Replacement of the motherboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23

Written By: Schwarzer
  • Comments: 8
Replacement of the motherboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

21

Time Required

1 hour

Introduction

Your motherboard is no longer working? This is a real shame, but you have the chance to be on this tutorial that will guide you through the process of replacing it.

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    • Pop the center cover open on the bottom cover.

    • Remove the center screw with a #00 Phillips screwdriver.

    • Use a T5 Torx screwdriver for the remaining screws around the edge of the bottom cover.

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    • Carefully remove back panel after all screws have been removed.

    I suggest sliding an opening tool along the front of the case first to pop the plastic snaps holding the cover to the bottom of the laptop. The snaps near the hinges are the most challenging. It is also important, when following these directions in reverse order, to fit the right side of the case over the sliding power switch before applying downward pressure required to snap the case bottom back into place. Wouldn’t want to break your power switch.

    Jeremy Tilden -

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    • After the back panel has been removed, disconnect the battery to prevent electrical shock

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    • Use a Phillips #00 screwdriver to remove the 8 screws that secure the battery.

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    • Once all the screws have been removed the battery is now safe to extract

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    • Caution: Ensure your laptop has been powered down.

    • Close the laptop, flip the laptop over, and pop off the back small panel with a flathead screwdriver. The panel will be hanging by the hinges once open.

    I think the first image should be the top image, the view most recognizable and "normal."

    Then say, turn over the tablet/laptop.

    How do you "pop open the back panel"? Do you suggest using a spudger or is there a button or a release of some sort?

    For the second image, I'd use the one in Step 2, only without the red circles on the screws.

    lkmemphis -

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    • Use a T5 Torx screwdriver to remove the screws along the edge of the bottom cover.

    • Use a magnetic board if possible to keep track of screws.

    • Open the center cover and use a Phillips #00 screwdriver to remove single screw.

    Unscrew what?

    Unscrew the back cover using...

    What happens to that panel you popped open in Step 1? Does it just hang there or does it come off when you lift off the back cover?

    I think iFixit likes to have the screw identified. What size and length?

    lkmemphis -

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    • Carefully remove the back cover.

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    • Caution: Be mindful of static electric charge across the battery port. Usage of an antistatic strap is recommended but not required.

    • Disconnect the battery to prevent electrical shock.

    • If battery replacement is desired then the battery may be removed at this point via removal of the battery's perimeter screws.

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    • Disconnect yellow-colored ribbon cable from its port which sits at the bottom left of the fan housing.

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    • Dislodge the CMOS battery.

    • Unplug CMOS cable.

    • This step is not completely necessary, it allows extra room to maneuver the fan in and out during replacement.

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    • Use a Phillips #00 screwdriver to loosen the screws that secure the heat sink's heat spreader.

    • Screws cannot be fully removed from heatsink.

    What is the heatsink?

    lkmemphis -

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    • Grip the heat sink from the sides and carefully lift it up to remove it.

    • Heatsink is a device used for absorbing heat and necessary to remove to reach the fan.

    • At this time there will be a whitish powder between the heatsink and the CPU. This powder below the heat spreader is degraded thermal paste. DO NOT wipe away this powder unless the thermal paste will be replaced upon reassembly.

    If the screws cannot be fully unscrewed, then are you really removing the heatsink or loosening it and setting it aside?

    lkmemphis -

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    • Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two cooling fan screws.

    What is the amber connector that is now loose?

    lkmemphis -

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    • Unplug the fan cable.

    Where does the fan cable plug into the fan? I see the cable, I think, but I don't know what part of the fan was connected to it.

    lkmemphis -

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    • The cooling fan can now be removed and a new one can be installed.

    ...and a new fan installed/plugged in.

    lkmemphis -

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    • We removed the battery to avoid electric shocks.

    • Disconnect the two wires from the WiFi card. You can do this with a pair of pliers or your fingernail.

    • Remove the screw with a #00 Phillips screwdriver.

    • Now remove your WiFi card to replace it.

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    • We removed the battery to avoid electric shocks.

    • Remove the adhesive tape.

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    • Remove the screw with a #00 Phillips screwdriver.

    • Remove the hard disk from its location.

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    • We removed the battery to avoid electric shocks. The hard disk, WiFi card and fan have also been removed.

    • Remove the connector with a pair of pliers or your fingernail.

    • Remove the screws with a #00 Phillips screwdriver.

    • Remove the card afterwards.

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    • Disconnect the various connections from the motherboard.

    • Remove the screws with a #00 Phillips screwdriver.

    • Carefully turn the motherboard over to disconnect the tablecloth from the keyboard.

    • You can now replace the motherboard.

Conclusion

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

Author

Schwarzer

Member since: 07/08/19

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