How to Disassemble an Inspiron 1521
You may have to disassemble your Dell Inspiron 1521 laptop on occasion to repair or upgrade the motherboard and other hardware components attached to the motherboard such as the processor and RAM memory. The key to successfully disassembling the computer and putting it together again so that everything works is adhering to an organizational system to ensure that all the parts you remove are returned to their respective places. If you are organized, the procedure should go smoothly, from the beginning of the disassembly to starting up the computer after reassembly.
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Instructions
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Shut down the Inspiron 1521.
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Disconnect the power cord and all external components attached to your computer. Close the display, turn the computer upside down, and remove the battery pack.
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3
Extract every visible screw in the computer base and remove the memory module compartment cover and the mini card compartment cover.
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4
Remove the memory module from its compartment by spreading the retaining clips on the sides of the module so that it pops up slightly, then pull it straight out of the slot.
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Remove any mini cards installed in the mini card compartment. To remove a mini card, disconnect the two antenna cables from the card, release the securing tab on the cable-side of the card, and pull the card out of its connector.
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Insert a screwdriver into the screw hole on the optical-drive side of the memory module compartment and push the tab inside the hole toward the outside of the Inspiron 1521 to eject the optical drive.
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Slide the optical drive and the hard drive out of their respective bays.
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8
Turn the computer upright, open the display, and remove the hinge cover (the plastic strip that runs across the top of the keyboard) from the laptop. To remove the hinge cover, pry the right end up with a flat-blade screwdriver and lift it off the computer from right to left.
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Remove the keyboard. Extract the two screws from the top of the keyboard, lift the keyboard up, and disconnect the keyboard cable from the motherboard. Set the keyboard aside.
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Remove the memory module that's located just above the touchpad.
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Extract the screw on the display cable (located underneath the right display hinge) and disconnect the cable.
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Disconnect the camera/microphone cable from the connector under the Dell logo on the bottom of the display.
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Turn the computer so that the back faces you and extract the screw under the left and right hinges, then lift the display off the Inspiron 1521. Turn the computer so that the front faces you once the display is off.
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Remove the Bluetooth card from its compartment at the top of the computer. Do this by disconnecting the cable on it and pulling it out of its compartment.
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Extract all the visible screws from the top of the computer.
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Disconnect the touchpad cable from its connector near the memory module compartment.
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17
Remove the top cover from the computer.
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18
Extract the four screws on the metal ExpressCard cage on the front-left corner of the computer and remove the cage from the computer.
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19
Extract the three screws from the graphics card assembly (the component on the right side of the motherboard with the copper conduit extending from it) and lift the assembly off the motherboard.
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20
Extract the four screws on the thermal-cooling assembly (the component with the copper conduit on it near the fan on the left side of the motherboard) and lift it off the motherboard. The processor is now exposed.
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21
Use a flat-blade screwdriver to turn the screw on the processor counterclockwise until it stops. Lift the processor straight out of its socket.
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22
Disconnect the fan cable from the motherboard, extract the two screws on the fan and remove the fan from the laptop.
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Extract all the screws from the motherboard.
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Disconnect all the cables from the motherboard. Three cables are found at the front of the motherboard and the Bluetooth card cable is at the top-right corner of the motherboard.
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Lift the motherboard out of the computer base. The computer is now completely disassembled.
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Tips & Warnings
The best organizational system consists of plastic sandwich bags and a black marker. Place components and their screws in separate bags and mark them. If components have screws of different sizes, put the screws and the component together. This system will help you reassemble the computer more easily.
References
- Photo Credit Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
