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In this guide I explain how to disassemble a Dell Inspiron 1420 or Dell Vostro 1400 laptop. I will completely disassemble the laptop and remove the motherboard.
Dell Inspiron 1420 laptop is very similar to Dell Vostro 1400 laptop. If there are any differences, they should be very minor.
Before you start, make sure the laptop is turned off and battery removed.
STEP 1.
Loosen eight screws securing the hard drive, memory and heat sink covers.
Remove all three covers.
STEP 2.
Lift up the hard drive assembly by the black tab to disconnect it from the motherboard.
Remove the hard drive assembly from the laptop.
STEP 3.
The hard drive connected to the laptop motherboard via connector.
Dell Inspiron 1420/Vostro 1400 laptop uses a regular 2.5″ SATA hard drive.
STEP 4.
Both memory modules can be accessed on the bottom of the laptop.
Remove both memory modules.
Dell Inspiron 1420/Vostro 1400 laptop can handle up to 4GB RAM. You can install up to 2GB RAM module into each slot.
You should use PC2-5300 DDR2 or faster DDR2 memory modules.
STEP 5.
Remove one screw securing the DVD drive.
Pull DVD drive from the laptop.
STEP 6.
Loosen four screws securing the CPU heat sink.
STEP 7.
Carefully lift up the heat sink and remove it from the laptop. If the heat sink is clogged with dust you can clean it with compressed air.
NOTE: before installing the heat sink back into the laptop don’t forget to apply new thermal grease on the CPU.
After the heat sink is removed, you can access and remove the CPU (processor).
In the following six steps I explain how to remove the keyboard.
If you just replacing the keyboard, it’s not necessary to go though all previous steps.
STEP 8.
Carefully lift up the right side of the keyboard cover with a screwdriver.
Continue removing the keyboard cover with your fingers.
STEP 9.
Remove two screws securing the keyboard.
STEP 10.
Lift up the keyboard so you can access the cable connector underneath.
You can remove the keyboard only after the connector is unlocked and cable released.
STEP 11.
In order to unlock the connector lift up the right side of the blue locking tab at a 90 degree angle.
STEP 12.
On the following picture the keyboard connector shown in the unlocked position.
Now you can pull the keyboard cable from the connector.
STEP 13.
Remove the keyboard.
If you need a new keyboard for Dell Inspiron 1420/Vostro 1400 laptop, you can buy it here.
In the following eight steps I explain how to remove the display assembly.
STEP 14.
Remove two screws securing display hinges on the bottom of the laptop.
STEP 15.
Remove two screws securing display hinges on the back of the laptop.
STEP 16.
Lift up and remove both hinge covers.
STEP 17.
Lift up and unplug the video cable connector from the motherboard.
STEP 18.
Remove one screw securing the 7-button board and remove the board.
You do not remove the board completely, you just put it aside so you can remove the wireless card antenna cables.
STEP 19.
Disconnect both wireless card antenna cables from the wireless card.
STEP 20.
Now you can remove one screw securing the wireless card and remove it from the laptop (optional step).
STEP 21.
Lift up and remove the display assembly.
In order to remove the LCD screen you can follow this Dell Inspiron 1520/Vostro 1500 guide.
It’s a different model but LCD screen removal steps should be very similar.
By the way, the LCD screen can be removed and replaced while the display still attached to the laptop base.
In the next eight steps I explain how to disassemble laptop base and remove the motherboard.
STEP 22.
Remove all remaining screws from the bottom of the laptop.
STEP 23.
Remove three screws securing the top cover assembly.
STEP 24.
Lift up and remove the top cover assembly.
STEP 25.
In order to remove the motherboard, you’ll have to remove the modem card first.
Remove one screw securing the modem card, disconnect modem cable from the left side and remove the modem.
By the way, the CMOS battery is hidden under the modem.
STEP 26.
Remove three screws securing the motherboard.
Disconnect three cables.
