Table of Contents
- Inspiron 15 7000 Series Service Manual
- Before Working Inside Your Computer
- After Working Inside Your Computer
- Removing the Base Cover
- Replacing the Base Cover
- Removing the Battery
- Replacing the Battery
- Removing the Hard Drive
- Replacing the Hard Drive
- Removing the Memory Module(s)
- Replacing the Memory Module(s)
- Removing the Wireless Card
- Replacing the Wireless Card
- Removing the Coin-Cell Battery
- Replacing the Coin-Cell Battery
- Removing the Power-Adapter Port
- Replacing the Power-Adapter Port
- Removing the Power-Status Light Board
- Replacing the Power-Status Light Board
- Removing the Processor Fan
- Replacing the Processor Fan
- Removing the Video-Card Fan
- Replacing the Video-Card Fan
- Removing the Heat Sink
- Replacing the Heat Sink
- Removing the Speakers
- Replacing the Speakers
- Removing the Display Assembly
- Replacing the Display Assembly
- Removing the System Board
- Replacing the System Board
- Removing the Palm Rest and Keyboard
- Replacing the Palm Rest and Keyboard
- Flashing the BIOS
DELL 7548 User Manual
Displayed below is the user manual for 7548 by DELL which is a product in the Notebooks category. This manual has pages.
Related Manuals
Inspiron 15
7000 Series
Service Manual
Computer Model: Inspiron 7548
Regulatory Model: P41F
Regulatory Type: P41F001
Notes, Cautions, and Warnings
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better
use of your computer.
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.
Copyright © 2014 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. This product is protected by U.S. and
international copyright and intellectual property laws. Dell™ and the Dell logo are trademarks
of Dell Inc. in the United States and/or other jurisdictions. All other marks and names
mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies.
2014 - 11
Rev. A00
Contents
Before Working Inside Your Computer................................... 7
Before You Begin .............................................................................................. 7
Safety Instructions..............................................................................................7
Recommended Tools........................................................................................ 8
After Working Inside Your Computer....................................10
Removing the Base Cover........................................................ 11
Procedure......................................................................................................... 11
Replacing the Base Cover........................................................ 13
Procedure.........................................................................................................13
Removing the Battery...............................................................14
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................14
Procedure.........................................................................................................14
Replacing the Battery............................................................... 16
Procedure.........................................................................................................16
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 16
Removing the Hard Drive.........................................................17
Prerequisites..................................................................................................... 17
Procedure......................................................................................................... 17
Replacing the Hard Drive......................................................... 19
Procedure.........................................................................................................19
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 19
Removing the Memory Module(s)..........................................20
Prerequisites.................................................................................................... 20
Procedure........................................................................................................ 20
Replacing the Memory Module(s).......................................... 22
Procedure.........................................................................................................22
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 23
Removing the Wireless Card...................................................24
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................24
Procedure........................................................................................................ 24
Replacing the Wireless Card................................................... 26
Procedure........................................................................................................ 26
Post-requisites.................................................................................................26
Removing the Coin-Cell Battery.............................................27
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................27
Procedure.........................................................................................................27
Replacing the Coin-Cell Battery.............................................29
Procedure........................................................................................................ 29
Post-requisites.................................................................................................29
Removing the Power-Adapter Port....................................... 30
Prerequisites.................................................................................................... 30
Procedure........................................................................................................ 30
Replacing the Power-Adapter Port........................................32
Procedure.........................................................................................................32
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 32
Removing the Power-Status Light Board............................. 33
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................33
Procedure.........................................................................................................33
Replacing the Power-Status Light Board..............................35
Procedure.........................................................................................................35
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 35
Removing the Processor Fan.................................................. 36
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................36
Procedure........................................................................................................ 36
Replacing the Processor Fan...................................................38
Procedure........................................................................................................ 38
Post-requisites.................................................................................................38
