XPS 15 9510 Service Manual Regulatory Model: P91F Regulatory Type: P91F002 May 2021 Rev.
Notes, cautions, and warnings NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your product. CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the problem. WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death. © 2021 Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. All rights reserved. Dell, EMC, and other trademarks are trademarks of Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries.
Contents Chapter 1: Working inside your computer...................................................................................... 5 Before working inside your computer.............................................................................................................................5 Safety instructions..............................................................................................................................................................
Installing the display assembly..................................................................................................................................36 System board..................................................................................................................................................................... 39 Removing the system board.....................................................................................................................................
1 Working inside your computer Before working inside your computer About this task NOTE: The images in this document may differ from your computer depending on the configuration you ordered. Steps 1. Save and close all open files and exit all open applications. 2. Shut down your computer. Click Start > Power > Shut down. NOTE: If you are using a different operating system, see the documentation of your operating system for shut-down instructions. 3.
CAUTION: When you disconnect a cable, pull it by its connector or its pull tab, not the cable itself. Some cables have connectors with locking tabs or thumbscrews that you must disengage before disconnecting the cable. When disconnecting cables, keep them evenly aligned to avoid bending the connector pins. When connecting cables, ensure that the ports and the connectors are correctly oriented and aligned. CAUTION: Press and eject any installed card from the media-card reader.
● ● ● ● ● use wireless wrist straps. Always be aware that the internal wires of a wrist strap are prone to damage from normal wear and tear, and must be checked regularly with a wrist strap tester in order to avoid accidental ESD hardware damage. It is recommended to test the wrist strap and bonding wire at least once per week. ESD Wrist Strap Tester – The wires inside of an ESD strap are prone to damage over time.
2 Removing and installing components NOTE: The images in this document may differ from your computer depending on the configuration you ordered. Recommended tools The procedures in this document may require the following tools: ● ● ● ● Phillips screwdriver #0 Phillips screwdriver #1 Torx #5 (T5) screwdriver Plastic scribe Screw list NOTE: When removing screws from a component, it is recommended to note the screw type, the quantity of screws, and then place them in a screw storage box.
Table 1. Screw list (continued) Component Secured to Screw type Quantity Speakers Palm-rest and keyboard assembly M2x2 4 Graphics card-processor thermal shield cover System board M2x2 2 Type-C bracket Palm-rest and keyboard assembly M2x4 2 Display-assembly cable bracket System board M2x2 3 Display-assembly cable holder Palm-rest and keyboard assembly M1.6x3 2 Left hinge System board and palm-rest and keyboard assembly M2.5x5.
1. Base cover 2. Battery 3. Heat sink 4. Memory module 5. Right fan 6. USB Type-C bracket 7. System board 8. Graphics card-processor thermal bracket 9. Speaker 10. Display assembly 11. Palm-rest and keyboard assembly 12. Wireless-card bracket 13. I/O-board shield 14. I/O board 15. USB Type-C port bracket 16. I/O-board cable 17. Left fan 18. Display-assembly cable bracket 19. Solid-state drive 2 20. Solid-state drive 2 thermal bracket 21. Solid-state drive 1 22.
NOTE: Dell provides a list of components and their part numbers for the original system configuration purchased. These parts are available according to warranty coverages purchased by the customer. Contact your Dell sales representative for purchase options. Base cover Removing the base cover Prerequisites 1. Follow the procedure in Before working inside your computer. About this task The following images indicate the location of the base cover and provide a visual representation of the removal procedure.
Removing and installing components
Steps 1. Remove the eight screws (M2x3) that secure the base cover to the palm-rest and keyboard assembly. CAUTION: Do not pull on or pry the base cover at the side where the hinges are located; doing so may damage the base cover. CAUTION: The base cover is preassembled with the audio-daughter board. The pins at the bottom of the base cover are fragile. They ground the antennas and audio-daughter board. Place the base cover on a clean surface to avoid damage to the pins. 2.
NOTE: Disconnecting the battery cable, removing the battery, or draining the flea power clears the CMOS and resets the BIOS settings on your computer. NOTE: After your computer is reassembled and powered on, it prompts for the Real Time Clock (RTC) reset. When the RTC reset cycle occurs, the computer restarts several times and then an error message is displayed– "Time of day not set". Enter the BIOS when this error appears and set the date and time on your computer to resume normal functionality. 4.
