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Dell Vostro 3450 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card Replacement

Introduction

In this guide, we will be showing you how to remove and replace the Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card.

What you need

  1. Dell Vostro 3450 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card Replacement, Unlocking the Battery: step 1, image 1 of 1

    • Slide the left and the right battery release latches to the unlock position.

    Edit

  2. Dell Vostro 3450 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card Replacement, Removing the Battery: step 2, image 1 of 1

    • Slide the battery and remove it from the computer.

    Edit

  3. Dell Vostro 3450 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card Replacement, Prying the Keyboard: step 3, image 1 of 1

    • Press the keyboard down. Pry the keyboard with the use of a flat-head screwdriver towards the display to reveal the first keyboard retainer.

    Edit

  4. Dell Vostro 3450 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card Replacement, Prying the Keyboard retainer: step 4, image 1 of 1

    • Pry up the second keyboard retainer.

    Edit

  5. Dell Vostro 3450 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card Replacement, Pry up the Keyboard Retainer: step 5, image 1 of 1

    • Pry up the third keyboard retainer.

    Edit

  6. Dell Vostro 3450 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card Replacement, Prying the Retainer: step 6, image 1 of 1

    • Pry up the fourth keyboard retainer.

    Edit

  7. Dell Vostro 3450 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card Replacement, Pull up the Keyboard: step 7, image 1 of 1

    • Pull up the keyboard from the palm rest.

    Edit

  8. Dell Vostro 3450 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card Replacement, Release the Latch: step 8, image 1 of 1

    • Release the latch on the system board connector, then disconnect the keyboard cable.

    • If this is all you are doing Follow Step In Reverse if not Go to Next Step.

    Edit

    It is also required to loose the screw just beside the latch mentioned in this step.

    fernandolordao - Reply

    These (and Dell’s) instructions don’t mention that you have to disconnect a second keyboard cable. It’s a 4 pin ZIF connector, you can see it in the picture above, already disconnected.

    BorpoIT - Reply

  9. Dell Vostro 3450 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card Replacement, Loosen the Screw: step 9, image 1 of 1

    • Loosen the screw that secures the memory door.

    Edit

  10. Dell Vostro 3450 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card Replacement, Removing the Memory Door: step 10, image 1 of 1

    • Pry up the memory door near the screw hole, lift and remove it.

    • If this is all you are doing Follow Step In Reverse if not Go to Next Step.

    Edit

  12. Dell Vostro 3450 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card Replacement, Remove the Screw: step 11, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the screw that secures the optical drive to the computer.

    Edit

  13. Dell Vostro 3450 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card Replacement, Prying the Drive: step 12, image 1 of 1

    • Gently pry the optical drive out of the computer.

    Edit

    Make sure you have loosen the screw beside the keyboard cable latch, mentioned in the comments of Step 8.

    fernandolordao - Reply

  14. Dell Vostro 3450 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card Replacement, Remove the Screws: step 13, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the screws that secure the optical drive bracket.

    Edit

    You can skip this step when replacing the HDD, it isn’t necessary at all.

    BorpoIT - Reply

  15. Dell Vostro 3450 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card Replacement, Removing the Optical Drive: step 14, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the optical drive bracket from the optical drive module.

    Edit

    You can skip this step when replacing the HDD, it isn’t necessary at all.

    BorpoIT - Reply

  16. Dell Vostro 3450 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card Replacement, Remove the Screws: step 15, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the screws in the battery compartment.

    Edit

  17. Dell Vostro 3450 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card Replacement, Remove the Screws: step 16, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the screws in the optical drive compartment.

    Edit

  18. Dell Vostro 3450 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card Replacement, Remove the Rubber: step 17, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the rubber from the bottom base on the right side.

    Edit

  19. Dell Vostro 3450 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card Replacement, Remove the Rubber: step 18, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the rubber from the bottom base on the left side.

    Edit

  20. Dell Vostro 3450 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card Replacement, Remove the Screws: step 19, image 1 of 1

    • Remove all the screws from the bottom base.

    Edit

  21. Dell Vostro 3450 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card Replacement, Remove the Screws: step 20, image 1 of 1

    • Flip the computer around and remove the screws that secures the palm rest.

    Edit

  22. Dell Vostro 3450 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card Replacement, Release the Latches: step 21, image 1 of 1

    • Release the latches on the system board connector, then disconnect the touch pad cable and the finger printer cable.

    Edit

  23. Dell Vostro 3450 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card Replacement, Release the Latch: step 22, image 1 of 1

    • Release the latch on the system board connector and then disconnect the power button cable.

    Edit

  24. Dell Vostro 3450 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card Replacement, Disconnecting the Key Cable: step 23, image 1 of 1

    • Release the latch on the system board connector and then disconnect the hot key cable.

    Edit

  25. Dell Vostro 3450 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card Replacement, Prying the Palm Rest: step 24, image 1 of 1

    • Pry up the right side of the palm rest.

    Edit

    There are a couple of latches on the front of the palm rest which should be released before you move on to the sides. I think one of those latches is released in the picture above. The iFixit opening tool was helpful here, and I used some of the iFixit opening picks to stop the corner latches from closing while I worked on others.

    BorpoIT - Reply

  26. Dell Vostro 3450 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card Replacement, Prying the Palm Rest: step 25, image 1 of 1

    • Pry up the left side of the palm rest.

    Edit

  27. Dell Vostro 3450 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card Replacement, Prying the Sides: step 26, image 1 of 1

    • Pry up the sides of the palm rest and remove it from the computer.

    • If this is all you are doing Follow Step In Reverse if not Go to Next Step.

    Edit

  28. Dell Vostro 3450 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card Replacement, Remove the Screw: step 27, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the screw that secures the WLAN card.

    Edit

    You can skip this step if you decide not to remove the display.

    BorpoIT - Reply

  29. Dell Vostro 3450 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Card Replacement, Pull the Card: step 28, image 1 of 1

    • Pull the WLAN card straight out of its socket and remove it.

    • If this is all you are doing Follow Step In Reverse if not Go to Next Step.

    Edit

    You can skip this step, it isn’t strictly necessary.

    Cons of removing the WLAN card:

    o I found the screw in the last step very stubborn, worried about stripping it.

    o Takes time.

    Pros of removing the WLAN card:

    o Might make disconnecting the system board a little easier later. I had no trouble with the WLAN card in place though.

    BorpoIT - Reply

Finish Line

3 other people completed this guide.

Author

with 2 other contributors

Johnathan Hammond

Member since: 02/28/18

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One Comment

Thank you so much. It is very helpful!

-Anosh

Anosh Shrestha - Reply

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