Prerequisites
Save and close all open files and exit all open applications.
Shut down your computer. For Windows operating system, click Start > Image: Power button Power > Shut down.
NOTE:If you are using a different operating system, see the documentation of your operating system for shut-down instructions.
Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets.
Disconnect all attached network devices and peripherals, such as keyboard, mouse, and monitor from your computer.
Remove any media card and optical drive from your computer, if applicable.
Enter the service mode, if you can power on your computer.
Service Mode
Service Mode is used to cut off power, without disconnecting the battery cable from the system board before conducting repairs in the computer.
NOTE:Ensure that your computer is shut down and the AC adapter is disconnected.
Hold <B> key on the keyboard and press the power button for 3 s or until the Dell logo appears on the screen.
Press any key to continue.
If the AC adapter is not disconnected, a message prompting you to remove the AC adapter appears on the screen. Remove the AC adapter and then press any key to continue the Service Mode procedure. The Service Mode procedure automatically skips the following step if the Owner Tag of the computer is not set up in advance by the user.
When the ready-to-proceed message appears on the screen, press any key to proceed. The computer emits three short beeps and shuts down immediately.
Once the computer shuts down, it has successfully entered Service Mode.
NOTE:If you are unable to power on your computer or unable to enter service mode skip this process.
Removing the base cover:
Loosen the eight captive screws that secure the base cover to the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
Using a plastic scribe, pry open the base cover starting from the recesses, which are in the U-shaped indents at the top edge of the base cover, near the hinges.
CAUTION:Do not slide the scribe through the edge of the top side of the base cover as it damages the latches inside the base cover.
CAUTION:Do not pry upwards from the edge near the vents, at the top side of the base cover, as it damages the base cover.
Pry open the top side of the base cover and continue working on the left, right and, bottom sides to open the base cover.
Lift the base cover from the left and right sides and remove the base cover off the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
Removing the M.2 2230 solid state drive:
Remove the screw (M2x3) to release the M.2 SSD shielding cover from the system board.
Remove the screw (M2x4) that secures the M.2 2230 solid state drive extension thermal plate to the system board.
Using a flat-headed tool, pry open the M.2 SSD shielding cover from the recess on its bottom side and remove it from the system board.
Slide and remove the M.2 2230 solid state drive from the M.2 card slot on the system board.
NOTE:For computers shipped without a solid state drive thermal plate, a thermal pad sticker is adhered to the system board underneath the solid state drive. If in the process of replacing the solid state drive, the thermal pad is separated from the plate or gets adhered to the solid state drive, readhere the thermal pad to the system board before reinstalling the solid state drive to the system.
Removing the 5G WWAN card:
Pry the 5G WWAN shielding cover from the top-left side of the shielding cover and remove it from the computer.
Lift the 5G WWAN-card bracket off the system board.
Remove the screw (M2x3) that secures the 5G WWAN-card bracket to the system board.
Disconnect the antenna cables underneath the rubber sponge from the connectors on the 5G WWAN card.
Slide and remove the 5G WWAN card from the M.2-card slot on the system board.
NOTE:This procedure applies only to computers shipped with a WWAN card installed.
Removing the 3-cell battery:
Use the pull tab to disconnect the battery cable from the connector on the system board.
Loosen the captive screw that secures the 3-cell battery to the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
Remove the four screws (M2x4) that secure the 3-cell battery to the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
Lift the 3-cell battery along with the battery cable off the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
Disconnect the battery cable from the connector on the 3-cell battery.
Carefully push the battery filler downwards to remove it from the 3-cell battery.
Removing the 4-cell battery:
Disconnect the battery cable from the connector on the system board, if it was not disconnected earlier.
Loosen the captive screw that secures the 4-cell battery to the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
Remove the four screws (M2x4) that secure the 4-cell battery to the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
Remove the battery from the system.
Flip the battery, peel the tape that secures the battery cable to the battery.
Lift the 4-cell battery along with the battery cable off the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
Removing the heat-sink:
Remove the screw (M2x3) to open the SSD shielding cover from the system board.