Removing the Video-Card Fan................................................39
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................39
Procedure........................................................................................................ 39
Replacing the Video-Card Fan................................................42
Procedure........................................................................................................ 42
Post-requisites.................................................................................................42
Removing the Heat Sink...........................................................43
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................43
Procedure........................................................................................................ 44
Replacing the Heat Sink...........................................................45
Procedure........................................................................................................ 45
Post-requisites.................................................................................................45
Removing the Speakers............................................................46
Prerequisites.................................................................................................... 46
Procedure........................................................................................................ 46
Replacing the Speakers............................................................48
Procedure........................................................................................................ 48
Post-requisites.................................................................................................48
Removing the Display Assembly............................................ 49
Prerequisites.................................................................................................... 49
Procedure........................................................................................................ 49
Replacing the Display Assembly............................................. 52
Procedure.........................................................................................................52
Post-requisites................................................................................................. 52
Removing the System Board................................................... 53
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................53
Procedure........................................................................................................ 54
Replacing the System Board................................................... 56
Procedure........................................................................................................ 56
Post-requisites.................................................................................................56
Removing the Palm Rest and Keyboard................................ 57
Procedure.........................................................................................................57
Procedure.........................................................................................................57
Replacing the Palm Rest and Keyboard................................60
Procedure........................................................................................................ 60
Post-requisites.................................................................................................60
Flashing the BIOS.......................................................................61
Before Working Inside Your
Computer
CAUTION: To avoid damaging the components and cards, handle
them by their edges and avoid touching pins and contacts.
NOTE: The images in this document may differ from your computer
depending on the configuration you ordered.
Before You Begin
1 Save and close all open files and exit all open applications.
2 Shut down your computer.
– Windows 8.1: On the Start screen, click or tap the power icon →
Shut down.
– Windows 7: Click or tap Start → Shut down .
NOTE: If you are using a different operating system, see the
documentation of your operating system for shut-down
instructions.
3 Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electrical
outlets.
4 Disconnect all cables such as telephone cables, network cables and so
on, from your computer.
5 Disconnect all attached devices and peripherals, such as keyboard,
mouse, monitor, and so on, from your computer.
6 Remove any media card and optical disc from your computer, if
applicable.
Safety Instructions
Use the following safety guidelines to protect your computer from potential
damage and ensure your personal safety.
7
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer. For more safety best
practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/
regulatory_compliance.
WARNING: Disconnect all power sources before opening the
computer cover or panels. After you finish working inside the
computer, replace all covers, panels, and screws before connecting to
the power source.
CAUTION: To avoid damaging the computer, make sure that the work
surface is flat and clean.
CAUTION: To avoid damaging the components and cards, handle
them by their edges and avoid touching pins and contacts.
CAUTION: You should only perform troubleshooting and repairs as
authorized or directed by the Dell technical assistance team. Damage
due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your
warranty. See the safety instructions that shipped with the product or
at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
CAUTION: Before touching anything inside your computer, ground
yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface, such as the metal at
the back of the computer. While you work, periodically touch an
unpainted metal surface to dissipate static electricity, which could
harm internal components.
CAUTION: When you disconnect a cable, pull on its connector or on
its pull-tab, not on the cable itself. Some cables have connectors with
locking tabs or thumb-screws that you must disengage before
disconnecting the cable. When disconnecting cables, keep them
evenly aligned to avoid bending any connector pins. When connecting
cables, make sure that the ports and connectors are correctly oriented
and aligned.
CAUTION: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from
your computer and then unplug the cable from the network device.
CAUTION: Press and eject any installed card from the media-card
reader.
Recommended Tools
The procedures in this document may require the following tools:
8
• Philips screwdriver
• Plastic scribe
9
After Working Inside Your
Computer
CAUTION: Leaving stray or loose screws inside your computer may
severely damage your computer.
1 Replace all screws and make sure that no stray screws remain inside your
computer.
2 Connect any external devices, peripherals, and cables you removed
before working on your computer.
3 Replace any media cards, discs, and any other part(s) that you removed
before working on your computer.
