two screws that secure the subwoofer to the computer base 4 Align the connec...

Page 56: ...cure the cable 7 Connect the speaker cable and the subwoofer cable to the respective connectors on the system board 8 Follow the instructions from step 13 to step 23 in Replacing the System Board Back...

Page 57: ...play assembly see Removing the Display Assembly 13 Remove the palm rest assembly see Removing the Palm Rest 14 Remove the Bluetooth card see Removing the Bluetooth Card 15 Remove the memory module s s...

Page 58: ...e slots on the computer base and place it on the computer base 3 Replace the 11 screws that secure the system board to the computer base 4 Replace the Mini Card see Replacing the Mini Card 5 Replace t...

Page 59: ...e connector in the system board see Replacing the Coin Cell Battery 21 Replace the hard drive s see Replacing the Hard Drive s 22 Replace the base cover see Replacing the Base Cover 23 Replace the bat...

Page 60: ...dows start button logo are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and or other countries Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document...

Page 61: ...the system board Primary Video Card Secondary Video Card WARNING Before working inside your computer read the safety information that shipped with your computer For additional safety best practices in...

Page 62: ...d Heat Sink s 5 Follow the instructions from step 4 to step 7 in Replacing the Palm Rest 6 Replace the display assembly see Replacing the Display Assembly 7 Replace the macro keyboard see Replacing th...

Page 63: ...e system board 11 Lift the video card heat sink s off the video card s Primary video card heat sink Secondary video card heat sink WARNING Before working inside your computer read the safety informati...

Page 64: ...see Replacing the Keyboard 9 Replace the center control cover see Replacing the Center Control Cover 10 Replace the base cover see Replacing the Base Cover 11 Replace the battery pack see Replacing th...

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