Steps 1. Connect the battery cable to the system board, if applicable. 2. Align the screw holes on the base cover with the screw holes on the palm-rest and keyboard assembly. 3. Starting from the bottom-right corner snap the base cover. Work your way around to the middle of the base cover and then to the bottom-left corner and snap the base cover into place. 4. Replace the eight screws (M2x3) that secure the base cover to the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
● Discharge the battery completely before removing it. Disconnect the AC power adapter from the system and operate the computer solely on battery power—the battery is fully discharged when the computer no longer turns on when the power button is pressed. ● Do not crush, drop, mutilate, or penetrate the battery with foreign objects. ● Do not expose the battery to high temperatures, or disassemble battery packs and cells. ● Do not apply pressure to the surface of the battery. ● Do not bend the battery.
4. Peel the tapes that secure the speaker cable to the battery. 5. Lift the battery off the palm-rest and keyboard assembly. Installing the battery Prerequisites If you are replacing a component, remove the existing component before performing the installation procedure. About this task The following image indicates the location of the battery and provides a visual representation of the installation procedure. Steps 1.
2. Remove the base cover. About this task The following image indicates the location of the memory modules and provides a visual representation of the removal procedure. Steps 1. Use your fingertips to carefully spread apart the securing-clips on each end of the memory-module slot until the memory module pops up. 2. Slide and remove the memory module from the memory-module slot. NOTE: Repeat step 1 and step 2 to remove the other memory module if available on your computer.
Steps 1. Align the notch on the memory module with the tab on the memory-module slot. 2. Slide the memory module firmly at an angle, into the memory-module slot. 3. Press the memory module down until it clicks into place. NOTE: If you do not hear the click, remove the memory module and reinstall it. NOTE: Repeat step 1 to step 3 to install the other memory module if available on your computer. Next steps 1. Install the base cover. 2. Follow the procedure in After working inside your computer.
Steps 1. Remove the screw (M2x2) that secures the solid-state drive thermal bracket and the solid-state drive 1 to the system board. 2. Slide the solid-state drive thermal bracket from the alignment post and lift it from the system board. 3. Slide and remove the solid-state drive 1 from the solid-state drive slot. NOTE: The size of the solid-state drive thermal bracket varies based on the storage type. A solid-state drive thermal bracket that is designed for an M.2 2280 drive cannot accommodate an M.
Steps 1. Align the notch on the solid-state drive 1 with the tab on the solid-state drive slot. 2. Gently slide the solid-state drive 1 into the solid-state drive slot. 3. Slide the solid-state drive thermal bracket into the alignment post on the system board. 4. Align the screw hole on the solid-state drive thermal bracket with the screw hole on the system board. NOTE: The size of the solid-state drive thermal bracket varies based on the storage type.
Steps 1. Remove the screw (M2x2) that secures the solid-state drive thermal bracket and the solid-state drive 2 to the system board. 2. Slide the solid-state drive thermal bracket from the alignment post and lift it from the system board. 3. Slide and remove the solid-state drive 2 from the solid-state drive slot. NOTE: The size of the solid-state drive thermal bracket varies based on the storage type. A solid-state drive thermal bracket that is designed for an M.2 2280 drive cannot accommodate an M.
Steps 1. Align the notch on the solid-state drive 2 with the tab on the solid-state drive slot. 2. Gently slide the solid-state drive 2 into the solid-state drive slot. 3. Slide the solid-state drive thermal bracket into the alignment post on the system board, and align the screw hole on the solid-state drive thermal bracket with the screw hole on the system board. NOTE: The size of the solid-state drive thermal bracket varies based on the storage type.
2. Secure the M.2 2230 solid-state drive to the bracket with a M2x2 screw. 3. To install the M.2 2230 solid-state drive card to the solid-state drive card slot 1, see installing the solid state drive 1. To install the M.2 2230 solid-state drive card to the solid-state drive card slot 2, see installing the solid state drive 2. Fans Removing the left fan Prerequisites 1. Follow the procedure in Before working inside your computer. 2. Remove the base cover.
Steps 1. Peel the tape that secures the fan cable to the system board. 2. Disconnect the fan cable from the system board. 3. Remove the two screws (M2x4) that secure the fan to the system board and palm-rest and keyboard assembly. CAUTION: Do not hold the fan assembly at the center, as it may damage the center bearing. 4. Slide the fan out of the heat sink and then lift it from the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
Steps 1. Connect the fan cable to the system board. 2. Adhere the tape that secures the fan cable to the system board. 3. Slide fan below the heat sink and align the screw holes on fan with the screw holes on the system board and palm-rest and keyboard assembly. 4. Replace the two screws (M2x4) that secure the fan to the system board and palm-rest and keyboard assembly. Next steps 1. Install the base cover. 2. Follow the procedure in After working inside your computer.
