Comments on: Taking apart and cleaning Dell Inspiron 5100 laptop http://www.insidemylaptop.com/taking-apart-cleaning-dell-inspiron-5100-laptop/ Do-It-Yourself laptop and notebook repair tips and tricks Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:57:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Karl http://www.insidemylaptop.com/taking-apart-cleaning-dell-inspiron-5100-laptop/comment-page-1/#comment-82427 Karl Tue, 21 Sep 2010 15:06:38 +0000 http://www.insidemylaptop.com/taking-apart-cleaning-dell-inspiron-5100-laptop/#comment-82427 Just to chime in.... I had a friends Dell notebook shutting down due to overtemp; they bought external pad but no help....I offered to look into it and suggested they try replacing the heatsink assembly..... I just purchased the replacement fan/heatsink assembly from Amazon. Dell no longer offered the unit. I researched quite a bit before ordering and was very confident I was all set. I have replaced a screen or two, added memory, replaced keyboards, etc. Luiz (March 5, 2010) commented on the "processor often pops out too..." seems to be what my problem was on initial removal of the original heatsink assembly. I found a white, square module about 1/2" thick, with chips in the center, "stuck" to the bottom of the assembly. I didn't think it could be the cpu module; assumed it is attached to the motherboard but on closer inspection and reading Luiz's comments, I'm beginning to think that it is the cpu module? Anyone confirm this??? Anyway, I didn't want to risk scraping it off (...not my Dell) and damaging it , so tried Just Answer and paid for some tech advice. It seemed that the person wasn't really sure of himself and therefore, I finally gave up and returned the unit. PS>.reading the comments here I took just the fan assembly off and sure enough, 12 Q-tips later (...and 1 small animal) I re-assembled and the PC has been running fine ever since! Great website! I will refer to others....THANKS. Just to chime in….
I had a friends Dell notebook shutting down due to overtemp; they bought external pad but no help….I offered to look into it and suggested they try replacing the heatsink assembly…..

I just purchased the replacement fan/heatsink assembly from Amazon. Dell no longer offered the unit. I researched quite a bit before ordering and was very confident I was all set.
I have replaced a screen or two, added memory, replaced keyboards, etc.
Luiz (March 5, 2010) commented on the “processor often pops out too…” seems to be what my problem was on initial removal of the original heatsink assembly. I found a white, square module about 1/2″ thick, with chips in the center, “stuck” to the bottom of the assembly. I didn’t think it could be the cpu module; assumed it is attached to the motherboard but on closer inspection and reading Luiz’s comments, I’m beginning to think that it is the cpu module? Anyone confirm this???
Anyway, I didn’t want to risk scraping it off (…not my Dell) and damaging it , so tried Just Answer and paid for some tech advice. It seemed that the person wasn’t really sure of himself and therefore, I finally gave up and returned the unit. PS>.reading the comments here I took just the fan assembly off and sure enough, 12 Q-tips later (…and 1 small animal) I re-assembled and the PC has been running fine ever since! Great website! I will refer to others….THANKS.

]]> By: Luiz http://www.insidemylaptop.com/taking-apart-cleaning-dell-inspiron-5100-laptop/comment-page-1/#comment-39198 Luiz Fri, 05 Mar 2010 23:51:24 +0000 http://www.insidemylaptop.com/taking-apart-cleaning-dell-inspiron-5100-laptop/#comment-39198 It is not necessary to remove the heatsink assembly, and may not be that desirable. I've tried this with 3 dells this week and the processor often pops out too, risking bent pins. Easy to just remove the screws holding the fan in place, tilt back, and scrape the usually pelletized ball of gook of the heatsink. You can also blow with compressed air from outside the laptop (from the back left) to get 100% of the dust out. It is not necessary to remove the heatsink assembly, and may not be that desirable. I’ve tried this with 3 dells this week and the processor often pops out too, risking bent pins. Easy to just remove the screws holding the fan in place, tilt back, and scrape the usually pelletized ball of gook of the heatsink. You can also blow with compressed air from outside the laptop (from the back left) to get 100% of the dust out.

]]> By: t dub http://www.insidemylaptop.com/taking-apart-cleaning-dell-inspiron-5100-laptop/comment-page-1/#comment-28170 t dub Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:12:38 +0000 http://www.insidemylaptop.com/taking-apart-cleaning-dell-inspiron-5100-laptop/#comment-28170 Thanks for guide. I tried to do this myself by attacking from the bottom with no success. After following your instructions I pulled a dust clump the size of a small animal out of the fan cavity. Runs quiet and cool now. Thanks for guide. I tried to do this myself by attacking from the bottom with no success. After following your instructions I pulled a dust clump the size of a small animal out of the fan cavity. Runs quiet and cool now.

