How to Take a Dell 5100 Apart
Whether you intend to repair or upgrade it, you sometimes need to get really personal with your laptop. This means taking it apart. The Inspiron 5100 was one of the best-selling Dell models of the early 2000s. It has also had its fair share of complaints, including a poor heat-transfer design that resulted in overheating and hot laps. Luckily, by laptop standards, it is a rather easy system to upgrade and repair. This article will help you figure out how to take apart a Dell 5100. But remember: You'll have to put it back together on your own.
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Things You'll Need
- Set of small Phillips-head and flat-blade screwdrivers
- Clean, static-free workspace
Instructions
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Before embarking on a repair or upgrade job on your own, make sure you have backed up all important files and programs. You want to envision the worst-case scenario (something like spilling Coke all over the exposed motherboard). Of course, that won't happen, because you will be using a clean, static-free workspace. Right?
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Turn off the computer and unplug the power supply and all accessories. Take out the battery as well. You can do this by releasing the battery latch on the bottom of the computer and sliding out the battery. Discharge any static electricity you may be carrying by touching a metallic surface (not the computer!).
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Remove the keyboard. Insert the flat-blade screwdriver under the hinge notches below the display and pull up to remove the hinge cover. Remove the screws. Pull the keyboard out slowly and disconnect the flex cable from the system board.
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Remove the EMI shield (the big metal piece under the keyboard). Remove the one screw that's holding in the EMI shield and gently pull it out of the computer base.
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The video card, fan/heat-sink assembly, processor, etc. are now exposed and can be removed by unscrewing the components and disconnecting power cables from the system board. Follow the link in Resources for pictures and component-specific instructions.
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Tips & Warnings
Unless you are certain you have the technical ability to perform computer surgery, it is suggested that you take your laptop to a professional repair shop.
Resources
- Photo Credit Dell Support