Steps 1. Remove the two screws (M2x4) that secure the I/O-board shield to the fan and palm-rest and keyboard assembly. 2. Lift the I/O-board shield off the system board. 3. Remove the screw (M2x4) that secures the fan to the system board. 4. Disconnect the fan cable from the system board. CAUTION: Do not hold the fan assembly at the center, as it may damage the center bearing. 5. Slide the fan out of the heat sink and lift the fan off the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
Steps 1. Slide fan below the heat sink and align the screw hole on fan with the screw hole on the palm-rest and keyboard assembly. 2. Replace the screw (M2x4) that secures the fan to the system board. 3. Connect the fan cable to the system board. 4. Align the screw holes on the I/O-board shield with the screw holes on the fan and system board. 5. Replace the two screws (M2x4) that secure the I/O-board shield to the fan and palm-rest and keyboard assembly. Next steps 1. Install the base cover. 2.
Steps 1. In reverse sequential order (as indicated on the heat sink), loosen the four captive screws that secure the heat sink to the system board. 2. Lift the heat sink off the system board. Installing the heat sink Prerequisites If you are replacing a component, remove the existing component before performing the installation procedure. CAUTION: Incorrect alignment of the heat sink can damage the system board and processor.
Steps 1. Align the screw holes on the heat sink with the screw holes on the system board. 2. In sequential order (as indicated on the heat sink), tighten the four captive screws that secure the heat sink to the system board. Next steps 1. Install the base cover. 2. Follow the procedure in After working inside your computer. Speakers Removing the speakers Prerequisites 1. Follow the procedure in Before working inside your computer. 2. Remove the base cover.
Steps 1. Peel the tape, and disconnect the speaker cable from the system board. 2. Peel the tapes that secure the speaker cable to the battery. 3. Remove the two screws (M2x2) that secure the speakers to the palm-rest and keyboard assembly. 4. Note the speaker cable routing, and remove the speaker cable from the routing guides on the palm-rest and keyboard assembly. 5. Lift the speakers, along with the cables, off the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
Steps 1. Using the alignment posts and rubber grommets, place the speakers on the slots of the palm-rest and keyboard assembly. 2. Route the speaker cable through the routing guides on the palm-rest and keyboard assembly. 3. Adhere the tapes that secure the speaker cable to the battery. 4. Replace the two screws (M2x2) that secures the speakers to the palm-rest and keyboard assembly. 5. Connect the speaker cable to the system board and adhere the tape that secures the speaker cable to the system board.
Steps 1. Disconnect the I/O-board cable from the system board and I/O board. 2. Lift the I/O-board cable from the system board. 3. Disconnect the screw (M2x4) that secures the USB Type-C port bracket to the system board and lift the bracket off the I/O board. 4. Lift the I/O board off the palm-rest and keyboard assembly. Installing the I/O board Prerequisites If you are replacing a component, remove the existing component before performing the installation procedure.
Steps 1. Place the I/O board on the palm-rest and keyboard assembly. 2. Align the screw hole on the USB Type-C port bracket with the screw hole on the system board. 3. Connect the screw (M2x4) that secures the USB Type-C port bracket to the system board. NOTE: Ensure to connect IO marked side of the I/O-board cable to the I/O daughter board and the side marked MB to the system board. 4. Connect the I/O-board cable to the connector on the system board and I/O board. Next steps 1. Install the right fan. 2.
Removing and installing components 35
Steps 1. Loosen the three captive screws that secure the display-assembly cable bracket to the system board. 2. Lift the display-assembly cable bracket off the system board. 3. Remove the two screws (M1.6x3) that secure the display-assembly cable holder to the palm-rest and keyboard assembly. 4. Disconnect the touchscreen cable and camera cable. 5. Remove the eight screws (M2.5x5.5) that secure the left and right display-assembly hinges to the system board and the palm-rest and keyboard assembly. 6.
Removing and installing components 37
Steps 1. Slide the palm-rest and keyboard assembly under the display-assembly hinges. 2. Align the screw holes on the palm-rest assembly with the screw holes on the right and left display-assembly hinges. 3. Replace the four screws (M2.5x5.5) that secure the left hinge to the system board and the palm-rest and keyboard assembly. 4. Replace the four screws (M2.5x5.5) that secure the right hinge to the system board and the palm-rest and keyboard assembly. 5.
System board Removing the system board Prerequisites 1. Follow the procedure in Before working inside your computer. NOTE: Before disconnecting the cables from the system board, note the location of the connectors so that you can reconnect the cables correctly after you replace the system board. NOTE: The Service Tag of your computer is stored in the system board. Enter the Service Tag in the BIOS setup program after you replace the system board.
