Taking apart Dell Inspiron N5010 (Inspiron 15R) laptop

In this guide I explain how to take apart a Dell Inspiron N5010 laptop.

I believe this model also called Inspiron 15R. Also similar to Inspiron M5010 model.

I’m doing this disassembly in order to access and remove the hard drive which is mounted deep inside the laptop.

Dell Inspiron N5010 doesn’t give you easy access to the hard drive. I’ll be removing the keyboard and top cover assembly.

Before you stat laptop disassembly make sure it’s turned off and battery removed.

STEP 1.

Remove one screw securing the memory cover.

Lift up and remove the cover.

STEP 2.

Both memory slots/modules can be easily accessed on the bottom of the laptop.

Dell Inspiron N5010 (Inspiron 15R) laptop can support up to 8GB RAM. You can install up to 4GB RAM module into each slot.

Memory type used: PC3-10666 DDR3-1333 204pin SDRAM SODIMM.

STEP 3.

Remove one screw securing the DVD drive.

Pull DVD drive from the laptop and remove it.

STEP 4.

There is one screw securing laptop keyboard on the bottom.

This screw located in the memory compartment.

Remove the screw.

STEP 5.

There are four spring loaded latches securing the keyboard on the top.

STEP 6.

Push on the latch with a small screwdriver and at the same time lift up the keyboard a little bit.

Do the same with all remaining latches.

STEP 7.

Turn the keyboard upside down and place it on the palmrest.

STEP 8.

Now you can access the keyboard connector.

Before you remove 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.

Lift up the left side of the locking tab. It will open up at a 90 degree angle.

STEP 10.

On the following picture same connector shown in the unlocked position.

Now you can pull the cable.

STEP 11.

Remove the keyboard.

Replace it with a new keyboard if needed. New keyboards for Dell Inspiron N5010 (Inspiron 15R and Inspiron M5010) laptops available here.

STEP 12.

Remove all screws from the bottom of the laptop.

Six screws (green circles) are hidden under rubber covers.

STEP 13.

You can remove rubber covers with a sharp object. After that remove screws.

STEP 14.

Remove five screws securing the top cover assembly.

Disconnect the power button cable, status light cable and touch pad cable from the motherboard.

Use same technique as for disconnecting the keyboard cable.

STEP 15.

Start separating the top cover assembly from the laptop base.

STEP 16.

Remove the top cover assembly.

STEP 17.

Under the top cover assembly you’ll get access to the hard drive, CPU cooling fan, wireless card and SC card reader.

STEP 18.

There are four screws securing the hard drive on the bottom of the laptop.

Remove all four screws.

STEP 19.

Now slide the hard drive to the left to disconnect it from the motherboard.

Lift up and remove the hard drive.

My Dell Inspiron N5010 had a regular 2.5″ SATA hard drive installed.

It’s possible to upgrade this drive with any other large capacity 2.5″ SATA hard drive or expensive (but fast and noiseless) 2.5″ SATA solid state drive (SSD).