In this guide I explain how to remove and replace the LCD screen or inverter board in a Dell Inspiron 1525 laptop. Most likely this guide will work for many other Dell laptops. If it works for you, please mention the model number in comments after this post.

In order to remove the LCD screen and inverter board we’ll have to take apart the display assembly. Before you start, make sure the laptop is turned off and battery removed.

STEP 1.

There are six rubber screw covers on the screen bezel.

Remove all covers with a sharp object. You can blue covers on the screen bezel so they don’t get lost.

Now remove all six screws found under those covers.

STEP 2.

Start separating the screen bezel from the display cover. You may use a piece of plastic as case cracker.

Insert fingers under the bezel and carefully wiggle the bezel until it separates from the cover.

STEP 3.

Continue removing bezel on the top.

STEP 4.

On the bottom the bezel could be glued to the LCD screen with double sticky tape.

Carefully separate bezel from the screen.

STEP 5.

The screen bezel has been removed.

STEP 6.

Remove two screws securing the LCD screen assembly to the display hinges.

STEP 7.

Carefully separate the LCD screen assembly from the display cover and place it face down on the keyboard.

STEP 8.

Now you can access the back side of the LCD screen.

The inverter board mounted into the bracket on the LCD screen.

STEP 9.

Disconnect video cable from the LCD screen.

STEP 10.

Disconnect another video cable connector from the inverter board.

STEP 11.

The LCD screen assembly has been removed.

There are two mounting brackets on both side of the screen and inverter board on the bottom.

STEP 12.

Remove one screw securing the inverter board to the bracket.

STEP 13.

Turn the LCD screen assembly over and disconnect the backlight cable from the left side of the inverter.

STEP 14.

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

Here you can find new replacement inverters for Dell Inspiron 1525 laptops.

The best way to search for a replacement screen would be using Dell part number (0D196j in my case) or LCD model number (LP154W01 (TL)(F2) in my case).

If you are replacing just the screen, I would recommend buying exactly the same screen. When you use a compatible screen, you may run into a problem with screen brightness, it might non work properly.

If you want to use a compatible screen, I would suggest finding one with the inverter board attached.

Here you’ll find wide selection of replacement screens for Dell Inspiron 1525 laptops.

STEP 15.

After the LCD screen has been removed, you can remove left and right mounting brackets and transfer them to the new screen.

In order to remove the bracket, simply remove four screws on the side.

In one of my previous posts I explain how to replaced damaged keyboard on Dell Inspiron 1525 laptop.

In this guide I explain how to disassemble a Dell Inspiron E1505 or Inspiron 6400 laptop. These are two identical laptops with different names.

The main purpose of my repair is removing and replacing the cooling fan which started making lots of noise.

The cooling fan mounted inside of laptop case, so the whole thing has to be disassembled.

Make sure the laptop is turned off before you start taking it apart.

STEP 1.

Remove the battery.

Remove two screws securing the hard drive assembly and pull it out.

Remove two screws securing memory cover and remove the cover.

STEP 2.

Remove all screws from the bottom.

STEP 3.

Remove one screw securing the CD/DVD drive.

Push the drive from the laptop with a screwdriver.

Pull the optical drive from the laptop.

STEP 4.

Remove two screws on the back of the laptop.

These screws are hidden under screw seals.

On the following 7 steps I’ll be removing the keyboard.

By the way, it’s not necessary to go through all previous steps in order to remove the keyboard. Simply follow steps 5-11.

STEP 5.

Lift up the right side of the power button board cover with a screwdriver.

STEP 6.

Remove the power button board cover.

STEP 7.

Remove two screws securing the keyboard.

STEP 8.

Lift up the keyboard and carefully remove it from the laptop.

STEP 9.

Access the keyboard cable connector underneath.

STEP 10.

Unlock the connector and remove the keyboard cable.

On the following picture the connector is shown in unlocked state.

STEP 11.

Now you can remove the keyboard.

Need a new keyboard for Dell Inspiron E1505/6400? You’ll find it here.

STEP 12.

Disconnect the video cable connector from the motherboard. Remove one screw securing the video cable.

Disconnect two antenna cables from the wireless card.

Remove two screws securing display hinges.

STEP 13.

Remove the display assembly.

STEP 14.

Remove two screws securing the power button board.

STEP 15.

Carefully lift up and disconnect the power button board from the motherboard.

STEP 16.

Disconnect the lid close switch cable from the motherboard.

Disconnect the touch pad cable from the motherboard.

Remove one screw securing the top cover assembly.

On the following picture the touch pad connector shown in unlocked state.

STEP 17.

Separate the top cover assembly from the laptop base.

STEP 18.

Remove the top cover assembly.

The top cover has been removed.

STEP 19.

Remove two screws securing the cooling fan.

Unplug the cooling fan cable from the motherboard.

STEP 20.

Now you can remove the cooling fan and replace it with a new one.

