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In this guide I’ll explain how to take apart an Acer Aspire 5100 laptop. I’ll show how to remove and replace major laptop components such as CD/DVD drive, memory, hard drive, wireless card, cooling fan and keyboard.
In the next article I’ll explain how to remove LCD screen and replace inverter board.
First of all, make sure the laptop is turned off, the power adapter is disconnected and the battery is removed.
Both memory modules, wireless card, cooling and and hard drive can be accessed from the bottom. Remove four screws marked with red circles and loosen two screws marked with green circles. Remove both covers.
You can search for Acer Aspire 5100 spare parts here.
Removing DVD drive:
1. Remove one screw (red circle) securing the drive.
2. Push the drive from the laptop with a flathead screwdriver.
3. Pull the drive form the laptop.
Removing hard drive:
1. Pull the hard drive to the right side until it’s disconnected from the motherboard.
2. Lift up the hard drive.
If you are replacing the hard drive with a new one, you’ll have to transfer the mounting bracket to a new drive.
My laptop had a 80GB 5400RPM SATA hard drive installed. You can upgrade it to a larger and faster SATA drive.
100GB, 120GB, 160GB and 250GB SATA drives should work just fine in this laptop.
Removing laptop memory:
1. Carefully spread latches on both sides of the memory module until it pops up at a 30 degree angle.
2. Pull the memory module by the edges.
Acer Aspire 5100 has two memory slots. You can install up to 4GB RAM total. Up to 2GB memory module into each slot. You should use PC2-533 DDR2-667MHz 200pin SODIMM RAM modules.
Removing wireless card:
1. Disconnect both antenna cables. Grab the antenna cable connector with your fingers and unsnap it from the connector on the wireless card.
2. Spread latches on both sides of the wireless card same way as you did with RAM modules.
3. When the wireless card pops up at a 30 degree angle, pull it from the slot by the edges. Remove wireless card.
Removing cooling fan:
1. Remove two screws securing the fan.
2. Carefully disconnect fan cable from the motherboard.
3. Lift up and remove the fan.
My laptop had a lot of dust trapped between the fan and heatsink. This dust buildup kills normal airflow inside the cooling module and causes laptop overheating. You can blow off dust using canned air.
Here’s how you can replace thermal paste between the heatsink and CPU.
Removing laptop keyboard.
In the following steps I’ll explain how to disconnect and remove the keyboard.
1. Lift up the keyboard bezel with a flathead screwdriver as it shown on the picture below.
2. Remove keyboard bezel.
3. Remove two screws securing the keyboard.
4. Carefully lift up the keyboard, it’s still attached to the motherboard.
5. The keyboard is connected to the motherboard via a flat ribbon cable. Before you can remove the keyboard, you’ll have to unlock the connector and release the cable.
6. Carefully move the black tab about 1-2 millimeters up with your fingernails as it shown on the picture below.
DO NOT SEPARATE THIS TAB FROM THE CONNECTOR, IT HAS TO STAY ATTACHED TO THE CONNECTOR.
If you break the keyboard connector, you’ll have to replace the whole motherboard. Be careful.
7. Now you can release the cable and remove the keyboard.
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October 25th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Dowayne B,
Here’s what you can try.
Turn on the laptop and press F8 when Acer logo appears on the screen. Hopefully it will take you to the boot menu.
Select Last Known Good Configuration and press Enter. Wait until the laptop reboots and restores Windows. It might help.
October 25th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
I have an Acer Aspire 5100 with Vista on it. I don’t have a recovery disk because they didn’t supply one and when I went to make one, it didn’t work right and I never got any answers. Well, it was working one night and I got up the next morning and it won’t start-up. I hit the power button and it goes where it show the whit Acer screen with the blue writing. I have no idea how to recover this or anything. Please help. I was looking for the cmos battery but cannot find in hopes that it would reset it. Please Please help me. Thanks.
October 25th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Zack,
It’s not possible. The video card is integrated into the motherboard and cannot be removed and replaced.
