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Reproduction of these materials in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden. ® Trademarks used in this text: Dell™ and the DELL logo are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Alienware ® a registered trademark of Alienware Corporation; Bluetooth is a registered trademark owned by ®...
• Phillips screwdriver • Plastic scribe • BIOS executable update program at support.dell.com Turning Off Your Computer CAUTION: To avoid losing data, save and close all open files and exit all open programs before you turn off your computer. 1 Save and close all open files and exit all open programs.
Hold a component such as a processor by its edges, not by its pins. 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: When you disconnect a cable, pull on its connector or on its pull-tab, not on the cable itself.
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CAUTION: To help prevent damage to the system board, remove the main battery (see "Removing the Battery Pack" on page 13) before working inside the computer. 7 Remove the battery pack (see "Removing the Battery Pack" on page 13). 8 Turn the computer top-side up, open the display, and press the power button to ground the system board.
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 damage to the computer, use only the battery designed for this particular Alienware computer.
battery pack battery latch Replacing the Battery Pack CAUTION: To avoid damage to the computer, use only the battery designed for this particular Alienware computer. 1 Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9. 2 Align the tabs on the battery with the slots on the battery bay and snap the battery into place.
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 help prevent damage to the system board, remove the main battery (see "Removing the Battery Pack"...
compartment door screws (2) Replacing the Compartment Door 1 Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9. 2 Align the tabs on the compartment door with the slots on the computer base and slide the compartment door into place. 3 Replace the two screws that secure the compartment door to the computer base.
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 help prevent damage to the system board, remove the main battery (see "Removing the Battery Pack"...
plastic scribe coin-cell battery Replacing the Coin-Cell Battery 1 Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9. 2 Hold the coin-cell battery with the positive side up. 3 Slide the coin-cell battery into the slot and gently press until it snaps into place.
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: When you disconnect a cable, pull on its connector or on its pull-tab, not on the cable itself.
Removing the Hard Drive(s) 1 Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9. 2 Remove the battery pack (see "Removing the Battery Pack" on page 13). 3 Remove the compartment door (see "Removing the Compartment Door" on page 15). 4 Loosen the three captive screws that secure the hard-drive assembly to the computer base.
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captive screws (3) secondary hard-drive assembly 7 Remove the four screws that secure the hard drive to the hard-drive bracket. 8 Lift the hard-drive off the hard-drive bracket. 9 Remove the interposer from the hard drive. Hard Drive(s)
interposer screws (4) hard-drive bracket hard drive CAUTION: When the hard drive is not in the computer, store it in protective antistatic packaging (see "Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge" in the safety instructions that shipped with your computer). Replacing the Hard Drive(s) 1 Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin"...
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7 Tighten the three captive screws that secure the hard-drive assembly to the computer base. 8 Replace the compartment door (see "Replacing the Compartment Door" on page 16). 9 Replace the battery pack (see "Replacing the Battery Pack" on page 14). CAUTION: Before turning on the computer, replace all screws and ensure that no stray screws remain inside the computer.
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 help prevent damage to the system board, remove the main battery (see "Removing the Battery Pack"...
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4 To remove memory module(s) from connectors DIMM 1 and DIMM 2, go to step 6. 5 To remove memory-module(s) from connectors DIMM 3 and DIMM 4: Remove the center control cover (see "Removing the Center Control Cover" on page 49). Remove the keyboard (see "Removing the Keyboard"...
memory-module connector securing clips (2) memory module 7 Remove the memory module from the memory-module connector. Replacing the Memory Module(s) 1 Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9. NOTE: If you need to install memory modules in two connectors, install a memory module in the lower connector before you install a memory module in the upper connector.
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memory-module connector notch 4 If you have replaced memory mobule(s) in connectors DIMM 1 and DIMM 2, go to step 6. 5 If you have replaced memory mobule(s) in connectors DIMM 3 and DIMM 4: Align the screw holes on the memory-module cover with the screw holes on the palm rest assembly.
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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. 8 Turn on the computer. As the computer boots, it detects the additional memory and automatically updates the system configuration information.
Ensure that it has had sufficient time to cool before you touch it. 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:...
graphics-card heat sink fan cable captive screws (3) graphics-card heat sink fan Replacing the Graphics-Card Heat Sink Fan 1 Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9. 2 Align the screw holes on the graphics-card heat sink fan with the screw holes on the chassis.
