In the following guide I will remove and replace the power board in an Acer TravelMate 3260 series laptop. Most likely my guide will work for some other Acer TravelMate laptops but I don’t know all models. If this guide fits your laptop, please mention the model number in comments after the post.

In Acer TravelMate 3260 laptop power from AC adapter goes to the motherboard through the power board. When the power board goes bad, the laptop stops working at all and appears to be dead. In order to get access and replace the power board we’ll have to disassemble the entire laptop.

STEP 1.

If you need spare parts for your Acer TravelMate 3260, you can find them here.

First of all, turn off the laptop and remove the battery.

Remove two screws securing the switch cover on the back of the laptop.

STEP 2.

Start removing the switch cover and lift it up by the hinge cover.
Continue removing the cover with your hinges.

STEP 3.

Remove the switch cover.

STEP 4.

Remove two screws securing the keyboard.

STEP 5.

Carefully lift up the keyboard from the laptop base and place it upside down on the palm rest so you can access the cable connector underneath.

STEP 6.

You have to unlock the connector before you can pull the cable and remove the keyboard.

On the picture below you see connector in the unlocked position.
Pull the cable and remove the keyboard.

The keyboard has been removed.

STEP 7.

Remove the hard drive and memory/Wi-Fi covers.

STEP 8.

Remove one screw securing the hard drive assembly.

STEP 9.

Pull the hard drive to the left and disconnect it from the motherboard.
Remove the hard drive from the laptop.

STEP 10.

Remove one screw securing the optical CD/DVD drive to the base.
Push the drive from the laptop with your finger.
Remove optical drive from the laptop.

It is not necessary to disconnect memory modules, wireless card, modem card and CMOS (RTC) battery for the purpose of my guide . You can leave them connected to the motherboard.

STEP 11.

Remove all marked screws from the bottom of the laptop.
Disconnect cables I pointed with yellow arrows.
Disconnect two antenna cables from the wireless card (green arrows).

STEP 12.

Remove one screw from the back side of the laptop.

STEP 13.

Disconnect the video cable connector.
Unroute both Wi-Fi antenna cables and pull them through the opening in the motherboard.
Remove four screws securing LCD panel hinges.

STEP 14.

Remove the LCD panel.

STEP 15.

Remove five screws securing the top cover assembly.
Disconnect the touchpad cable.

STEP 16.

Start separating the top cover assembly from the laptop base.

STEP 17.

Remove the top cover assembly.

STEP 18.

Remove two screws securing the motherboard.

STEP 19.

Start removing the motherboard from the top left corner.

Release and lift up the top right corner of the board.

Carefully pull the motherboard from the base assembly.

STEP 20.

On the picture below you see the power board attached to the motherboard.

The DC power jack and power switch are located on the power board. If the DC power jack is broken, you can repair it using this technique.

Remove two screws securing the power board.

Disconnect the power board from the motherboard.

The power board part number is printed right in the middle. It’s DA0ZR1PB6D1 (REV:D). You can find a replacement power board here.

STEP 21.

While the motherboard is removed from the base, you can clean the cooling module.
Loosen six screws securing the heat sink assembly.
Disconnect fan cable from the motherboard.

Remove the heat sink assembly and blow off dust using compressed air.

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.

In this guide I will help you to remove and replace the cooling fan in a Dell Latitude D600 laptop. The cooling fan in this model is buried deep inside the laptop under the top cover. Also you can use this guide for cleaning the cooling module and removing dust from the heat sink and fan.

If your laptops shuts down on its own without any warning, most likely it happens because of overheating. Make sure the cooling fan works and the heat sink is not clogged with dust. Replace the fan if it failed or clean the heat sink if it’s clogged.

Before you start, turn off the laptop, unplug the AC adapter and remove the battery.

When you are replacing the cooling fan, it is not necessary to remove memory, hard drive, wireless card or optical drive. I did that only because I was upgrading the laptop.

STEP 1.

Remove all marked screws from the bottom of the laptop.

STEP 2.

Lift up the switch cover with a small screwdriver. Continue removing the cover with your fingers.

STEP 3.

When the switch cover is removed you can access two screws securing the keyboard. Remove these screws.

STEP 4.

Lift up the keyboard and access the cable. Disconnect the keyboard cable from the motherboard.
Search for new keyboards here.

STEP 5.

Remove three (red) screws securing display hinges.
Remove one (yellow) screw securing the video cable ground.
Disconnect the video cable connector from the motherboard.

