Replacing your laptop's motherboard will void the manufacturer's warranty.
Replacing your Dell laptop's motherboard is a complex procedure. Since the motherboard is where all hardware connects with your laptop, persistent hardware and power issues could indicate that your motherboard is going bad. If you have a Dell Inspiron 8100 laptop, you will have to completely take it apart to remove and replace the motherboard. If you replace the motherboard yourself, it will void your laptop's service warranty.
Instructions
1. Turn off the computer and unplug all cables or external devices. Pull the display panel closed, place the laptop face-down and rotate the computer so the front opening is facing you.
2. Press the battery-release button, and lift the battery pack out of its compartment in the lower-left corner of the laptop. Locate the hard-drive compartment in the upper-right corner of the laptop. Remove the Phillips-head screw from the hard drive. Grasp the face of the drive and pull it from the compartmental slot in the side of the laptop's casing.
3. Remove the Phillips-head screw from the CD/DVD drive in the upper-left corner of the laptop. Grasp the pull-tab on the front of the drive, and pull it out of the slot in the side of the laptop.
4. Remove the Phillips-head screw from the cover of the memory module compartment near the center of the laptop's bottom case. Remove the plastic cover to reveal the memory modules. Release the two spring-loaded clips on either side of each memory module inside the compartment. Tilt each module upward at a 45-degree angle, and remove the modules from their memory sockets.
5. Unscrew the Phillips-head screw from the cover of the wireless card compartment situated below the empty memory compartment. Remove the cover to reveal the wireless card. Disconnect the antenna cables or wire harness from the wireless card. Spread apart the clips securing the card in place, tilt the card upward and pull it from the motherboard slot.
6. Remove all remaining Phillips-head screws from the laptop's bottom case. Flip the laptop over and pull open the display panel as far as possible.
7. Insert a flat-head screwdriver into the gap between the lower-right corner of the keyboard and the laptop's case. Slide the keyboard to the right to disengage it from the laptop case. Carefully pry the keyboard upward out of the laptop until you can see the ribbon cable on the keyboard's bottom side. Unplug the cable from the motherboard, and remove the keyboard from the laptop completely.
8. Remove the two Phillips-head screws from the laptop's back panel behind each display hinge. Use a flat-head screwdriver to pry the display hinge cover from the laptop. Pull the display panel forward until it is sitting at a 90-degree angle. Unplug the main LCD video cable from the motherboard. Lift straight up on the display panel until it is completely removed from the laptop. Set it to the side.
9. Insert a flat-head screwdriver or similar tool into the processor heat sink's latching mechanism. Pry up on the latch to disengage the heat sink from the motherboard. Lift the heat sink off of the motherboard to reveal the processor chip. Turn the processor chip's flat-head locking screw one-half turn counterclockwise. Lift the processor out of its socket and set it aside.
10. Locate the video card on the lower section of the motherboard. Remove the three Phillips-head screws from the video card. Pull straight up on the video card to disconnect it from the motherboard.
11. Remove the media-storage devices on the laptop casing's front panel. Press the release latch on each device, and pull them out of their respective slots in the front of the laptop.
12. Tilt the base of the laptop upward until you can reach into the vacant media-storage compartments. Press on the indentations inside each vacant compartment until each side of the palm rest disengages from the laptop case. Remove each side of the palm rest from the laptop's case. Lay the base of the laptop down flat.
13. Grasp the pull-tab situated above the touchpad device. Pull straight up on the tab to disconnect the touchpad's cable from the motherboard. Grasp each side of the laptop's top cover, and lift straight up to remove the cover from the laptop to reveal the top side of the motherboard.
14. Remove the five Phillips-head screws fastening the motherboard to the laptop's base. Grasp the back edge of the motherboard, tilt it upward at an angle and lift the motherboard out of the laptop's casing.
15. Reverse the motherboard-removal procedure to install the new motherboard and reassemble your laptop. Keep in mind that all removed hardware must be transferred to the new motherboard as it is installed.
Tags: from laptop, from motherboard, display panel, laptop case, Phillips-head screw, Phillips-head screw from, Phillips-head screws