Inspiron 15 Service Manual Computer Model: Inspiron 15–3531 Regulatory Model: P28F Regulatory Type: P28F005
Notes, Cautions, and Warnings NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer. CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the problem. WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death. Copyright © 2014 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. This product is protected by U.S. and international copyright and intellectual property laws.
Contents Before Working Inside Your Computer.................................... 9 Before You Begin .............................................................................................. 9 Safety Instructions............................................................................................. 9 Recommended Tools...................................................................................... 10 After Working Inside Your Computer......................................
Removing the Memory Module................................................ 19 Prerequisites..................................................................................................... 19 Procedure........................................................................................................ 20 Replacing the Memory Module................................................. 21 Procedure.........................................................................................................
Removing the Palm Rest.............................................................35 Prerequisites.....................................................................................................35 Procedure........................................................................................................ 36 Replacing the Palm Rest.............................................................40 Procedure...............................................................................................
Removing the Coin-Cell Battery.............................................. 52 Prerequisites.....................................................................................................52 Procedure.........................................................................................................52 Replacing the Coin-Cell Battery...............................................54 Procedure........................................................................................................
Removing the Display Hinges................................................... 67 Prerequisites.....................................................................................................67 Procedure........................................................................................................ 68 Replacing the Display Hinges................................................... 69 Procedure.......................................................................................................
Getting Help and Contacting Dell........................................... 82 Self-Help Resources........................................................................................82 Contacting Dell................................................................................................
Before Working Inside Your Computer CAUTION: To avoid damaging the components and cards, handle them by their edges and avoid touching pins and contacts. NOTE: The images in this document may differ from your computer depending on the configuration you ordered. Before You Begin 1 Save and close all open files and exit all open applications. 2 Shut down your computer. – Windows 8.1: On the Start screen, click or tap the power icon Shut down. → – Windows 7: Click or tap Start → Shut down .
WARNING: Disconnect all power sources before opening the computer cover or panels. After you finish working inside the computer, replace all covers, panels, and screws before connecting to the power source. CAUTION: To avoid damaging the computer, make sure that the work surface is flat and clean. CAUTION: To avoid damaging the components and cards, handle them by their edges and avoid touching pins and contacts.
After Working Inside Your Computer CAUTION: Leaving stray or loose screws inside your computer may severely damage your computer. 1 Replace all screws and make sure that no stray screws remain inside your computer. 2 Connect any external devices, peripherals, and cables you removed before working on your computer. 3 Replace any media cards, discs, and any other part(s) that you removed before working on your computer. 4 Connect your computer and all attached devices to their electrical outlets.
Removing the Battery WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Procedure 1 Close the display and turn the computer over.
Replacing the Battery WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Procedure 1 Slide the tabs on the battery into the slots on the battery bay and snap the battery into place.
Removing the Base Cover WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Prerequisites Remove the battery.
3 Lift the base cover at an angle and remove it from the computer base.
Replacing the Base Cover WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Removing the Optical-Drive Filler WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Prerequisites Remove the battery.
Replacing the Optical-Drive Filler WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Removing the Memory Module WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Prerequisites 1 Remove the battery. 2 Remove the base cover.
Procedure 1 Using your fingertips, pry apart the securing clips on each end of the memory-module slot until the memory module pops up. 2 Slide and remove the memory module from the memory-module slot.
Replacing the Memory Module WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Procedure 1 Align the notch on the memory module with the tab on the memorymodule slot. 2 Slide the memory module into the slot at an angle and press the memory module down until it clicks into place. NOTE: If you do not hear the click, remove the memory module and reinstall it.
Post-requisites 1 Replace the base cover. 2 Replace the battery.
Removing the Hard Drive WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance. CAUTION: Hard drives are fragile. Exercise care when handling the hard drive.
3 4 Using the pull tab, lift the hard-drive assembly at an angle and remove it from the computer base. 1 screws (2) 2 hard-drive assembly 3 pull tab 4 system-board connector Remove the screws that secure the hard-drive bracket to the hard drive.
