The New Year is almost here, and my laptop has been in use for over a year; I clearly feel it runs hotter than before, so I want to clean the dust. Here’s a teardown guide for the Dell Vostro 2420 to share. Note: this is a full teardown. If you’re just cleaning dust, only disassemble down to the cooling fan. Taking off the display and speakers is pointless. When reinstalling the fan, I recommend applying thermal paste to the CPU for better results.
Remove the hinge cover
1. Follow the steps in “Before You Begin”.
2. Remove the battery.
3. Remove the screws that secure the hinge cover.
4. Turn the computer over and remove the hinge cover.
Install the hinge cover
1. Install the hinge cover, then press it to secure it to the computer.
2. Turn the computer over and install the screws that secure the hinge cover.
3. Install the battery.
4. Follow the steps in “After You Complete the Procedures”.
Remove the keyboard
1. Follow the steps in “Before You Begin”.
2. Remove the battery.
3. Starting from the right, pry the keyboard up from the computer.
4. Turn the keyboard over and place it on the palm rest.
5. Disconnect the keyboard cable from the system board.
6. Remove the keyboard from the computer.
Install the keyboard
1. Connect the keyboard cable to the system board.
2. Insert the keyboard into the slot at an angle.
3. Press down on the keyboard until it clicks into place.
4. Install the battery.
5. Follow the steps in “After You Complete the Procedures”.
Remove the optical drive
1. Follow the steps in “Before You Begin”.
2. Remove the battery.
3. Remove the keyboard.
4. Remove the screw that secures the optical drive.
5. Use a flat-head screwdriver to release the optical drive. Slide the optical drive out and remove it from the computer.
Install the optical drive
1. Slide the optical drive into the slot on the left side of the chassis.
2. Tighten the screw that secures the optical drive to the computer.
3. Install the keyboard.
4. Install the battery.
5. Follow the steps in “After You Complete the Procedures”.
Remove the memory module
1. Follow the steps in “Before You Begin”.
2. Remove the battery.
3. Remove the keyboard.
4. Pry the retention clips away from the memory module until it pops up.
5. Remove the memory module from the computer.
Install the memory module
1. Insert the memory module into the memory slot.
2. Press down on the memory module until the retention clips secure it in place.
3. Install the keyboard.
4. Install the battery.
5. Follow the steps in “After You Complete the Procedures”.
Remove the palm rest
1. Follow the steps in “Before You Begin”.
2. Remove the battery.
3. Remove the keyboard.
4. Remove the screws from the base of the computer.
5. Turn the computer over, then disconnect the power-board cable and the touchpad cable.
6. Remove the screws that secure the palm rest to the computer.
7. Carefully pry the palm rest loose from the edges with a plastic spudger. Lift the palm rest and remove it from the computer.