STEP 6.

Remove and replace the LCD assembly.
Take a look at this guide for the LCD screen removal instructions.

STEP 7.

Remove three screws securing the top cover.
Disconnect the touchpad cable from the motherboard.

STEP 8.

Start separating the top cover from the base with your fingers.

STEP 9.

Remove the top cover assembly.

STEP 10.

Now you can clean the cooling module (fan and heat sink) using compressed air. In order to replace the fan, continue laptop disassembly.

Loosen four screws securing the heat sink.
Lift up and remove the heat sink.

STEP 11.

Remove two screws securing the cooling fan.
Disconnect fan cable from the motherboard.

STEP 12.

Remove and replace the cooling fan with a new one. You can find a new replacement fan for Dell Latitude D600 laptop here.

This set of instructions will help you to remove and replace the keyboard in a Dell Latitude D620 laptop. After you remove the keyboard, you’ll be able to access the memory module installed into the internal slot. Also, you’ll be able to clean the cooling fan and heatsink.

Let’s start removing the keyboard.

First of all, turn off the laptop, unplug the AC adapter and remove the battery.

STEP 1.

Lift up the right side of the power switch cover with a small flat head screwdriver. Continue removing the switch cover with your fingers.

STEP 2.

Remove the switch cover.

STEP 3.

Under the switch you’ll find three screws securing the keyboard. Remove all three screws.

STEP 4.

Lift up the keyboard as it shown on the picture below. Before you can remove the keyboard, you have to disconnect the cable.

STEP 5.

The keyboard cable connector is plugged into the motherboard and the blue holder secures the cable.

Lift up the blue cable holder first.

Unplug the cable connector from the motherboard.

Now you can remove the keyboard and replace it with a new one.
Need a new keyboard for your Dell Latitude D620 laptop? You’ll find a new keyboard here for less than $15.

When the keyboard is removed you’ll get access to the memory module installed into the hidden slot. You can replace or upgrade laptop memory if you wish.

Also, you’ll get limited access to the cooling fan. It would be enough for cleaning the fan. You can blow off dust from the fan using canned air or air compressor.

In one of the following posts I explain how to remove and replace the LCD screen in a Dell Latitude D620 laptop.

In this guide I will be taking apart a Compaq Presario M2000 notebook. The guide should work for all other notebooks in the Presario M2000 line. If it works for you, please mention the notebook model in the comments below. In my case I’m taking apart a Compaq Presario M2005US.

TAKING APART NOTEBOOK

First of all, turn off the notebook, unplug the power adapter and remove the battery.

The following 8 steps explain how to remove the keyboard.

STEP 1.

Remove two screws in the battery compartment. These screws securing the keyboard bezel.

STEP 2.

Lift up one side of the keyboard bezel with a small flat head screwdriver. Continue removing the bezel with your fingers.

STEP 3.

The keyboard bezel has been removed.

STEP 4.

Remove four screws securing the keyboard.

STEP 5.

Lift up the keyboard. Be careful because the keyboard is still connected to the motherboard.

STEP 6.

Place the keyboard so you can access the cable connector.

STEP 7.

Carefully unlock the connector by moving the white part of the connector towards the hinges.
WARNING! If you accidentally break the connector, you will have to replace the whole motherboard or use the notebook with an external keyboard.

STEP 8.

Now you can release the cable and remove the keyboard.

You will find the keyboard part number on the back side of the keyboard. In my laptop the part number is 367777-001. Do you need a new keyboard for Presario M2000 notebook? Find a new inexpensive keyboard here.

In the following 2 steps I will remove the notebook LCD panel.

STEP 9.

Remove six screws securing the display hinges (three screws per hinge).
Disconnect the LCD cable (video cable) from the motherboard.
If you laptop came with Wi-Fi card, you’ll have to disconnect Wi-Fi antenna cables from the wireless card and unroute the cables. My laptop came without wireless card and because of that there are no Wi-Fi antenna cables running from the display panel.

By the way, you’ll find the display panel part number on a sticker above the LCD cable connector. In my case the part number is 381066-001. This is part number for the whole display panel assembly including the LCD screen, video cable, hinges, plastic cover and bezel.

Some sellers use this part number just for the LCD screen. Make sure you know what you are buying, the whole display panel or just the LCD screen. Ask the seller.

STEP 10.