5 26 Lift the hard-drive bracket off the hard drive.
Replacing the Hard Drive WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance. CAUTION: Hard drives are fragile. Exercise care when handling the hard drive.
Removing the Keyboard WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Prerequisites Remove the battery. Procedure 1 Turn the computer over and open the display as far as possible.
3 4 Carefully turn the keyboard over and place it on the palm rest. 1 plastic scribe 2 keyboard 3 tabs (5) 4 palm rest Lift the connector latch and disconnect the keyboard cable from the system board.
5 30 Lift the keyboard along with the cable off the palm rest.
Replacing the Keyboard WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Removing the Wireless Card WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Prerequisites 1 Remove the battery. 2 Remove the keyboard.
3 Slide the wireless card out of the wireless-card slot.
Replacing the Wireless Card WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Procedure 1 Align the notch on the wireless card with the tab on the wireless-card slot.
Removing the Palm Rest WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Prerequisites 1 Remove the battery. 2 Remove the base cover. 3 Remove the keyboard.
Procedure 1 Lift the connector latches and using the pull tabs, disconnect the touchpad cable and power-button cable from the system board. 2 Note the power-button cable routing and peel it off the palm rest.
3 Remove the screws that secure the palm rest to the computer base. 1 4 screws (5) 2 palm rest Close the display and turn the computer over.
5 Remove the screws that secure the palm rest to the computer base. 1 screws (10) 2 computer base 6 Turn the computer over and open the display as far as possible. 7 Using a plastic scribe, gently release the tabs on the palm rest from the slots on the computer base.
8 Lift the palm rest at an angle and remove it from the computer base.
Replacing the Palm Rest WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Removing the Light-Extender Tube WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Prerequisites 1 Remove the battery. 2 Remove the base cover. 3 Remove the keyboard.
1 42 speaker 2 light-extender tube
Replacing the Light-Extender Tube WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Removing the System Board WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance. NOTE: Your computer’s Service Tag is stored in the system board.
Procedure 1 Peel off the tape that secures the display cable to the system board. 2 Disconnect the display cable, power-adapter port cable, and speaker cable from the system board. 1 power-adapter port cable 2 display cable 3 tape 4 speaker cable 3 Remove the screw that secures the system board to the computer base. 4 Lift the system board at an angle and release the ports on the system board from the slots on the computer base.
5 Turn the system board over and place it on a clean and flat surface. 1 6 46 system board 2 screw Follow the procedure from step 1 to step 3 in “Removing the Heat-Sink Assembly”.
Replacing the System Board WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance. NOTE: Your computer’s Service Tag is stored in the system board.
Entering the Service Tag in the BIOS 1 Turn on the computer. 2 Press F2 when the DELL logo is displayed to enter System Setup. 3 Navigate to the Main tab and enter the Service Tag in the Service Tag Input field.
Removing the Heat-Sink Assembly WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance. WARNING: The heat sink may become hot during normal operation.
3 50 Lift the heat-sink assembly off the system board.
Replacing the Heat-Sink Assembly WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance. CAUTION: Incorrect alignment of the heat sink can cause damage to the system board and processor.
Removing the Coin-Cell Battery WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance. CAUTION: Removing the coin-cell battery resets the BIOS settings to default.
1 coin-cell battery 3 plastic scribe 2 battery socket 53
Replacing the Coin-Cell Battery WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Removing the Speakers WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Prerequisites 1 Remove the battery. 2 Remove the base cover.
Procedure 1 Note the speaker-cable routing and remove the cable from the routing guides on the computer base. 2 Lift the speakers along with the cable off the computer base.
Replacing the Speakers WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Procedure 1 Align the speakers using the alignment posts on the computer base and snap the speakers into place.
Removing the Display Assembly WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Prerequisites 1 Remove the battery. 2 Remove the base cover. 3 Remove the optical-drive filler.
