replacing dell 5100 motherboard

Hi,

I have just purchased a new motherboard for my dell inspiron 5100 and am planning to install it. I have never done any serious work on laptops and I was wondering if anyone knows of any step-by-step tutorials that could help me to make sure I don't hose the new motherboard or any of my components. Any thoughts?

Hey, I can help if you have not been able to replace it yet. I am DCSE certified on Dell laptops. I cannot send a tear down manual, but I can give you easy step by step instructions on replacing it. The main thing is to get a large area to seperate the parts and screws into. That way nothing gets confused when putting it back together. There are many screws, but when seperated out as taking it apart... putting back together is not hard at all.

You will need a small flathead screwdriver and a small phillips.


Pre: remove the battery, and all covers on the bottom of the laptop (memory, modem/NIC, etc). Snap the memory out. Remove the modem (2 screws and 1 small cable holding it in). Remove the CD/DVD rom drive(1 screw labeled O on the bottom, and then there is a black lever under one of the panels you removed. This will push toward the direction of the drive which will push it out.... from there just pull the drive straight out)

Now you should have all panels on the bottom, the battery, the memory, and the modem and/or Nic removed.

Power plastics strip: 1) use the flathead screwdriver to pop up the right side of the small plastic strip above the keyboard.... it has the power button on this strip. This whole strip will remove if you pull from right to left after popping up the corner.. no screws.

Sit this piece to the side.

Keyboard: 2) remove the three or four small screws above the keyboard(they are holding the keyboard in). After removing these the keyboard will lift straight up, use the small flat screwdriver to pull up the cable holding the keyboard down. Now the keyboard will be free to take out of the system.

Sit the keyboard with it's screws aside as well.

LCD display: 3) With the keyboard up you can go ahead and remove the cable going from the LCD to the motherboard... pull straight up and pull the tape us as well. Next there are 6 screws holding the LCD to the system. 2 on each side above where the keyboard was going through the silver square hinge piece, and 2 on the back of the system (1 on each side). Extend the LCD 90 degrees with the laptop. Remove the 2 screws on each side (4 total). Then remove the 2 on the back (1 on each side directly under the hinges you just removed the other screws from). The LCD will lift straight up off of the frame. Make sure it stays at 90 degrees, as it is a headache to get to the screwholes if it is not.

Sit the LCD and screws for it aside in a sepearate pile.

Metal Motherboard Cover: 4) There is one screw (close to the middle of the system) holding in the metal cover (under where the keyboard was) on top of the motherboard. Remove that one screw and that whole panel will lift up.

Put that and it's screw to the side.

Video Card: 5) Now we are working with just the shell. First remove the video card. It is in the middle of the system, where the LCD cable connected. One screw on top of the card, and one below. There is another screw in the middle left of the video card, but you do not have to remove it. After removing the two screws use the flathead to pop up the videocard. Remove it and set it to the side.

Palmrest/top plastics: 6) Next is the palmrest. Turn the system over... there are many screwholes on the bottom of the system. Remove every screw in the bottom of the system (10-15). Then there is one silver screw (on the edge of where the CD rom drive came out of)... Turn the system back right side up and remove 2 more smaller screws below the ridge where you lifted out the LCD. After removing the 2 small screws, the 1 silver one, and all the others on bottom... the palmrest and top plastic piece will lift straight up off of the system. Just remove the cable running from the bottom of the palmrest to the motherboard.

Set it and all of it's screws to the side... do not jumble it with the other stuff you have removed.

Motherboard: 7) Next is the motherboard. Remove the following:
--- 1 screw holding the silver heatsink in below where the video card was.
--- 2 screws holding a green block to the system on the left side of the laptop. If has a cable going to it. Do not disconnect the cable, just push the block out to the outside of the system after removing the 2 small screws.
--- On the left side you have 5 screws on the metal grilles. They are labeled on the holes as ... 1,2 and then above 1,2,3. Remove all 5 of these.
--- There is 1 last screw, it is on the long purple plastic grille piece on the right. Remove it and lift the plastic grille of of the motherboard.
--- Using a socket, or pliars ... remove the 2 circular screws from the back of the system going around the video port. They are where a monitor will plug in and screw in to hold the cable in place.
--- remove the processor and heatsink from the motherboard. Use the phillips and unscrew the 4 screws holding the heatsink on. The screws do not come off, they just loosen. Remove the heatsink... then use a flathead to move the CPU screw to the "unlocked" position. Pull the CPU straight up and off the motherboard.

Now lift the motherboard out of the system.


To install just do these instructions in reverse. It may sound complicated, but you will see every piece I am talking about once you get going.

Email me if you need assistance or get stuck. I will be happy to help.

- D

Hi ; i saw your post and as i am also replacing my motherboard i tried it out--it was great except i mixed up the scres however i think i can figure that out, to the gight of the CPU there is another cooler(metal fins) under the cooler there is something that has a lot of clear oil over it?
What is it and should it have oil over it plus should i use the conducter fluid when i put the cooler pack on.
thxs gerry

Hi I am having the same problem with needing to replace my motherboard for an Inspiron 5100 laptop.

I have managed to get hold of a secondhand laptop with a broken screen but do not know if any software updates are required once the motherboards have been swapped.

Can anyone help ?

You may need to flash the BIOS but it will still boot without doing so. You should be ok. Incidentally, what operating system is installed on this laptop ?

Your instructions worked great for replacing the motherboard, but I am still having problems with the computer. My daughter spilled water into the keyboard while it was turned off, I knew the motherboard was fried and have replaced it, but when I turn it on it runs for about 5 seconds and shuts off. If I pull the battery it keeps running but the screen does not turn on. I was wondering if the battery is shorted out and the video card is also fried as it has arc marks on it. I can use any help I can get, Craig.

Hi spike280 and welcome to DevShed.

It could be the video card, do you have a spare one to try ? Sounds like the battery is goosed though.

tabascoburning, your instructions were dead on. My Inspiron 5100 was overheating and shutting down. I disassembled my PC and cleaned the dust out of the heatsink/fan assembly. It is now running quiet and steady.

I could not have done it without your instructions, so I feel I owe you a case of beer. Your post was over a year old, but if you see this please reply.

Hi,

I have a Dell inspiron 5100 laptop and I was using the wrong power cord . Everytime it booted, a message would pop us saying that it was wrong until one day, I heard the fan come on and after 10 seconds, it would go off. I know, trust me...I want do it again. Anyways, my cheap *** went and bought the write cord, but the laptop is still doing the same thing.
Turn it on...hear the fan and light come one but then it goes off. I read that the CPU could be over heating, so I bought thermal grease and greased up the heat sink, but still have the same problem...now I'm hear. Is the motherboard hosed? Any trouble shooting techniques for me or should I fork up the cash for a new motherboard?

Thanks,

Bruce

Tabascoburning;
I just want to know whether I can use your instructions for changing my motherboard in my 4100 inspiron... PLEASE HELP!

Thanks,
MariaDelMar

My Laptop has problem with mainboad and want change new once, so i don't know where to order, can you help me
I'm from VietNam.
PS: How many USD that main?

I replaced mine and now I have a blank screen. Can someone help?

I replaced my motherboard and now I have a blank screen any ideas?

So... you take interest in exploding computers?... how unusual you would think a SANE person would like a safe less explosive method...

I think you should go to Dell's page for some infromation.