How to Remove the Heatsink From a Dell M140 Laptop
The heat sink in the Dell M140 laptop computer is designed to keep the central processing unit, or CPU, working at the proper operating temperature. The heat sink is attached with screws to the top of the CPU and can be accessed by removing the top shell of the laptop. Occasionally, the heat sink can burn out or stop working, causing a slowdown or overheating of the laptop. You can remove the heat sink and replace it in about an hour of work.
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Instructions
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Unplug the Dell M140 laptop from the electrical outlet. Take the power cord out of the outlet in the back of the laptop. Pry the cover plate above the laptop keyboard off by hand gently and set it out of the way.
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2
Unfasten the screws under the cover plate that secure the keyboard with a screwdriver and take the keyboard out of the laptop. Unplug the connector cable from the keyboard and set the keyboard out of the way.
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3
Turn the laptop over and unfasten the screws that secure the display monitor to the laptop base with a screwdriver. Unplug the video display cable from the display monitor and set the monitor out of the way.
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4
Remove the optical drive from the back of the computer by sliding the drive sideways at the bottom of the laptop and setting it aside. Unfasten the screws that secure the top shell to the laptop with a screwdriver and carefully turn the computer back over so it is sitting on its base.
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5
Lift the shell off the laptop base and locate the graphics card that is on top of the CPU. Remove the graphics card from the laptop and unfasten the four screws that hold the heat sink onto the CPU.
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6
Pick the heat sink up off the CPU and remove it from the Dell M140 laptop.
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Tips & Warnings
To prevent electrical damage to the laptop, always ground any metal tools that you use on the laptop by touching them to a metal table leg or metal furniture before you use them on the interior parts of the computer.
To prevent damage to the laptop, remove the heat sink only while the computer is turned off and unplugged.
