Dell Latitude 7410 Heatsink Replacement

ID: 165076

Description: Use this guide to replace an overheating or...

Steps:

1. Allow your laptop's battery to drain below 25% before starting this repair—a charged battery may catch fire if damaged.
2. Unplug all cables, fully shut down your laptop, and close the lid.

3. Use a Phillips screwdriver to loosen the eight captive screws securing the back cover.

4. Insert an opening pick between the right edge of the back cover and the frame, just below the middle right screw.

5. Slide your pick along the right edge to release the clips securing the back cover.

6. Insert your pick between the left edge of the back cover and the frame, next to the speaker cutout.
7. Slide your pick along the left edge to release the clips.

8. Insert your pick between the back cover and the right display-hinge to release the first clip along the back edge.
9. Slide your pick toward the left hinge until the second clip releases.

10. Insert your pick between the front edge of the back cover and the frame, just to the right of the bottom left screw.
11. Slide your pick toward the right edge until the front edge releases from the frame.

12. Remove the back cover.

13. Grab the black pull tab on the head of the battery connector and pull straight up to disconnect it.

14. Use a spudger to press on alternating sides of the fan connector to "walk" it out of its socket.

15. Use your Phillips screwdriver to remove the 3 mm screw securing the WLAN connector cover.
16. Remove the cover.

17. Use your Phillips screwdriver to remove the two 3 mm screws securing the fan.

18. Slide the fan out from the heatsink and remove it.

19. Use the point of your spudger to pry up the heatsink shield from its clips on the motherboard at these spots:
20. The bottom left corner, just below the white arrow
21. The bottom middle, just to the left of the QR code
22. The bottom right, just above the white arrow
23. The white arrows indicate preferred prying locations. However, prying between the shield and the motherboard at these spots risks damaging small components.

24. Remove the heatsink shield.

25. Use your Phillips screwdriver to remove the four 3 mm screws securing the heatsink.
26. During reassembly, tighten these screws in an X-pattern. For example, begin with the top right, then bottom left, top left, and finally bottom right to evenly compress the thermal paste.

27. Pry the heatsink from the thermal paste bonding it to the CPU.
28. Depending on the age of your laptop, this might require some force. If it feels stuck, gently rotate it back and forth.
29. Remove the heatsink.
30. During reassembly, clean the old thermal paste from the CPU and the heatsink (if you're reusing it) and apply new thermal paste before installing your heatsink.