Peel back the tape that secures the thermal module.
Remove the four screws (M2x4) that secures the heat-sink to the system board.
In reverse sequential order (as indicated on the heat-sink), loosen the four captive screws that secure the heat-sink to the system board.
Lift the heat-sink off the system board.
Removing the speakers for Ultralight:
Unroute the antenna cables from the routing guide.
Disconnect the speaker cable from the connector on the I/O daughter-board.
Peel the tape that secures the speaker cable to the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
Note the speaker cable routing, and unroute the speaker cable from the routing guides on the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
Lift the speakers, along with the cable, off the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
Removing the power button with optional fingerprint reader:
Remove the two screws (M1.2x1.5) that secure the power button to the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
Peel the fingerprint reader flexible printed circuits from the connector (FP1) on the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
NOTE:This step applies only to computers shipped with a power button with fingerprint reader installed.
Lift the power button off the slot on the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
Removing the system board:
Remove the six screws (M2x3) that secure the display, camera, and USB Type-C brackets.
Disconnect camera and display cables on the system board.
Disconnect the camera cable, display cable, battery cable, speaker cable, click pad flexible flat cable, USH daughter board flexible flat cable (for models shipped with a USH daughter board), RTC cable, finger print reader power button cable, Darwin cables, and P cable, from the system board.
NOTE:There are two speaker cables to disconnect.
Remove the screw (M2x4) that secure the system board in place.
Remove the system board from the system.
Carefully lift and remove the system board away from the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
NOTE:Transfer the re-usable WLAN, WWAN (for WWAN only) absorbers (including WWAN cover), CPU absorber (for WWAN only), and CPU graphite to the new system board. CPU absorber and CPU graphite are located underneath the system board.
NOTE:For the systems supporting the 5G configuration, the CPU absorber sticker adhered to the system board must be peeled off and transferred over to the replacement system board.
NOTE:When removing the system board to replace or access other parts, the system board can be removed and installed with the heat sink attached to simplify the procedure and preserve the thermal bond between the system board and heat sink.
Removing the keyboard:
Peel the USH daughter-board flexible flat cable from the back of the keyboard.
NOTE:This step applies only to computers shipped with a USH daughter-board installed.
Open the latch and disconnect the keyboard and keyboard backlight flat cable from the connector on the clickpad.
Remove the twenty-nine screws (M1.2x1.5) that secure the keyboard assembly to the system.
Carefully lift the keyboard assembly to remove it from the computer.
Separate the keyboard from the keyboard support plate.
NOTE:If the keyboard support plate is replaced, transfer the re-usable rubber filler (for WLAN, 4G WWAN) or thermal pad (for 5G WWAN) over to the new keyboard support plate.
Installing the keyboard:
Align the screw holes on the keyboard to the screw holes on the keyboard support plate and place the keyboard on the keyboard support plate.
Align and place the keyboard assembly in to its slot in the computer.
Replace the twenty-nine screws (M1.2x1.5) securing the keyboard assembly to the system.
Connect the keyboard and keyboard backlight flat cable to the back of the click pad.
Adhere the USH daughter-board flexible flat cable to the back of the keyboard.
NOTE:This step applies only to computers shipped with a USH daughter-board installed.
Installing the system board:
Place the system board into the respective slot on the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
NOTE: Transfer the reusable WLAN absorbers to the new system board while replacing the system board.
Replace the screw (M2x4) securing the system board in place.
Connect the camera cable, display cable, battery cable, speaker cable, click pad flexible flat cable, USH daughter board flexible flat cable (for models shipped with a USH daughter board), RTC cable, finger print reader power button cable, Darwin cables, and P cable, on the system board.
Connect camera and display cables on the system board.
Replace the six screws (M2x3) securing the display, camera, and USB Type-C brackets.
Installing the power button with optional fingerprint reader:
Place the power button into its slot on the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
Adhere the fingerprint reader flexible printed circuits to the connector (FP1) on the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
NOTE:This step applies only to computers shipped with a power button with fingerprint reader installed.