Remove the display panel assembly. Here you can buy a new LCD screen or entire display panel for Presario M2000.

In the next guide I explain how to disassemble the display panel so you can remove the inverter board and LCD screen.

STEP 11.

Remove two screws securing the button board.
Disconnect the white ribbon cable from the button board.

STEP 12.

Remove the button board. You can find a new button board using this part number: DACT2BPI6B2.

STEP 13.

Remove the RAM, HDD and Wi-Fi card covers from the bottom of the notebook.

STEP 14.

Pull the hard drive up and remove it from the notebook.

STEP 15.

Remove both memory RAM modules.

STEP 16.

Remove one screws securing the CD/DVD drive and pull the drive from the notebook.
If you are just replacing the drive, you don’t have to go though all previous disassembly steps.

STEP 17.

Remove all screws from the bottom of the notebook.

STEP 18.

Remove all screws securing the top cover.
Disconnect the touch pad cable from the motherboard.

STEP 19.

Turn the notebook upside down and carefully lift up the base cover.

STEP 20.

Remove the base cover.

STEP 21.

Now you can access the cooling fan.
In order to remove the fan you’ll have to remove two screws and unplug the fan cable from the motherboard.

STEP 22.

Remove the cooling fan and replace it with a new one if needed.

STEP 23.

Unplug the speaker assembly cable from the motherboard and remove the speaker assembly.

STEP 24.

The battery is connected to the motherboard via a battery board.
Remove two screws securing the battery board and disconnect it from the motherboard.

STEP 25.

In a Presario M2000 notebook the power connector (power jack) is located on a separate power connector board. You can remove and replace the power connector board without removing the motherboard.

Remove two screws securing the power connector board and unplug it from the motherboard.

The power connector board is removed.

Using the part number DA0CT2PB6D8 you can find a new power connector board here.

In a case of power connector (power jack) failure either resolder/replace the power jack or replace the whole power connector board.

STEP 26.

Remove four screws securing the motherboard.

STEP 27.

Carefully lift up the motherboard on one side.

STEP 28.

Remove the motherboard.

The processor (CPU) is located under the heat sink.

In the following guide I will take apart a Dell Vostro 1510 notebook. You can use this guide for removing almost all internal parts from the notebook base. I think these instructions might work for some other Dell Vostro notebooks, not just a Vostro 1510. If it fits your laptop, please mention the model in the comments below.

If you need spare parts for your Vostro 1510 laptop, you can search for used and new parts here.

Before you start the disassembly process do not forget to unplug the  power adapter and battery.

STEP 1.

Remove hard drive and memory covers.

STEP 2.

Pull the hard drive to the left and disconnect it from the motherboard.

Remove the hard drive. As you see it’s a SATA hard drive. If you are replacing the hard drive, any large 2.5″ SATA hard drive should work just fine.

STEP 3.

Remove both memory modules. In a Dell Vostro 1510 you can install up to 4GB RAM (2GB module into each slot). You should use DDR2-667 modules.

STEP 4.

Remove three screws securing the cooling fan. Unplug the cooling fan cable from the motherboard.

Remove and lift up the cooling fan.

STEP 5.

Loosen four screws securing the heat sink.

Carefully lift up and remove the heat sink.

STEP 6.

Disconnect two antenna cables from the wireless card. Grab the golden connector on the end of the antenna cables with your fingers and pull it up.
Remove one screw securing the wireless card and remove the card.

STEP 7.
Lift up the keyboard cover with a small screwdriver or another sharp object.

Remove the keyboard cover.

STEP 8.

Remove two screws securing the keyboard.

Lift up the keyboard so you can access the keyboard cable connector underneath.

Very carefully unlock the connector and release the keyboard cable.

Now you can remove the keyboard.

If you are replacing the keyboard, you don’t have to through steps 1-6. Simply remove and replace the keyboard as it shown in steps 7 and 8.

STEP 9.

In the following three steps I’ll remove the display panel assembly.

Remove one screw securing the right hinge.

STEP 10.

Disconnect the video cable from the motherboard.
Pull both wireless antenna cables through the opening.
Remove five screws securing both display hinges.

STEP 11.

Remove the display assembly.
If you would like to know how to take apart the display panel and remove the LCD with inverter, check out other disassembly guides in the Dell category. The LCD screen removal instructions will be similar for most Dell (and other ) laptops.

STEP 12.

