Replace Dell Laptop Hard Drive

Dking5454QUESTION: I replaced my primary hard drive. No problem-o!But, after putting on the bottom cover and turning it on, it gave me the dreaded 4-beeps, meaning 'RAM read/write failure'. I'm not sure how replacing the hard drive can cause a RAM R/W failure, but there it is. I'm sure there was no static discharge, and the memory sticks are all seated, so is there any other likely cause for this. I turn it off right away, so I don't have to hear the annoying 'beeps', but is there any diagnostic information that is displayed. Actually, I don't get ANY display, which I assume is the way it's supposed to work; but, will the system give any more information about what's wrong)?

In the photo above you can see our upgrade drive mounted in the small drive metal drive caddy from our Dell laptop. It’s large enough for a traditional 9.5 mm mechanical hard drive but there’s no issue mounting a newer 7 mm SSD inside it as the caddy acts as a spacer and the mount holds still hold the drive in the proper position. How to remove the Hard Drive from a Dell Latitude, Precision and inspiron laptop systems. A user may report they need to remove the Hard Drive from their Dell Latitude, Precision and inspiron laptop systems. The article will show how this is done. Pre-Removal Instructions Before removing the Hard Drive.

STEP 4.At the same time lift up the keyboard a little bit. You can use a knife blade to lift up the keyboard.While the keyboard is lifted, push in all other locks.STEP 5.Finally, lift up the top side of the keyboard and place the keyboard upside down on the palmrest.STEP 6.Now you can access the keyboard cable which is connected to the motherboard.In the following two steps I explain how to unlock the connector and release the cable.STEP 7.On this picture the keyboard connector shown in the locked position.Lift up the left side of the brown tab with your fingernail. The tap will open up at a 90 degree angle.STEP 8.On this picture the same connector shown in the unlocked position.Now you can pull the cable from the connector.STEP 9.Remove the keyboard.STEP 10.Remove one screw securing the memory cover on the bottom.Remove the cover.STEP 11.You’ll find both memory modules under the cover.For the purpose of my guide it’s not necessary to remove memory modules.By the way, Dell Inspiron 17R N7110 uses PC3-10666 DDR3-1333 204pin SDRAM SODIMM memory.It can take up to 8GB RAM total.

It means you can install up to 4GB RAM module into each slot.STEP 12.Remove one screw securing the optical DVD drive.Pull DVD drive to the left and remove it.STEP 13.Remove all screws from the bottom.STEP 14.Remove four screw securing the palmrest assembly.Disconnect the following cables:1. Power button board cable.2. Touchpad cable.3. Hot key board cable.STEP 15.Separate the palmrest assembly from the bottom case with a piece of soft plastic.I’m using the guitar pick.STEP 16.Lift up and remove the palmrest assembly.STEP 17.When the palmrest assembly removed you can access the following internal components:– Cooling fan.– CMOS battery.– Hard drive.– Speakers and subwoofer.– I/O board.

Both wireless cards mounted on this board.– Motherboard.STEP 18.Remove three screws securing the hard drive.Slide the hard drive to the left to disconnect it from the motherboard.Lift up and remove the hard drive from the laptop.In my Dell Inspiron 17R N7110 I had a regular 2.5″ SATA hard drive installed. It’s possible to replace it with any other large capacity SATA hard drive or SDD.STEP 19.Remove two screws securing the cooling fan.Disconnect fan cable from the motherboard.STEP 20.Lift up and remove the cooling fan.STEP 21.Remove four screws securing the motherboard to the bottom case.Disconnect the following cables:1. DC power jack cable.2. Webcam cable.3.

LCD screen cable.4. Status light board cable.5. Laptop speaker cable.6.

Subwoofer cable.STEP 22.Carefully lift up the left side of the motherboard and disconnect it from the I/O board.STEP 23.Remove the motherboard.STEP 24.On the bottom side of the motherboard you can access the heatsink and processor (CPU) which is located under the heatsink. @ ausing ani,I have a dv6000 pavilion laptop any time I try playing a cd in the dvd rom it keeps ejecting.Here’s what you can try.1. Go to the Computer Management (Right click on Computer icon and then Manage).2. Go to the Device Manager.3. Find CD/DVD-ROM drives line and and expand it.4. Now right click on the DVD drive and Uninstall it.5. Reboot the laptop and let it detect the drive and reinstall the driver.

