http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/xpsL401X/en/sm/keyboard.htm#wp1179891

Palm Rest has to be removed before you can get to the screws underneath.

Palm-Rest Assembly

Dell™ XPS™ L401X Service Manual

  Removing the Palm-Rest Assembly <ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell>

  Replacing the Palm-Rest Assembly 

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 Homepage at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.

CAUTION: Only a certified service technician should perform repairs on your computer. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell™ is not covered by your warranty.

CAUTION: To avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface (such as a connector on your computer).

CAUTION: To help prevent damage to the system board, remove the main battery (see Removing the Battery) before working inside the computer.

Removing the Palm-Rest Assembly

1. Follow the instructions in Before You Begin.
   
   
2. Remove the battery (see Removing the Battery).
   
   
3. Remove the memory module(s) (see Removing the Memory Module(s)).
   
   
4. Remove the hard drive (see Removing the Hard Drive).
   
   
5. Follow the instructions from step 4 to step 6 in Removing the Optical Drive.
   
   
6. Remove the seven screws that secure the palm-rest assembly to the base cover.

1. Turn the computer over and open the display as far as possible.
   
   
2. Using your fingertip, gently push the tab to release the palm-rest assembly.

1. Using your fingertips, gently ease the palm-rest assembly from the computer base.
   
   
2. Without pulling hard on the palm-rest assembly, place it away from the display as shown in the illustration below.
   
   
3. Lift the connector latch and pull the pull-tab to disconnect the touch-pad cable from the system-board connector.
   
   
4. Disconnect the control-strip cable from the system-board connector.

CAUTION: Carefully separate the palm-rest assembly from the computer base to avoid damage to the palm-rest assembly.

1. Lift the palm-rest assembly off the computer base.

Replacing the Palm-Rest Assembly

1. Follow the instructions in Before You Begin.
   
   
2. Connect the control-strip cable to the system-board connector.
   
   
3. Slide the touch-pad cable into the system-board connector and press down on the connector latch to secure the cable.
   
   
4. Align the three tabs on the palm-rest assembly with the slots on the top cover and gently snap the palm-rest assembly into place.
   
   
5. Close the display and turn the computer over.
   
   
6. Replace the seven screws that secure the palm-rest assembly to the base cover.
   
   
7. Follow the instructions from step 5 to step 6 in Replacing the Optical Drive.
   
   
8. Replace the hard drive (see Replacing the Hard Drive).
   
   
9. Replace the memory module(s) (see Replacing the Memory Module(s)).
   
   
10. Replace the battery (see Replacing the Battery).

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.

Keyboard

Dell™ XPS™ L401X Service Manual

  Removing the Keyboard 

  Replacing the Keyboard 

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 Homepage at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.

CAUTION: Only a certified service technician should perform repairs on your computer. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell™ is not covered by your warranty.

CAUTION: To avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface (such as a connector on your computer).

CAUTION: To help prevent damage to the system board, remove the main battery (see Removing the Battery) before working inside the computer.

Removing the Keyboard

1. Follow the instructions in Before You Begin.
   
   
2. Remove the battery (see Removing the Battery).
   
   
3. Remove the memory module(s) (see Removing the Memory Module(s)).
   
   
4. Remove the hard drive (see Removing the Hard Drive).
   
   
5. Follow the instructions from step 4 to step 6 in Removing the Optical Drive.
   
   
6. Remove the palm-rest assembly (see Removing the Palm-Rest Assembly) 
   
   
7. Remove the two screws that secure the keyboard to the top cover.
   
   
8. Push the connector tabs up and disconnect the keyboard cable from the system-board connector.

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

CAUTION: Be extremely careful when removing and handling the keyboard. Failure to do so could result in scratching the display panel.

1. Without pulling hard on the keyboard, carefully lift the keyboard and slide the keyboard tabs out of the slots on the top cover.
   
   
2. Note the routing of the keyboard cable and remove the cable from the routing guide on the top cover.
   
   
3. Push the connector tabs up and pull the pull-tab to disconnect the keyboard backlight cable from the system-board connector.

1. Lift the keyboard off the top cover.

Replacing the Keyboard

1. Follow the instructions in Before You Begin.
   
   
2. Slide the keyboard backlight cable into the system-board connector and press the connector tabs into the connector to secure the cable.
   
   
3. Route the keyboard cable through the routing guide on the top cover.
   
   
4. Slide the keyboard cable into the system-board connector and press the connector tabs into the connector to secure the cable.
   
   
5. Slide the tabs on the keyboard into the slots on the top cover and lower the keyboard into place.
   
   
6. Replace the two screws that secure the keyboard to the top cover.
   
   
7. Replace the palm-rest assembly (see Replacing the Palm-Rest Assembly)

    

    

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8. Follow the instructions from step 5 to step 6 in Replacing the Optical Drive.
   
   
9. Replace the hard drive (see Replacing the Hard Drive).
   
   
10. Replace the memory module(s) (see Replacing the Memory Module(s)).
    
    
11. Replace the battery (see Replacing the Battery).

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.