Dell Inspiron 17-3721 Fan Replacement

Written By: Kevin Prairie (and 3 other contributors)

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Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

15 - 20 minutes

Introduction

It is possible for the cooling fan inside a laptop to become very noisy due to dust, die out, or break all together. This guide will show how to remove and replace the fan of the device.

Tools

Buy these tools

Parts

No parts specified.

Step 1 Keyboard

Use a plastic opening tool or a metal spudger to pry out the tabs on top of the keyboard.

After prying the tabs up, carefully pull the keyboard out of the laptop.

Use a plastic opening tool or a metal spudger to pry out the tabs on top of the keyboard.
After prying the tabs up, carefully pull the keyboard out of the laptop.
Use caution when prying the tabs up or lifting the keyboard up, as the plastic material and the strip on the keyboard can easily break.

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Step 2

Once the keyboard is lifted, locate the release tab.

Using a plastic opening tool or your finger, lift the tab so that it opens .

Once the keyboard is lifted, locate the release tab.
Using a plastic opening tool or your finger, lift the tab so that it opens .
Once the tab is open, the strip on the keyboard can be removed.

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Step 3 Optical Drive

Remove the four 6 mm PH1 Philips head screws under the keyboard.

Carefully pop off the cover using the plastic opening tools and your hands.

Remove the four 6 mm PH1 Philips head screws under the keyboard.
Carefully pop off the cover using the plastic opening tools and your hands.

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Step 4

Remove the 4 mm PH1 Philips head screw holding down the optical drive.

Use your hand to slide the drive out of the device.

Remove the 4 mm PH1 Philips head screw holding down the optical drive.
Use your hand to slide the drive out of the device.

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Step 5 Fan

Remove the seven 6mm PH1 Philips head screws from the motherboard.

Remove the seven 6mm PH1 Philips head screws from the motherboard.
There may be more or less screws in your motherboard as the laptops do vary.

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Step 6

Located on the lower left of the motherboard, disconnect the wire that connects the speaker by pushing it or pulling it away from the white box.

Located on the lower left of the motherboard, disconnect the wire that connects the speaker by pushing it or pulling it away from the white box.

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Step 7

Located on the lower right of the motherboard, flip up the black hatch and remove the ribbon cable by gently tugging it outwards.

Located on the lower right of the motherboard, flip up the black hatch and remove the ribbon cable by gently tugging it outwards.
Ribbon cables are very fragile and can tear easily. Handle with care.

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Step 8

Remove the 4mm PH1 Philips screw to the right of the fan.

Remove the 4mm PH1 Philips screw to the right of the fan.

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Step 9

Remove the 4mm PH1 Philips screw to the top of the fan.

Remove the 4mm PH1 Philips screw to the top of the fan.

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Step 10

Remove the motherboard from the USB sockets to the left by first pulling the motherboard to the right and then flip the motherboard up against the screen.

Remove the motherboard from the USB sockets to the left by first pulling the motherboard to the right and then flip the motherboard up against the screen.

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