Home
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.
If you find this article useful, please consider making a donation to the author. Thank you!
April 19th, 2010 at 2:43 am
How can i change the touchpad?
Thanks for the review!!
April 19th, 2010 at 10:44 am
Rikr,
Are you working on a Dell Inspiron 1545 laptop?
Take a looks at this service manual.
You can get to the touch pad after you remove the palm rest.
April 27th, 2010 at 7:24 am
This is a fantastic resource. Gives me confidence when working on laptops. THANKS!
May 8th, 2010 at 10:25 am
hey great article, but how do i put the new one in?
May 8th, 2010 at 10:28 am
joe,
Just follow steps 8-1.
May 12th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
Hi, I took my ‘enter’ key off, because it was sticky, and now I can’ figure out how to put it back on. Could you help me?
May 16th, 2010 at 9:03 am
Emma,
Check out this post:
http://www.laptoprepair101.com/laptop/2007/03/20/key-fell-off-keyboard/
May 23rd, 2010 at 6:38 pm
Hi! I followed everything correctly and put everything back into place, but now the laptop doesn’t want to turn on. What can I do to fix that?
June 4th, 2010 at 8:21 am
Can I remove the palm rest without removing anything else?
June 6th, 2010 at 8:11 pm
Emily,
Nope, you’ll have to go through all steps in my guide.
After that you remove all screws on the bottom of the laptop, screws under the keyboard, remove the display panel.
Only after that you can remove the palm rest (top cover assembly).
You’ll find palm rest removal instructions here: http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins1545/en/SM/index.htm
June 9th, 2010 at 10:35 am
Hi, great information. One of my left touchpad button became loose and now has come off the touchpad. I have tried to follow the same rules as replacing a key from the keyboard but when it does not want to go back on, its still very loose and falls out of place. Any ideas of how can I can pop it back on? Cheers
June 10th, 2010 at 7:38 pm
The black latch on the keyboard connector broke at the small hinges. Can it be epoxied into place? The connector itself is ok.
June 12th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
AntiV3nom,
Check out this guide: http://www.laptoprepair101.com/laptop/2009/11/17/fix-broken-keyboard-connector-on-laptop-motherboard/
Maybe you can use this repair technique?
June 12th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
Jenny,
I believe the touchpad button is a part of the top cover assembly.You cannot put it back in place same way as the keyboard key.
If the touchpad button is broken, you’ll have to replace the whole top cover assembly.
Correction: I was wrong. In this model the touchpad buttons can be replaced separately from the top cover assembly. Please take a look at the comment 17. Thank you to The Realizer.
June 18th, 2010 at 7:02 am
Hi,
just bought a 1545 Inspiron at a swap meet. When I got it home and charged up was able to go through the setup menu. I found a anti theft feature that is set by original owner and is not resettable, at-least through the menus. None of the passwords were set just this feature. I am concerned, since the notebook can call home and report its location and look bad for me if it was originally acquired through seedy means. In the used market people sell lap tops all over the place. Is there any info available on this feature and how to reset it so I can set it myself.
ty Keith
June 25th, 2010 at 6:50 am
Correction
It is not necessary to replace the whole palmrest assembly to fix the touchpad buttons.
http://www.blueskyave.com/servlet/the-1775/60.4AQ10.011-Dell-Inspiron-1545/Detail
June 25th, 2010 at 8:01 am
The Realizer,
Thank you for your correction. I was wrong.
July 2nd, 2010 at 10:05 pm
just followed all the instructions but when i use the keyboard(compatible),some of the keys don’t function,the touch pad is now very lousy(freezes) and annoying.any help please?
July 2nd, 2010 at 10:16 pm
balikas88,
Try reconnecting the keyboard cable. Maybe it’s not seated correctly.
July 22nd, 2010 at 8:22 am
Instructions were perfect and precise. The photos really helped me to ensure I knew where to look (especially when disconnecting the keyboard from the motherboard). thanks for a great tutorial!
July 31st, 2010 at 5:56 pm
Okay so some soda accidentally fizzed over when I opened my bottle today, even though I thought it wasn’t fizzy. As a result, my spacebar barely works, my e and r keys like to press at the same time, and my left mouse button barely presses. My left control +c combo likes to turn off my wireless.
I tried drying out my computer but things are just sticky now. Any suggestions on how to clean the keyboard once this is open?
September 1st, 2010 at 11:29 am
Just wanted to say thanks for this website and the very detailed instructions. I tried to get help from Dell Tech support but they seem like a bunch of idiots. I did as instructed from this website and all went well. Thank you so much and keep up the good work.