Align the screw hole on the power button with an optional fingerprint reader to the screw hole on the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
Replace the two screws (M1.2x1.5 ) to secure the power button to the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
Installing the speakers for Ultralight:
Route the antenna cables along the routing guide.
Using the alignment posts and rubber grommets, place the speakers into the slots on the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
NOTE:To properly position the speakers, secure the rubber grommets into the hooks.
Route the speaker cable along the bottom side of the palm-rest and keyboard assembly. Then secure the speaker cable into the routing guides on the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
Connect the speaker cable to the connector on the I/O daughter-board.
Installing the heat-sink:
Place the heat-sink on the system board.
Align the screw holes on the heat-sink with the screw holes on the system board.
Replace the four screws (M2x4) that secure the heat sink to the system board.
In reverse sequential order (as indicated on the heat-sink), tighten the four captive screws that secure the heat-sink to the system board.
Replace the screw (M2x3) to cover the M.2 SSD shielding cover on the system board.
Installing the 3-cell battery:
Carefully push the battery filler upwards to attach it to the 3-cell battery.
Place the 3-cell battery along with the battery cable on the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
Align the screw holes on the 3-cell battery to the screw holes on the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
Replace the four screws (M2x4) to secure the 3-cell battery to the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
Tighten the captive screw to secure the 3-cell battery to the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
Connect the battery cable to the connector on the system board.
Installing the 4-cell battery:
Place the 4-cell battery along with the battery cable on the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
Adhere the tape to secure the battery cable to the battery.
Align the screw holes on the 4-cell battery to the screw holes on the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
Replace the four screws (M2x4) to secure the 4-cell battery to the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
Tighten the captive screw to secure the 4-cell battery to the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
Connect the battery cable to the connector on the system board.
Installing the 5G WWAN card:
Align the notch on the 5G WWAN card with the tab on the M.2-card slot on the system board.
Slide the 5G WWAN card firmly into the M.2-card slot on the system board.
Connect the antenna cables to the connectors on the 5G WWAN card.
Place the 5G WWAN-card bracket on the 5G WWAN card.
Align the screw hole on the 5G WWAN-card bracket with the screw hole on the system board.
Replace the single screw (M2x3) that secures the 5G WWAN-card bracket to the system board.
Place the 5G WWAN-card shield over the 5G WWAN card and secure it in place.
NOTE:For instructions on how to find your computer's International Mobile Station Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, search in the Knowledge Base Resource at Dell Support Site.
NOTE:This procedure applies only to computers shipped with a WWAN card installed.
Installing the M.2 2230 solid state drive:
Align the notch on the M.2 2230 solid state drive with the tab on the M.2 card slot on the system board.
NOTE:For computers shipped without a solid state drive thermal plate, a thermal pad sticker is adhered to the system board underneath the solid state drive. If in the process of replacing the solid state drive, the thermal pad is separated from the plate or gets adhered to the solid state drive, readhere the thermal pad to the system board before reinstalling the solid state drive to the system.
Replace the screw (M2x3) that secures the M.2 SSD shielding cover from the system board.
Align the screw holes on the M.2 2230 solid state drive extension thermal plate with the screw holes on the system board.
Replace the screw (M2x4) to secure the M.2 2230 solid state drive extension thermal plate to the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
Installing the base cover:
Place the base cover on top of the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
Align the screw holes on the base cover with the screw holes on the palm-rest and keyboard assembly, and snap the base cover latches into place.
Tighten the eight captive screws to secure the base cover to the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.
Replace all screws and ensure that no stray screws remain inside your computer.
Connect any external devices, peripherals, or cables you removed before working on your computer.
Replace any media cards, discs, or any other parts that you removed before working on your computer.
Connect your computer and all attached devices to their electrical outlets.
NOTE:To exit service mode, ensure to connect the AC adapter to the power-adapter port on your computer.
Press the power button to turn on the computer. Your computer will automatically return to normal functioning mode.
