Dell XPS 15 (L501X, Late 2010) User Manual Page 1

Dell™ XPS™ L501X ServiceManualRegulatory model: P11F series Regulatory type: P11F001

10 Before You BeginBefore Working Inside Your ComputerUse the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer from potential damage and to h

100 Processor Module CAUTION: To prevent intermittent contact between the ZIF-socket cam screw and the processor when removing or replacing the proce

Processor Module 101 CAUTION: When removing the processor module, pull the module straight up. Be careful not to bend the pins on the processor modul

102 Processor Module CAUTION: Before turning on the computer, replace all screws and ensure that no stray screws remain inside the computer. Failure

System Board 10323System Board WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. For additio

104 System Board9Disconnect the USB board cable and speaker cable from the connectors on the system board.10Turn the top cover over.11Remove the heat

System Board 10515Carefully ease the connectors on the system board out of the slots on the top cover, and lift the system board off the top cover.Rep

106 System Board4Connect the Bluetooth cable and AC-adapter cable to the connectors on the system board.5Replace the processor module (see "Repla

System Board 1074Navigate to the security tab and enter the service tag in the Set Service Ta g field.

108 System Board

Speakers 10924Speakers WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. For additional safe

Before You Begin 116Disconnect all attached devices from your computer. CAUTION: To help prevent damage to the system board, remove the main battery

110 Speakers5Lift the speakers along with its cable off the top cover.Replacing the Speakers 1Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin"

Speakers 1115Replace the system board (see "Replacing the System Board" on page 105). CAUTION: Before turning on the computer, replace all

112 Speakers

Flashing the BIOS 11325Flashing the BIOSThe BIOS may require flashing when an update is available or when replacing the system board. To flash the BIO

114 Flashing the BIOS8Double-click the file icon on the desktop and follow the instructions on the screen.

12 Before You Begin

Battery 132Battery WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. For additional safety b

14 BatteryReplacing the Battery CAUTION: To avoid damage to the computer, use only the battery designed for this particular Dell computer. 1Follow th

Module Cover 153Module Cover WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. For additiona

16 Module CoverReplacing the Module Cover CAUTION: To avoid damage to the computer, use only the battery designed for this particular Dell computer.

Memory Module(s) 174Memory Module(s) WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. For a

18 Memory Module(s)5Remove the memory module from the memory-module connector.Replacing the Memory Module(s) CAUTION: If you need to install memory m

Memory Module(s) 193Slide the memory module firmly into the memory-module connector at a 45-degree angle, and press the memory module down until it cl

Notes, Cautions, and Warnings NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer. CAUTION: A CAUTION indica

20 Memory Module(s)Click Start → Control Panel→ System and Security→ System. CAUTION: Before turning on the computer, replace all screws and ensure t

Wireless Mini-Card(s) 215Wireless Mini-Card(s) WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your compu

22 Wireless Mini-Card(s)4Disconnect the antenna cables from the Mini-Card(s). 5Remove the screw that secures the Mini-Card to the system board. NOTE:

Wireless Mini-Card(s) 23 CAUTION: When the Mini-Card is not in the computer, store it in protective antistatic packaging. For more information, see &

24 Wireless Mini-Card(s) CAUTION: To avoid damage to the Mini-Card, never place cables under the card.3Insert the Mini-Card connector at a 45-degree

Optical Drive 256Optical Drive WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. For additio

26 Optical DriveReplacing the Optical Drive1Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9.2Remove the new optical drive from its p

Optical Drive 27 CAUTION: Before turning on the computer, replace all screws and ensure that no stray screws remain inside the computer. Failure to d

28 Optical Drive

Palm-Rest Assembly 297Palm-Rest Assembly WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. F

Contents 3Contents1 Before You Begin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Recommended Tools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Turning Off Y

30 Palm-Rest Assembly5Turn the computer over and open the display as far as possible.6Starting from the top, gently ease the palm-rest assembly from t

Palm-Rest Assembly 31 CAUTION: Carefully separate the palm-rest assembly from the top cover to avoid damage to the palm-rest assembly.7Without pullin

32 Palm-Rest AssemblyReplacing the Palm-Rest Assembly1Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9.2Slide the touch-pad cable and

Palm-Rest Assembly 33 CAUTION: Before turning on the computer, replace all screws and ensure that no stray screws remain inside the computer. Failure

34 Palm-Rest Assembly

Power-Button Board 358Power-Button Board WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. F

36 Power-Button BoardReplacing the Power-Button Board1Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9.2Place the power-button board

Coin-Cell Battery 379Coin-Cell Battery WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. For

38 Coin-Cell BatteryReplacing the Coin-Cell Battery1Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9.2With the positive side facing u

Hard Drive 3910Hard Drive WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. For additional s

4 ContentsReplacing the Mini-Card(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236 Optical Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25Removing the Op

40 Hard Drive4Remove the four screws that secure the hard-drive assembly to the computer base.5Slide the hard-drive assembly to the side to disconnect

Hard Drive 41 CAUTION: When the hard drive is not in the computer, store it in protective antistatic packaging (see "Protecting Against Electros

42 Hard Drive7Replace the four screws that secure the hard-drive assembly to the computer base.8Replace the palm-rest assembly (see "Replacing th

Keyboard 4311Keyboard WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. For additional safet

44 Keyboard5Carefully lift the keyboard and slide the keyboard tabs out of the slots on the top cover.6Lift the connector latch up and pull the pull-t

Keyboard 45 CAUTION: The keycaps on the keyboard are fragile, easily dislodged, and time-consuming to replace. Be careful when removing and handling