Install the palm rest
1. Insert the palm rest at an angle toward the display.
2. Starting from the edge of the palm rest, press down to engage the tabs on the computer.
3. Connect the power-board cable and the touchpad cable to their connectors.
4. Install the screws that secure the palm rest to the computer.
5. Turn the computer over, then install the screws that secure the base.
6. Install the keyboard.
7. Install the battery.
8. Follow the steps in “After You Complete the Procedures”.
Remove the power-button board
1. Follow the steps in “Before You Begin”.
2. Remove:
a) the battery
b) the keyboard
c) the palm rest
3. Peel the power-button board cable off the tape that secures it to the palm rest.
4. Turn the palm rest over, then remove the screw that secures the power-button board to the palm rest.
5. Lift the power-button board up, then remove the power-button board cable through the opening.
Install the power-button board
1. Insert the power-button board cable through the opening.
2. Secure the power-button board into the slot.
3. Install the screw that secures the power-button board.
4. Turn the computer over, then connect the power-button board cable to the palm rest.
5. Install:
a) the palm rest
b) the keyboard
c) the battery
6. Follow the steps in “After You Complete the Procedures”.
Remove the hard drive
1. Follow the steps in “Before You Begin”.
2. Remove:
a) the battery
b) the keyboard
c) the palm rest
3. Slide the hard drive and lift it away from the computer.
4. Remove the screws that secure the hard-drive bracket, then remove it from the hard drive.
Install the hard drive
1. Install the hard-drive bracket onto the hard drive.
2. Tighten the screws that secure the hard-drive bracket.
3. Place the hard drive in the drive bay, then slide it toward the connector to secure it to the system board.
4. Install:
a) the palm rest
b) the keyboard
c) the battery
5. Follow the steps in “After You Complete the Procedures”.
Remove the WLAN card
1. Follow the steps in “Before You Begin”.
2. Remove:
a) the battery
b) the keyboard
c) the palm rest
3. Disconnect any antenna connected to the card.
4. Pry the latch to release the card from its slot.
5. Remove the card from the computer.
Install the WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) card
1. Slide the card into the slot until it clicks into place.
2. Connect the antennas according to the color code on the card.
3. Install:
a) the palm rest
b) the keyboard
c) the battery
4. Follow the steps in “After You Complete the Procedures”.
Remove the coin-cell battery
1. Follow the steps in “Before You Begin”.
2. Remove:
a) the battery
b) the keyboard
c) the palm rest
3. Disconnect the coin-cell battery cable from the system board.
4. Remove the coin-cell battery from the computer.
Install the coin-cell battery
1. Install the coin-cell battery into the coin-cell battery slot.
2. Connect the coin-cell battery cable to the system board.
3. Install:
a) the palm rest
b) the keyboard
c) the battery
4. Follow the steps in “After You Complete the Procedures”.
Remove the audio board
1. Follow the steps in “Before You Begin”.
2. Remove:
a) the battery
b) the keyboard
c) the palm rest
3. Disconnect the antenna that blocks the audio-board cable.
4. Lift the coin-cell battery up out of the battery slot and take it out.
5. Disconnect the audio-board cable from the system board.
6. Pry the latch to release the audio board.
7. Remove the audio board from the computer.
Install the audio board
1. Insert the audio board into the slot, then snap the latch to secure it.
2. Connect the audio-board cable to the system board.
3. Insert the coin-cell battery cable into the slot, then align it into place.
4. Connect the antenna to the card.
5. Install:
a) the palm rest
b) the keyboard
c) the battery
6. Follow the steps in “After You Complete the Procedures”.
Remove the board
1. Follow the steps in “Before You Begin”.
2. Remove:
a) the battery
b) the keyboard
c) the optical drive
d) the palm rest
3. Disconnect the board cable from the system board.
4. Remove the screws that secure the board.
5. Lift the board up and remove it from the computer.
Install the USB board
1. Insert the board into the slot on the computer and align it.
2. Install the screws that secure the board.
3. Connect the board cable to the system board.
4. Install:
a) the palm rest
b) the optical drive
c) the keyboard
d) the battery
5. Follow the steps in “After You Complete the Procedures”.
Remove the heatsink fan assembly
1. Follow the steps in “Before You Begin”.
2. Remove:
a) the battery
b) the keyboard
c) the palm rest
3. Disconnect the fan cable from the system board.
4. Following the order shown in the image, remove the screws that secure the heatsink fan assembly.
5. Remove the heatsink fan assembly from the computer.
Install the heatsink fan assembly
1. Position and align the heatsink fan assembly.
2. Tighten the screws that secure the heatsink fan assembly.
3. Connect the fan cable to the system board.
4. Install:
a) the palm rest
b) the keyboard
c) the battery
5. Follow the steps in “After You Complete the Procedures”.
Remove the processor
1. Follow the steps in “Before You Begin”.
2. Remove:
a) the battery
b) the keyboard
c) the palm rest
d) the heatsink fan assembly
3. Rotate the processor cam screw counterclockwise.
4. Lift the processor up and remove it from the computer.
Install the processor
1. Insert the processor into the processor socket. Make sure it is installed correctly.
2. Tighten the cam screw clockwise to the locked position.
3. Install:
a) the heatsink fan assembly
b) the palm rest
c) the keyboard
d) the battery
4. Follow the steps in “After You Complete the Procedures”.
Remove the system board
1. Follow the steps in “Before You Begin”.
2. Remove:
a) the battery
b) the SD memory card
c) the keyboard
d) the optical drive
e) the memory module
f) the palm rest
g) the hard drive
h) the WLAN card
i) the heatsink fan assembly
j) the processor
3. Disconnect the display cable, power-connector cable (2), USB board cable (3), speaker cable (4), audio-board cable (5), and coin-cell battery cable.
4. Remove the screws that secure the system board.
5. Lift the system board up at an angle and slide it out of the LAN, VGA, HDMI, and USB slots.
Install the system board
1. Insert the system board and mate the LAN, VGA, HDMI, and USB connectors into their slots, then align the system board into place.
2. Install the screws that secure the system board.
3. Connect the display cable, power-connector cable, USB board cable, audio-board cable, coin-cell battery cable, and speaker cable.
