M11X Teardown -A Comprehensive Guide

Greetings guys,

I've just found out this really great guide on m14x teardown & upgrades on the m14x forum (duh).

I wonder, do we have something similar over here? and if no, is there someone out there with a soul kind enough to enlighten us m11x owners with a similarly comprehensive guide

 

for the tear down, I have the video..... and I'm pretty sure I got it on You tube.....

 

yeah, there is a youtube video, plus dell has a really good guide on their site.

 

This link is what I have used before:
Documentation

It details how you can disassemble / access any internal component of the Alienware M11x.

 

None of the links are working on the support page.

 

I think this video does a great job of showing how to disassemble the M11x. ‪Alienware M11x Teardown **READ SAFETY PRECAUTIONS PRIOR TO REPLACING PARTS** (Official Video)‬‏ - YouTube

 

It's funny because I had my CMOS battery replaced by a tech and I had to show him this video because he didn't know where it was.

 

That's pretty appalling, seriously, half the time I think 'Alienware' techs have only ever read a manual on these systems and thought they would be able to fix them with that. Wrong bucko. Sorry, bit bitter about my experiences with techs

 

Alienware outsources techs from the local areas. These techs work on every brand of computer. Since alienware computers are not all that common compaired to other mainstream computers its no surprise that the techs that come out dont know how to work on them.

I have had good luck with all 4 of the techs I have had, I sat there with them to give them pointers since I have taken mine apart several times already for cleaning and upgrades.

 

Agreed. Everyone outsources to other service providers. There are no Dell, HP, IBM, Lenovo, Alienware techs. WorldWide Tech Services (used to be Qualxserv) and Unisys are two of the bigger such services in the US.

The 3 techs I've had for my M11x have all done their homework before showing up at my door, whether that be reading through the teardown procedure or watching the videos that are out there. Only one of them had ever seen an Alienware before and it wasn't an M11x. In each case they did a great job.

 

I guess we'll have to make do with what we have, documentation + that youtube video. but rest assured I will follow some of the methods done by the m14 guide guy. Like methodically drawing diagrams on a piece of paper and assign each screw to each point on the diagrams.

I opened up my m11x once, all the way down to the motherboard with the idea of upgrading it, but then I discovered that whatever upgrade I was thinking wasn't feasible (no tools, no parts + no plan - silly me). I finally assembled everything and was happy until I realized I got an extra screw left

Luckily everything works fine despite it losing one screw

 

Sorry to bring this thread from the grave but I think it's necessary

This morning I decided to completely disassemble my M11x to give it a nice, thorough clean. It was pretty dusty inside the chassis and around the fan, which is understandable as I've owned it for over a year without giving it a decent clean out.

I watched the teardown video linked above in this thread and it was an awesome help. However, being a bit OCD about the thought of taking it apart and putting back together only to find leftover screws, I sketched a little diagram of each stage and highlighted the screws so I could place them on the picture to make sure I didn't leave any out. It did a good job at helping me keep track of the screws and the tabs that needed to be opened when plulling the different components off so I thought I'd share them.

You should be able to just print them out and sit the screws in their highlighted position as you take them out. It doesn't cover every part of the laptop and it is pretty rough but the main bits that you'll need to take it apart are documented.
I'm going to repaste the CPU and GPU in the next few months as it is probably well over due, so I might do a more detailed guide of that when I get the time.
It should be universal and work on any revision of the M11x but it was based on my R2 so let me know if it's the same for the R1 and R3.

Sketched images are attached below... hopefully it helps!

 

Nice diagrams, just to add to that though, under the keyboard there is one more screw, its just to the left of the center ribbon cable, its another long screw. At least there is a one on the r1, not sure about the r2 models.

 

Hah! Good stuff, man. You used a ruler too!

 

Yeah, there's a hole for a screw but it didn't have one in it...? Could well be that there is normally a screw there and mine was just missing one.

Haha, I got a little bit carried away. Especially with that grill on the bottom, it took ages to draw!

 

Anybody have a source for the screws for the M11xR2, especially the palmrest screws. I contacted Dell and they did not have them. I have one missing. I did find a used set on ebay, but I would like them new. The palmrest screws are thinnner then normal for their size.

thanks.

 

take one of the screws to a hobby store, they might have something for you.

 

64 NEW SCREWS DELL ALIENWARE M11X M11XR2 LAPTOP 4TYPES | eBay

i don't know where the guy on ebay sources them, and obviously theres a decent premium, cause i paid 1.5USD for full set of PSP screws, but if you really need them might as well get em.

Then again you can just get the measurements of them and go to hobby store and buy some of same spec, sure wont look as good, but i doubt you look under the keyboard frequently.

Also i think some of the stores can cut and groove the screws on the spot, never been to one though.

 

Yes I saw that one on ebay too but was skeptical of it being from the UK. I did order though and my total came to £13.48. How much does that convert to in US dollars.

Came to $21.76 USD. Oh well at least I have them all.

 

lol the first time I took mine apart I ended up with two extra of the long screws. I have watched that teardown video 20 times and dissassembled my lappy 4 times since then and I STILL cant figure out where they go.

 

Sadly, most of these screws are the wrong size for the M11x. The smaller M2x3mm which sit underneath the battery to hold the keyboard and palm rest it will fit, but the rest of the screws which hold the palmrest are the wrong size. The palmrest uses M2x8mm size screws but the ones that come in the pack are M2.5x8mm and are a bit too thick. I found that out after ordering a pack...

 

M2x8mm seems to be common in the R/C world. I 2nd the idea of visiting your LHS.

 

The palmrest screws were the ones I really needed.

Is it safe to use a magnetic screw driver when doing a teardown?
Home depot sells a little block that will magnetize and demagnetize screwdrivers.

 

It's alive! the thread has been brought back to life!

Great job Rypac!
I'm sure this will help a lot of people who'd want to take their m11x apart, be it modding, thermal paste replacement, or simply out of curiosity.

Thanks!