Disconnect three cables and remove three screws from the top cover assembly.

STEP 13.

Remove all screws from the bottom of the notebook.

STEP 14.

Start separating the top cover assembly from the base assembly. You can use a small flathead screwdriver.

Continue separating the top cover assembly with your fingers.

Remove the top cover.

STEP 15.

The CD/DVD drive is mounted inside the base and can be removed only after you remove the top cover.
Disconnect the CD/DVD drive cable from the connector on the motherboard.

Lift up and remove the CD/DVD drive.

STEP 16.

Remove three screws securing the motherboard.
Unplug the USB board cable from the motherboard.

Lift up the motherboard as it shown on the picture below.

Remove the motherboard.

The processor (CPU) is locked in the socket. In order to remove the processor, you’ll have to unlock the socket first. There is a small screw on the side of the socket. This screw locks/unlocks the socket.

In this notebook the CMOS (RTC) battery is replaciable. You can unlug the old CMOS battery from the motherboard and replace it with a new one.

In this guide I explain how to disassemble a HP Compaq 6730s – 6735s notebook and remove the cooling fan which is mounted under the motherboard. Basically I will take the whole notebook apart and remove all internal components one by one.

Why wouldn’t HP make a door for the cooling fan? Why should it be so complicated to replace the cooling fan?

Let’s start to disassemble the notebook.

If you need new replacement parts for you HP Compaq 6730s-6735s notebook, you can find them here.

STEP 1.

Remove the battery.
Remove covers from the hard drive, wireless card and memory.

STEP 2.

Remove one screw securing the DVD drive (red circle) and pull the drive from the notebook.
Remove memory modules (in my laptop I had only one module installed).
Remove the hard drive, you’ll find details instruction on the sticker glued to the hard drive caddy.
Unsnap two antenna cables from the wireless card. Remove two screws securing the wireless card (green circles). Remove the wireless card.

STEP 3.

Remove five screws securing the switch board cover (red circles).
Remove two screws securing the laptop keyboard (green circles).
Remove eleven screws securing the laptop bottom cover (yellow circles).

STEP 4.

Lift up the switch board cover. You can separate the switch board cover from the bottom cover with a piece of soft plastic. I’m using a guitar pick.

Be careful, the switch board cover is attached to the motherboard. Do not pull the cable from the connector yet.

STEP 5.

Lift up the keyboard and place it on the switch board cover so you can access the keyboard cable connector.

The keyboard is connected to the motherboard via a flat ribbon cable. Before you pull the cable and remove the keyboard, you’ll have to unlock the connector.

On the picture below you can see the keyboard connector unlocked. Now you can pull the cable and remove the keyboard.

STEP 6.

After the keyboard has been removed, you can release the switch board cable and remove the cover.

STEP 7.

Remove four screws securing the notebook speakers.
Unplug the speaker cable from the motherboard.
Remove both speakers.

STEP 8.

Release the wireless card antenna cables.
Unplug the webcam cable from the motherboard.
Remove four screws securing the display hinges (red circles) and one screw grounding the video cable (green circle).

STEP 9.

Lift up and remove the display panel assembly.

STEP 10.

Remove two screws securing the top cover assembly.

STEP 11.

Carefully lift up the top cover assembly.

Be careful, the touch pad cable is still attached to the motherboard.Release the touch pad cable and remove the top cover assembly.

STEP 12.

Now we can access the motherboard.

Unplug three cables pointed with arrows.
Remove three screws securing the motherboard.
Lift up and release the RJ11 (modem) jack.

STEP 13.

Start removing the motherboard from the laptop case.

The motherboard has been removed.

STEP 14.

Finally, you can access and replace the cooling fan.
Simply remove one screw securing the cooling fan to the laptop base and replace it with a new one if needed.

If you are replacing the motherboard you’ll have to transfer some parts to the new board.

Transfer the DVD drive connector, modem card, heat sink, processor and modem cable.

In this guide I explain how to remove and replace the display panel from a HP Compaq nc6320 (nc6300 series) notebook. Most likely this guide will work for some others HP Compaq notebooks, feel free to mention your model in the comments.

Also you can use this guide for:

1. Replacing or upgrading the memory module installed in the internal memory slot.
2. Removing and replacing the keyboard.
3. Removing and replacing the cooling fan.
4. Cleaning the heat sink.
5. Removing and replacing the CMOS (RTC) battery.

STEP 1.