October 25th, 2009 at 8:38 am
Hi
Is it possible to upgrade the Aspire 5100 video card ? How do I do it ?
I have the Radeon 1100 xpress. Appreciate your help.
October 23rd, 2009 at 8:45 am
Mad,
Try removing the Wi-Fi card and start the laptop with the wireless card removed. Can you?
If not, most likely this is the motherboard failure.
October 23rd, 2009 at 7:14 am
can you help me!!
the thing is that wen i start my pc it gives me an error about a Resource conflict – PCI in slot 03
Bus: 06, device:04, function:00
Bus: 06, device:04, function:01
Bus: 06, device:04, function:02
Bus: 06, device:04, function:03
i have an acer aspire 3100 laptop
pleaseeeeee help me out!
it wont boot to vista
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Mad,
The laptop will work even if the Wi-Fi card is removed.
October 21st, 2009 at 5:11 pm
I have an Acer Aspire 3100 and i want to know if ill work without a wi-fi card, because i lost it one time that i tried to change it… pleae answer me via email!!!
thanks!!
October 17th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
I have an acer aspire 5100 and the first thing that happened while it was still under warranty was the orbicam stopped working. acer sent instructions on how to download an update it never worked. rolling the OS back to windows xp media center edition had it working a few days but then it was out again.Customer service gave me the run around until the manufacturer warranty ran out. Next thing to happen was the usb ports stopped recognizing anything. I was thinking it was a driver issue but i am unable to find any and windows is telling me the drivers are up to date. The final thing to happen was the keyboard and touchpad stopped working pcmcia usb card enabled me to connect an external mouse and keyboard but I will be out of luck when this too fails. While searching for a solution I found that the issues I am facing are common with this series, I am at a loss as to what I should do and where I should look next.
October 17th, 2009 at 11:16 am
Hi
I have anAcer D620 eMachine where the power jack is faulty. As it was under warrranty it was sent in to Acer who are claiming physical abuse (??) On searching the internet here in South Africa it appears that this is a relatively common problem. Any advice as they now want about $300 to repair / replace the motherboard
Many thanx
October 16th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
Hello, I got an Acer Aspire 5630. After a restart from safe mode. My laptop wont boot, no bios, CD/DVD drive/fan spin for a while and turns off. The power led just stays on with a black screen.
Is the bios the problem or my motherboard?
October 16th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Hey, I have an acer aspire 5515, the built-in wireless card has stopped working. Ive tried all the software fixes I could.
How ever I am curious to know if taking the wireless card out and replacing it will be as simple as the 5100 model., please email back
October 13th, 2009 at 7:50 am
If you’re upgrading your RAM to 4 GB, don’t flash the BIOS with version 3.15. Earlier BIOS version worked for me after that.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:04 am
hi, aspire 5100 with i believe a dead motherboard. i only used the hdd memory for music, pics, video nothing too personal. should i invest in a harddrive enclosure to access the memory and wipe it? i am selling the dead laptop to an online company. Should i be worried about passwords or anything? thank you for any answers.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
nick,
Acer Aspire 5100 can take up to 4GB or memory, so you can install up to 2GB memory module into each slot.
You should use PC2-5300 DDR2-667 200pin SDRAM SODIMM modules. In short it’s called PC2-5300 memory for notebooks. By the way, if you run XP, it will see only about 3GB.
Nope, you will not lose anything. All your data is stored on the hard drive, not in memory.
October 4th, 2009 at 8:48 am
i have a aspire 5100. runs really slow since i installed norton 360 want to replace ram. it has 2 512mb now what kind should i get to replace it ? and will i lose any thing or have to reinstall anything?
thanks nick
October 1st, 2009 at 4:35 am
Hi, got 5100 and reinstalled windows but now the webcam does not work the light comes on but its just a grey square where the webcam picture should be. I tried installing the driver more than once but still doesnt work any suggestions?
September 29th, 2009 at 8:47 am
Acer Support says it costs @199 to have them replace the motherboard (plus shipping, of course).
They would not sell the motherboard … “not a user replaceable part” .. what a joke…
So the best bet is ebay.
