How to replace the Keyboard on a Alienware 15 R3

This 3D experience gives you the step by step process of replacing the Keyboard and a Alienware 15R3. The procedure will also include removing the Base Cover, Battery Cable, Hard Drive Assembly, WLAN, SSD SSD, Memory Modules, Rear I/O cover, Computer Base, Battery, System Board Assembly, Power-Button Board and reinstalling them.

Removal

Base Cover

1. Identify the base cover highlighted in blue
2. Remove the screws that secure the base cover to the system base.
3. Loosen the captive screws that secures the base cover to the system base.
4. Using a plastic scribe or a flat head screwdriver, gently pry clips on the base cover to release them from the slots on the system base. Lift the base cover off the system base.

Battery Cable

1. Identify the battery cable highlighted in blue.
2. Disconnect the battery cable from the system board.
3. Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds to ground the system and remove residual static electricity

Hard Drive Assembly

1. Identify the hard disk drive (HDD) assembly highlighted in blue.
2. Using the pull tab, pull upwards to disconnect the hard drive cable from the system board.
3. Remove the screws that secure the hard drive assembly to the system base.
4. Lift the hard drive assembly and the cable off the system base.

(WLAN) Wireless Module

1. Identify the wireless module highlighted in blue
2. Lift the flap covering the wireless module to access the bracket and screw (optional step - depends on configuration)
3. Remove the screw that secures the bracket and wireless module to the system board.
4. Remove the wireless bracket to access the wireless antenna cables.
5. Disconnect the wireless antenna cables (black and white cable) from the wireless module.
6. Lift and slide the wireless module out from the system board.

Solid State Drive (SSD)

1. Identify the solid state drive (SSD) highlighted in blue
2. Remove the screw that secures the solid state drive to the system base.
3. Peel off the solid state drive shield from the solid state drive. (optional step - depends on configuration)
4. Holding the sides of the module, slightly lift and pull out the SSD from the drive slot

Memory Modules

1. Identify the memory module highlighted in blue
2. Using your fingertips, carefully spread apart the securing clips on each end until the memory module pops up.
3. Hold the edges and lift the memory module up from connector on the system board

Rear I/O cover

1. Identify the rear I/O cover highlighted in blue
2. Remove the screws that secure the rear I/O cover to the palm rest assembly.
3. Using a plastic scribe or a flat-head screwdriver, gently release the tabs that secure rear I/O cover to the system base.
4. Slide and remove the rear I/O cover from the system base.

Computer Base

1. Identify the computer base highlighted in blue and note cable routing
2. Remove the antenna cables (black and white) from the routing guides on the computer base
3. Disconnect the tron light cable from the system board (left side).
4. Open the latch, disconnect the macro keys cable and remove from the routing guide on the computer base.
5. Open the latch, disconnect the keyboard backlight cable and remove from the routing guide on the computer base.
6. Open the latch, disconnect the keyboard cable and remove from the routing guide on the computer base.
7. Disconnect the tron light cable from the system board (right side).
8. Remove the screws that secure the computer base to the palm rest assembly.
9. Remove the screws that secure the computer base to the palm rest assembly.
10. Lift the system base off the palm rest assembly and unroute the cables from the computer base (wireless module & battery cables).

Battery

1. Identify the battery highlighted in blue
2. Remove the screw that secures the battery to the palm rest assembly.
3. Lift the battery off the palm rest assembly.

System Board Assembly

1. Turn the system over.
2. Identify the system board highlighted in blue.
3. Peel the tape that secures the display cable to the system board.
4. Open the latch and disconnect the display cable from the system board.
5. Lift the latch and using the pull-tab, disconnect the power button board cable from the system board.
6. Disconnect the logo board cable from the system board.
7. Turn the system over.
8. Disconnect the power adapter port cable from the system board.
9. Disconnect the speaker cable from the system board.
10. Lift the latch and disconnect the macro keys backlight cable from the system board.
11. Open the latch and disconnect the touch pad cable from the system board.
12. Peel the tape that secures the I/O board cable to the I/O board.
13. Open the latch and disconnect the I/O board cable from the I/O board.
14. Remove the screw that secures the USB Type C port bracket to system board and lift the bracket off the system board.
15. Remove the screws that secure the system board assembly to the palm rest assembly.
16. Lift the system board assembly off the palm rest assembly.

Power-Button Board

1. Identify the power button board highlighted in blue
2. Remove the screws that secure the power button board to the palm rest assembly.
3. Lift the power button board along with its cable off the palm rest assembly.