Ensure that it has had sufficient time to cool before you touch it. 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:...
graphics-card assembly screws (2) Replacing the Graphics-Card Assembly 1 Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9. 2 Insert the graphics card connector at a 45-degree angle into the connector on the system board. 3 Press the other end of the graphics-card assembly down into the slot on the system board and replace the two screws that secure the graphics-card assembly to the system board.
Ensure that it has had sufficient time to cool before you touch it. 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:...
processor heat-sink fan cable processor heat-sink fan captive screws (3) Replacing the Processor Heat-Sink Fan 1 Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9. 2 Align the screw holes on the processor heat-sink fan with the screw holes on the chassis.
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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. Processor Heat-Sink Fan...
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).
processor heat-sink captive screws (4) Replacing the Processor Heat-Sink CAUTION: Incorrect alignment of the processor heat-sink can damage the processor. NOTE: The original thermal grease can be reused if the original processor heat-sink is reinstalled. If the processor heat-sink is replaced, use the thermal grease provided in the kit to ensure that thermal conductivity is achieved.
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6 Replace the battery pack (see "Replacing the Battery Pack" on page 14). 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.
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).
ZIF socket ZIF-socket cam screw CAUTION: To ensure maximum cooling for the processor module, do not touch the heat transfer areas on the processor thermal cooling assembly. The oils in your skin can reduce the heat transfer capability of the thermal pads. CAUTION: When removing the processor module, lift the module straight up.
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2 Align the pin-1 corner of the processor module with the pin-1 corner of the ZIF socket, then place the processor module. NOTE: The pin-1 corner of the processor module has a triangle that aligns with the triangle on the pin-1 corner of the ZIF socket. When the processor module is properly seated, all four corners are aligned at the same height.
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 help prevent damage to the system board, remove the main battery (see "Removing the Battery Pack"...
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screws (5) CAUTION: Be extremely careful when removing the center control cover. The cover along with the cable that attaches to it are fragile. 5 Turn the computer over and open the display as far as possible. 6 Gently pry the center control cover from the back of the computer and then ease the tabs on the center control cover out of the slots on the palm rest assembly.
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center control cover CAUTION: Be extremely careful when removing and handling the center control cover. Failure to do so could result in scratching the display panel. 7 Turn the center control cover towards the display. 8 Disconnect the media control keys cable from the connector on the system board.
media control keys cable Replacing the Center Control Cover 1 Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9. 2 Connect the media control keys cable to the connector on the system board. 3 Align the tabs on the center control cover with the slots on the palm rest assembly and snap the cover into place.
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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. Center Control Cover...
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 help prevent damage to the system board, remove the main battery (see "Removing the Battery Pack"...
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screws (5) keyboard 8 Lift the release latches on the connectors on the system board and disconnect the keyboard cable and backlit keyboard cable. 9 Lift the keyboard off the palm rest assembly. Keyboard...
keyboard cable backlit keyboard cable Replacing the Keyboard 1 Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9. 2 Slide the keyboard cable and backlit keyboard cable into their connectors on the system board and press down on their connector latches to secure the cables.
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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...
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 help prevent damage to the system board, remove the main battery (see "Removing the Battery Pack"...
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screw antenna cables (2) Mini-Card 7 Remove the screw that secures the Mini-Card to the system board. 8 Lift the Mini-Card out of the connector on the system board. Wireless Mini-Card...
CAUTION: When the Mini-Card is not in the computer, store it in protective antistatic packaging. For more information, see "Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge" in the safety information that shipped with your computer. Replacing the Mini-Card 1 Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9. 2 Remove the new Mini-Card from its packaging.
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Failure to do so may result in damage to the computer. 10 Install the drivers and utilities for your computer, as required. NOTE: If you are installing a Mini-card from a source other than Dell or Alienware, you must install the appropriate drivers and utilities. Wireless Mini-Card...
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 help prevent damage to the system board, remove the main battery (see "Removing the Battery Pack"...
wirelessHD card cable wirelessHD card screw Replacing the WirelessHD Card 1 Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9. 2 Remove the new wirelessHD card from its packaging. CAUTION: Use firm and even pressure to slide the card into place. If you use excessive force, you may damage the connector.
