Dont use a screw driver to pry apart the plastic sides of the screen. The metal will scratch and look ugly. Use plastic to pry apart the screen. Go slow. If something doesnt seem like its gonna snap apart, it is because you missed a screw.
It isn't that hard to replace a screen on a Dell, nor as expensive as you might think. Depending on make and model the screen may run between $80 and $120. Replacing it will require a bit of disassembly. But it isn't really a technical challenge. The service manuals for all Dell laptops are available on Dell's website. Download it and print out the relavent sections to refer to while doing the repair.
The main tools that you will need are a variety of small screwdrivers. 1 or 2 decent angled tweezers or forceps and ideally a set of plastic electronic device wedges to safely pry open the casings. All but the tweezers can rather conveniently be found packaged together as "smartphone repair kits" or some similar name. And yeah getting this sort of toolkit is the diference between a quick easy repair and a nightmare that destroys a laptop. Do not attempt this using carpentry tools and old flatware.
When you buy the replacement screen also get a set of replacement cables for it. This will eliminate a lot of potential problems. The trickiest and most annoying things to deal with will be the video cable where it connects to the topside of the laptop itself (if you have never seen the flat cable friction connectors before approach them carefully to work out how they work and grab. Be gentle), and by far the most annoying item, the antenae cable for the wifi typically runs from the far front corner of the bottom of the laptop, up through the motherboard and accross the back of the screen. Use the service manual diagrams to work out its pathing before you start dissasembling things.
Get a maintenance guide from the web, they're most all the same. Buy a new screen, ebay is cheapest, get out the screwdrivers and go to work. Check youtube for videos. That or pay someone more than the laptop is probably worth to fix it. I've done four of them and never had a problem.
Dont use a screw driver to pry apart the plastic sides of the screen. The metal will scratch and look ugly. Use plastic to pry apart the screen. Go slow. If something doesnt seem like its gonna snap apart, it is because you missed a screw.
Awesome, thank you very much, this is just the kind of thing I was hoping to learn!
It isn't that hard to replace a screen on a Dell, nor as expensive as you might think. Depending on make and model the screen may run between $80 and $120. Replacing it will require a bit of disassembly. But it isn't really a technical challenge. The service manuals for all Dell laptops are available on Dell's website. Download it and print out the relavent sections to refer to while doing the repair.
The main tools that you will need are a variety of small screwdrivers. 1 or 2 decent angled tweezers or forceps and ideally a set of plastic electronic device wedges to safely pry open the casings. All but the tweezers can rather conveniently be found packaged together as "smartphone repair kits" or some similar name. And yeah getting this sort of toolkit is the diference between a quick easy repair and a nightmare that destroys a laptop. Do not attempt this using carpentry tools and old flatware.
When you buy the replacement screen also get a set of replacement cables for it. This will eliminate a lot of potential problems. The trickiest and most annoying things to deal with will be the video cable where it connects to the topside of the laptop itself (if you have never seen the flat cable friction connectors before approach them carefully to work out how they work and grab. Be gentle), and by far the most annoying item, the antenae cable for the wifi typically runs from the far front corner of the bottom of the laptop, up through the motherboard and accross the back of the screen. Use the service manual diagrams to work out its pathing before you start dissasembling things.
Good luck and don't be too scared.
Thank you! Specifically about the repair kits and the cables and antenae information as well!
Dell has step by step instructions on how to replace/rebuild their products. You can find them in their online warranty service option (or likely dl the actual dchp manuals). You can buy a screen through Dell or likely aftermarket somewhere.
Replacing a screen is actually very easy to do but you need the right tools that won't strip the small screws and non-metal flat head tool to pop off the bezels without scratching or breaking the plastic clips.
Typically:
Keyboard bezel
Screen bezel
screen mount screws, keyboard and possibly a bottom plate if wireless antenna and/or power attackment is on the bottom and not under keyboard. LCD mount screws to it's frame are very small just so you know. Some screws are under rubber nubs on the screen bezel.
Comments
Dont use a screw driver to pry apart the plastic sides of the screen. The metal will scratch and look ugly. Use plastic to pry apart the screen. Go slow. If something doesnt seem like its gonna snap apart, it is because you missed a screw.
It isn't that hard to replace a screen on a Dell, nor as expensive as you might think. Depending on make and model the screen may run between $80 and $120. Replacing it will require a bit of disassembly. But it isn't really a technical challenge. The service manuals for all Dell laptops are available on Dell's website. Download it and print out the relavent sections to refer to while doing the repair.
The main tools that you will need are a variety of small screwdrivers. 1 or 2 decent angled tweezers or forceps and ideally a set of plastic electronic device wedges to safely pry open the casings. All but the tweezers can rather conveniently be found packaged together as "smartphone repair kits" or some similar name. And yeah getting this sort of toolkit is the diference between a quick easy repair and a nightmare that destroys a laptop. Do not attempt this using carpentry tools and old flatware.
When you buy the replacement screen also get a set of replacement cables for it. This will eliminate a lot of potential problems. The trickiest and most annoying things to deal with will be the video cable where it connects to the topside of the laptop itself (if you have never seen the flat cable friction connectors before approach them carefully to work out how they work and grab. Be gentle), and by far the most annoying item, the antenae cable for the wifi typically runs from the far front corner of the bottom of the laptop, up through the motherboard and accross the back of the screen. Use the service manual diagrams to work out its pathing before you start dissasembling things.
Good luck and don't be too scared.
go to http://www.techinferno.com, most of them know dell sales support personally. They can help. Make a forum account and post a thread.
Thank you so much, that video looks like it is going to be exactly what I need!
Awesome, thank you very much, this is just the kind of thing I was hoping to learn!
Thank you! Specifically about the repair kits and the cables and antenae information as well!
Thank you as well, I shall go there and ask them too!
Dell has step by step instructions on how to replace/rebuild their products. You can find them in their online warranty service option (or likely dl the actual dchp manuals). You can buy a screen through Dell or likely aftermarket somewhere.
Replacing a screen is actually very easy to do but you need the right tools that won't strip the small screws and non-metal flat head tool to pop off the bezels without scratching or breaking the plastic clips.
Typically:
Keyboard bezel
Screen bezel
screen mount screws, keyboard and possibly a bottom plate if wireless antenna and/or power attackment is on the bottom and not under keyboard. LCD mount screws to it's frame are very small just so you know. Some screws are under rubber nubs on the screen bezel.
A good tech can replace a screen in < 5 minutes.
You stay sassy!