Keyboard

1. Identify the keyboard highlighted in blue
2. Remove the screws that secure the keyboard bracket to the palm rest assembly.
3. Lift the keyboard bracket off the palm rest assembly.
4. Lift the keyboard at an angle and remove it from the tabs on the palm rest assembly.

Install

Keyboard

1. Identify the keyboard location highlighted in blue
2. Slide the keyboard under the tabs on the palm rest assembly. Make sure no cables are under the keyboard.
3. Install the keyboard bracket and align the screw holds with the palm rest assembly.
4. Install the screws that secure the keyboard bracket to the palm rest assembly.

Power-Button Board

1. Identify the power button board location highlighted in blue
2. Align the screw holes on the power button board with the screw holes on the palm rest assembly.
3. Install the screws that secure the power button board to the palm rest assembly.

System Board Assembly

1. Identify the system board assembly location highlighted in blue.
2. Align the screw holes on the system board assembly with the screw holes on the palm rest assembly.
3. Install the screws that secure the system board assembly to the palm rest assembly.
4. Align the screw hole on the USB Type C port bracket with the screw hole on the system board and tighten screw to secure
5. Slide the I/O board cable into the connector on the I/O board and close the latch to secure the cable.
6. Adhere the tape that secures the I/O board cable to the I/O board.
7. Slide the touch pad cable into the connector on the system board and close the latch to secure.
8. Slide the macro keys backlight cable into the connector on the system board and close the latch to secure.
9. Connect the power adapter port cable to the system board.
10. Connect the speaker cable to the system board.
11. Turn the system over.
12. Connect the logo board cable to the system board.
13. Slide the power button board cable into its slot on the system board and close the latch to secure the cable.
14. Slide the display cable into the connector on the system board and close the latch to secure the cable.
15. Turn the system over.

Battery

1. Identify the battery location highlighted in blue
2. Install the battery and align the screw hole on the battery with the screw hold on the palm rest assembly.
3. Install the screw that secures the battery to the palm rest assembly.

Computer Base

1. Identify the computer base location highlighted in blue
2. Align the screw holes on the base with the palm rest assembly
3. Route wireless module cables and the battery cable through the base cover before securing the base cover.
4. Install the screws that secure the computer base to the palm rest assembly.
5. Install the screws that secure the computer base to the palm rest assembly.
6. Connect the tron light cables to the system board. (right side)
7. Connect the tron light cables to the system board. (left side)
8. Route the marco keys cable through the routing guide on the base and into the connector. Close the latch to secure.
9. Route the keyboard cable through the routing guide on the base and into the connector. Close the latch to secure.
10. Route the keyboard backlight cable through the routing guide on base and into connector. Close the latch to secure.
11. Route the antenna cables (black and white) through the routing guides on the computer base

Rear I/O cover

1. Identify the rear I/O cover location highlighted in blue
2. Slide the tabs on the rear I/O cover into the slots on the system base and snap the rear I/O cover into place.
3. Install the screws that secure the rear I/O cover to the palm rest assembly.

Memory Modules

1. Identify the memory module location highlighted in blue
2. Align the notch on the memory module with the tab on the slot and slide the memory into the slot at an angle.
3. Press the memory module down until it clicks into place.

Solid State Drive (SSD)

1. Identify the solid state drive (SSD) location highlighted in blue
2. Align the notch on the SSD with the tab on the slot and slide the SSD into the slot.
3. Place the shield on top the SSD (optional step - depends on configuration)
4. Install the screw that secures the SSD to the system base.

(WLAN) Wireless Module

1. Identify the wireless module location highlighted in blue
2. Lift the flap to access the wireless module location for installation. (optional step - depends on configuration)
3. Align the notch on the wireless module with the tab and slide the card at an angle into the slot
4. Connect the black cable to the auxiliary (black triangle)
5. Connect the white cable to the main (white triangle)
6. Slide the bracket onto the wireless anteanna module.
7. Install the screw to secure the bracket and wireless module to the system board and close the flap.

Hard Drive Assembly

1. Identify the hard disk drive (HDD) assembly location highlighted in blue.
2. Align hard drive assembly with the system base
3. Install screws to secure the assembly to the system base
4. Connect the hard drive cable to the system board.

Battery Cable

1. Identify the battery cable highlighted in blue
2. Connect the battery cable to the system board.

Base Cover

1. Identify the base cover location highlighted in blue
2. Slide the tabs on the base cover into the slots on the system base and snap the base cover into place.
3. Tighten the captive screws that secures the base cover to the system base.
4. Install the screws that secure the base cover to the system base.