4 Connect your computer and all attached devices to their electrical
outlets.
5 Turn on your computer.
10
Removing the Base Cover
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your
Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Close the display and turn the computer over.
2 Loosen the captive screws that secure the base cover to the palm-rest
assembly.
3 Remove the screws that secure the base cover to the palm-rest
assembly.
4 Using a plastic scribe, pry the base cover from the palm-rest assembly.
11
5 Lift the base cover off the computer.
1 screws (6) 2 base cover
3 captive screws (4) 4 plastic scribe
12
Replacing the Base Cover
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your
Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Align the tabs on the base cover with the slots on the palm-rest assembly
and snap the base cover into place.
2 Replace the screws that secure the base cover to the palm-rest assembly.
3 Tighten the captive screws that secure the base cover to the palm-rest
assembly.
13
Removing the Battery
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your
Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
Remove the base cover.
Procedure
1 Remove the screws that secure the battery to the palm-rest assembly.
2 Turn the battery over.
1 screws (5) 2 battery
14
3 Disconnect the battery cable from the battery.
1 battery cable 2 battery
4 Turn the computer over, open the display, and press the power button
for five seconds to ground the system board.
15
Replacing the Battery
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your
Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Connect the battery cable to the battery.
2 Turn the battery over and align the screw holes on the battery with the
screw holes on the palm-rest assembly.
3 Replace the screws that secure the battery to the palm-rest assembly.
Post-requisites
Replace the base cover.
16
Removing the Hard Drive
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your
Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
CAUTION: Hard drives are fragile. Exercise care when handling the
hard drive.
CAUTION: To avoid data loss, do not remove the hard drive while the
computer is in sleep or on state.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the base cover.
2 Remove the battery.
Procedure
1 Remove the screws that secure the hard-drive assembly to the palm-rest
assembly.
17
2 Slide and lift the hard-drive assembly off the palm-rest assembly.
1 screws (4) 2 hard-drive assembly
3 Remove the screws that secure the hard-drive bracket to the hard-drive.
4 Lift the hard-drive bracket off the hard drive.
1 hard-drive bracket 2 screws (4)
3 hard drive
18
Replacing the Hard Drive
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your
Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
CAUTION: Hard drives are fragile. Exercise care when handling the
hard drive.
Procedure
1 Align the screw holes on the hard-drive bracket with the screw holes on
the hard drive.
2 Replace the screws that secure the hard-drive bracket to the hard-drive.
3 Slide the hard-drive assembly into the slot on the palm-rest assembly.
4 Replace the screws that secure the hard-drive assembly to the palm-rest
assembly.
Post-requisites
1 Replace the battery.
2 Replace the base cover.
19
Removing the Memory
Module(s)
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your
Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the base cover.
2 Remove the battery.
Procedure
1 Peel off the mylar tape from the memory modules.
1 mylar tape
2 Use your fingertips to carefully spread apart the securing clips on each
end of the memory-module slot until the memory module pops up.
20
3 Remove the memory module from the memory-module slot.
1 securing clips (4) 2 memory-module slot (2)
3 memory modules (2)
21
Replacing the Memory
Module(s)
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your
Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Align the notch on the memory module with the tab on the memory-
module slot.
22
2 Slide the memory module firmly into the slot at a 45-degree angle and
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.
1 memory modules (2) 2 securing clips (4)
3 memory-module slot (2) 4 notch
5 tab
3 Adhere the mylar tape over the memory modules.
Post-requisites
1 Replace the battery.
2 Replace the base cover.
23
Removing the Wireless Card
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your
Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the base cover.
2 Remove the battery.
Procedure
1 Disconnect the antenna cables from the wireless card.
2 Remove the screw that secures the wireless card to the system board.
24
3 Slide and remove the wireless card from the wireless-card slot.
1 wireless-card slot 2 wireless card
3 antenna cables 4 screw
25
Replacing the Wireless Card
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your
Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Align the notch on the wireless card with the tab on the wireless-card
slot.
