This excellent video tutorial created by jRin.net explains how to disassemble a Dell Mini 10v (aka Mini 1011) notebook. With this guide you’ll be able to remove and replace the keyboard, hard drive, internal memory module and even motherboard.

ACCESSING THE HARD DRIVE

In this model the hard drive cannot be accessed through the door on the bottom. The hard drive is mounted under the keyboard. In order to access the replace the hard drive, the keyboard has to be removed first. While removing the keyboard, be very careful with the connector on the motherboard. Instead of using a small screwdriver as the author did, I would suggest using your fingernails.

If you are looking for a new keyboard, you can search here.

In this Dell Mini 10v notebook there is a SATA hard drive installed. If your hard drive went bad, you can replace it with any other 2.5″ SATA hard drive.

ACCESSING THE MEMORY MODULE

Dell Mini 10v comes with only one memory module installed. Unfortunately, this memory module is hidden deep inside the laptop, under the motherboard. In order to access and replace/upgrade the memory module, it’s not enough to remove the keyboard. The whole motherboard has to be removed.

If your laptop came with 1GB memory module installed, you can remove it and replace with a 2GB memory module.

You can use DDR2 PC2-5300 (DDR2-677) or PC2-6400 (DDR2-800) SODIIM memory modules.

The following video explains how to assemble the same Dell Mini 10v (Mini 1011) notebook back together.

In this guide I explain how to access the memory module installed into the internal slot on a Dell Latitude D520 laptop. You can use this guide for removing/replacing the keyboard or replacing/upgrading laptop memory.

Dell Latitude D520 laptop has two memory slots. One of them can be easily accessed through the door on the bottom of the laptop. The second memory slot is hidden under the keyboard.

Before you start, don’t forget to turn off the laptop and remove the battery.

On the following picture you can see the memory module installed into the external slot located on the bottom of the laptop.

We’ll start removing the keyboard with removing the bezel.

Insert a flat head screwdriver under the right side of the bezel and carefully lift it up.

Continue removing the keyboard bezel with your fingers.

Now you can remove two screws securing the keyboard.

Carefully lift up the keyboard and place it upside down on the palm rest.

Under the keyboard you get access to the cooling fan.

If the cooling fan looks dirty, you can remove dust with compressed air. I usually use “Dust off” computer compressed air.

By the way, if the laptop shuts down on its own while running multiple applications, most likely it happens because of CPU overheating. In this case cleaning the cooling fan and heat sink will fix the problem.

In order to access the memory module installed in the internal slot, you’ll have to turn the keyboard as it shown on the picture below.

It’s not necessary to disconnect the keyboard from the motherboard. Leave it connected.

To remove the memory module simply spread latches on both sides until the module pops up at a 30 degree angle.

Now you can pull the memory module from the internal slot and replace it with a new one if needed.

Dell Latitude D520 can take up to 4GB memory total. You can install up to 2GB memory sticks into each slot.

Dell recommends using PC2-5300 DDR2-667 200pin SDRAM SODIMM modules.

It’s possible to use faster memory modules, for example PC2-6400 DDR2-800 should work fine, but they will clock down and run at PC2-5300 speed.

It’s not necessary to change any settings after upgrading laptop memory. The laptop will detect and configure new memory on the first start up.

This guide will help you to install an internal webcam into a Dell Inspiron 1525 laptop. The webcam will be mounted inside the display panel, above the LCD screen. The webcam connects to the motherboard via a cable running inside the display panel under the LCD screen.

You will not have to do any modification to the motherboard because the webcam connector is already there. But it will be necessary to remove the keyboard and take apart the laptop display assembly.

In order to install the webcam you’ll have to go through the following main steps:
1. Connect webcam board to the motherboard.
2. Install webcam software and make sure it works properly.
3. Install the webcam board inside the display panel and route the cable.

This video has step by step instructions for upgrading memory and hard drive in a Dell XPS M1530 laptop.

Instead of upgrading memory to 2GB (two 1GB modules), I would suggest upgrading it to 4GB (two 2GB modules), it’s the maximum amount of memory you can install into a Dell XPS M1530 laptop.

Both memory slots can be accessed if you remove one cover on the bottom. Dell recommends using DDR2 667MHz PC2-5300 SODIMM memory modules.