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7 Replace the center control cover (see "Replacing the Center Control Cover" on page 52). 8 Replace the compartment door (see "Replacing the Compartment Door" on page 16). 9 Replace the battery pack (see "Replacing the Battery Pack" on page 14). CAUTION: Before turning on the computer, replace all screws and ensure that no stray screws remain inside the computer.
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 help prevent damage to the system board, remove the main battery (see "Removing the Battery Pack"...
screws (2) power button board power button board cable Replacing the Power Button Board 1 Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9. 2 Align the slots on the power button board with the alignment posts on the chassis and secure the power button board in place.
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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. Power Button Board...
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 help prevent damage to the system board, remove the main battery (see "Removing the Battery Pack"...
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10 Disconnect the camera cable and infrared cable from the respective system board connectors. 11 Note the routing of the display cable, camera cable, infrared cable, wirelessHD card cable, Mini-Card antenna cables and remove the cables from the routing guides on the palm rest assembly. wirelessHD card cable display cable captive screws (2)
display assembly screws (6) Replacing the Display Assembly 1 Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9. 2 Place the display assembly in position and replace the six screws that secure the display assembly to the computer base. 3 Route the display cable, camera cable, infrared cable, wirelessHD card cable, and Mini-Card antenna cables through the routing guides on the palm rest assembly.
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7 Connect the wirelessHD card cable to the connector on the wirelessHD card (see "Replacing the WirelessHD Card" on page 64). 8 Connect the Mini-Card antenna cables to the Mini-Card (see "Replacing the Mini-Card" on page 61). 9 Replace the keyboard (see "Replacing the Keyboard" on page 57). 10 Replace the center control cover (see "Replacing the Center Control Cover"...
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 help prevent damage to the system board, remove the main battery (see "Removing the Battery Pack"...
10 Lift the status light board off the palm rest assembly. screws (2) status light board status light board cable Replacing the Status Light Board 1 Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9. 2 Align the slots on the status light board with the alignment posts on the palm rest assembly and secure the status light board in place.
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8 Replace the center control cover (see "Replacing the Center Control Cover" on page 52). 9 Replace the compartment door (see "Replacing the Compartment Door" on page 16). 10 Replace the battery pack (see "Replacing the Battery Pack" on page 14). CAUTION: Before turning on the computer, replace all screws and ensure that no stray screws remain inside the computer.
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 help prevent damage to the system board, remove the main battery (see "Removing the Battery Pack"...
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screws (5) 6 Remove the center control cover (see "Removing the Center Control Cover" on page 49). 7 Remove the keyboard (see "Removing the Keyboard" on page 55). 8 Remove the power button board (see "Removing the Power Button Board" on page 67).
13 Carefully pry out the palm rest assembly along the rear edge and then ease the palm rest assembly from the computer base. CAUTION: Carefully separate the palm rest assembly from the computer base to avoid damage to the palm rest assembly. 14 Lift the palm rest assembly off the computer base.
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4 Connect the touch pad cable, LVDS cable, and Media Card Reader cable to the connectors on the system board. 5 Replace the status light board (see "Replacing the Status Light Board" on page 76). 6 Replace the display assembly (see "Replacing the Display Assembly" on page 73).
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 help prevent damage to the system board, remove the main battery (see "Removing the Battery Pack"...
8 Remove the status light board (see "Removing the Status Light Board" on page 75). 9 Remove the palm rest assembly (see "Removing the Palm Rest Assembly" on page 79). 10 Disconnect the Bluetooth-card cable from the connector on the system board.
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6 Replace the status light board (see "Replacing the Status Light Board" on page 76). 7 Replace the display assembly (see "Replacing the Display Assembly" on page 73). 8 Replace the power button board (see "Replacing the Power Button Board" on page 68).
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Internal Card With Bluetooth Wireless Technology...
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 help prevent damage to the system board, remove the main battery (see "Removing the Battery Pack"...
10 Disconnect the speakers cable from the connector on the system board. 11 Note the speakers cable routing and remove the cable from the routing guides on the computer base. 12 Remove the four screws that secure the speakers to the computer base. 13 Lift the speakers along with the cable off the computer base.