2 Slide the wireless card at an angle into the wireless-card slot.
3 Press the other end of the wireless card down and replace the screw that
secures the wireless card to the system board.
4 Connect the antenna cables to the wireless card.
The following table provides the antenna-cable color scheme for the
wireless card supported by your computer:
Connectors on the wireless card Antenna-cable color
Main (white triangle) White
Auxiliary (black triangle) Black
Post-requisites
1 Replace the battery.
2 Replace the base cover.
26
Removing the Coin-Cell
Battery
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your
Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
CAUTION: Removing the coin-cell battery resets the BIOS settings to
default. It is recommended that you note the BIOS settings before
removing the coin-cell battery.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the base cover.
2 Remove the battery.
Procedure
1 Lift the mylar tape off the coin-cell battery.
27
2 Using a plastic scribe, pry the coin-cell battery out of the battery socket.
1 mylar tape 2 plastic scribe
3 coin-cell battery
28
Replacing the Coin-Cell
Battery
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your
Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 With the positive-side facing up, snap the coin-cell battery into the
battery socket.
2 Adhere the mylar tape over the coin-cell battery.
Post-requisites
1 Replace the battery.
2 Replace the base cover.
29
Removing the Power-Adapter
Port
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your
Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the base cover.
2 Remove the battery.
Procedure
1 Disconnect the power-adapter port cable from the system board.
30
2 Using a plastic scribe, pry the power-adapter port out of the socket on
the palm-rest assembly.
1 power-adapter port 2 plastic scribe
3 power-adapter port cable
31
Replacing the Power-Adapter
Port
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your
Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Place the power-adapter port in its socket on the palm-rest assembly.
2 Connect the power-adapter port cable to the system board.
Post-requisites
1 Replace the battery.
2 Replace the base cover.
32
Removing the Power-Status
Light Board
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your
Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the base cover.
2 Remove the battery.
Procedure
1 Lift the latch and disconnect the power-light board cable from the
power-light board.
2 Remove the screws that secure the power-light board to the palm-rest
assembly.
33
3 Lift the power-light board off the palm-rest assembly.
1 screws (2) 2 latch
3 power-light board cable 4 power-light board
34
Replacing the Power-Status
Light Board
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your
Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Align the screw holes on the power-light board with the screw holes on
the palm-rest assembly.
2 Replace the screws that secure the power-light board to the palm-rest
assembly.
3 Connect the power-light board cable to the power-light board and press
down on the latch to secure the cable.
Post-requisites
1 Replace the battery.
2 Replace the base cover.
35
Removing the Processor Fan
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your
Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the base cover.
2 Remove the battery.
Procedure
1 Disconnect the display cable from the system board.
2 Note the display-cable routing and remove the display cable from the
routing guides on the fan.
1 processor fan 2 display cable
36
3 Lift the mylar tape and disconnect the processor-fan cable from the
system board.
4 Remove the screws that secure the processor fan to the system board.
5 Lift the processor fan off the system board.
1 screws (2) 2 processor fan
3 processor-fan cable 4 mylar tape
37
Replacing the Processor Fan
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your
Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Connect the processor-fan cable to the system board and adhere the
mylar tape.
2 Align the screw holes on the processor fan with the screw holes on the
system board.
3 Replace the screws that secure the processor fan to the system board.
4 Route the display cable and connect it to the system board.
Post-requisites
1 Replace the battery.
2 Replace the base cover.
38
Removing the Video-Card Fan
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your
Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the base cover.
2 Remove the battery.
Procedure
1 Disconnect the antenna cables from the wireless card.
39
2 Note the antenna-cable routing and remove the antenna cables from the
routing guides on the video-card fan.
1 video-card fan 2 wireless card
3 antenna cables
3 Disconnect the video-card fan cable from the system board.
4 Remove the screws that secure the video-card fan to the system board.
40
5 Lift the video-card fan off the system board.
1 screws (2) 2 video-card fan
3 video-card fan cable
41
Replacing the Video-Card Fan
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your
Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Align the screw holes on the video-card fan with the screw holes on the
system board.
