iFixit - Answers With Device "Dell Alienware 17 Series"

Alienware 17 R4: Is it possible to upgrade alienware CPU

Sun, 02 Dec 2018 14:31:41 -0700

i have an alienware 17 r4 from 2017 and it has an i7 7700hq and i was wondering if i could upgrade the CPU to one that is in the new alienware 17 r4 like the i7-8750H or i9-8950HK, i know it would involve soldering but all i need to know if either of those CPU's are compatible with the mobo in my alienware.

⟐ Answered December 02, 2018 at 14:31 MST

Alienware 17 R2: Dell Alienware Beep 7 times while booting (no display)

Mon, 20 May 2024 07:13:34 -0700

this alienware is working just fine except, there is a USB problem (connect and disconnect every seconds). i've check the solder joint and even change the port, but the problem is persist. seeing that i've decided to change the intel PCH.

after changing the PCH, i got 7 beeps and no display

(from just a usb problem into no display problem) :(

the voltage is normal PLT_RST# is present, LPCH_FRAME also present, there is no short circuit at all

then i thought the new pch is faulty, so i replace it with the old one, sadly the beeps still there.

i bought 2 new PCH (each from a different supplier) and the problem still persist.

i make sure that the PCH replacement is good, i use BGA rework station with 220C, i remove the solder on the pad with solder wick, and give small amount of flux to put the new one.

at this point, im sure that the PCH is not the problem,

from dell website, 7 beeps code means the problem is around the CPU or could be something else.

what i've done

replacing the PCH 3 times
checking the short circuit (nothing)
flash bios and EC (did multiple times with different source bios firmware)
reset CMOS battery
change the RAM

when the laptop trying to boot, there is 3 times sequence (fan spin on and off) before the laptop gives the beeps code (the fan is off while the laptop giving beeps code)

and the cpu getting hot while beeping (around 50c)

any help is highly appreciated, thankyou :D

⟐ Answered May 20, 2024 at 7:13 MST

Alienware 17 r4: Can we have a teardown for this?

Sat, 26 Aug 2017 18:37:22 -0700

Hi. I just bought an Alienware 17 R4 and as I search through ifixit for teardown guide, I did not find any. It would be really helpful if there is a teardown guide for this device because you can actually replace stuff and fix the laptop unlike a MacBook (let it be air or pro).

⟐ Answer edited August 26, 2017 at 18:37 MST

Alienware 17 R4: Alienware laptop will not turn back on!

Fri, 05 Jun 2020 02:55:33 -0700

I couldn’t select my actual computer (Alienware 15 R4), so I selected the closest thing to it as this computer was released around the same time as the 17 R4. I got this Alienware 15 R4 a little over a year ago and had recently disconnected my laptop battery in August because it wasn’t working. I’m a college student so I needed a good laptop, I turned it off this morning after class because I had to urgently attend a college event, but I either straight up unplugged it while it was on, or I unplugged it while it was turning off because it seemed off (I was in a rush). When I turn it on now, it doesn’t properly turn on and starts sending out a beep code of 3 beeps, then a pause, then 2 beeps, a pause, then 1 beep. I have no idea what to do and I desperately need help quickly. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

⟐ Commented June 05, 2020 at 2:55 MST

Alienware 17 R4: My fan is making a loud grinding noise

Sun, 14 Jul 2019 08:01:34 -0700

My fan is making a grinding noise. I believe the bearing is bad in it as it doesn't want to spin like the other one. When I have the Bottom cover off and I turn it on, it's struggling to spin. How can I go about removing that fan and replacing it?

⟐ Answer accepted July 14, 2019 at 8:01 MST

Alienware 17 R4: Why is my laptop overheating so much?

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 14:29:07 -0700

My laptop runs very hot and keeps overheating.

⟐ Commented April 20, 2020 at 14:29 MST

Dell Alienware m17 R4: audio card not being detected

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 13:07:17 -0700

Hello.

I am having issues with my laptop not detecting my audio card, neither the speakers, the microphone or the 3.5 jack work, i have seen online that is a known issue with this model's mother board, i have tried unisntalling and re installing the drivers and software but nothing works, by unpligging and pluggin back in the flex connector that connects the audio card to the motherboard fixed the issue temporarily but it does not work anymore. has anyone had this issue and be able to fix it? all help is appreciated.

⟐ Commented December 21, 2023 at 13:07 MST

Alienware 17 R4: How do I replace the keyboard?

