Dell Inspiron 7500 Removing And Replacing Parts Manual

							support.dell.comRemoving and Replacing Parts 33
This procedure assumes that you have removed the keyboard, thermal shield, and dis-
play assembly. To remove the palmrest assembly (see Figures 22 and 23), perform 
the following steps:
1. Remove the left and right hinge saddle extensions.
2. Remove the two 4-mm screws from the top inside of the combo bay.
3. Remove the two 4-mm screws from the top inside of the MegaBay.
4. Remove the two 4-mm screws from the top inside of the hard-disk drive bay.
5. Turn the unit back over.
6. Remove the three 6-mm screws from the top of the base assembly, along the 
back edge.
7. Remove the 6-mm screw from the DC-DC board.
8. Remove the 4-mm screw and the washer securing the grounding strap to the PC 
Card heat shield.
9. Disconnect the speaker wire harness from connector JP18 on the left side of the 
system board.
This wire harness also contains wiring for the touch pad and the touch pad 
buttons.
10. Disconnect the light-emitting diode (LED) cable from connector JP10 on the sys-
tem board.
11. Remove the palmrest assembly from the base assembly.
Start at the back right of the computer and move for ward around the computer. 
Carefully lift the palmrest assembly up and pull it for ward to unsnap the hidden 
tabs spaced around the sides and along the top of the MegaBay and media bay. 6Hard-disk drive bay
74-mm screws (6)
8Combo bay
9Base assembly
10Connector for speaker wiring harness
11Palmrest assembly
12Speaker wiring harness and grounding strap
13Washer
144-mm screw 
						

							34 Dell Inspiron 7500 — Removing and Replacing Parts
When replacing the palmrest assembly, orient the assembly in its original position on 
the base assembly and press firmly near each tab until the palmrest assembly snaps 
into place. Start at the front to align those tabs first. Make sure that all the tabs are 
aligned.
Palmrest Assembly Component Removal
IR Board Removal
Figure 25.  IR Board Components
This procedure assumes that you have removed the palmrest assembly from the base 
assembly. To remove the IR board (see Figure 24), perform the following steps:
1. Remove the two 4-mm screws securing the IR board.
2. Disconnect the IR cable from connector JP2 on the IR board.
3. Remove the IR board.1IR cable
24-mm screws (2)
3IR board 
						

							support.dell.comRemoving and Replacing Parts 35
Touch Pad Assembly Removal
Figure 26.  Touch Pad
Figure 27.  Touch Pad Assembly Components
1Touch pad bracket
24-mm screws (4) 
						

							36 Dell Inspiron 7500 — Removing and Replacing Parts
This procedure assumes that you have removed the palmrest assembly from the base 
assembly and that you have removed the hard-disk drive heat shield. To remove the 
touch pad assembly (see Figures 25 and 26), perform the following steps:
1. Remove the three 4-mm screws securing the touch pad button board.
2. Disconnect the two speaker cables from connectors JP5 and JP3 on the touch 
pad button board.
3. Disconnect the speaker wire harness from connector JP1 on the touch pad 
button board.
NOTICE: Lift away the cable only after you open the ZIF connector. Pulling 
the cable from the connector damages the conductive coating on the end of 
the cable.
4. Disconnect the touch pad flex cable from ZIF connector JP4 on the touch pad 
button board. Use the pick to pr y up the latches on each side of the connector.
NOTICE: Lift away the cable only after you open the ZIF connector. Pulling 
the cable from the connector damages the conductive coating on the end of 
the cable.
5. Disconnect the touch pad flex cable from ZIF connector J1 on the touch pad. Use 
the pick to pr y up the brown center piece on the connector.
6. Remove the touch pad button board.
7. Remove the four 4-mm screws securing the touch pad bracket.
8. Remove the touch pad bracket.
9. Remove the touch pad.
The touch pad buttons are heat-staked into the palmrest assembly and are not 
removable. 3Touch pad flex cable
4ZIF connector
54-mm screws (3)
6Touch pad button board
7Touch pad 
						

