Question about M11x R1 repair process

I'm sending my M11x R1 to have the hinge repaired (it's bending out of the wedge way too much and making awful creaking/snapping sounds when I open/close the lid), but I'm just wondering - how is the actual repair done? As in, what parts are replaced/removed?

I'm asking because I have a decal applied to the outside lid, inside lid, and bottom keyboard/trackpad area, and I'd rather not remove it if necessary (since it cost me $20 and can't be re-applied as far as I know). Do they replace the entire top screen/lid part of the laptop, or what?

And I apologize if this has been asked/answered already, but I couldn't really turn up anything relevant in Google searches.

 

I think that they would have to replace the whole top half of the computer (Display Assembly), however I don't actually know.

Display Assembly - Alienware® M11x Service Manual

 

they will replace the whole screen unit, mine was in house but i think it is the same either way, as it is a case of removing some screws and popping the new one in.

 

Yep, had an engineer round to do it at home too, the above is correct, I watched the entire process. The back comes off and the battery and hard drive removed, the 2 antennae cables are detached from the mini pcie WLAN card. Then the keyboard and top cover are removed. The screen cable is disconnected and the entire screen assembly is detached by unscrewing 4 screws, the screen/lid, hinges and antennae are one piece so the replacement was done by replacing this component, the replacement was the R3 spec screen which does not have the flawed weak hinges, it is noticeably stiffer and the actual hinges look a little fatter to me.

 

Alright, guess I'll take the decal off prior to shipping it.

Also, I have a different wireless card installed than the original - should I go and replace it again (at least temporarily) or does that not matter? And they don't do anything to the HDD other than temporarily removing it, right?

 

if my memory serves me correct, they do not need to remove the card, but if you were unsure you could just pop in the old WWan card. id do it just so there was no chance of it coming back without it. ( and keeps the honest people at dell honest )

 

huh. I was having the same hinge issue, I opened up my laptop and found one of the screws holding the screen in place was loose. I tightened it up and the issue magically disappeared! You could try this if you dont want to have a tech messing with it.

 

Open up...how? If it's through anything other than removing the back cover (meaning something that might void the warranty), I'd rather not chance it...I can be out of a laptop for a week or so, especially since my GF has a spare laptop I can use in the meantime.

 

taking it apart doesnt void the warrenty as there isn't any warrenty seal in there, just dont break anything. also, you can watch the m11x teardown video on youtube to see how its done and if you think its too hard and dont wanna risk it thats ok. I have taken this thing apart so many times i can do it blindfolded but if you dont want a tech messing with your laptop and losing your decals and dont want to risk doing it yourself then... I dont know what to tell you. It's not too hard though, It's actually the first computer I have ever taken apart completely, just BE CAREFUL with the ribbon connectors.

 

The tech powered it on, checked it was working, powered it off, did the repair, and powered it on to check it was still working, the mini cards were not touched.

However, I have heard horror stories about PC repair contractors (not necessarily Dell but they do use contractors) bodging jobs and breaking PCs or even worse criminally replacing parts with lower spec models and keeping the premium gear for themselves. Replacing the WLAN card is fairly simple (disconnect battery, disconnect antennae, unscrew single screw and remove) I can buy the rubbish stock dell card for £3 ($7?) here in the UK on ebay so personally I would not risk my premo card, so I would send it stock if possible to avoid any inconveniences.

 

Have you got an R1, R2 or R3? The hinges on the R1/R2 are flawed, in the case of mine the hinge breaks away and starts turning off its axis, no amount of rescrewing the screen assembly to the body would resolve this. In an R1/R2 symptoms similar to mine are resolved by replacing the whole screen assembly only. If the whole screen opens and shuts on its correct hinge axis but the whole assembly wobbles about then maybe however I would still recommend R1/R2 users get the screen replaced using Dell's hinge amnesty once a problem manifests itself because the R3 hinges are obviously a lot sturdier and you get a new screen!

 

I have the r1 as you can see in my sig, it still wobbles a bit if I try to move it back and forth but it far less than it was and the hinge isnt catching on the bottom anymore