46 Keyboard9Lift the keyboard off the top cover.Replacing the Keyboard1Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9.2Slide the ke

Keyboard 476Replace the palm-rest assembly (see "Replacing the Palm-Rest Assembly" on page 32).7Replace the battery (see "Replacing the

48 Keyboard

Display 4912Display WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. For additional safety

Contents 511 Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43Removing the Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43Replacing the K

50 Display CAUTION: Be extremely careful when opening the display to prevent damaging the display assembly.8Remove the palm-rest assembly (see "

Display 5113Loosen the captive screw that secures the display grounding cable.14Note the routing of the display cable and remove the cable from the ro

52 Display18Lift the display assembly off the computer base.Replacing the Display Assembly1Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on

Display 536Route the antenna cables through the routing guides on the top cover.7Slide the antenna cables to the bottom of the computer through the sl

54 DisplayReplacing the Display Bezel1Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9. 2Align the display bezel with the display bac

Display 553Remove the display bezel (see "Removing the Display Bezel" on page 53).4Disconnect the camera cable from the connector on the cam

56 Display8Note the routing of the antenna cables and remove them from the routing guide on the right display hinge.9Note the routing of the display c

Display 57Replacing the Display Panel1Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9. 2Place the display panel over the display bac

58 Display7Gently peel off the display cable from the display panel.Replacing the Display Cable1Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin"

Display 59 CAUTION: Before turning on the computer, replace all screws and ensure that no stray screws remain inside the computer. Failure to do so m

6 Contents14 Top Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65Removing the Top Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65Replacing the

60 DisplayReplacing the Display-Panel Brackets1Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9.2Place the display-panel brackets in

Camera Module 6113Camera Module WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. For additi

62 Camera Module10Gently pry the camera module off the aluminium foil.Replacing the Camera Module1Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin&qu

Camera Module 638Replace the palm-rest assembly (see "Replacing the Palm-Rest Assembly" on page 32).9Replace the memory module(s) (see "

64 Camera Module

Top Cover 6514Top Cover WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. For additional saf

66 Top Cover10Turn the computer over.11Disconnect the fan cable and subwoofer cable from the connectors on the system board.12Remove the nine screws t

Top Cover 6713Turn the computer over and use your fingertips to gently ease the top-cover assembly off the base cover.14Lift the top-cover assembly of

68 Top Cover.15Remove heat sink (see "Removing the Heat Sink" on page 95).16Remove the system board (see "Removing the System Board&quo

Top Cover 69Replacing the Top Cover1Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9.2Replace the speakers (see "Replacing the S

Contents 7Replacing the USB Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8820 TV Tuner Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91Removing the TV Tuner

70 Top Cover

Processor Fan 7115Fan WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. For additional safet

72 Processor Fan11Lift the fan off the base cover.Replacing the Fan1Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9.2Place the fan o

Processor Fan 737Replace the palm-rest assembly (see "Replacing the Palm-Rest Assembly" on page 32).8Replace the memory module(s) (see "

74 Processor Fan

Subwoofer 7516Subwoofer WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. For additional saf

76 Subwoofer10Lift the subwoofer off the top cover.Replacing the Subwoofer1Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9.2Place th

Subwoofer 777Replace the palm-rest assembly (see "Replacing the Palm-Rest Assembly" on page 32).8Replace the memory module(s) (see "Rep

78 Subwoofer

Internal Card With Bluetooth Wireless Technology 7917Internal Card With Bluetooth Wireless Technology WARNING: Before working inside your computer, r

8 Contents25 Flashing the BIOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

80 Internal Card With Bluetooth Wireless Technology10Disconnect the Bluetooth-card cable from the connector on the system board.11Lift the Bluetooth c

Internal Card With Bluetooth Wireless Technology 815Replace the display assembly (see "Replacing the Display Assembly" on page 52).6Replace

82 Internal Card With Bluetooth Wireless Technology

AC-Adapter Connector 8318AC-Adapter Connector WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your comput

84 AC-Adapter Connector10Disconnect the AC-adapter connector cable from the connector on the system-board.11Make note of the AC-adapter connector cabl

AC-Adapter Connector 854Route the AC-adapter connector cable through the routing guides.5Connect the AC-adapter connector cable to the system-board co

86 AC-Adapter Connector

USB Board 8719USB Board WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. For additional saf

88 USB Board10Lift the connector latch and disconnect the USB-board cable from the connector on the USB board.11Remove the three screws that secure th

USB Board 895Replace the AC adapter connector (see "Replacing the AC-Adapter Connector" on page 84).6Follow the instructions from step 9 to

Before You Begin 91Before You BeginThis manual provides procedures for removing and installing the components in your computer. Unless otherwise noted

90 USB Board

TV Tuner Connector 9120TV Tuner Connector WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer.

92 TV Tuner Connector10Make note of the TV tuner connector cable routing and remove the cable from the routing guides.11Remove the two screws that sec

TV Tuner Connector 935Replace the AC-adapter connector (see "Replacing the AC-Adapter Connector" on page 84).6Follow the instructions from s

94 TV Tuner Connector

Heat Sink 9521Heat Sink WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. For additional saf

96 Heat Sink9In sequential order (indicated on the heat sink), loosen the seven captive screws that secure the heat sink to the system board.10Careful

Heat Sink 975Replace the display assembly (see "Replacing the Display Assembly" on page 52).6Replace the keyboard (see "Replacing the K

98 Heat Sink

Processor Module 9922Processor Module WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. For