Looking for a replacement fan for Dell Inspiron E1505/6400 laptop? You’ll find it here.

In the following guide I show how to replace damaged LCD screen in Dell Latitude E5400 or Latitude E5500 laptop.

Using this guide you’ll be able to replace the screen or inverter board.

Before you start, make sure the laptop is turned off and the battery removed.

REMOVING AND REPLACING DAMAGED LCD SCREEN.

STEP 1.

The LCD bezel doesn’t have screws.

Simply start separating the LCD bezel from the cover with your fingers.

STEP 2.

Continue separating the bezel.

STEP 3.

The LCD bezel has been removed.

STEP 4.

Now remove four screws securing the LCD screen on the right side.

STEP 5.

Remove four more screws on the left side of the screen.

STEP 6.

Carefully separate the LCD screen from the cover and place it face down on the keyboard.

STEP 7.

Disconnect the LCD cable from the screen.

Disconnect the screen backlight cable from the right side of the inverter board.

STEP 8.

Now you can remove the LCD screen and replace it with a new one.

The best way to find a compatible replacement screen is searching by the screen model number (LTN141AT07 in this particular example) or Dell part number (0HT326 in this particular example).

Both numbers are printed on the LCD sticker.

You can find a new replacement screen here. Need a different one? Just search by the screen model or part number.

REMOVING SCREEN INVERTER BOARD.

If you would like to remove the inverter board, follow the next three steps.

STEP 1.

Remove one screw securing the inverter board to the screen cover.

STEP 2.

Separate the inverter board from the cover and disconnect the cable.

STEP 3.

Remove and replace the inverter board.

By the way, it’s not necessary to remove the LCD sreen in order to remove the inverter. You can remove the inveter whith the LCD screen installed.

In the following guide I explain how to remove the hard drive from a Dell Inspiron Mini 10 (1010)  netbook.

There is no easy access to the hard drive from the bottom of the netbook. The hard drive is mounted inside the case, under the keyboard.

You can use this guide for removing/replacing the keyboard and removing/replacing/upgrading the hard drive.

STEP 1.

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

Remove three screws from the bottom. These screws secure the keyboard.

STEP 2.

Insert a thin object between the top side of the keyboard and laptop case.

Lift up the keyboard and continue removing it with your fingers.

STEP 3.

Lift up the keyboard as it shown on the picture below and flip upside down on the palm rest.

STEP 4.

Under the keyboard you’ll find the hard drive assembly and wireless card.

It’s not necessary to disconnect the keyboard if you are replacing the hard drive or wireless card.

If you would like to replace the keyboard, you’ll have to unlock the connector and release the cable.

In order to unlock the connector, very carefully move the brown lock about 2 millimeters towards the touch pad.

The lock must stay attached to the connector base.

When the connector unlocked, you can pull the cable and remove the keyboard.

Looking for a new keyboard for your Dell Inspiron Mini 10 netbook? Search here.

STEP 5.

Remove one screw securing the hard drive assembly.

STEP 6.

Slide the hard drive assembly to the left and disconnect it from the motherboard.

STEP 7.

Remove the hard drive assembly.

Now remove four screws securing the hard drive to the caddy and separate the hard drive from the caddy.

In my case I had a regular 160GB 2.5″ SATA hard drive installed. This hard drive can be replaced with a larger 2.5″ SATA hard drive.

In the following guide I explain how to remove the keyboard and both memory modules from a Dell Inspiron 700m laptop.

You can use the guide for replacing a damaged keyboard or replacing/upgrading memory modules.

Dell Inspiron 700m laptop can take up to 2GB memory total. You can install up to 1GB memory stick in each slot. Use PC2700 DDR SDRAM SODIMM memory modules.

There are two memory slots in this laptop. One of them located on the button and another one under the keyboard.

Let’s take it apart. First of all, turn off the laptop and remove the battery.

STEP 1.

Remove two screws securing memory cover on the bottom.

STEP 2.

Carefully spread latches on both sides of the memory slot.

The memory module will pop up at a 30 degree angle.

Pull the memory by the edges.

Now you can install a new 1GB module instead.

In the following steps we’ll remove the keyboard and access the internal memory slot.

STEP 3.

Lift up the left side of the power button cover with a small screwdriver.

Continue removing the cover with your fingers.

The power button cover has been removed.

STEP 4.

Remove two screws securing the keyboard.

STEP 5.

Lift up the keyboard and remove it from the laptop. Be careful because the keyboard still attached to the motherboard.

STEP 6.

If you are replacing the keyboard, you have to unlock the keyboard connector first. Only after that you can pull the cable and remove the keyboard.

In order to unlock the connector, very carefully move the locking clip about 2 millimeters towards the LCD screen.

Do not disconnect the locking clip from the connector base. The connector clip must stay attached to the base.

The cable is jammed between the locking clip and connector base.