Alternatively, you can use faster memory modules, for example DDR2 PC2-6400 but they will clock down and run at PC2-5300 speed.

The author is installing a Seagate Momentus 160GB 7200RPM SATA hard drive. That’s a good one. You’ll see the difference in the laptop performance if upgrading from a 5400RPM hard drive.

If you need more space, you can upgrade to a Seagate Momentus 320GB 7200RPM SATA hard drive.

After upgrading the hard drive you’ll have to run the installation CDs in order to install the operating system.

Here are some other guides for a Dell XPS M1530 laptop:

1. How to replace LCD screen and inverter board.

2. How to clean or replace the cooling fan.

Let’s say your Dell laptop came without recovery discs but you have to reinstall Windows because the operating system got corrupted or infected with viruses or spyware. What can you do?

There is a chance that your laptop has a hidden recovery partition and you can re-image the hard drive using files on the hidden partition. This guide may not work for all Dell laptops with Vista.

If the guide works for you, please mention the laptop model name and number in the comments after the post.

STEP 1.

Turn on the laptop and as soon as Dell logo appears on the screen press on the F8 key.

STEP 2.

You should get a screen with advanced boot options.

Select the first option “Repair Your Computer” and press on the Enter key.

STEP 3.

After a while the system restore option box will appear on the screen.

Select your keyboard layout and press on the Next button.

STEP 4.

At the next dialog box it will ask you for the user name and password.

Select your name from the drop down menu (you have to have administrative rights on this laptop). Enter the password and press OK button.

STEP 5.

Click on the  Dell Factory Image Restore option in the next box.

STEP 6.

Finally, you’ll get the Dell Factory Image Restore box. Click Next and follow instructions on the screen.

WARNING! Back up all personal files before running this utility. The hard drive will be reformatted and all personal files will be erased during the recovery process.

The following set of instructions explains how to remove the LCD screen and inverter board from a Dell XPS M1530 laptop. You can disassemble the display panel without removing it from the laptop.

STEP 1.

Turn off the laptop and remove the battery.

There are no screws securing the screen bezel. Start separating the screen bezel from the display cover with your fingers.

STEP 2.

Continue removing the screen bezel on the top.

STEP 3.

Remove bezel from the hinges.

STEP 4.

The screen bezel has been removed.

STEP 5.

Remove six screws securing the LCD screen assembly.

STEP 6.

Separate LCD screen assembly from the display cover.

STEP 7.

Place the LCD screen assembly face down on the keyboard. Now you can access the back side of the screen and disconnect cables.

STEP 8.

Disconnect the video cable connector from the LCD screen controller board.

STEP 9.

Parts of the video cable could be glued to the screen. Unglue the cable.

STEP 10.

Disconnect cable from the inverter board.

STEP 11.

Remove the LCD screen assembly.

If you are replacing the LCD screen you’ll have to transfer mounting brackets from the old screen to a new one.

If you need a new LCD screen for your Dell XPS M1530 laptop, you can find it here for less than $100.

STEP 12.

It looks like the inverter board is a part of the LCD screen but it’s not. The inverter board can be removed and replaced separately.

Remove one screw securing the inverter board to the LCD bracket.

STEP 13.

Disconnect the screen backlight lamp cable from the left side of the inverter board.

In order to remove the inverter board, you’ll have to slide the inverter to the right side about 3-4 millimeters, lift up the left side of the inverter and remove it from the bracket.

The inverter board can be glued to the bracket, so work slowly.

Need an inverter board? Find a replacement inverter here.

In the previous guide I explain how to remove and clean the cooling fan in a Dell XPS M1530 laptop.

In this guide I explain how to clean or replace the cooling fan assembly in a Dell XPS M1530 laptop. The cooling fan can be accessed from the door on the bottom of the laptop and replacing/cleaning procedure takes only about 10 minutes.

I’m taking this XPS M1530 laptop apart because the cooling fan started making noise and laptop shuts off on its own when hot. I will replace the fan, clean the heat sink and apply fresh thermal grease on the CPU and video chip.

If you need a new cooling fan, you can find it here. You can buy just the fan or entire heat sink assembly.