Remove the battery. Under the battery you’ll find two screws (red circles) securing the switch board cover. Remove these screws.
Remove the memory cover. Under the memory cover you’ll find two screws securing the keyboard. Remove these screws.

STEP 2.

Turn the notebook over and release four latches securing the keyboard.

STEP 3.

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

Move the keyboard carefully, it’s still attached to the motherboard via a flat ribbon cable.

Now you can access and replace the internal memory module. This laptop can handle up to 2GB RAM total, so you can install up to 1GB RAM module into each slot. You should use PC2-5300 SODIMM memory.

You can remove the cooling fan and clean the heat sink.

The CMOS (RTC) battery – a yellow battery on the left side from the keyboard connector. If your laptop sets default date and time after each reboot, apparenlty the CMOS battery is bad and has to be replaced. Simply unplug the old battery from the motherboard and plug in a new one.

STEP 4.

In order to remove the keyboard, you’ll have to unlock the connector and release the cable first. Very carefully lift up the brown part of the connector about 2 millimeters. The brown part must stay attached to the base.

On the picture below you can see the connector in the unlocked state. Now you can pull the cable.

Remove and replace the old keyboard with a new keyboard.

STEP 5.

Unplug the switch board cable from the motherboard.

STEP 6.

Lift up the switch board cover with a sharp object and remove it from the laptop.

STEP 7.

Remove four screws securing the display hinges.

STEP 8.

Release the Wi-Fi card antenna cables.
Unplug the video cable connector from the motherboard.
Remove two screws securing the display hinges.

STEP 9.

Remove the display panel from the laptop and replace it with a new one if needed.

You can find a new display panel using the HP SPS part number witch could be found on a sticker located close the video cable connector.

In my case the SPS part number is 413677-001. If you search by the part number here, you can find the whole display panel assembly (includes LCD screen, video cable, Wi-Fin antenna cables, inveter and plastic covers) or just a new screen.

In this guide I explain how to remove and replace the motherboard in a Dell Latitude D500 laptop. Also, you’ll see how to access and replace all other internal parts in this laptop.

I had two different problems with the laptop.
1. The power jack was damaged. I could have just resoldered the jack but the second problem was more serious.
2. The motherboard couldn’t charge a known good battery. Apparently it had a problem with the battery charging circuit.
So I decided to replace the motherboard.

Instead of buying just a single motherboard, I bough the whole motherboard assembly (you can see it on the first picture) which includes the board itself, mounting frame, cooling fan, speakers, hard drive bracket, PC card slot, modem and power button board. I purchased a good working motherboard assembly for my Dell Latitude D500 here for the same price as they asked for a single motherboard.

OK, let’s start taking it apart. Before you start, turn off the laptop, unplug the AC adapter and remove the battery.
Here I’m taking apart the laptop battery.

STEP 1.

Lift up one side of the keyboard cover with a small flat head screwdriver. Remove the cover.

STEP 2.

Remove two screws securing the motherboard.

STEP 3.

Disconnect the keyboard cable from the motherboard.

STEP 4.

Disconnect the video cable connector from the motherboard. Remove three screws securing the display hinges.

STEP 5.

Carefully remove the display assembly. In one of the previous posts I explain how to remove the LCD screen from a similar Dell laptop. It’s not necessary to remove the display panel from the laptop in order to remove the screen. You can do it while the display panel is still attached to the laptop.

STEP 6.

Remove one screw securing the CD/DVD drive and pull the drive from the laptop.
Remove both memory (RAM) modules.

STEP 7.

Unsnap both antenna cables from the connectors on the wireless card and remove the card the same way you remove memory modules – spread latches on both sides of the card and when the card pops up, pull it from the slot by the edges.

STEP 8.

Remove one screw securing the hard drive assembly and pull it from the laptop.

STEP 9.

Remove all screws from the bottom.

STEP 10.

Remove three screws securing the top cover assembly.
Disconnect the touch pad cable from the motherboard.

STEP 11.

Start lifting up the top cover assembly as it shown on the picture.

STEP 12.

The top cover has been removed.

STEP 13.

Remove two screws from the motherboard assembly.

STEP 14.

Start removing the motherboard assembly as it shown on the picture below.

STEP 15.

I noticed that it’s easier to remove the motherboard assembly if you remove the RTC (CMOS) battery cover first. It’s located in the battery bay.

STEP 16.

The motherboard assembly has been removed.