After you unlock the connector, you can pull the cable and remove the keyboard.

Looking for a new Dell Inspiron 700m keyboard? You’ll find a brand new keyboard here.

STEP 7.

If you just removing/upgrading memory, it’s not necessary to disconnect the keyboard. Simply turn it upside down and place on the palmrest.

Remove two screws from the internal memory slot cover. Remove the cover.

STEP 8.

Remove memory module from the internal slot same way you removed from the external slot.

By they way, my laptop had only one speaker working. When I removed the power button cover I found the problem.

Apparently this is a know issue with Dell Inspiron 700m laptops.

If one (or both) speakers stopped working, but you still can hear sound in headphones, check those cables.

If cables are damaged, you’ll have to replace the speaker assembly (located inside the display panel) or solder the damaged cable (cables) back together.

In the following guide I explain how to remove the keyboard and upgrade memory modules in a Dell XPS M1210 laptop.

This laptop has two memory slots. One of them can be easily access from the bottom of the laptop, but the second memory slot is hidden under the keyboard.

A Dell XPS M1210 can take up to 4GB memory total. You can install up to 2GB stick into each slot.

You can use DDR2-533 PC2-4200 or DDR2-667 PC2-5300 memory modules.

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

STEP 1.

Remove one screw securing the memory cover on the bottom of the laptop. Remove the cover.

STEP 2.

Spread latches on both sides of the memory slot. After the memory module pops up at a 30 degree angle, carefully remove from the slot by the edges.

Now you can replace it with a new 2GB memory module.

STEP 3.

In the following few steps we’ll be removing the keyboard.

Lift up the right side of the power button cover with a small screwdriver.

Continue removing the cover with your fingers.

STEP 4.

Remove the power button cover.

STEP 5.

Remove three screws securing the keyboard.

STEP 6.

Lift up the keyboard as it shown on the following picture.

STEP 7.

Disconnect the keyboard from the motherboard. Do it only if you are replacing the keyboard.

If you follow this guide in order to upgrade the memory module, simply flip the keyboard upside down on the palmrest.

You can access the internal memory slot without disconnecting the keyboard.

Need a new keyboard for your Dell XPS M1210 laptop? You’ll find it here very cheap.

Under the keyboard you’ll find the internal memory module and CMOS battery. Also, you’ll get some limited access to the cooling fan.

If the fan looks dusty, blow it off with compressed air.

Cleaning the cooling fan once in a while will prevent the laptop from overheating.

STEP 8.

Now you can access the memory module installed in the internal slot.

Spread latches on both sides of the slot and carefully pull the memory module by the edges.

Now you can replace it with a new 2GB memory module.

After both memory modules are replaced, you can assemble the laptop back together and turn it on.

You don’t have to change any settings in the BIOS. New memory should be detected and configured automatically.

In the following guide I explain how to remove and replace the keyboard in a Dell Inspiron 1545 laptop. You can use this guide if the keyboard stopped working properly or you accidentally spilled something on the keyboard and damaged it.

Most likely this guide will work for some other Dell models. If it works for you, please mention the laptop model number in comments after the post.

STEP 1.

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

In the battery compartment you’ll find two screws securing the center control cover. Remove both screws.

STEP 2.

Insert a flat head screwdriver between the control cover and laptop base and carefully lift up the cover.

Continue removing the center control cover with your fingers.

STEP 3.

Remove the center control cover.

STEP 4.

Remove two screws securing the keyboard.

STEP 5.

Lift up the top side of the keyboard as it shown on the picture below.

Be careful, the keyboard is attached to the motherboard with a flat ribbon cable.

STEP 6.

Remove the keyboard so you can access the keyboard cable underneath.

The keyboard cable can be removed from the connector only after the connector is unlocked.

WARNING! If you damage the keyboard connector, you’ll have to replace the whole motherboard. The keyboard connector is permanently attached to the motherboard.

STEP 7.

On the picture below the keyboard connector is shown in the locked position.

Carefully flip the brown part of the connector up, so it opens up at a 90 degree angle.

On the picture below the keyboard connector is shown in the unlocked position.

STEP 8.

Now you can pull the keyboard cable from the connector and remove the keyboard from the laptop.

Replace the failed/damaged keyboard with a new compatible keyboard.

You can search for a new keyboard by the Dell part number printed on the sticker. In my case the part number is 0P446J.

On the following picture you can see how to access other main components of this Dell Inspiron 1545 laptop.

1. In order to remove the CD/DVD drive, you’ll have to remove one screw securing the drive (yellow circle) and pull the drive from the laptop.

2. In order to remove the hard drive, you’ll have to remove two screws securing the hard drive caddy (green screws) and pull the hard drive assembly from the laptop.

3. Both memory modules (RAM modules) and wireless card can be accessed and removed after you remove the base cover.

4. The CPU (processor) is mounted under the heatsink.

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.