							support.dell.comRemoving and Replacing Parts 37
Hard-Disk Drive Heat Shield Removal
Figure 28.  Hard-Disk Drive Heat Shield Components
This procedure assumes that you have removed the palmrest assembly from the base 
assembly. To remove the hard-disk drive heat shield (see Figure 27), perform the fol-
lowing steps:
1. Place the palmrest assembly face down.
2. Remove the five 4-mm screws securing the hard-disk drive heat shield.
3. Remove the hard-disk drive heat shield.14-mm screws (5)
2Hard-disk drive heat shield 
						

							38 Dell Inspiron 7500 — Removing and Replacing Parts
Speaker Removal
Figure 29.  Speaker Components
This procedure assumes that you have removed the palmrest assembly from the base 
assembly and that you have removed the hard-disk drive heat shield and touch pad 
assembly. To remove the speakers (see Figure 28), perform the following steps:
1. Remove any tape securing the speaker cables.
2. Remove the three 4-mm screws securing the left speaker cover.
NOTE: Before removing the speaker cables and wire harness, be sure to note their 
routing through the slots and pins so you can correctly reinstall the components.
3. Remove the left speaker cover, speaker, and speaker cable.1Right speaker
2Right speaker cover
3Speaker cables (2)
44-mm screws (5)
5Left speaker cover
6Left speaker
7Speaker wiring harness
8Display latch 
						

							support.dell.comRemoving and Replacing Parts 39
4. Remove the speaker wire harness.
5. Remove the two 4-mm screws securing the right speaker cover.
6. Remove the right speaker cover, speaker, and speaker cable.
The display latch is no longer secured by the speaker covers. Be careful not to 
lose the spring.
7. Remove the display latch and spring.
To replace the speaker, resolder the speaker cable to the new speaker.
When reinstalling the speakers, be especially careful to route the speaker cables and 
speaker wire harness through the appropriate slots and pins.
PC Card Heat Sink Removal
Figure 30.  PC Card Heat Sink Components
1PC card heat sink
24-mm screws (2) 
						

							40 Dell Inspiron 7500 — Removing and Replacing Parts
To remove the PC Card heat sink (see Figure 29), perform the following steps:
1. Remove the two 4-mm screws securing the PC Card heat sink.
2. Remove the heat sink.
DC-DC Board Removal
Figure 31.  DC-DC Board
To remove the DC-DC board (see Figure 30), gently pull the DC-DC board off of con-
nectors JP11 and JP16 on the system board. Do not rock the board to remove it, 
because this may damage the connectors. 1DC-DC board 
						

							support.dell.comRemoving and Replacing Parts 41
Hinge Saddle Removal
Figure 32.  Hinge Saddle Components
14-mm screws
24-mm screws
36-mm screw (1)
420-mm screws (2)
510 - m m  s c r e w s
6Right hinge saddle
7LED cable
8Plastic frame
9Left hinge saddle 
						

							42 Dell Inspiron 7500 — Removing and Replacing Parts
This procedure assumes that you have removed the PC Card heat sink. To remove the 
hinge saddles (see Figure 31), perform the following steps:
1. Remove the four 4-mm screws from the top of the left and right hinge saddles.
2. Remove the four 4-mm screws from the back of the computer above the ports.
3. Remove the 10-mm screw and 20-mm screw from the right hinge saddle and 
remove the saddle.
4. Remove the 10-mm screw and 20-mm screw from the left hinge saddle and 
remove the saddle.
5. Disconnect the LED cable from connector J6 on the system board.
6. Remove the 6-mm screw from the plastic frame, remove any tape, and remove 
the plastic frame.
RJ-11 Card Removal
Figure 33.  RJ-11 Card Components 
14-mm screw
2RJ-11 card