Removing and installing components
Steps 1. Loosen the three captive screws that secure the display-assembly cable bracket to the system board. 2. Lift the display-assembly cable bracket off the system board. 3. Remove the two screws (M1.6x3) that secure the display-assembly cable holder to the palm-rest and keyboard assembly. 4. Disconnect the touch screen cable and camera cable. 5. Remove the screw (M1.6x3) that secures the wireless-card bracket to the system board. 6.
NOTE: Replacing the system board removes any changes that you have made to the BIOS using the BIOS setup program. Make the appropriate changes again after you replace the system board. After your computer is reassembled and turned on, it prompts for the Real Time Clock (RTC) reset. When the RTC reset cycle occurs, the computer restarts several times and then an error message is displayed- "Time of day not set".
Removing and installing components 43
Steps 1. Align the screw holes on the system board with the screw holes on the palm-rest and keyboard assembly. 2. Replace the two screws (M2x4) that secure the system board to the palm-rest and keyboard assembly. 3. Connect the keyboard-control board cable to the system board and close the latch to secure the cable. 4. Align the screw holes on the Type-C bracket with the screw holes on the palm-rest and keyboard assembly. 5.
8. 9. 10. 11. Install the battery. Install the speakers. Install the base cover. Follow the procedure in After working inside your computer. Palm-rest and keyboard assembly Removing the palm-rest and keyboard assembly Prerequisites 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. Follow the procedure in Before working inside your computer. Remove the base cover. Remove the battery. Remove the speakers. Remove the memory. Remove the solid state drive1. Remove the solid state drive2. Remove the heat sink.
Installing the palm-rest and keyboard assembly Prerequisites If you are replacing a component, remove the existing component before performing the installation procedure. About this task The following image indicates the palm-rest and keyboard assembly and provides a visual representation of the installation procedure. Steps Place the palm-rest and keyboard assembly on a flat surface. Next steps 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 46 Install the system board. Install the display assembly.
3 Drivers and downloads When troubleshooting, downloading or installing drivers it is recommended that you read the Dell Knowledge Based article, Drivers and Downloads FAQ SLN128938.
4 System setup CAUTION: Unless you are an expert computer user, do not change the settings in the BIOS Setup program. Certain changes can make your computer work incorrectly. NOTE: Depending on the computer and its installed devices, the items listed in this section may or may not be displayed. NOTE: Before you change BIOS Setup program, it is recommended that you write down the BIOS Setup program screen information for future reference.
● Bring up the one-time boot menu by pressing F12 key The one-time boot menu displays the devices that you can boot from including the diagnostic option. The boot menu options are: ● Removable Drive (if available) ● STXXXX Drive (if available) NOTE: XXX denotes the SATA drive number. ● Optical Drive (if available) ● SATA Hard Drive (if available) ● Diagnostics The boot sequence screen also displays the option to access the System Setup screen.
Table 3. System setup options—System information menu (continued) Overview Battery State Displays the battery state. Health Displays the battery health. AC Adapter Displays whether an AC adapter is connected. If connected, the AC adapter type. PROCESSOR Processor Type Displays the processor type. Maximum Clock Speed Displays the maximum processor clock speed. Minimum Clock Speed Displays the minimum processor clock speed. Current Clock Speed Displays the current processor clock speed.
Table 4. System setup options—Boot options menu (continued) Boot options Secure Digital (SD) Card Boot Enable Secure Digital (SD) Card Boot Enables or disables Secure Digital (SD) Card Boot Default: ON Secure Boot Enables or disables Secure Boot Default: OFF Expert Key Management Allows databases to be manipulated Table 5. System setup options—Integrated Devices Integrated Devices Date/Time Date Sets the computer date in MM/DD/YYYY format. Changes to the date take effect immediately.
Table 5. System setup options—Integrated Devices (continued) Integrated Devices Default: OFF Video/Power only on Type-C Ports Enables or disables USB4 PCIe Tunneling. Default: OFF Miscellaneous Devices Enables or disables various onboard devices. Enable Camera Enables or disables the camera. By default, Enable Camera is selected. Touchscreen Enables or disables the touchscreen. By default, Touchscreen is selected. Enable Fingerprint Reader Device Enables or disables the Fingerprint Reader Device.
Table 7. System setup options—Security menu (continued) Security Default: Enabled TPM 2.0 Security On Select whether or not the Trusted Platform Model (TPM) is visible to the OS. Default: ON PPI Bypass for Enable Commands Enables or disables the OS to skip BIOS Physical Presence Interface (PPI) user prompts when issuing TPM PPI enabled and activate commands.