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 18:06:11 -0700

the title says it all

⟐ Answered November 28, 2022 at 18:06 MST

Dell Alienware 17: Replacement Battery will not keep laptop on

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 15:45:20 -0700

I replaced my battery and after installation and full charge, the laptop will power off once AC power is unplugged. Laptop will not turn on if it is not plugged in.

Most recent BIOS is installed.

⟐ Commented April 08, 2020 at 15:45 MST

Alienware 17 R2: Need information about mother board issue

Tue, 10 Mar 2020 06:16:07 -0700

Hello I've just incountered a problem when plugging in my power to the laptop, it would start smoking , it still turns on without power to it so I know the board is fine, so I've disasmbled the laptop to the mother board and found some type of chip that how do I put this no longer working and was wanting to know if it was repairable (photo https://ibb.co/jvW6ES

⟐ Answered March 10, 2020 at 6:16 MST

Dell Alienware M17x R2: How do I replace the thermal paste on the gpu.

Sat, 28 Apr 2018 07:11:43 -0700

I took my gpu out of my pc but I don't know how to safely get to the compound.

this is the gpu I need to repaste

gpu

⟐ Comment deleted April 28, 2018 at 7:11 MST

Alienware 17 R2: Just replaced the battery and its already dead/dying

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 00:27:03 -0700

So over my christmas break I replaced the battery in my dads Alienware laptop, its a 17 something but I don’t remember the specifics. I swapped the battery out and followed the procedure for training it, charge it all the way up, then let it slowly die, then charge it again. Now a month later the battery apparently won’t hold a charge, the laptop says it at 40% but instantly dies when the power cord is unplugged. Any ideas?

⟐ Answered August 11, 2025 at 0:27 MST

Alienware M17x: Do you or anyone know where I can get a recovery disc for m17x windows

Sat, 19 Feb 2022 05:05:01 -0700

Hi I'm desperately looking for Alienware m17x r4 recovery disc for Windows 7, does anyone know where I could possibly purchase it from.

Many thanks

⟐ Answer edited February 19, 2022 at 5:05 MST

Alienware 17 R2: White, Green and Pink lines on the top and bottom of my laptop screen

Wed, 10 Nov 2021 23:26:09 -0700

After updating my laptop to WIN10, I noticed a few lines on the top and bottom of my laptop screen. I tried updating my graphic driver, bios but sadly it didn’t work. I have an Alienware 17 laptop

⟐ Commented November 10, 2021 at 23:26 MST

Alienware 17 R3: How to remove head phone jack from alienware 17x r2

Sat, 29 Jun 2019 18:54:14 -0700

the head phone jack got broken with part of it left in

⟐ Answer accepted June 29, 2019 at 18:54 MST

Alienware 17 R3: Booting problem help please

Thu, 14 Mar 2019 05:11:41 -0700

When the laptop boots it says it's a problem with windows what's the problem?

⟐ Commented March 14, 2019 at 5:11 MST

Dell Alienware M17x R4: How to remove M.2 ssd.

Sun, 19 Mar 2023 02:47:20 -0700

where is m.2 located om M17 r4.

⟐ Commented March 19, 2023 at 2:47 MST

Alienware 17 R3: Why I cant connect to gmail?

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 04:12:21 -0700

I was having alot of problems with my laptop now . I cant access to any things but i was connected to wifi . I have tried many methods but none of them works for me. For example , i can’t connect to gmail , i cant download anything in microsoft store , and i cant even drag an image to here . LOL . ERR_SSL_BAD_RECORD_MAC_ALERT , 0x800704cf and more things is stopping me . HELPPP PLSSS

⟐ Answered April 09, 2025 at 4:12 MST

Alienware 17 R4: Tobii Eye Tracker is not connected due to eyechip not recognized

Sat, 03 May 2025 17:37:59 -0700

After using Alienware for a while, Tobii Eye Tracker began to not connect in Tobii Eye Software and in device manager, eyechip is missing. I have contacted support and they told me that my problem is hardware issue. Have any one experience this kind of problem? I have searched internet, it seemly only had this problem. USB error in Device Manager caused Tobii Eye Tracker not connected

⟐ Commented May 03, 2025 at 17:37 MST

Dell Alienware m17 R3: Why is the display assembly available for the R2 and not the R3?

Sun, 05 May 2024 18:49:17 -0700

I ordered a display assembly thinking it was the correct one for my laptop. I tried to replace it and found that the display assembly was for an R2 and not an R3. When I looked for the specific correct part, I was not able to find it.

⟐ Answer edited May 05, 2024 at 18:49 MST