2 Replace the screws that secure the video-card fan to the system board.
3 Connect the video-card fan cable to the system board.
4 Route the antenna cables and connect them to the wireless card.
Post-requisites
1 Replace the battery.
2 Replace the base cover.
42
Removing the Heat Sink
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your
Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
WARNING: The heat sink may become hot during normal operation.
Allow sufficient time for the heat sink to cool before you touch it.
CAUTION: For maximum cooling of the processor, do not touch the
heat transfer areas on the heat sink. The oils in your skin can reduce
the heat transfer capability of the thermal grease.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the base cover.
2 Remove the battery.
43
Procedure
1 Peel off the mylar tape from the memory modules.
1 mylar tape
2 Loosen the captive screws that secure the heat sink to the system board.
3 Lift the heat sink off the system board.
1 heat sink 2 captive screws (6)
44
Replacing the Heat Sink
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your
Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
CAUTION: Incorrect alignment of the heat sink can cause damage to
the system board and processor.
NOTE: The original thermal grease can be reused if the original system
board and heat sink are reinstalled together. If either the system board
or the heat sink is replaced, use the thermal pad provided in the kit to
make sure that thermal conductivity is achieved.
Procedure
1 Align the captive screws on the heat sink with the screw holes on the
system board.
2 Tighten the captive screws that secure the heat sink to the system board.
3 Adhere the mylar tape over the memory modules.
Post-requisites
1 Replace the battery.
2 Replace the base cover.
45
Removing the Speakers
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your
Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the base cover.
2 Remove the battery.
Procedure
1 Disconnect the speaker cable from the system board.
46
2 Note the speaker-cable routing and lift the speakers, along with the
speaker cable, off the palm-rest assembly.
1 speaker cable 2 left speaker
3 right speaker
47
Replacing the Speakers
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your
Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Route the speaker cable and, using the alignment posts on the palm rest,
place the speakers in position.
2 Connect the speaker cable to the system board.
Post-requisites
1 Replace the battery.
2 Replace the base cover.
48
Removing the Display
Assembly
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your
Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the base cover.
2 Remove the battery.
Procedure
1 Disconnect the antenna cables from the wireless card.
2 Note the antenna-cable routing and remove them from the routing
guides on the video-card fan.
3 Disconnect the display cable from the system board.
49
4 Note the display-cable routing and remove the display cable from the
routing guides on the processor fan.
1 wireless card 2 antenna cables
3 display cable
5 Open the palm-rest assembly to an angle of 90 degrees.
6 Place the computer at the edge of a table with the display hanging over.
7 Remove the screws that secure the display assembly to the palm-rest
assembly.
50
8 Lift the display assembly off the computer.
1 screws (6) 2 hinges (2)
3 display assembly
51
Replacing the Display
Assembly
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your
Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Place the palm-rest assembly on the edge of a table with the keyboard
facing down.
2 Align the screw holes on the hinges of the display assembly with the
screw holes on the palm-rest assembly.
3 Replace the screws that secure the display assembly to the palm-rest
assembly.
4 Close the display.
5 Route the display cable and connect it to the system board
6 Route the antenna cables and connect them to the wireless card.
Post-requisites
1 Replace the battery.
2 Replace the base cover.
52
Removing the System Board
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your
Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
NOTE: Your computer’s Service Tag is stored in the system board. You
must enter the Service Tag in the BIOS setup program after you replace
the system board.
NOTE: Replacing the system board removes any changes you have
made to the BIOS using the BIOS setup program. You must make the
desired changes again after you replace the system board.
NOTE: Before disconnecting the cables from the system board, note the
location of the connectors so that you can reconnect them correctly
after you replace the system board.