STEP 1.

Turn off the laptop, unplug the power adapter and remove the battery.

Unscrew five screws securing the memory/fan cover and remove the cover.

STEP 2.

Remove six screws securing the heat sink assembly to the motherboard.

Disconnect the cooling fan cable from the motherboard.

By the way, here’s how you can upgrade memory modules in this laptop.

STEP 3.

Remove the heat sink assembly.

STEP 4.

Remove four screws securing the cooling fan to the heat sink.

STEP 5.

Lift up and remove the cooling fan.

STEP 6.

The heat sink is clogged with dust and has to be cleaned. You can use canned air to blow off dust from the heat sink and fan.

STEP 7.

Before installing the heat sink assembly back into the laptop take a look at thermal grease on the processor and video chip.

If thermal grease dried out, it has to be replaced.

Remove old grease from the heat sink using a piece of paper towel soaked in 99% alcohol.

Do not remove thermal pad. It can be reused.

STEP 8.

Using same paper towel remove old thermal grease from the processor and video chip.

As you see, I cleaned only the top side of the NVIDIA chip. There are many very small chips buried under thermal grease and I was afraid to damage them.

STEP 9.

Apply a small drop of fresh thermal grease on the processor and NVIDIA chip before installing the heat sink assembly.

I’m using Shin-Etsu gray thermal grease.

In the next post I explain how to remove the LCD sceen and inverter board from a Dell XPS M1530 laptop.

In this post I explain how to remove and replace damaged LCD screen in a Dell Inspiron 6000 laptop. Most likely this guide will work for many other Dell laptops. If this guide works for you, please mention the laptop model number in comments after the post.

Need spare parts for your Dell Inspiron 6000? Search here for a new LCD screen or inverter board.

Dell Inspiron 6000 display disassembly.

STEP 1.

Remove six screw covers from the screen bezel.

Remove all screws found under those covers.

You can remove the screw cover with a sharp object or small screwdriver.

STEP 2.

Start separating the screen bezel from the display cover.

Remove the screen bezel.

STEP 3.

Remove four screws from the right side of the LCD screen assembly.

Remove four more screws from the left side.

STEP 4.

Separate the LCD screen assembly from the display cover.

STEP 5.

Place the LCD screen assembly face down on the keyboard.

Now you can access the video cable.

STEP 6.

Unplug the small connector from the screen inverter board.

STEP 7.

Disconnect the video cable connector from the LCD screen.

STEP 8.

Remove the LCD screen assembly.

The inverter board is attached to the LCD screen frame.

STEP 9.

Remove one screw securing the inverter board.

STEP 10.

Disconnect the baklight lamp cable from the left side of the inverter board.

STEP 11.

Slide the inverter board to the right.

STEP 12.

Lift up the left side of the inverter board.

STEP 13.

Remove inverter board from the mounting bracket.

Now you can replace the inverter board with a new one if needed.

In this guide I explain how to remove and replace the LCD screen in a Dell Latitude D620 laptop.

The LCD screen removal steps will be very similar for many other Dell laptop. If this guide works for your laptop, please mention the model number in comments after the post.

If you need a new LCD screen or inverter for your Dell Latitude D620 laptop, you can find it here for about $70-80.

STEP 1.

There are six screw seals on the LCD screen bezel. Remove all six seals and screws found under them.

You can remove the screw seal with a sharp object or small flat head screwdriver. The seal bottom is sticky. Glue all screw seals somewhere on the screen bezel so they don’t get lost.

STEP 2.

Start separating the screen bezel from display cover with your fingers.

STEP 3.

Remove the screen bezel.

STEP 4.

Remove six screws securing the LCD screen mounting brackets to the display cover.

STEP 5.

Separate the LCD screen assembly from the display cover and place face down on the keyboard.

STEP 6.

Now you can access the back side of the LCD screen and video cable.

The video cable has two connectors. One of them is connected to the inverter board and another one to the LCD screen.

STEP 7.

Disconnect the small connector from the inverter board.

STEP 8.

Disconnect another connector from the LCD screen.

STEP 9.

Remove the LCD screen assembly from the laptop.

STEP 10.