Table 8. System setup options—Passwords menu (continued) Passwords Admin Password Min Specify the minimum number of characters allowed for Admin password. Default: 4 Admin Password Max Specify the maximum number of characters allowed for Admin password. Default: 32 System Password Min Specify the minimum number of characters allowed for System password. Default: 4 System Password Max Specify the maximum number of characters allowed for System password.
Table 11. System setup options—Performance menu (continued) Performance Enable Intel SpeedStep Technology Enables or disables the Intel SpeedStep Technology to dynamically adjust processor voltage and core frequency, decreasing average power consumption and heat production. Default: ON Enable C-State Control Enables or disables the CPU's ability to enter and exit low-power states.
Table 12. System setup options—Power Management menu (continued) Power Management Control WLAN radio Enables to sense the connection of the computer to a wired network and subsequently disable the selected wireless radios (WLAN and/or WWAN). Upon disconnection from the wired network, the selected wireless radios are re-enabled. Default: OFF Wake on LAN Enables or disables the computer to turn on by a special LAN signal.
Table 14. System setup options—POST Behavior menu (continued) POST Behavior Default: Thorough. Performs complete hardware and configuration initialization during boot. Extend BIOS POST Time Configures the BIOS POST (Power-On Self-Test) load time. Default: 0 seconds Full Screen Logo Enabled or disabled the computer to display full screen logo if the image match screen resolution. Default: OFF Mouse/Touchpad Defines how the computer handles mouse and touchpad input. Default: Touchpad and PS/2 Mouse.
Table 16. System setup options—Maintenance menu (continued) Maintenance Default: OFF Start Data Wipe CAUTION: This Secure Wipe Operation deletes information in a way that it cannot be reconstructed. If enabled, the BIOS will queue up a data wipe cycle for storage devices that are connected to the motherboard on the next reboot. Default: OFF Allow BIOS Downgrade Controls flashing of the system firmware to previous revisions. Default: ON Table 17.
2. Remove the base cover. NOTE: The battery must be disconnected from the system board. See step 3 in removing base cover. 3. Press and hold the power button for 15 seconds to drain the flea power. 4. Before you turn on your computer, follow the steps in installing the base cover. 5. Turn on your computer. Clearing BIOS (System Setup) and System passwords About this task To clear the system or BIOS passwords, contact Dell technical support as described at www.dell.com/contactdell.
5 Troubleshooting SupportAssist diagnostics About this task The SupportAssist diagnostics (previously known as ePSA diagnostics) performs a complete check of your hardware. The SupportAssist diagnostics is embedded in the BIOS and is launched by it internally. The SupportAssist diagnostics provides a set of options for particular devices or device groups. It allows you to: ● Run tests automatically or in an interactive mode.
Table 19. Functions (continued) M-BIST L-BIST Trigger Press the key and the power button. Integrated into the single LED error code diagnostics. Automatically initiated during POST. Indicator of fault Battery LED light with Solid Amber Battery LED error code of [2,8] blinks Amber x2, then pause, then blinks White x8. Repair instruction Indicates a problem with the system board. Indicates a problem with the system board. System board built-in self-test (M-BIST) About this task Steps 1.
Display panel built-in self-test (LCD-BIST) About this task Steps 1. Press and hold the D key and then press the power button. 2. Release both the D key and the power button when the computer begins POST. 3. The display panel begins to display a solid color, or cycling through different colors. NOTE: The sequence of colors may very due to different display panel vendor. The user only needs to ensure that the colors are being displayed correctly without distortion or graphical anomalies. 4.
Table 20. BIST outcome LCD-BIST The LCD that flashes White, Red, Green, and Blue shows that the display is working fine and there is no fault with the LCD panel. System diagnostic lights Battery-status light Indicates the power and battery-charge status. Solid white — Power adapter is connected and the battery has more than 5 percent charge. Amber — Computer is running on battery and the battery has less than 5 percent charge. Off ● Power adapter is connected and the battery is fully charged.
Camera status light: Indicates whether the camera is in use. ● Solid white — Camera is in use. ● Off — Camera is not in use. Caps Lock status light: Indicates whether Caps Lock is enabled or disabled. ● Solid white — Caps Lock enabled. ● Off — Caps Lock disabled. Recovering the operating system When your computer is unable to boot to the operating system even after repeated attempts, it automatically starts Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery.
7. Type the BIOS setup program filename and press Enter. 8. The BIOS Update Utility appears. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the BIOS update. Backup media and recovery options It is recommended to create a recovery drive to troubleshoot and fix problems that may occur with Windows. Dell proposes multiple options for recovering Windows operating system on your Dell PC. For more information. see Dell Windows Backup Media and Recovery Options.
