Dell Vostro 3450 System Fan Replacement

Schritt 1

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

Schritt 2

Slide the battery and remove it from the computer.

Schritt 3

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

Schritt 7

Pull up the keyboard from the palm rest.

Schritt 8

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.

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

fernandolordao - 29/11/18

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 - 28/05/20

Schritt 9

Loosen the screw that secures the memory door.

Schritt 10

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.

Schritt 11

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

Schritt 12

Gently pry the optical drive out of the computer.

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

fernandolordao - 29/11/18

Schritt 13

Remove the screws that secure the optical drive bracket.

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

BorpoIT - 28/05/20

Schritt 14

Remove the optical drive bracket from the optical drive module.

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

BorpoIT - 28/05/20

Schritt 15

Remove the screws in the battery compartment.

Schritt 16

Remove the screws in the optical drive compartment.

Schritt 17

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

Schritt 18

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

Schritt 19

Remove all the screws from the bottom base.

Schritt 20

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

Schritt 21

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

Schritt 22

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

Schritt 23

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

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 - 28/05/20

Schritt 25

Pry up the left side of the palm rest.

Schritt 26

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.

Schritt 27

Remove the screws that secure the hinge cover.

You can skip this step, and others related to removing the display, because removing the display isn’t strictly necessary.

Con of removing the display:

o It takes time

Pros of removing the display:

o It makes it a little easier to remove the VGA card

o The computer will tip with the weight of the display when you remove other components.

BorpoIT - 17/10/19

Schritt 28

Press down on the hooks highlighted in the image.

Schritt 29

Flip the computer around and remove the hinge cover from the side.
If this is all you are doing Follow Step In Reverse if not Go to Next Step.

Schritt 30

Remove the screws that secure the display hinge.

Schritt 31

Loosen the screw that secures the low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS) cable.

Schritt 32

Disconnect the LVDS cable from the system board.

By pulling it upwards?

jeffreychc - 19/05/20

Indeed, pull straight up using the integrated handle on the connector. It required more force than I expected, and popped off suddenly once I pulled hard enough.

BorpoIT - 28/05/20

Schritt 33

Disconnect the wireless local area network (WLAN) antenna cable.

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

BorpoIT - 17/10/19

Schritt 34

Remove the screws that secure the left hinge.

Schritt 35

Remove the screws that secure the right hinge.

Schritt 36

Lift the display assembly and remove it from the computer.
If this is all you are doing Follow Step In Reverse if not Go to Next Step.

Schritt 37

Release the latch on the system board and then disconnect the VGA cable.

Schritt 38

Remove the screw that secures the VGA board.

Schritt 39

Remove the VGA board from the chassis.
If this is all you are doing Follow Step In Reverse if not Go to Next Step.

If you decided to leave the display in place, you can just loosen the screw on the VGA board, and leave the board itself where it is. The board blocks access to a screw securing the system fan, but once you’ve removed the screw from the VGA board you can just push the VGA board out of the way and remove the system fan screw. Of course, this means the VGA board can move around while you’re working on the rest of the computer, but I didn’t find that was a big problem. You could temporarily reinstall the VGA board screw after you’ve removed the system fan.

BorpoIT - 28/05/20