STEP 27.
Carefully lift up the motherboard.
There is one more cable on the bottom which has to be separated from laptop base.
STEP 28.
Remove the motherboard.
STEP 29.
On the other side of the motherboard you can access and remove the cooling fan.
Simply remove two screws securing the fan, disconnect the cable and remove the fan.
A new replacement cooling fan for Dell Inspiron 1420/Vostro 1400 laptop sold here.
February 4th, 2013 at 8:53 am
Thanks so much for the guide! I ‘ve just cleaned my old laptop without any problems.
November 26th, 2012 at 6:34 pm
Thanks for work well done. I need a little help here. Could not locate where the bluetooth connector plugs underneath on the motherboard. Can you help please. Thanks.
September 10th, 2012 at 8:07 am
@ Anthony Heng,
I checked Dell website and for Dell Vostro 1400 they have drivers only for Windows XP and Vista 32-bit. It’s possible that Windows 7 has all drivers for your laptop but you’ll have to try.
Most likely this is keyboard related failure. I think the “\” key stuck.
Here’s what you can try. Disconnect the laptop keyboard from the motherboard and test your laptop with an external USB keyboard. If the laptop works properly with the external keyboard, your internal keyboard is defective. Replace it. You cannot fix individual key.
September 9th, 2012 at 11:27 pm
Can i install win 7 on my vostro 1400. Previous using windows vista.
I hv problem with the keyboard when i key in something ….then the sign of this \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ appear non stop.
Can someone tell if this bcos of virus or keyboard problem….thanks you.
July 26th, 2012 at 11:11 am
Great tutorial! Thanks so much for taking the time. I just fixed my own noisy fan (and learned a lot about the inside of a laptop) thanks to you. I appreciate it!!!
July 23rd, 2012 at 11:04 am
@ Avinash Prida,
Dell Vostro 1500 laptop doesn’t have dedicated sound card. It’s built into the motherboard.
If the sound card failed, you’ll have to replace the entire motherboard.
First, I would try reinstalling Windows OS from scratch. It’s likely your problem is software related. Sometimes reinstalling audio drivers cannot fix the problem but reinstalling the entire OS might help.
By the way, you should be able to test sound if you boot your laptop from Ubuntu OS (live Linux CD). If sound works in Ubuntu, it’s definitely Windows OS related problem.
July 21st, 2012 at 12:38 pm
Hi,
I have a DELL Vostro 1500 laptop. The warranty is expired. It came with Windows Vista which I later upgraded to Windows 7 ultimate. A few days back, the sound stopped working. Neither the in-built speaker nor headphone produced any sound. I tried re-installing the sound drivers but in vain. Then I tried an external USB sound adapter, now the headphone or external speakers are working fine, but not the inbuilt speakers. How do I fix this problem ? Can I replace just the sound card (if there is any) or do I have to replace the whole mother board ?
Thanks in advance.
May 22nd, 2012 at 12:41 am
Hi,
i gave my laptop for service and got it back , gave the same to other center and he diagnoised one part of heat sink is missing in my lap top vostro 1500, i am using nvidia graphics card , but in the above description i am able to see only one part of the heat sink. why is it so??
Every laptop will defer on the components?
can i buy generalised heat sink online and fit the same?
February 14th, 2012 at 6:55 pm
@ korn,
First, I would check memory. Could be faulty memory module.
You have two memory modules installed, right? Try removing them one by one. Test the laptop with each module separately.
February 12th, 2012 at 3:39 pm
nice dude..just want to ask,i had a prob with my inspiron 1420..when i turn on evrything is fine,fan ok,harddisk also ok cause i already try at another laptop but my monitor not show any display just blank black lcd..bios also not display when i connect it to external monitor also cannot use..did someone here know about my laptop problem..i dont know is mothrboad problem or anything else and if mothrboad problem,how much for the new one or 2nd hand motherboard,.
Sorry for my broken english..thank you..