Alienware Team Media Thread

Greetings NBR!

The AW Tech Team is launching new instructional and teardown videos.

We want to give you a channel to see the latest videos and an opportunity to request content from us.
Here is how it will work. We will post new content here and monitor the requests and forward them to our team.

***We will not be able to get all of them, but will tackle as many as we can… ***

Here is the direct link to our YouTube channel

Index:

o Alien FX Editor How To guide for your Alienware system - Link
o Alienware M18xR2 Teardown - Removing the primary memory modules - Link
o Alienware M18xR2 Teardown - Removing the primary hard drives - Link
o Alienware M17xR4 Teardown - Removing the hard drives - Link
o Alienware M17XR3/R4 GPU Swap - Link
o Alienware M17xR4 Teardown - Removing the primary memory modules - Link
o NVIDIA 3D Vision setup on the Alienware M17x R3 & R4 - Link
o Alienware M14x R2 Teardown - Removing the memory and wireless card modules - Link
o Basic Troubleshooting of BSOD errors - Alienware Live from the lab - Link
o Troubleshooting No Power issues - Alienware Live from the Lab - Link
o How to recover your original factory software using AlienRespawn - Lesson 1 of 4 - Link
o Backup your data and recover your system using AlienRespawn - Lesson 2 of 4 - Link
o Create a USB drive to recover your system with AlienRespawn - Lesson 3 of 4 - Link
o Installing AlienRespawn on your Alienware system - Lesson 4 of 4 - Link
o How to install Windows on an Alienware System - Link
o Drivers for your Alienware Computer - Link
o How to check the status of an Alienware Laptop at the Repair Depot - Link
o How to check the status of a new Alienware order - Link
o How to check the status of a Part Replacement - Link
o Removing and Replacing the hard drive on Your New Alienware Aurora - Link
o Removing and Replacing the optical drive on Your New Alienware Aurora - Link
o Removing and Replacing the memory on Your New Alienware Aurora - Link
o Removing and Replacing the video card on Your New Alienware Aurora - Link
o Removing and replacing the hard drive on your Alienware M14x R2 - Link
o Removing and Replacing the memory on your Alienware M14x R2 - Link
o Removing and Replacing the battery on your Alienware M14x R2 - Link
o Removing and Replacing the optical drive on your Alienware M14x R2 - Link
o NVIDIA Optimus on Alienware Computers - Link
o Troubleshooting No POST issues - Alienware Live from the Lab - Link
o Troubleshooting No Boot issues - Alienware Live from the Lab - Link
o How to run the fixmbr command to fix boot issues - Link



Updated Sept 28th, 2012 | 11:00AM CST

 

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Hey there, great to see such an active support from you guys. I'd like to ask a question in regard to what is stated in your descriptions.

Dell Germany claims that opening my 18x, e.g. in order to replace the CPU heatsink myself, voids the warranty. Two reps I spoke to on the German AW tech hotline insisted I need to pay almost 200 EUR for a technician to do that for me. Would you be kind enough to clarify if this is really the case?

 

Cool, I'll be subscribe to that channel now. Glad that AW's now start to take action to those feedbacks, keep up the good work guys

Edit: First request, I check on the channel and notice that there is no M14xR1 nor R2 teardown guide, and plus the R1 has been release for more than a year now, so it would be nice you can forward it to the team to make a Teardown guide for the M14xR1 & R2 please, thanks.

 

I'll come back to you at this one, let me find out

Great

 

They are taking my job

Oh well. Now I don't have to break my stuff

Thanks guy's

 

Anyway we can transplant R2's LCD into M18x, I would love to see that happen.

 

This thread is a great idea. Thanks and +1 Rep to both of you.

The videos are very well done. Great job to all involved with them. It's awesome that Alienware is doing this.

 

Yes thanks a lot for the videos will make tear downs even easier for a lot of people. +rep from me as well

 

Thanks. This is important to me. I am still not sure if to order a completely new m18x R2 w/ 680M SLI or simply buy the cards for my R1.

If any user in the States can open their AW laptop without any penalty, and I can't to do that in Germany and am supposedly forced to pay 200 EUR for a technician, this is very unfair. I am perfectly able to open my M18x and replace the card myself.

Thanks. This is important to me. I am still not sute if to order a completely new m18x R2 w/ 680M SLI or simply buy the cards for my R1.

If any user in the States can open their AW laptop without any penatly, and I can't to do that in Germany and am supposedly forced to pay 200 EUR for a technician, this is very unfair. I am perfectly able to open my M18x and replace the card myself.

 

I just double checked with Germany... you can open your case, there is no problem with that and the warranty will not be voided.
So same as North America Policy.

 

Roger that, thanks!

 

how fun if Alienware keyboard can be mod like this one



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That is awesome that you checked this out. Thank you, Frank.

 

hey compay moo! long time man, I tought you disappeared

 

Alienware M18x R2 Teardown - Removing the primary memory modules

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Alienware M18x R2 Teardown - Removing the primary hard drives

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Alienware M17x R4 Teardown - Removing the primary memory modules

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Our brand new video is out, have a look! Tell us what you think
Here is an article with a Step by Step guide and the video included.
NVIDIA 3D Vision setup on the Alienware M17x R3 & R4 - LINK

 

New and easy video tutorial on how to replace components inside your M14xR2.
Including a video attached to each of the 4 Illustrated articles.

How to Remove:
- Bottom Cover
- Battery
- Wireless Card
- Memory Sticks

 

I could really really use a Teardown video for the display.