STEP 17.

Loosen four screws securing the CPU heat sink.

STEP 18.

Remove the heat sink. In my laptop the heat sink was clogged with dust and needed a good cleaning.

STEP 19.

Now you can access the CPU (processor). Unlock the CPU socket by turning the screw-lock into “Open” position. Carefully lift up the CPU and install it into the socket on the new motherboard. Do not forget to lock the socket after the CPU is installed or your laptop will not start.

You can search for a new motherboard by the part number from the old motherboard. The part number is located on a sticker glued in the RAM slot area. The second set of number in a long string is the part number.

In the next post I will explain how to remove the motherboard from the mounting frame and prepair it for the power jack repair.

In this guide I’ll be cleaning the cooling module in an Acer Aspire 3620 laptop. Most likely my instructions will work for some other Acer Aspire models. Fell free to leave a comment and mention the laptop model if it works for you.

This particular laptop was shutting down by itself while running some intensive applications. I found that the cooling module (heat sink and fan) is completely clogged with dust and needs a good cleaning. Unfortunately, in this model the cooling module is buried deep inside the laptop and it’s necessary to take the whole thing apart in order to access it. OK, let’s start.

If you need spare parts for your Aspire 3620 laptop (or any other laptops) try to search here.  If you search by the laptop model and part name, most likely you’ll find it. For example, if you need a new keyboard, search for Aspire 3620 keyboard.

Step1.

First of all turn off the laptop, unplug the power adapter and remove the battery. Remove the hard drive and memory covers from the bottom.

Step 2.

Remove four screws securing the hard drive assembly. After that slide the hard drive to the left and disconnect it from the motherboard. Now you can remove the hard drive assembly from the laptop.

If you are replacing the hard drive, you’ll have to remove the mounting bracket from the old one and install it on a new hard drive.

Step 3.

Remove both memory modules.
Disconnect two antenna wires from the wireless card (two yellow circles) and remove the wireless card same way you remove the memory module.

Step 4.

Remove one screw securing the CD/DVD drive. Push the drive from the laptop with a screwdriver. Pull the drive from the laptop.

Step 5.

Remove all screws from the bottom of the laptop. Disconnect the cooling fan cable from the motherboard.

Step 6.

Carefully start removing the keyboard bezel as it shown on the picture below. Be careful, the bezel has a circuit board which is connected to the motherboard.

Step 7.

Place the keyboard bezel so you can access the screw securing the keyboard. Remove that screw. Do not forget, the keyboard bezel is still attached to the motherboard.

Step 8.

Lift up the keyboard and place it upside down on the palm rest. Before you can remove the keyboard, you have to disconnect it from the motherboard.

On the picture below you see the keyboard cable connected to the motherboard. In order to unlock the connector, move the brown part about 2-3 millimeters towards the palm rest. Do not disconnect the brown locking tab from the connector, it must stay attached to the base.

On the picture below you can see the same connector in the unlocked state. Now you can pull the cable and remove the keyboard.

By the way, if you are only removing or replacing the keyboard, you can follow steps 6-8. You don’t have to remove anything from the bottom.

Step 9.

Now you can disconnect the cable connecting the keyboard bezel to the motherboard and remove the bezel. This cable belongs to the power button board which is attached to the bottom part of the bezel.

Step 10.

Pull the wireless antenna cables through the opening in the laptop. Disconnect the video cable from the motherboard. Remove two screws securing the display panel.

Step 11.

Now you can remove the display panel assembly. In the next post I will explain how to remove the LCD screen and inverter board.

Step 12.

Disconnect two white cables from the motherboard same way you disconnected the keyboard cable.

Step 13.

Start separating the top cover assembly from the laptop base.

and remove the top cover assembly.

Step 14.

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

Step 15.

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

The motherboard has been removed.

On the next picture you see the bottom part of the motherboard.

The cooling fan is attached to the base assembly and can be easily removed and replaced now.

Step 16.

Now I’m going to remove the heat sink.
Remove five screws securing the heat sink and carefully lift it up.

As you see, the heat sink is completely clogged with dust. I’m going to use compressed air to clean it.

You’ll find some gray (or other color) stuff on the top of the processor, it’s thermal grease which helps to conduct heat from the processor to heat sink. If thermal grease looks dry, you’ll have to replace it with new grease. Otherwise, you can reuse old grease, just spread it evenly on the top of the processor and install the heat sink back in place.