Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

18

Time Required

                          20 - 35 minutes

Sections

5

  • Battery
  • 2 steps
  • Keyboard
  • 4 steps
  • Access Panel
  • 2 steps
  • Hard Drive
  • 3 steps
  • Motherboard
  • 7 steps

Flags

1

Member-Contributed Guide

An awesome member of our community made this guide. It is not managed by iFixit staff.

  • BackDell Vostro 3550

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Unlocking the Battery
  • Slide the release latches to unlock the battery.

Slide the release latches to unlock the battery.

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Step 2

              Sliding the Battery
  • Slide the battery and remove it from the computer.

Slide the battery and remove it from the computer.

Step 3

              Keyboard
  • Turn the laptop right side up. Open the display to reveal the keyboard.
  • Use the metal spudger to pry the keyboard upward from the base. Make sure to pop each of the three clips keeping the keyboard in place.

Turn the laptop right side up. Open the display to reveal the keyboard.

Use the metal spudger to pry the keyboard upward from the base. Make sure to pop each of the three clips keeping the keyboard in place.

Step 4

  • Carefully lift the keyboard upward to reveal the keyboard ribbon cable.

Carefully lift the keyboard upward to reveal the keyboard ribbon cable.

Step 5

  • Lift the black tab on the keyboard cable connector upwards to release the cable.

Lift the black tab on the keyboard cable connector upwards to release the cable.

Step 6

  • Pull the ribbon cable away from the connector.
  • Remove the keyboard.

Pull the ribbon cable away from the connector.

Remove the keyboard.

Step 7

              Remove the Screws
  • Remove the three 7mm Phillips #0 screws that secure the access panel to the base of the computer.

Remove the three 7mm Phillips #0 screws that secure the access panel to the base of the computer.

Step 8

              Lifting the Access Panel
  • Lift the access panel up at an angle and remove it from the computer.

Lift the access panel up at an angle and remove it from the computer.

Step 9

              Remove the Screws
  • Remove the two 5mm Phillips #0 screws that secure the hard drive to the system.

Remove the two 5mm Phillips #0 screws that secure the hard drive to the system.

Step 10

              Removing the Hard Drive
  • Lift up the hard drive at an angle from the system and remove.

Lift up the hard drive at an angle from the system and remove.

Step 11

              Remove the Screws
  • Remove the four 5mm Phillips #0 screws that secure the hard drive bracket to the hard drive.

Remove the four 5mm Phillips #0 screws that secure the hard drive bracket to the hard drive.

Step 12

              Motherboard
  • Remove the five 7mm Phillips #0 screws fastening the aluminum side panels to the laptop.

Remove the five 7mm Phillips #0 screws fastening the aluminum side panels to the laptop.

Step 13

  • Turn the computer over and open the screen.
  • Remove the two 5mm Phillips #0 screws to the far right and far left of the motherboard casing.

Turn the computer over and open the screen.

Remove the two 5mm Phillips #0 screws to the far right and far left of the motherboard casing.

Step 14

  • Remove the small ribbon cable connected to the left side of the casing.
  • Repeat this step for the three remaining ribbon cables on the casing.

Remove the small ribbon cable connected to the left side of the casing.

Repeat this step for the three remaining ribbon cables on the casing.

Step 15

  • Use the metal spudger to release the palmrest assembly from the rest of the laptop.
  • Lift off the palmrest assembly to reveal the motherboard.

Use the metal spudger to release the palmrest assembly from the rest of the laptop.

Lift off the palmrest assembly to reveal the motherboard.

Step 16

  • Remove the small cable connecting the motherboard to the rest of the computer.

Remove the small cable connecting the motherboard to the rest of the computer.

Step 17

  • Remove the ribbon cable at the far left that is connecting the motherboard to the screen.

Remove the ribbon cable at the far left that is connecting the motherboard to the screen.

Step 18

  • Remove the seven 5mm Phillips #0 screws that are fastening the motherboard to the casing.
  • Lift upwards on the motherboard to remove it from the laptop casing.

Remove the seven 5mm Phillips #0 screws that are fastening the motherboard to the casing.

Lift upwards on the motherboard to remove it from the laptop casing.

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

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                    Dylan J. Souza

Member since: 03/22/2019

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Team

                       UMass Dartmouth, Team S8-G6, Bailey Spring 2019                        

                                                  Member of UMass Dartmouth, Team S8-G6, Bailey Spring 2019 



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