Dell Inspiron 15-3531 Motherboard Replacement

Introduction

As laptop motherboards age, they have a chance to fail and may need to be replaced. Make sure the motherboard is at room temperature and not near any hazardous materials that could melt or destroy the motherboard during the removal process.

What you need

Step 1 Battery

Dell Inspiron 15-3531 Motherboard Replacement, Battery: step 1, image 1 of 3

Dell Inspiron 15-3531 Motherboard Replacement, Battery: step 1, image 2 of 3

Dell Inspiron 15-3531 Motherboard Replacement, Battery: step 1, image 3 of 3

Remove the battery to avoid electrical discharge while working with this system.
Flip the laptop over.
Slide the latches toward the edges to unlock the battery.
Lift the battery out of the laptop.

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Step 2 Motherboard

Dell Inspiron 15-3531 Motherboard Replacement, Motherboard: step 2, image 1 of 3

Dell Inspiron 15-3531 Motherboard Replacement, Motherboard: step 2, image 2 of 3

Dell Inspiron 15-3531 Motherboard Replacement, Motherboard: step 2, image 3 of 3

Loosen the two screws on the access panel using the PH1 head screwdriver.
Pry the access panel open with the spudger.

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Step 3

Dell Inspiron 15-3531 Motherboard Replacement: step 3, image 3 of 3

Remove the memory card by pulling apart the latches holding it in place.

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Step 4

Remove the nine 8.65mm screws holding the backplate to the laptop using the PH0 head screwdriver.
Remove the four 1.22 mm screws holding the backplate to the laptop using the PH0 head screwdriver.

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Step 5

Dell Inspiron 15-3531 Motherboard Replacement: step 5, image 3 of 3

Depress (push in, not down) the five tabs at the top of the keyboard and the two on each side of the keyboard using a flat head screwdriver.
Pry the keyboard from the laptop using the spudger.
Be careful when lifting out the keyboard because there is a cable connecting it to the laptop.

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Step 6

Dell Inspiron 15-3531 Motherboard Replacement: step 6, image 3 of 3

Lift the latch holding down the cable using a flat head screwdriver.
Slide the cable out.
This will free the keyboard from the laptop.

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Step 7

Dell Inspiron 15-3531 Motherboard Replacement: step 7, image 3 of 3

Disengage both antenna (black and white) cables by lifting them up using the spudger.
Unscrew the one 8.65 mm screw holding the wireless card.
Remove the wireless card.

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Step 8

Lift the locking tab with the spudger and pull the cable form the locking tab.
Repeat with the second locking tab.

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Step 9

Remove the four 8.65 mm screws underneath the keyboard plate.
Remove the three 1.22 mm small screws underneath the keyboard plate.

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Step 10

Dell Inspiron 15-3531 Motherboard Replacement: step 10, image 3 of 3

Separate the palmrest from the base of the laptop using the spudger to loosen the palmrest along the edges.
Make sure to remove all the screws, especially the inconspicuous 8.65 mm screw next to the hard drive.

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