4. Install:
a) the processor
b) the heatsink fan assembly
c) the WLAN card
d) the hard drive
e) the palm rest
f) the memory module
g) the optical drive
h) the keyboard
i) the SD memory card
j) the battery
5. Follow the steps in “After You Complete the Procedures”.
Remove the speakers
1. Follow the steps in “Before You Begin”.
2. Remove:
a) the battery
b) the SD memory card
c) the keyboard
d) the optical drive
e) the memory module
f) the palm rest
g) the hard drive
h) the WLAN card
i) the USB board
j) the heatsink fan assembly
k) the processor
l) the system board
m) the hinge cover
n) the display assembly
3. Pull the speaker cable out of the routing channel.
4. Press the retention latch, then lift the left speaker up.
5. Press the retention latch, then lift the right speaker up.
6. Remove the speaker assembly and speaker cable from the computer.
Install the speakers
1. Insert and attach the left and right speakers into their respective slots.
2. Align and secure the speaker cable to the chassis.
3. Install:
a) the display assembly
b) the hinge cover
c) the system board
d) the processor
e) the heatsink fan assembly
f) the USB board
g) the WLAN card
h) the hard drive
i) the palm rest
j) the memory module
k) the optical drive
l) the keyboard
m) the SD memory card
n) the battery
4. Follow the steps in “After You Complete the Procedures”.
Remove the display assembly
1. Follow the steps in “Before You Begin”.
2. Remove:
a) the battery
b) the hinge cover
c) the keyboard
d) the optical drive
e) the palm rest
3. Disconnect the board cable from the system board, exposing the antenna.
4. Disconnect the antenna and release it from the routing channel in the chassis.
5. Disconnect the display cable from the system board.
6. Remove the screws that secure the left and right hinges.
7. Lift the display assembly up and away from the computer, then remove it.
Install the display assembly
1. Insert the display-assembly hinges into the retainers.
2. Install the screws that secure the left and right hinges.
3. Connect the display cable to the system board.
4. Align the antenna securing cable with the retainer, then connect the antenna to the card.
5. Connect the board cable.
6. Install:
a) the palm rest
b) the optical drive
c) the keyboard
d) the hinge cover
e) the battery
7. Follow the steps in “After You Complete the Procedures”.
Remove the display bezel
1. Follow the steps in “Before You Begin”.
2. Remove the battery.
3. Starting from the bottom edge, pry the inner edge of the bezel away from the display assembly; continue with the right and left corners.
4. Remove the bezel from the display assembly.
Install the display bezel
1. Align the display bezel with the top cover.
2. Starting from the bottom edge, press down on the display bezel to engage the tabs.
3. Install the battery.
4. Follow the steps in “After You Complete the Procedures”.
Remove the camera
1. Follow the steps in “Before You Begin”.
2. Remove the battery.
3. Remove the display bezel.
4. Unplug the camera cable from the camera module.
5. Pry the latch, lift the camera up, then remove it from the computer.
Install the camera
1. Insert the camera module into the slot and align it.
2. Connect the camera cable to the camera module.
3. Install the display bezel.
4. Install the battery.
5. Follow the steps in “After You Complete the Procedures”.
Remove the display panel
1. Follow the steps in “Before You Begin”.
2. Remove:
a) the battery
b) the hinge cover
c) the keyboard
d) the optical drive
e) the palm rest
f) the display assembly
g) the display bezel
3. Unplug the camera cable from the camera module.
4. Remove the screws that secure the display bracket and hinges.
5. Release the wireless antenna from the right hinge.
6. Release the display cable from the left hinge.
7. Lift the display panel and bracket up from the top cover of the display.
8. Remove the screws on the left and right display brackets, then remove the display panel.
Install the display panel
1. Attach the left and right brackets to the display panel, then secure the screws.
2. Insert and secure the display cable and wireless antenna to the left and right hinges.
3. Align the display panel and its bracket with the top cover.
4. Align the antenna securing cable with the retainer, then connect the antenna to the card.
5. Tighten the screws that secure the display panel and bracket.
6. Connect the camera cable to the camera module.
7. Install:
a) the display bezel
b) the display assembly
c) the palm rest
d) the optical drive
e) the keyboard
f) the hinge cover
g) the battery
8. Follow the steps in “After You Complete the Procedures”.
Remove the display cable
1. Follow the steps in “Before You Begin”.
2. Remove:
a) the battery
b) the hinge cover
c) the keyboard
d) the optical drive
e) the palm rest
f) the display assembly
g) the display bezel
h) the display panel
3. Peel off the tape securing the display connection.
4. Disconnect the display cable from the display panel.
5. Peel the tape off the display cable that secures it to the display panel, then remove the whole display cable.
Install the display cable
1. Attach the display cable to the display panel.
2. Connect the display cable to the display panel, then tape it to secure it.
3. Install:
a) the display panel
b) the display bezel
c) the display assembly
d) the palm rest
e) the optical drive
f) the keyboard
g) the hinge cover
h) the battery
4. Follow the steps in “After You Complete the Procedures”.