How to replace the Keyboard on a Alienware M17 R3

This 3D experience gives you the step by step process of replacing the Keyboard and a AlienwareM17R3. The procedure will also include removing the Base Cover, Battery Cable, Battery, SSD, SSD 2230 - slot 3, SSD bracket, Rear I/O cover, System Board Assembly, Right I/O 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 palm rest assembly.
3. Loosen the captive screws.
4. Gently pry the base cover from the gap around the screw holes to release the base cover.
5. Slide the base cover off the palm rest assembly.

Battery Cable

1. Identify the battery cable highlighted in blue.
2. Pull the tape to 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.

Battery

1. Identify the battery highlighted in blue.
2. Remove the screws that secure the battery to the system.
3. Remove the screws that secure the battery to the system.
4. Lift the battery up and remove it from the system.

SSD

SSD 2230 - slot 3

1. Identify the solid state drive (SSD) highlighted in blue.
2. Slide and remove the solid state drive from the slot on the system board.

SSD bracket

1. Identify the solid state drive (SSD) mounting bracket highlighted in blue.
2. Remove the screw that secures the mounting bracket to the system.
3. Lift and remove the mounting bracket from the system.

Rear I/O cover

1. Identify the rear I/O cover highlighted in blue.
2. Carefully peel back and remove the mylar that covers the system board.
3. Disconnect and peel the Tron light cable from the system board.
4. Remove the screws that secure the rear I/O cover to the palm rest assembly.
5. Remove the screws that secure the rear I/O cover to the palm rest assembly.
6. Slide the rear I/O cover off the back of the system. Use the rubber feet to push evenly from both side.
7. Lift the rear I/O cover from the system and remove the mylar.

System Board Assembly

1. Identify the system board assembly highlighted in blue.
2. Remove the screw that secures the wireless card bracket to the left I/O board.
3. Lift the wireless card bracket off the left I/O board.
4. Disconnect the antenna cables from the wireless card.
5. Peel the tapes securing the antenna cables to system board and left fan.
6. Remove the antenna cables from the routing guides on the left fan and system board.
7. Peel the tape securing the display cable to the system board.
8. Open the latch, and disconnect the display cable from the connector on the system board.
9. Open the latch, and disconnect the power-button cable from the left I/O-board.
10. Open the latch, and disconnect the touchpad and keyboard controller cables.
11. Remove the screws that secure the right I/O board cable that connects the right I/O board and system board.
12. Lift the right I/O board cable off the right I/O board and system board.
13. Remove the screws that secure the solid-state drive support bracket to the system board.
14. Remove the solid state drive support bracket from the system board.
15. Disconnect the power adapter port cable and peel it off the system board.
16. Remove the screws that secure the fans to the palm rest assembly.
17. Remove the screws that secure the system board to the palm rest assembly.
18. Remove the screws that secure the left I/O board to the palm rest assembly.
19. Lift the system board assembly away from the palm rest assembly.

Right I/O board

1. Identify the right I/O board highlighted in blue.
2. Disconnect the speaker cable from the right I/O board.
3. Lift the Mylar that covers the system board and right I/O board
4. Remove the screws that secure the right I/O board cable that connects the right I/O board and system board.
5. Lift the right I/O board cable off the right I/O board and system board.
6. Remove the screws that secure the right I/O board to the palm rest assembly.
7. Lift the right I/O board off the palm rest assembly.

Keyboard

1. Identify the keyboard assembly highlighted in blue.
2. Open the latch and disconnect the keyboard and keyboard backlight cable.
3. Remove the screws that secure the keyboard bracket to the keyboard.
4. Lift the keyboard bracket off the keyboard.
5. Remove the screws that secure the keyboard to the palm rest assembly.
6. Open the latch, and disconnect the touch pad cable from the touch pad.
7. Lift the keyboard off the palm rest assembly.

Install

Keyboard

1. Identify the keyboard assembly location highlighted in blue.
2. Place the keyboard on the palm rest assembly.
3. Install the screws that secure the keyboard to the palm rest assembly.
4. Connect the touch pad cable to the touch pad. Route it under the keyboard cable.
5. Install the keyboard bracket on the keyboard.
6. Install the screws that secure the keyboard bracket.
7. Connect the keyboard and keyboard backlight cable. Close the latch to secure.

Right I/O board

1. Identify the right I/O board location highlighted in blue.
2. Using the alignment posts, install the right I/O board into the slot on the system.
3. Install the screws that secure the right I/O-board to the palm rest assembly.
4. Using the alignment pins, connect the right I/O board cable on the right I/O board and the system board.
5. Install the screws that secure the right I/O board cable to the right I/O board and system board.
6. Connect the speaker cable to the connector on the right I/O board.

System Board Assembly

1. Turn the system board assembly over.
2. Identify the system board location highlighted in blue.
3. Using the alignment posts, install the system board assembly into the slot on the system.
4. Install the screws that secure the system board to the palm rest assembly
5. Install the screws that secure the left I/O board to the palm rest assembly.
6. Install the screws that secure the fans to the palm rest assembly.
7. Adhere and connect the power adapter port cable to the system board.
8. Connect the display cable to the system board, close the latch and adhere the tape.
9. Connect the power-button cable to the left I/O-board. Close the latch to secure.
10. Route the antenna cables to the routing guides and adhere the tapes to secure.
11. Connect the gray cable to the connector marked "WHITE" on the board.
12. Connect the orange cable to the connector marked "BLACK" on the board.
13. Install the wireless card bracket to the wireless card.
14. Install the screw that secures the wireless card bracket to the left I/O board.
15. Install the solid state drive bracket, aligning the screw holes.
16. Install the screws that secure the solid-state drive support bracket to the system board.
17. Using the alignment pins, connect the right I/O board cable to the right I/O board and the system board.
18. Install the screws that secure the right I/O board cable to the right I/O board and the system board.
19. Connect the touchpad and keyboard controller cables. Close the latch to secure.

Rear I/O cover

1. Identify the rear I/O cover location highlighted in blue.
2. Position the rear I/O cover with the mylar over the system board and the cable below the mylar.
3. Push the rear I/O cover into the palm rest assembly snapping it into place.
4. Connect the Tron light cable to the system board.
5. Adhere the Mylar into place onto the system board.
6. Install the screws that secure the rear I/O cover to the palm-rest assembly.
7. Install the screws that secure the rear I/O cover to the palm rest assembly.

SSD bracket

1. Identify the solid state drive (SSD) location highlighted in blue.
2. Place and align the mounting bracket on the system.
3. Install the screw that secures the mounting bracket to the system.

SSD 2230 - slot 3

1. Identify the solid state drive (SSD) location highlighted in blue.
2. Align the notch with the tab and slide the SSD into the slot.

SSD

Battery

1. Identify the battery location highlighted in blue.
2. Place the battery into the slot on the palm rest assembly.
3. Install the screws that secure the battery to the system.
4. Install the screws that secure the battery to the system.

Battery Cable

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

Base Cover

1. Identify the base cover location highlighted in blue.
2. Slide the notches on the top of the base cover under the rear I/O cover and snap the base cover into place.
3. Tighten the captive screws on the base cover.
4. Install the screws that secure the base cover to the palm rest assembly.