This is a step-by-step guide for cleaning your Dell Inspiron 5100 ventilation fan. Warning: This voids your warranty. Warning: Don't do this if you don't know what you're doing. Warning: Watch out for static discharge! Warning: Turn off your notebook before attempting this. You can print out these instructions 10110s1818k first or write them down.
Step 1: Lay your screen flat. Make sure you do
this with enough lighting.
Step 2: Use a screwdriver to pry open the blue panel. There's a little opening at the right hand side of the panel. (Pardon the dust)
Step 3: Use a screwdriver to remove four screws that are holding the keyboard down. Make sure you keep all the screws in a safe place, and group them together so you don't mix them up.
Step 4: Gently flip back the keyboard to lie against the touch pad. Watch out for the cable connecting the keyboard to the motherboard. Don't break this cable. (Notice how I've cleaned the dust from the monitor). You should be able to see the cooling fan on the right hand side. See how dusty it is!
Step 5: Look for a big hole in the middle of the notebook. Remove the screw. Remember to keep the screw in a safe place. I have taken photo from two angles.
Step 6: Remove the metal plate that protects the innards of your notebook from stuff that drops between your keyboard keys. You may want to gently clean any dust you see with a damp cotton bud.
Step 7: You will see the cooling fan being covered by a panel. Remove the three screws covering the panel. Remember to store the screws in a safe place.
Step 8: Remove the cooling fan. Note that the fan's power cable is kept in place with a clip. You may carefully remove the clip. I placed a piece of paper over the keyboard and put the fan on top of the paper.
Step 9: Clean the fan with a damp cotton bud,
cleaning all the accumulated dust
Step 10: Clean the cooling block as well. The layer of accumulated dust actually becomes an insulation layer that prevents heat from dissipating effectively. You have to reach all the way to the back to clean the grill too, since a lot of dust gathers there are blocks the exhaust air flow.
Step 11: This
is how a clean grill should look like
Step 12: Make sure the fan housing is dust
free as well
Step 13: Look
around the rest of the notebook and clean any hair, dust or food crumbs.
Step 14: Eww, look
at all the dust! Step 15: Put everything back, by reversing steps 8 to 2.
|