I think this might fix the problem. It did fix the same problem for me a couple of times. To IML TechThank you for you reply. But I wasn’t too fast to realize that there was no need to uncover memory if I only wanted to change HDD. So I was forced to do it five or six times already and your guide was vitaly helpfull.I have found at least one difference: you don’t have graphic card on the motherboard.

May I ask you what configuration does this laptop have? It could answers some questions like Cata’s.Mine is:Core i7 2670QM6GB DDR3-1333nVidia GeForce GT 525MThe last one is to the left to CPU at your 21 step’s image.

You have a free space there. But anyway it still doesn’t looks like possible to be upgraded without soldering iron. @ Clive,i have hp 630 it just switched off now not showing anything to the screen but the fan is moving and shows processing1. Wait for a while and try turning it on again. Maybe the laptop turned off because of overheating. If that’s the case try cleaning the cooling module (heatsink and fan) from dust.2. Unplug the AC adapter, remove the battery, push on the power button for a few seconds.

Now plug in the AC adapter and try turning it on again.3. Try removing memory modules one by one. Maybe one of the modules failed.

THANK YOU very much for this tutorial. I’m sorry about my poor english. I do own a N7110 and the hard drive fail.

I almost gave it away to someone but my last shot was look on line for a solution and after 13 seconds of search, i found this page! I bought a 500gb hard drive, followed your steps very with caution ’cause I’m not a tech guy. After almost a hour later, VOILA, the computer works again.

I just installed the windows 7 and went to dell website for the drivers. Thank you for helping my family. William Santo. Tonight, I installed a backlit keyboard from China. I was apprehensive because this laptop did not come with the option for a backlit keyboard, so I was worried there would be no power source on the motherboard.But, it actually did. There was some sort of special edition that had one, or this model uses the same motherboard as an XPS with one. Either way, there is a small connection for power right beside the keyboard ribbon’s port.Just wanted to let anyone know who might be searching Google or whatever for backlit keyboards for the Inspiron N17 N7110.

Replace Dell Laptop Hard Drive Software

As you can see from these pics, there is power.-Sharpehttp://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/laptop/f/3518/t/19404778.aspx?PageIndex=2. Great tutorial, Very helpful. However I was hoping that you would point out the location of the video cards since you had it taken apart. Apparently some models come with dual video cards. They are the Intel HD3000 and a discrete NVidia GT 525M.

I believe mine only has the Intel as it is the only one listed by my device manager but I would like to locate where they are so I can find out for sure. I want to add a 525M if the mount is there for it. I’m also finding motherboards for sale online that have the 525M already installed and that may be the way to go.

I’m still researching my options. I know the question about the backlit keyboard is a couple of years old but I if anyone is interested, the answer is yes you can add a backlit keyboard.

I did this recently and am very glad because even in a decently lit room I sometime had trouble seeing the keys on the very dark standard keyboard. I was constantly tilting the LCD down for extra light. I had no problem finding a US model on ebay. I had to wait for it to ship from China but it was well worth it. The backlit keyboard has two power ribbons.

Replace dell laptop hard drives

One is for the keyboard (see steps 7 and 8) and one is for the lights so be sure to look for that when purchasing.You will want to remove not only the old keyboard but the top cover as well. The power connector for the lights is to the bottom right of the keyboard connector (again reference steps 7 and 8). You will want to cut away a small, square section of plastic from the cover in order to expose the connector for the lights so the power ribbon can attach. You can use a rotating dremel type cutting tool for this if you have one.

Replacing Dell Laptop Hard Drive Instructions

It took a little longer but I just used a small box cutter to carefully and precisely cut away the area. Once this is done simply re-attach the cover and the three ribbons. Then you can attach the new keyboard and its two ribbons.I hope this helps somebody.