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Here are instructions for taking apart a Dell Inspiron 1720/1721 or Dell Vostro 1700 laptop.
You can use these guide for removing and replacing:
1. Laptop memory, hard drive, wireless card, modem.
2. CD/DVD optical drive.
3. Laptop keyboard.
4. LCD panel.
5. Heat sink, CPU, motherboard and other internal components.
Are you looking for spare parts for your Dell Inspiron 1720 laptop? Search here.
First of all, turn off the laptop, unplug AC power adapter and remove the battery.
Turn the laptop upside down and remove Wi-Fi, memory and hard drive covers.
Disconnect (unsnap) two antenna cables from the wireless card. Remove the wireless card.
Spread latches on both sides of the memory module and carefully pull the RAM module from the slot.
You can access only one memory slot from the bottom of the laptop. The second memory slot is located under the keyboard.
Remove three screws securing the hard drive. In order to disconnect the hard drive from the motherboard, lift it up by the black tab attached to the hard drive caddy. Remove the hard drive.
As you see, Dell Inspiron 1720 can handle two hard drives. You can increase laptop storage space by installing a second hard drive.
The BIOS (CRT) battery is located right under the memory slot. By the way, disconnecting the battery will not clear the BIOS password, don’t even try.
Now I’m going to remove the CD/DVD optical drive. Remove one screw securing the CD/DVD drive to the laptop base and open the drive with a paper clip.
Carefully pull the CD/DVD drive from the laptop.
Remove all screws from the bottom.
Remove two screws securing display hinges.
In the following four steps I explain how to remove the laptop keyboard. If you are replacing the keyboard, you can skip all previous steps.
Lift up the keyboard bezel with a flathead screwdriver. Remove the bezel.
Remove four screws securing the keyboard.
Slide the keyboard to the direction shown by the red arrow.
Lift up and remove the keyboard. Now you can replace it with a new one if needed.
As you see on the picture below, this keyboard doesn’t have a flat ribbon cable as most laptop keyboards do. The keyboard connector is a part of the keyboard base.
Unplug two LCD cables from the motherboard and remove one screw securing the grounding cable.
Remove the LCD panel.
Remove six screws securing the top cover assembly and unplug one cable pointed with the red arrow.
As I mentioned before, the second RAM slot can be accessed when you remove the keyboard.
The internal Bluetooth module can be mounted in the top right corner. My Inspiron 1720 came without internal Bluetooth module but it had the Bluetooth cable installed.
Lift up and remove the top cover assembly.
The top cover has been removed.
Loosen four screws securing the CPU heat sink.
Remove the heat sink. Do not forget to apply new thermal grease when you install the heat sink back.
Remove four screws securing the cooling fan. Unplug the fan cable from the system board. Remove the fan.
Remove two screws (blue circles) securing the dial up modem. Remove the modem.
Remove six screws (red circles) securing the PCMCIA slot board.
Remove the PCMCIA slot board.
Remove all screws securing the system board. Unplug three cables on the bottom (three red arrows). Unplug and remove the Bluetooth cable (yellow arrow).
Start removing the system board from the left side.
The system board has been removed.
In order to remove the CPU, you’ll have to unlock the CPU socket first. Turn the screw into the “Unlocked” position. Carefully lift up the CPU from the socket.
If you are replacing the system board, you’ll have to transfer the hard drive connector board to the new system board.
February 14th, 2012 at 6:43 pm
@ ChristianRH,
Did you test the AC adapter. Maybe your adapter is dead?
February 11th, 2012 at 5:52 pm
My Dell Laptop, I turn it on but just turns on the power LED, but immediately goes off, the battery LED flashes one time, the fan and the screen does not turn it on. I changed the memory, I’ve tested the fan and processor. I want to reset the bios, but not how. Can you help me?
February 8th, 2012 at 3:11 pm
@ LE,
Most of the time I’m using regular Philips screwdrivers made by Wiha (Germany). Best screwdrivers ever!
I mentioned them here: http://www.insidemylaptop.com/laptop-repair-tools/
I’m using 261/PH1x60 (last one on the picture) about 95% of the time fixing laptops.
February 6th, 2012 at 6:34 pm
I’ll try this again. Your pictures and info look great. I’ve got corrupted memory according to error codes and diagnostics. Using the info from the online Dell Service manual I’ve gotten to the point of removing the keyboard. HOWEVER of the four “M2″ screws the two end ones will not turn. The manual says use a Philips screwdriver BUT does not say what size of Philips screwdriver to use. So I went hunting on the internet in hopes of finding out because if I mess with the one screw too much more it will be toast. I have two computer tool kits from 15+ years ago that supposedly have a 0 and 1 in it and a precision set with a 0 and 1 (labeled) and the ones from the tool kits don’t match the precision ones and none seem to be right. The precision ones are a bit worn. So I’m asking what size of screwdriver do you use on the keyboard screws? Is it a standard Philips or what? (do they make metric ones?). Or are these the other screws that look like Philips but aren’t. Thanks.
December 19th, 2011 at 3:59 pm
i forgot my bios password for dell inspirion 1720 how do i retrive it #4lgszd1-595b
November 3rd, 2011 at 8:49 pm
I upgraded the memory module under the keyboard (go into BIOS on restart to confirm the upgrade).
On restarting the laptop the 2,w,s,x keys would not work so I removed the keyboard, holding the keyboard on its side I gave those keys a tap, replaced the keyboard and the keys started working OK, but now the 0,-,p,[,;,’,# keys had stopped working.
I had to do the same procedure a couple of times and tap slightly harder to get these keys working.
It seems the keyboard membrame is susceptible to dust ingress, but at least I didn’t have to fork out for a new keyboard.
September 16th, 2011 at 6:17 am
Superb guide and very easy too follow..i would add a note about the wwan wlan wires..spent ages thinking id forgotten too hook something up on motherboard..then thought..”ohh wwan and lan..duh”.
But great guide and extremely helpfull.
September 15th, 2011 at 5:33 pm
I have an Inspiron 1720 that had a noisy cooling fan. I purchased a new fan, and following the pictures and captions on this site, it was REALLY EASY to take things apart properly, and to backtrack and put things back together. You saved me the cost of paying someone to install the new fan, and I really appreciate that. Thanks a ton!
September 14th, 2011 at 6:54 pm
Thanks! T9300 installed!
July 31st, 2011 at 9:40 pm
I appreciate the images & instructions. I have a Dell Inspiron 1720 laptop (same as what you depicted). It’s 4 yrs old, running Vista. Apparently I got a virus 2 days ago, because it won’t recognize my passwords (2 password protected accounts). Somone told me to look at my BIOS, and ignorant me, set up a BIOS password. I KNOW the password, but my PC won’t recognize it. So, I’m told to find the J1, J2, J3, J4 pins on the motherboard and move them around to unlock the BIOS password. Disconnecting the CMOS battery didn’t help. My questions is: Must I remove everything you’ve just shown me, to get to these J pins? Thank you, I really miss my PC.