Dell Inspiron 3521 CMOS Battery Replacement

ID: 160162

Description: Access the motherboard to replace the CMOS...

Steps:

1. Make sure laptop is turned off and unplugged.
2. Turn over the laptop, and push in the clips to take out the battery.

3. Remove the screws to take off the surface cover.
4. Make sure to keep small screws organized in Step 2 and all subsequent steps to make reassembly easier.

5. Remove screws securing the hard drive
6. Remove hard drive by pulling on the tab to slide it out.

7. Remove the memory card by pressing on the latches on either side.

8. Remove the screws securing the optical drive, then slide out the optical drive.

9. Remove all remaining screws on the back.

10. Turn computer over and open it.
11. Carefully pry off keyboard using spudger.
12. Be careful not to damage ribbon cable while removing the keyboard.

13. Remove the ribbon cable by pulling up on the tab where it is attached, then slide it out.

14. Unplug the smaller ribbon cable by pulling up on the tab where it is attached, then slide it out.

15. Unplug the motherboard cable by pulling up on the tab where it is attached, then slide it out.

16. Remove all screws from palm rest

17. Remove palm rest by carefully prying it off with a spudger.

18. Unplug the white ribbon cable by pulling up on the tab where it is attached, then slide it out.

19. Gently pull out the connecting cable.

20. Unplug the black and white cables connected to the Wi-Fi chip.

21. Disconnect screen by removing all remaining screws.

22. Remove screws securing the Wi-Fi chip, then remove Wi-Fi chip.

23. Locate and disconnect connecting cables on motherboard.

24. Remove the remaining screws securing the motherboard to remove it.

25. Flip over motherboard and locate CMOS battery
26. Pry off battery with spudger.

27. Place new CMOS battery in motherboard.
28. Repeat all steps backwards to reassemble computer.