September 28th, 2009 at 3:54 am
I have the same problem as Adrian R. if the motherboard is the problem do you have any idea how much does it costs to replace it?
September 27th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Here’s my problem… today my Aspire 5110 went into standby mode and didn’t wanna wake up when I hit a key.
I had to power down and after that it didn’t make it to the boot screen. I mean, I press the power button, the power and hdd leds light up and the screen stays black. The keyboard is not responding either (can’t access the bios). The cpu fan revs up for a couple of seconds, then drop down to normal speed.
I checked the ram and cpu (since I have a replacement just sitting around), but no luck.
At this point I’m suspecting the motherboard.
Any ideas (before I order a new motherboard)?
Thank you.
September 25th, 2009 at 9:43 am
A lot of thanks Laptop Tech
Your response has been very helpful!
September 25th, 2009 at 9:18 am
I saw your answer and i tried to fix the RAM but everything seemed to be alright. Instead after this when i tried to turn on the PC, the screen stays black, the BIOS, RAM check , virtual cache and all of that things that appear when the laptop starts doesn’t show up anymore. also the HDD led is lit up. thanks a lot.
September 24th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
Bobby Turner,
You can get service manual for Acer Aspire 5100 here.
The Bluetooth module is mounted inside the case. You can see it on the page 66.
The Bluetooth connector is on the motherboard close to the audio jacks. You can see the connector on the top right picture.
The Bluetooth module itself is shown on the same page on the bottom right picture.
September 24th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Sergio_1210,
It’s hard to tell what is causing the problem without testing the laptop. Could be software related issue.
1. Go to the device manager and delete all entries related to USB ports. Restart the laptop and let it re-detect USB ports. Test the laptop if the problem is fixed. If not, go to the step 2.
2. Back up all personal data and reinstall Windows from scratch. You can reinstall Windows from the recovery disc.
If reinstalling Windows from scratch doesn’t help, most likely there is a problem with the motherboard. You’ll have to replace it with a new one or use the laptop as is.
Also, you can try using a PCMCIA-USB card instead of regular USB ports. You plug this card into the PC slot and get 2 or 4 USB ports on the other end.
September 23rd, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Hi, I have an acer aspire 5100, it has a bluetooth switch on the front which is not connected to a bluetooth device, i.e. when you click the switch it says ‘No bluetooth device’. I was wondering where to install a bluetooth module if i purchase one, and if you have a guide for it.
Thanks in advance.
September 23rd, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Hi!!
I have a problem with my acer aspite 5100…when connect any USB (cam, pendrive, external, etc..) in any port the laptop freezes
¿Some idea, causes or solution?
thanks!
p.d: sorry for my bad english
September 22nd, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Sean H,
Most likely the motherboard issue. I guess IDE channels/channel is fried.
That’s a good idea. Who knows, maybe reflashing the BIOS will help.
I’m not working a lot with Acer laptops but I know that the best way to find a replacement part is searching by the manufacturer’s part number.
Not sure when Acer places the part number but it must be somewhere on the motherboard.
Here’s my suggestion:
1. Remove the motherboard and find the part number. Maybe it’s on a sticker in the memory compartment or under the keyboard. It will look something like that: DAZG1SMB8E8. Will be different numbers but same format.
2. Google the part number.
September 22nd, 2009 at 10:14 pm
I just checked this web board again and saw you replied to my question. I will try flashing the bios next. To answer your question it does not see any hard drives or cd-rom drives in the bios. Does this sound like a BIOS issue or a motherboard issue? If you think it is a motherboard issue where can I order a new board?
September 22nd, 2009 at 9:45 pm
Billy Gonzales,
Here’s my guess.
1. Could be faulty AC adapter.
2. Motherboard problem.
September 22nd, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Hi. I have an Aspire5000 that won’t turn on. I plug in the charger and the green charging comes on but as soon as I hit the power button, the green light turns to yellow, then dark for 5 seconds, and the laptop won’t turn on. Then the green charging light comes on again. Once the power button is pushed, the laptop dies again. Please help.