]]> By: Gary http://www.insidemylaptop.com/taking-apart-cleaning-dell-inspiron-5100-laptop/comment-page-1/#comment-27252 Gary Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:25:12 +0000 http://www.insidemylaptop.com/taking-apart-cleaning-dell-inspiron-5100-laptop/#comment-27252 I cleaned the heat sink fins on my 5100. The fan was running all the time on low and go to high with anything intense going on. The air coming out the back was quite hot. I took the CPU/fan/heat sink assembly out and blew it out with compressed air. There appeared to only be a thin film of dust over the inside of the fins. Not too bad. After cleaning, the fan doesn’t run much at all. when the machine has been on for several minutes the fan will come on for a few seconds and then turn off again for a minute or two before coming on again. It really runs a lot cooler and the air coming out when the fan is blowing is much cooler. The fan took so long to start the first time that I thought I had left it unplugged or broken something. I took it back apart to check the fan plug and then had to leave it on much longer before it came on the first time. I have had it since it was new and I can't remember the fan ever turning off completely. Probably just my memory going bad. Thanks Now if I could just get some more range from my internal wireless when I am in Hotels. Might have to hack an external antenna. Gary I cleaned the heat sink fins on my 5100.

The fan was running all the time on low and go to high with anything intense going on. The air coming out the back was quite hot. I took the CPU/fan/heat sink assembly out and blew it out with compressed air. There appeared to only be a thin film of dust over the inside of the fins. Not too bad.

After cleaning, the fan doesn’t run much at all. when the machine has been on for several minutes the fan will come on for a few seconds and then turn off again for a minute or two before coming on again. It really runs a lot cooler and the air coming out when the fan is blowing is much cooler. The fan took so long to start the first time that I thought I had left it unplugged or broken something. I took it back apart to check the fan plug and then had to leave it on much longer before it came on the first time. I have had it since it was new and I can’t remember the fan ever turning off completely. Probably just my memory going bad.

Thanks

Now if I could just get some more range from my internal wireless when I am in Hotels. Might have to hack an external antenna.

Gary

]]> By: Laptop Tech http://www.insidemylaptop.com/taking-apart-cleaning-dell-inspiron-5100-laptop/comment-page-1/#comment-25074 Laptop Tech Thu, 08 Oct 2009 05:01:06 +0000 http://www.insidemylaptop.com/taking-apart-cleaning-dell-inspiron-5100-laptop/#comment-25074 mark, <blockquote>my dell 5100 laptop was coming on for a second then going off now there is no power at all new battery fully charged and new power cord what causes this</blockquote> If the laptop shows no signs of life with fully charged battery and new AC adapter, most likely you have a problem with the motherboard. mark,

my dell 5100 laptop was coming on for a second then going off now there is no power at all new battery fully charged and new power cord what causes this

If the laptop shows no signs of life with fully charged battery and new AC adapter, most likely you have a problem with the motherboard.

]]> By: mark http://www.insidemylaptop.com/taking-apart-cleaning-dell-inspiron-5100-laptop/comment-page-1/#comment-24965 mark Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:41:29 +0000 http://www.insidemylaptop.com/taking-apart-cleaning-dell-inspiron-5100-laptop/#comment-24965 my dell 5100 laptop was coming on for a second then going off now there is no power at all new battery fully charged and new power cord what causes this my dell 5100 laptop was coming on for a second then going off now there is no power at all new battery fully charged and new power cord what causes this

]]> By: Laptop Tech http://www.insidemylaptop.com/taking-apart-cleaning-dell-inspiron-5100-laptop/comment-page-1/#comment-22589 Laptop Tech Thu, 27 Aug 2009 03:59:17 +0000 http://www.insidemylaptop.com/taking-apart-cleaning-dell-inspiron-5100-laptop/#comment-22589 mike, <blockquote>I followed all directions for cleaning fan, changing thermal grease, and it still shuts off in 5 seconds. I tried to boot from a usb stick, and same thing. What do I look for next?</blockquote> Can you see the cooling fan spinning? Maybe you have a faulty fan? mike,

I followed all directions for cleaning fan, changing thermal grease, and it still shuts off in 5 seconds. I tried to boot from a usb stick, and same thing. What do I look for next?

Can you see the cooling fan spinning? Maybe you have a faulty fan?

]]> By: mike http://www.insidemylaptop.com/taking-apart-cleaning-dell-inspiron-5100-laptop/comment-page-1/#comment-22508 mike Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:11:34 +0000 http://www.insidemylaptop.com/taking-apart-cleaning-dell-inspiron-5100-laptop/#comment-22508 I followed all directions for cleaning fan, changing thermal grease, and it still shuts off in 5 seconds. I tried to boot from a usb stick, and same thing. What do I look for next? I followed all directions for cleaning fan, changing thermal grease, and it still shuts off in 5 seconds. I tried to boot from a usb stick, and same thing. What do I look for next?

]]> By: Sylvester http://www.insidemylaptop.com/taking-apart-cleaning-dell-inspiron-5100-laptop/comment-page-1/#comment-22407 Sylvester Mon, 24 Aug 2009 01:54:57 +0000 http://www.insidemylaptop.com/taking-apart-cleaning-dell-inspiron-5100-laptop/#comment-22407 I want to do this without spending a bundle of money!! I want to do this without spending a bundle of money!!

]]> By: Sylvester http://www.insidemylaptop.com/taking-apart-cleaning-dell-inspiron-5100-laptop/comment-page-1/#comment-22406 Sylvester Mon, 24 Aug 2009 01:53:30 +0000 http://www.insidemylaptop.com/taking-apart-cleaning-dell-inspiron-5100-laptop/#comment-22406 I want to clean up my lap top, but I have lost my restoration disk, where can I get another one from? I want to clean up my lap top, but I have lost my restoration disk, where can I get another one from?

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