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Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement

Introduction

This guide will walk you through replacing your Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 motherboard. You will be handling delicate electronic components during this process, so be sure to wear the anti-static wrist strap. Be diligent as you remove various cables and screws using this guide, as removal of the motherboard may cause damage to cables or be impossible entirely if cables/screws are missed.

What you need

  1. Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement, Battery: step 1, image 1 of 3 Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement, Battery: step 1, image 2 of 3 Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement, Battery: step 1, image 3 of 3
    Tool used on this step:
    Anti-Static Wrist Strap
    $7.95
    Buy

    • Do not touch any electronic components without wearing the anti-static wrist strap. Failure to do so poses a risk of static electric shock, and may cause damage to components.

    • Place the laptop on a flat surface with the Dell logo upside down.

    • Flip the laptop over. The battery will be in the top center.

    Edit

  2. Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 2 Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement: step 2, image 2 of 2

    • Slide both the left lock and right lock, towards the center of the battery.

    • Push upwards on the grip on the bottom of the battery to remove it.

    Edit

  3. Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement, Keyboard: step 3, image 1 of 3 Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement, Keyboard: step 3, image 2 of 3 Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement, Keyboard: step 3, image 3 of 3

    • Do not pull the keyboard away from the laptop. The keyboard is connected to the motherboard by a cable. Pulling the keyboard may cause damage to the keyboard and/or motherboard.

    • Metal spudgers and similar prying tools can damage internal components like the motherboard. It is ideal to use a regular black nylon spudger or a plastic opening tool, but for this device the metal jimmy was the only tool to work.

    • Flip over and open your device. Gently wedge the metal Jimmy into the rightmost hole at a 45-degree angle. Make sure that the Jimmy is between the silver metal portion of the keyboard and the silver plastic edge around the keyboard.

    • Tilt the metal jimmy away from you to pry up the edge of the keyboard.

    • Repeat the previous actions on each of the other three holes to release the keyboard.

    Edit

  4. Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement: step 4, image 1 of 2 Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement: step 4, image 2 of 2

    • Gently flip the keyboard over and lay it on the touchpad area.

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  5. Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 3 Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement: step 5, image 2 of 3 Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement: step 5, image 3 of 3

    • Flip up the black flap where the keyboard cable connects to the motherboard

    • Gently pull the cable away from the slot to release the keyboard.

    • Remove the keyboard from the device.

    Edit

  7. Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement, Hard Drive: step 6, image 1 of 2 Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement, Hard Drive: step 6, image 2 of 2

    • Flip the laptop over so it is bottom-up.

    • Use a Phillips #0 screwdriver to unscrew the fifteen 5mm screws pictured.

    Edit

  8. Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 3 Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement: step 7, image 2 of 3 Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement: step 7, image 3 of 3

    • Flip the laptop over.

    • Use a Phillips #0 screwdriver to unscrew the four 5mm screws from the palmrest.

    • Flip up the black flaps over the three cables pictured and gently pull them out.

    Edit

  9. Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 2 Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement: step 8, image 2 of 2

    • Do not proceed without holding the laptop screen/lid for support. The screen is very heavy and may cause the device to fall if not held and supported.

    • Use a plastic opening tool to pry up the edges of the palmrest cover.

    • Pull off the palmrest cover. You will hear some popping sounds.

    Edit

    • Optical drive MUST be removed beforehand: remove the screw on bottom of laptop on the small panels that has the service tag number. Then use a paperclip to eject the drive and pull it out. This reveals the two small silver screws that attach the top cover. Remove those screws prior to prying off the cover.

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  11. Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 2 Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement: step 10, image 2 of 2

    • Use a Phillips #0 screwdriver to unscrew the two 5mm screws holding the hard drive.

    • Slowly lift up on the left side of the hard drive and pull to the left.

    Edit

  12. Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement, Motherboard: step 11, image 1 of 2 Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement, Motherboard: step 11, image 2 of 2

    • Flip the laptop over so it is bottom-up.

    • Use a Phillips #0 screwdriver to unscrew the 5mm that holds the DVD drive in place

    • Pull out the DVD drive.

    • Flip the laptop over again so it is top-up.

    Edit

  13. Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement: step 12, image 1 of 3 Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement: step 12, image 2 of 3 Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement: step 12, image 3 of 3
    Tool used on this step:
    Anti-Static Wrist Strap
    $7.95
    Buy

    • Do not touch any electronic components without wearing the anti-static wrist strap. Failure to do so poses a risk of static electric shock and can damage components.

    • Gently pull the cooling fan cord to unplug it.

    • Use a Phillips #0 screwdriver to remove the two 5mm screws from the cooling fan.

    • Lift the top right corner of the fan and pull the fan up and to the right.

    Edit

  14. Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 2 Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement: step 13, image 2 of 2

    • Use a Phillips #0 screwdriver to unscrew the five 5mm screws from the motherboard.

    • Wiggle the two cables pictured until they are free.

    Edit

  15. Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement: step 14, image 1 of 2 Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement: step 14, image 2 of 2

    • Flip up the black flaps over the two cables pictured and pull the cables out.

    Edit

  16. Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 3 Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement: step 15, image 2 of 3 Dell Inspiron 17R-N7110 Motherboard Replacement: step 15, image 3 of 3

    • Use your finger to pull up the yellow tape and pull out the webcam cable.

    • Pull out the DC power jack cable.

    • Lift the motherboard from the right edge to remove it. The motherboard is plugged into the I/O board, so removing it could be difficult and require some force.

    Edit
Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

3 other people completed this guide.

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