Prerequisites
1 Remove the base cover.
2 Remove the battery.
3 Remove the hard drive.
4 Remove the video-card fan.
5 Remove the processor fan.
6 Remove the display assembly.
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Procedure
1 Disconnect the touch-pad cable, power-light cable, keyboard-backlight
cable, keyboard cable, power-adapter port cable, speaker cable and
battery cable from the system board.
1 touch-pad cable 2 power-light cable
3 keyboard-backlight cable 4 keyboard cable
5 power-adapter port cable 6 speaker cable
7 battery cable
2 Remove the screws that secure the system board to the palm-rest
assembly.
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3 Starting from the left, gently lift the system board off the palm-rest
assembly.
1 screws (7) 2 system board
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Replacing the System Board
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your
Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
NOTE: Your computer’s Service Tag is stored in the system board. You
must enter the Service Tag in the BIOS setup program after you replace
the system board.
NOTE: Replacing the system board removes any changes you have
made to the BIOS using the BIOS setup program. You must make the
desired changes again after you replace the system board.
Procedure
1 Starting from the right, gently place the system board on the palm-rest
assembly.
2 Align the screw holes on the system board with the screw holes on the
palm-rest assembly.
3 Replace the screws that secure the system board to the palm-rest
assembly.
4 Connect the battery cable, speaker cable, power-adapter port cable,
keyboard cable, keyboard-backlight cable, power-light cable and touch-
pad cable to the system board.
Post-requisites
1 Replace the display assembly.
2 Replace the processor fan.
3 Replace the video-card fan.
4 Replace the hard drive.
5 Replace the battery.
6 Replace the base cover.
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Removing the Palm Rest and
Keyboard
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your
Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Remove the base cover.
2 Remove the battery.
3 Remove the hard drive.
4 Remove the wireless card.
5 Remove the memory module(s).
6 Remove the video-card fan.
7 Remove the processor fan.
8 Remove the heat sink.
9 Remove the display assembly.
10 Remove the system board.
Procedure
1 Remove the screws that secure the keyboard bracket to the palm-rest
assembly.
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2 Lift the keyboard bracket off the palm-rest assembly.
1 screws (5) 2 keyboard bracket
3 Remove the screws that secure the keyboard to the palm-rest assembly.
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4 Lift the keyboard off the palm-rest assembly.
1 screws (22) 2 keyboard
1 keyboard 2 palm-rest assembly
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Replacing the Palm Rest and
Keyboard
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety
information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in
Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your
computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your
Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory
Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure
1 Align the screw holes on the keyboard with the screw holes on the palm-
rest assembly.
2 Replace the screws that secure the keyboard to the palm-rest assembly.
3 Align the screw holes on the keyboard bracket with the screw holes on
the palm-rest assembly.
4 Replace the screws that secure the keyboard bracket to the palm-rest
assembly.
Post-requisites
1 Replace the system board.
2 Replace the display assembly.
3 Replace the heat sink.
4 Replace the processor fan.
5 Replace the video-card fan.
6 Replace the memory module(s).
7 Replace the wireless card.
8 Replace the hard drive.
9 Replace the battery.
10 Replace the base cover.
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Flashing the BIOS
You may need to flash (update) the BIOS when an update is available or when
you replace the system board. To flash the BIOS:
1 Turn on the computer.
2 Go to dell.com/support.
3 If you have your computer's Service Tag, type your computer's Service
Tag and click Submit.
If you do not have your computer's Service Tag, click Detect My Product
to allow automatic detection of the Service Tag.
NOTE: If the Service Tag cannot be detected automatically, select
your product under the product categories.
4 Click Get Drivers and Downloads.
5 Click View All Drivers.
6 In the Operating System drop-down, select the operating system
installed on your computer.
7 Click BIOS.
8 Click Download File to download the latest version of the BIOS for your
computer.
9 On the next page, select Single-file download and click Continue.
10 Save the file and once the download is complete, navigate to the folder
where you saved the BIOS update file.
11 Double-click the BIOS update file icon and follow the instructions on the
screen.
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