M11x R1 Motherboard Replacement

[Sic Fox]

Does anyone have a link to a tutorial for this procedure? Any help would be appreciated. Quick story. I check a bag at the airport with my M11x in it and when I get home I notice my laptop is in upside down in it's alienware sleeve. And now it won't boot up. I suspect they turned it on and then shut the lid thinking it would turn off and put it back in it's sleeve and it overheated and fried the motherboard. Sucks!

Again any help appreciated.

[Nightrider]

Here a video how to do it.
Make sure you put every screw at the exact same place.
Many people use long screw for the keyboard and pinch it.

Alienware M11x Teardown **READ SAFETY PRECAUTIONS PRIOR TO REPLACING PARTS** (Official Video) - YouTube

I would try do unplug de battery and try to boot up with the supply first. Could try to reset de bios too by unplugging Motherboard battery.

good luck. RIP M11X

[Sic Fox]

Thanks Nightrider. When I turned it on the last time it lights up but I can smell like something is burnt through the fan port.

[Nightrider]

Originally Posted by Sic Fox

Thanks Nightrider. When I turned it on the last time it lights up but I can smell like something is burnt through the fan port.

This is bad news

[GNandGS]

Ok, I'll ask: Why is the laptop in checked baggage? Lucky they didnt steal it!

[deadboy90]

if it was overheating then the temperature sensor should have shut the laptop down right?

[philby]

Hi - I just replaced my motherboard on my R1. Very easy to do have not seen the tear down but the steps are very simple.

1> remove screws from back cover
2> remove and unplug the battery
3> remove the HDD
4> Remove all cards & Ram (the screen can stay in place and so can the aerials)
5> Look for all the screws labelled with a P - and also the two labelled with a K (for keyboard) under the battery - Note there is one labelled with a P in the corner next to where the HDD was
6> flip over
7> remove top power cover
8> remove two screws on keyboard (at the top)
9> lift the keyboard - slip open the two connectors and detach the keyboard
10> remove remaining screws labelled with the P
11> Detach the two remaining connectors - one is the power the second the touch pad.
12> You are at the point of lifting off the touch pad cover, there is one remaining connecter underneath, unplug this and place asside
13> remove bluetooth - this is the small card on the lower LHS
14> remove daughter board - 3 screws and this should lift straight off.
15> Unscrew the mother board screws - they are numbered 1,2,3,4,5,6 (I think 6 from memory might be 5)
16> Mother board should now lift out may take a bit of wiggling (almost forgot detach the power charging connector your replacement may have this but seeing as it's under the screen just unplug it's easier)
17> insert new motherboard (should have the fan and heatsinks already on it if so then simply slot in, reconnect the power charger.
18 - install in reverse order.

19> first boot will give a message (Fn + n) I think for normal mode.

Double check the seating of the ram, I had a couple of boot error's until I realized I had not seating the ram correctly.

NOTE - screen and aerials can stay in place these don't need to be moved

Overall the job took me around 20 min, it's very easy and hard to stuff up. Good luck.

[Sic Fox]

Ok I'll answer GNandGS:
I had to travel for a surgery and couldn't lift anything afterwards so I checked my bags. Trust me it will NEVER happen again.

Thanks Philby, I have it disassembled and awaiting my NEW mother board. Hopefully putting it back together will go well.

[GNandGS]

That sucks. I think your theory is pretty good regarding what happened. Too bad about the restrictions. Get well!

[Sic Fox]

Thanks GNandGS. I'm back to normal, to bad my m11x isn't. He will be by next weekend I hope.