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5 Connect the speakers cable to the connector on the system board. 6 Replace the palm rest assembly (see "Replacing the Palm Rest Assembly" on page 81). 7 Replace the status light board (see "Replacing the Status Light Board" on page 76).
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).
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11 Lift the release latch on the connector on the system board and disconnect the optical-drive cable from the connector on the system board. 12 Remove the two screws that secure the optical-drive assembly to the computer base. 13 Lift the optical-drive assembly off the computer base. optical-drive cable screws (2) optical drive...
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optical drive optical-drive bracket screws (5) 15 Remove the interposer from the optical drive. interposer Optical Drive...
Replacing the Optical Drive 1 Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9. 2 Replace the interposer to the optical drive. 3 Align the screw holes on the optical-drive bracket with the screw holes on the optical drive and replace the five screws. 4 Align the slot on the optical-drive bracket with the alignment posts on computer chassis and secure the optical-drive assembly in place.
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 help prevent damage to the system board, remove the main battery (see "Removing the Battery Pack"...
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8 Remove the graphics-card heat sink fan (see "Removing the Graphics-Card Heat Sink Fan" on page 31). 9 Remove the graphics-card assembly (see "Removing the Graphics-Card Assembly" on page 35). 10 Remove the processor heat-sink fan (see "Removing the Processor Heat-Sink Fan"...
screws (6) system board Replacing the System Board 1 Follow the instructions in "Before You Begin" on page 9. 2 Align the connectors on the system board with the slots on the computer base and place it on the computer base. 3 Replace the six screws that secure the system board to the computer base.
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9 Replace the wirelessHD card (see "Replacing the WirelessHD Card" on page 64). 10 Replace the display assembly (see "Replacing the Display Assembly" on page 73). 11 Replace the power button board (see "Replacing the Power Button Board" on page 68). 12 Replace the Mini-Card (see "Replacing the Mini-Card"...
26 Turn on the computer. NOTE: After you have replaced the system board, enter the computer Service Tag into the BIOS of the replacement system board. 27 Enter the service tag (see "Entering the Service Tag in the BIOS" on page 99).
System Setup Configuring the System Setup The System Setup options allow you to: • Change the system configuration information after you add, change or remove any hardware in your laptop. • Set or change a user-selectable option. • View the installed amount of memory or set the type of hard drive installed.
Key functions appear at the bottom of the BIOS Setup Utility window and lists keys and their functions within the active field. System Setup Options NOTE: Depending on your computer and installed devices, the items listed in this section may not appear, or may not appear exactly as listed. Main Menu Displays the system time.
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Advanced Menu Allows you to enable or disable the Intel Intel SpeedStep SpeedStep technology. Disabling this feature may improve performance, but will greatly reduce battery life. Allows you to enable or disable the Intel Virtualization Virtualization technology. Allows you to enable or disable the USB USB Emulation emulation feature.
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Allows you to enable or disable the on- Integrated Network board LAN controller. • Disabled: Internal LAN is disabled and is not visible to the operating system. • Enabled: Internal LAN is enabled. Allows you to enable or disable the High Definition Audio internal high definition audio device.
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• Allows you to choose if the Adapter Warnings computer should display warning messages when you use AC adapters that are not supported by your computer. • Enabled: BIOS will detect unsupported AC adapters and display an error on the screen. Allows you to enable or disable battery Charger Behavior charging.
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Allows you to enable or disable the Memory Override Support memory override option support. • Disabled: The memory override support is disabled. • Enabled: Displays additional memory override support options. Allows you to increase memory voltage. Memory Voltage Allows you to set memory frequency. Memory Frequency Allows you to configure different XMP DIMM Profile (XMP)
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Displays if the user password is clear or User Password set. Displays the service tag of the computer Set Service Tag when the service tag is present. Displays a field to input the service tag manually when the service tag is absent. Allows you to set the supervisor password.
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Allows you to load previous values from Discard Changes CMOS for all Setup items. System Setup...
To flash the BIOS: 1 Turn on the computer. 2 Go to support.dell.com/support/downloads. 3 Locate the BIOS update file for your computer: NOTE: The Service Tag for your computer is located on a label at the bottom of the computer.
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7 Click Close if the Download Complete window appears. The file icon appears on your desktop and is titled the same as the downloaded BIOS update file. 8 Double-click the file icon on the desktop and follow the instructions on the screen.