No no, my display panel works fine, but I need to replace that overly reflective plastic screen mounted in front of the display panel. For the price, I'd expect Glass - with an anti-reflective coating, like Apple's similarly designed notebook displays have.

So, I'm considering taking that cheesy sheet of plastic to a local glass maker and have them make a replacement glass and put a non-reflective coating on it. probably gonna cost a fortune for a single piece...


This plastic sheet has me convinced that Alienware engineers work in complete darkness or else, they had to have noticed that the screen turns into a mirror with any light source at all located behind you. Even the illuminated keyboard causes massive reflections. Nearly every review complains about it for years now, but Dell seems to be deaf

People buy their mirrors at Bed and Bath​

 

Superb support and hopefully we can learn from each other +rep for you both

 

Can you guys do a disassembly video of the mSATA drive in the M17x R4? I plan on getting one and would like to see how the process would be.

 

Disassembling hard drives has to be done in an absolutely dust free environment and is nothing consumers should attempt.

How remove/install a hard drive in the M17x is already covered in the existing video...

 

thanks for the constructive post mate. But please do read my post more carefully before saying anything.

 

I just wanted to order an XM heatsink (0MXJ5) for my 3820QM in my new M18x R2 and my local Dell refused claiming I cannot replace the part myself without violating the warranty. I am going to PM the details to you and ask for help in this matter. Thanks in advance.

 

i second this . even id like to know the cleanest and shortest way to change the msata without fiddling with anything else .

 

Are the Alienware reps only on the Forums during business hours? Any reps around right now?

 

Yeah, we are around during business hours. You can always PM one of the team or shoot us an email at awsocialmedia @ dell dot com (spelling it out to stop the robot spam).

 

Just updated the list, hope you find then useful

 

Adding a couple of Windows 8 videos created by our engineering team.

Windows 8 installation

Windows 8 tour with Alienware

 

More good stuff. Sweet!

 

Any new videos to share yet?

 

The team is working on some new content currently. Mr. Fox, any personal requests you would like to see? Will pass it on to our team.

 

Hey Brother Mark. I do have a few suggestions. Thank you for asking.

It would be nice to see a video for disassembling the display assembly on each model. It's a very simple procedure, but it's something that I have been asked for help with a number of times recently.

It would also be nice to see a video specifically dedicated to demonstrating how to safely release the latching clamps for the SATA, keyboard and media panel ribbon cables to minimize breakage. That problem seems to occur with too much frequency. It would not need to be model specific as long as it showed each type of latch and maybe use the models that support staff see most frequently.

A video focused on demonstrating how to remove the center control panel cover (keyboard surround bezel) without breaking the clips could be useful. Some seem to struggle with that also. This could be demonstrated on each of the current models all in the same video.

 

Great thoughts. Meeting with the team today. Will pass them on. I like the idea on the assembly tear downs. Would be very useful.

Mark

 

Here's our latest video

Alienware | Battery Troubleshooting

Feel free to add any suggestions

 

Our team is working on some quick response videos to Alienware client questions.

Here is the latest:
<iframe width='560' height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MR6z0_vJ9X4" frameborder='0' allowfullscreen></iframe>


Would like to include NBR on this as well. Let us know if you have any questions that we can answer for you or show you on video.

Mark

 

Awesome stuff, boys! Today's video was especially useful.

 

I Laughed my butt off.. lol

 

What did he said, a new alien is coming?

 

Has been fun doing some of these. Some of them are helpful for new users. Looking forward to some heavy tech questions from NBR.

 

I just stumbled across this video and wondered what the chances are of being able to get our hands on these, as they seem a great idea to maybe include/ship with new machines:

 

I have tried to purchase one the Windows USB Keys on two occasions and was informed that the USB installation media it is not available for purchase. I had part numbers from DELLChrisM, but never posted this information in our forum since it is not available. On my last attempt, I received a Windows 7 Ultimate DVD exactly like the one that shipped with my system.

If that is not correct and they are available, maybe Mark, Luis or another member of the Alienware Social Media Support Team can let us know how to proceed if we wish to purchase them.

 

That's a shame. I'd imagine that they would have cut down on tech support phone calls from less experienced users as they would have been extremely easy to use.

 

Just an FYI on the latest mini desktop news

The new Alienware X51 R2 is out

 

Me likey! - it's like an aperitif before the main course!

 

Check out our newest video!

 

I did an Idea Storm on this for Alienware and got some feedback..Also got an email that a contact at Alienware is seeing if one can be made and sent to me.
If you like it Please Vote for it here..Thanks
Idea Storm

 

Well talk about service around here I happened to check my account this morning and this is what I found. Out for Delivery for today.

Kit,Software,W7U64,DRCTKEY,Multiple User Interface,Unified Extensible Firmware Interface
Status: Shipped Order Details Help
Estimated Delivery Date: 7/29/2013 "Information"

Quantity Item Number Description Unit Price
1

83J4W

Kit,Software,W7U64,DRCTKEY,Multiple User Interface,Unified Extensible Firmware Interface

My USB is on the way. They shipped it over night I will let you know if its all we expect.
And no charge Dell sometimes you Rock! :thumbsup:

 

@ long2905

i agree, i have never had such a nerve wracking experience in opening a laptop as i did with this one, in the end i couldn't open the palm rest, but by wedging it open i was able to unscrew the msata's lone screw, replaced it with the 256, and secured it back into place

 

I haven't been back to NBR for a while and of course decided to look for conversations around IdeaStorm. I'm glad to see that it is on the way. :thumbsup: