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In this post I explain how to take apart a Dell Vostro 1220 laptop.
I’m taking it apart in order to remove and replace failed hard drive which is mounted deep inside the laptop case.
I will also show how to access and remove other main Dell Vostro 1220 laptop parts such as memory modules, keyboard, DVD drive, wireless card and CMOS battery.
Before you start laptop disassembly, make sure it’s turned off and battery removed.
STEP 1.
Remove two screws securing the memory cover. Remove the cover.
STEP 2.
Under the cover you’ll get access to both memory modules, wireless module and CMOS battery.
STEP 3.
Remove one screws securing the DVD drive.
Pull DVD drive from the laptop and remove it.
STEP 4.
Using a sharp object lift up the right side of the center control cover.
STEP 5.
Continue removing the cover with your fingers.
Be careful, the control button board cable still connected to the motherboard.
Don’t be scared if you accidentally pulled the cable from the connector. You can reconnect it later when the keyboard is removed.
STEP 6.
Move the center control cover toward the display so you can access keyboard screws.
Remove three screws securing the keyboard.
STEP 7.
Lift up the keyboard and turn it over on the palm rest.
STEP 8.
Now you can access the keyboard cable connector.
Before removing the keyboard, you’ll have to unlock the connector and release the cable.
STEP 9.
On the following picture the keyboard connector shown in the locked position.
Carefully lift up the left side of the locking tab so it opens up at a 90 degree angle.
STEP 10.
On the following picture the connector is shown in the unlocked position.
Now you can pull the keyboard cable from the connector.
STEP 11.
Remove the keyboard.
Here you can find a new keyboard for Dell Vostro 1220 laptops.
STEP 12.
Disconnect the center control board cable.
Remove the center control cover.
STEP 13.
Disconnect both antenna cables from the wireless card.
STEP 14.
Unroute wireless card antenna cables.
Remove all screws from the bottom of the laptop.
STEP 15.
Disconnect video cable from the motherboard. The video cable has ground cable which is secured by one screws.
Pull wireless card antenna cables though the opening in the top cover.
STEP 16.
Disconnect touch pad cable from the motherboard.
Remove three screws securing the top cover.
STEP 17.
Carefully separate the top cover assembly from the laptop base.
STEP 18.
Remove top cover assembly.
STEP 19.
The hard drive located in the lower right corner.
STEP 20.
Disconnect one side of the USB board cable and move the cable away from the hard drive.
STEP 21.
Remove four screws securing the hard drive.
Slide hard drive assembly to the right to disconnect it from the motherboard.
STEP 22.
Lift up and remove the hard drive assembly.
STEP 23.
Remove two screws on each side of the hard drive.
Separate the mounting bracket and transfer it to the new hard drive.
In my Dell Vostro 1220 laptop I had a regular 2.5″ SATA hard drive installed. You can replace it with another 2.5″ SATA hard drive or upgrade to a 2.5″ Solid State Drive (SSD).
Solid State Drives are more expensive but significantly faster and quiet.
April 27th, 2013 at 3:43 pm
aah sry, i see you’ve already answered the ‘loose gray lead’ thing, ah well, i’ll have to break the box open again and try and see what it is :/
April 27th, 2013 at 3:39 pm
thx for this
i’ve put this back together but the wireless isn’t working but the device is fine in device manager, but the gray lead at the wireless module end isn’t connected to anything and i can’t remember if it was before and also can’t work out where it’s connected in these photos! it gets out of the box via ethernet np, so i’m really suspicious it’s this loose gray lead.
March 20th, 2013 at 7:29 am
Great instructions, it helped me a lot changing the harddrive. Many tnx.
Yes the grey cable does not connect.
Regards, Pieter
February 5th, 2013 at 8:23 pm
Many thanks. I spent several hours w/Dell and their instructions. They never mentioned the disconnect the wires and how can you get the palm rest off if you don’t. They are twits.
Thanks again.
June 25th, 2012 at 8:18 am
Your guide helped me BIG time. Thanks for the effort
May 31st, 2012 at 1:04 am
An excellent guide, thank you. Supplements the Dell documentation as this guide has more comments and shows that it is not necessary to remove the screen for some jobs in the innards. The Dell docs are worth a read too: http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/vos1220/en/sm/parts.htm
I was trying to get to the fan to clean it. I followed your photos and comments. I got stuck trying to remove the palm rest though. I was able to lift and unclip the back and sides but the front didn’t want to come away. Rather than force and break it, I removed dust I could see in the fan and reassembled the laptop. More info on the clips or securing method at the front would be really useful.
Thanks for a great step through.
April 24th, 2012 at 9:54 am
In my Dell Vostro 1000 I want to upgrade the processor. Can you help me with what is the highest I can go as far as processor. If you can post some pictures of how to change the processor.
February 6th, 2012 at 3:39 am
Super it really helps me to remove keyboard..
Thanks for uploading this guidelines.
December 21st, 2011 at 5:27 pm
many thanks your guide served me very well, what model laptop you recommend, greetings from Mexico
September 16th, 2011 at 11:47 pm
@ Rob Wagner,
I believe some newer wireless cards require three antenna cables. Probably your wireless card needs just two antenna cables. Leave the gray one unconnected.