If you are replacing the LCD screen, you’ll have to transfer both mounting brackets to the new screen. Each bracket is secured by a few screws.

In Dell laptops the inverter board is attached to the bottom of the LCD screen.

Even though it looks like the inverter board is a part of the LCD screen, it’s possible to remove the inverter and replace it separately.

In one of the previous posts I explain how to remove and replace the keyboard in a Dell Latitude D620 laptop.

In this guide I remove the motherboard and repair the DC power jack in a Dell Inspiron B130 laptop. You can use same instructions for Dell Inspiron 1300 and Inspiron B120 laptops. All three models have same type of body.

In my case the power jack started failing intermittently. The laptop started switching from AC to battery power on its own. In order to switch it back to the AC power I had to fiddle with the adapter plug and find the right position. I tested the laptop with another adapter and it failed exactly the same way. I came to a conclusion that the DC power jack is not making good contact with the motherboard and has to be repaired.

In Dell Inspiron 1300/B120/B130 laptop the DC power jack is soldered to the motherboard. If the jack is broken, you’ll have to unsolder it and replace with a new jack.

Let’s start removing the motherboard.

STEP 1.

Check out spare parts for Dell Inspiron 1300/B120/B130.

Before you start taking the laptop apart, do not forget to turn off the power and remove the battery.

Lift up the right side of the keyboard cover with a small screwdriver and continue removing the cover with your fingers.

STEP 2.

After the cover is removed you can access two screws securing the keyboard. Remove both screws.

STEP 3.

Lift up the keyboard and place it upside down on the palm rest.

STEP 4.

Now you can access the cable connector and release the cable.

STEP 5.

Unlock the connector, pull the cable and remove the keyboard.

On the following picture the connector is displayed in the unlocked position.

STEP 6.

Remove two screws securing display hinges on the bottom of the laptop.

STEP 7.

Remove two screws securing display hinges on the back side of the laptop.

STEP 8.

Disconnect the video cable connector from the motherboard.
Disconnect the wireless card antenna cable.

STEP 9.

Remove the display panel assembly.

Here’s an example of removing the LCD screen from a Dell display panel.

STEP 10.

From the bottom of the laptop you can access the hard drive, memory modules, wireless card, optical CD/DVD drive and heat sink.

STEP 11.

Remove the hard drive cover.
Pull the hard drive assembly to the left and remove it from the laptop.

STEP 12.

Remove one screw securing the optical CD/DVD drive to the laptop base.
Pull the drive from the laptop and remove it.

STEP 13.

It’s not necessary to remove both memory modules and wireless card for the purpose of this guide but you have to disconnect the Wi-Fi antenna cable.

STEP 14.

Loosen four silver screws securing the heat sink.

STEP 15.

Pull the heat sink up and disconnect it from the processor.
As you see, in my laptop the heat sink is clogged with dust and needs a good cleaning.

STEP 16.

Remove all marked screws from the bottom of the laptop.

STEP 17.

Remove eight screws securing the top cover.
Disconnect the touch pad cable.
Disconnect the lid close switch cable.
Disconnect the CMOS (RTC) battery.

In this model the lid close switch is discrete module and mounted under the fight hinge.
If the lid close switch failed, you can remove it and replace with a new one or simply unplug the faulty switch from the motherboard and use the laptop without it.

STEP 18.

Separate the top cover assembly from the laptop base and remove the cover.

STEP 19.

Remove five screws securing the motherboard.
Disconnect the speaker cable from the motherboard.

STEP 20.

Start removing the motherboard from the right side as it shown on the picture below.

STEP 21.

Remove motherboard from the laptop base.

The DC power jack is soldered directly to the motherboard.

I assumed that the power jack is not making good contact with the motherboard and I was correct.

As you see, there is a crack in the solder joint around the “+” pin.
The “+” pin got oxidized and not making good contact with the motherboard.

If you resolder the jack without cleaning the “+” pin, your repair will not last.

It is necessary to unsloder the power jack, clean all contacts and solder it back to the motherboard.

You’ll find more detailed instructing in this guide for fixing failed DC power jack in a laptop.

On the following picture you see the same jack soldered back to the motherboard.
You can find a new power jack for Dell Inspiron 1300/B120/B130 here for less than $8.