Back to Contents Page

System Board Assembly

Dell™ Vostro™ 1500 and Inspiron™ 1520/1521 Service Manual

  Removing the System Board Assembly

  Replacing the System Board Assembly

The system board's BIOS chip contains the Service Tag, which is also visible on a barcode label on the bottom of the computer. The replacement kit for the system board includes media that provides a utility for transferring the Service Tag to the replacement system board.

Removing the System Board Assembly

CAUTION: Before you begin the following procedure, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.

1. Follow the instructions in Before You Begin.
   
   
2. Remove the optical drive (see Removing the Optical Drive).
   
   
3. Remove the hard drive (see Removing the Hard Drive).
   
   
4. Remove all Mini-Cards (see Removing a Mini Card).
   
   
5. Remove the DIMM B memory module, if installed (see Removing a Memory Module).
   
   
6. Remove the hinge cover (see Removing the Hinge Cover).
   
   
7. Remove the keyboard (see Removing the Keyboard).
   
   
8. Remove the display assembly (see Removing the Display Assembly).
   
   
9. Remove the internal card with Bluetooth wireless technology, if installed (see Removing the Bluetooth Card).
   
   
10. Remove the palm rest (see Removing the Palm Rest).
    
    
11. Remove the DIMM A memory module (see Removing a Memory Module).
    
    
12. Remove the modem (see Removing the Modem).
    
    
13. Remove the ExpressCard cage (see Removing the ExpressCard Cage).
    
    
14. Remove the graphics card assembly, if installed (see Removing the Graphics Card Assembly).
    
    
15. Remove the processor thermal-cooling assembly (see Removing the Processor Thermal-Cooling Assembly).
    
    
16. Remove the processor (see Removing the Processor Module).
    
    
17. Remove the fan (see Removing the Fan).
    
    
18. Disconnect the cable for the Bluetooth card with wireless technology from the system board, then remove the cable and set it aside.
    
    
19. Disconnect the speaker cable from the system board.
    
    
20. Disconnect the sniffer cable/audio cable from the system board.
    
    
21. Disconnect the consumer infrared (CIR) cable from the system board.
    
    
22. Remove the twelve M2.5 x 5-mm screws from the top of the system board.
    
    

    NOTE: Depending on your system configuration, the number of screws shown may be greater than the number of screws present in your system.

23. Lift the left side of the system board, and then carefully lift the system board out of the computer.
    
    

Replacing the System Board Assembly

CAUTION: Before you begin the following procedure, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.

NOTICE: Ensure that any loose cables do not get caught beneath the system board.

1. Insert the right side of the system board into the base of the computer at an angle until the connectors on the system board are aligned with the holes on the base of the computer, then carefully lower the system board into place.
   
   
2. Replace the twelve M2.5 x 5-mm screws on the top of the system board.
   
   
3. Connect the consumer infrared (CIR) cable to the system board.
   
   
4. Connect the sniffer cable/audio cable to the system board.
   
   
5. Connect the speaker cable to the system board.
   
   
6. Connect one end of the cable for the Bluetooth card with wireless technology to the system board.
   
   
7. Replace the fan (see Replacing the Fan).
   
   
8. Replace the processor (see Replacing the Processor Module).
   
   
9. Replace the processor thermal-cooling assembly (see Replacing the Processor Thermal-Cooling Assembly).
   
   
10. Replace the graphics card assembly, if applicable (see Replacing the Graphics Card Assembly).
    
    
11. Replace the ExpressCard cage (see Replacing the ExpressCard Cage).
    
    
12. Replace the modem (see Replacing the Modem).
    
    
13. Replace the DIMM A memory module (see Replacing a Memory Module).
    
    
14. Replace the palm rest (see Replacing the Palm Rest).
    
    
15. Replace the internal card with Bluetooth wireless technology, if installed (see Replacing the Bluetooth Card).
    
    
16. Replace the display assembly (see Replacing the Display Assembly).
    
    
17. Replace the keyboard (see Replacing the Keyboard).
    
    
18. Replace the hinge cover (see Replacing the Hinge Cover).
    
    
19. Replace the DIMM B memory module, if installed (see Replacing a Memory Module).
    
    
20. Replace all Mini-Cards (see Replacing a Mini Card).
    
    
21. Replace the hard drive (see Replacing the Hard Drive).
    
    
22. Replace the optical drive (see Replacing the Optical Drive).
    
    

NOTICE: Before turning on the computer, replace all screws and ensure that no stray screws remain inside the computer. Failure to do so may result in damage to the computer.

23. Turn on the computer.
    
    

NOTE: If you use a BIOS update program CD to flash the BIOS, press <F12> before inserting the CD in order to set the computer to boot from the CD for one time only. Otherwise, you must enter the system setup program to change the default boot order.

24. Flash update the BIOS (see Flashing the BIOS for more information).
    
    
25. Enter the system setup program to update the BIOS on the new system board with the computer Service Tag.
    
    

Back to Contents Page