Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement

ID: 108431

Description: This guide will walk you through replacing your...

Steps:

1. Do not touch any electronic components without wearing the anti-static wrist strap. Failure to do so poses a risk of static electric shock, and may cause damage to components.
2. Place the laptop on a flat surface with the Dell logo upside down.
3. Flip the laptop over. The battery will be in the top center.

4. Slide both the left lock and right lock, towards the center of the battery.
5. Push upwards on the grip on the bottom of the battery to remove it.

6. Do not pull the keyboard away from the laptop. The keyboard is connected to the motherboard by a cable. Pulling the keyboard may cause damage to the keyboard and/or motherboard.
7. Metal spudgers and similar prying tools can damage internal components like the motherboard. It is ideal to use a regular black nylon spudger or a plastic opening tool, but for this device the metal jimmy was the only tool to work.
8. Flip over and open your device. Gently wedge the metal Jimmy into the rightmost hole at a 45-degree angle. Make sure that the Jimmy is between the silver metal portion of the keyboard and the silver plastic edge around the keyboard.
9. Tilt the metal jimmy away from you to pry up the edge of the keyboard.
10. Repeat the previous actions on each of the other three holes to release the keyboard.

11. Gently flip the keyboard over and lay it on the touchpad area.

12. Flip up the black flap where the keyboard cable connects to the motherboard
13. Gently pull the cable away from the slot to release the keyboard.
14. Remove the keyboard from the device.

15. Flip the laptop over so it is bottom-up.
16. Use a Phillips #0 screwdriver to unscrew the fifteen 5mm screws pictured.

17. Flip the laptop over.
18. Use a Phillips #0 screwdriver to unscrew the four 5mm screws from the palmrest.
19. Flip up the black flaps over the three cables pictured and gently pull them out.

20. Do not proceed without holding the laptop screen/lid for support. The screen is very heavy and may cause the device to fall if not held and supported.
21. Use a plastic opening tool to pry up the edges of the palmrest cover.
22. Pull off the palmrest cover. You will hear some popping sounds.

23. Optical drive MUST be removed beforehand: remove the screw on bottom of laptop on the small panels that has the service tag number. Then use a paperclip to eject the drive and pull it out. This reveals the two small silver screws that attach the top cover. Remove those screws prior to prying off the cover.
24. Use a Phillips #0 screwdriver to unscrew the two 5mm screws holding the hard drive.
25. Slowly lift up on the left side of the hard drive and pull to the left.

26. Flip the laptop over so it is bottom-up.
27. Use a Phillips #0 screwdriver to unscrew the 5mm that holds the DVD drive in place
28. Pull out the DVD drive.
29. Flip the laptop over again so it is top-up.

30. Do not touch any electronic components without wearing the anti-static wrist strap. Failure to do so poses a risk of static electric shock and can damage components.
31. Gently pull the cooling fan cord to unplug it.
32. Use a Phillips #0 screwdriver to remove the two 5mm screws from the cooling fan.
33. Lift the top right corner of the fan and pull the fan up and to the right.

34. Use a Phillips #0 screwdriver to unscrew the five 5mm screws from the motherboard.
35. Wiggle the two cables pictured until they are free.

36. Flip up the black flaps over the two cables pictured and pull the cables out.

37. Use your finger to pull up the yellow tape and pull out the webcam cable.
38. Pull out the DC power jack cable.
39. Lift the motherboard from the right edge to remove it. The motherboard is plugged into the I/O board, so removing it could be difficult and require some force.