Procedure 1 Close the display and turn the computer over. 2 Remove the screws that secure the display hinges to the computer base. 1 screws (2) 2 computer base 3 Turn the computer over and open the display as far as possible. 4 Disconnect the antenna cables from the wireless card. See "Removing the Wireless Card". 5 Note the antenna cables routing and remove the cables from the routing guides on the computer base. 6 Peel off the tape that secures the display cable to the system board.
8 9 60 Note the display cable routing and remove the cable from the routing guides on the computer base. 1 antenna cables (2) 3 tape 2 display cable Remove the screws that secure the display hinges to the computer base.
10 Lift the display assembly off the computer base.
Replacing the Display Assembly WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Procedure 1 Align the screw holes on the display hinges with the screw holes on the computer base.
Removing the Display Bezel WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Prerequisites 1 Remove the battery. 2 Remove the base cover. 3 Remove the optical-drive filler.
Procedure 1 Press and lift the hinge covers off the display bezel. 1 2 64 hinge covers (2) 2 display bezel Using your fingertips, carefully pry up the inside edges of the display bezel and lift the display bezel off the display back-cover.
1 display bezel 2 display back-cover 65
Replacing the Display Bezel WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Procedure 1 Align the display bezel with the display back-cover and gently snap the display bezel into place.
Removing the Display Hinges WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Prerequisites 1 Remove the battery. 2 Remove the base cover. 3 Remove the optical-drive filler.
Procedure 1 Remove the screws that secure the display hinges to the display backcover. 2 Lift the display hinges off the display back-cover.
Replacing the Display Hinges WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Procedure 1 Align the screw holes on the display hinges with the screw holes on the display back-cover.
Removing the Display Panel WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Prerequisites 1 Remove the battery. 2 Remove the base cover. 3 Remove the optical-drive filler.
Procedure 1 Remove the screws that secure the display panel to the display backcover. 2 Gently lift the display panel, turn it over, and place it on a flat and clean surface. 1 display panel 3 screws (4) 2 display back-cover 3 Peel off the tape that secures the display cable to the display panel. 4 Disconnect the display cable from the display panel.
5 72 Lift the display panel from the surface.
Replacing the Display Panel WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Procedure 1 Connect the display cable to the display panel and adhere the tape to the display cable.
Removing the Camera WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Prerequisites 1 Remove the battery. 2 Remove the base cover. 3 Remove the optical-drive filler.
Procedure 1 Remove the screws that secure the display panel to the display backcover. 2 Gently lift the display panel, turn it over, and place it on a flat and clean surface. 1 display panel 3 screws (4) 2 display back-screw 3 Remove the screw that secures the camera module to the display backcover. 4 Disconnect the camera cable from the camera module. 5 Carefully pry out the camera module from the display back-cover.
6 76 Lift the camera module at an angle and release it from the tab on the display back-cover.
Replacing the Camera WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
Removing the Power-Adapter Port WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Prerequisites 1 Remove the battery. 2 Remove the base cover. 3 Remove the optical-drive filler.
3 Lift the power-adapter port along with its cable off the computer base.
Replacing the Power-Adapter Port WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer and follow the steps in Before Working Inside Your Computer. After working inside your computer, follow the instructions in After Working Inside Your Computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at dell.com/regulatory_compliance. Procedure 1 Slide the power-adapter port into the slot on the computer base.
Flashing the BIOS You may need to flash (update) the BIOS when an update is available or when you replace the system board. To flash the BIOS: 1 Turn on the computer. 2 Go to dell.com/support. 3 If you have your computer's Service Tag, type your computer's Service Tag and click Submit. If you do not have your computer's Service Tag, click Detect My Product to allow automatic detection of the Service Tag.
Getting Help and Contacting Dell Self-Help Resources You can get information and help on Dell products and services using these online self-help resources: Self-Help Information Self-Help Options Accessing Windows Help Windows 8.1 — Open the Search charm, type Help and Support in the search box and press Enter. Windows 7 — Click Start → Help and Support. Information about Dell products and services See dell.com.
NOTE: If you do not have an active internet connection, you can find contact information on your purchase invoice, packing slip, bill, or Dell product catalog.
