Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23

Geschrieben von: Schwarzer

Kommentare: 8

Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Moderate

Schritte

Zeitaufwand

1 Stunde

Einleitung

There you go! There you go! You have just spilled your glass of Johnnie Walker Black Label on the keyboard of your Dell XPS 12 9Q23 and it no longer works...

What a pity (especially for whisky), but luck is with you, this tutorial will guide you step by step to make the replacement.

PS: This tutorial also works for other drinks spilling on the keyboard or simply to clean them up.)

Werkzeuge

Mako Driver Kit - 64 Precision Bits

Schritt 1

Pop the center cover open on the bottom cover.
Remove the center screw with a #00 Phillips screwdriver.
Use a T5 Torx screwdriver for the remaining screws around the edge of the bottom cover.

Schritt 2

Carefully remove back panel after all screws have been removed.

I suggest sliding an opening tool along the front of the case first to pop the plastic snaps holding the cover to the bottom of the laptop. The snaps near the hinges are the most challenging. It is also important, when following these directions in reverse order, to fit the right side of the case over the sliding power switch before applying downward pressure required to snap the case bottom back into place. Wouldn’t want to break your power switch.

Jeremy Tilden - 21/03/19

Schritt 3

After the back panel has been removed, disconnect the battery to prevent electrical shock

Schritt 4

Use a Phillips #00 screwdriver to remove the 8 screws that secure the battery.

Schritt 5

Once all the screws have been removed the battery is now safe to extract

Schritt 6

Caution: Ensure your laptop has been powered down.
Close the laptop, flip the laptop over, and pop off the back small panel with a flathead screwdriver. The panel will be hanging by the hinges once open.

I think the first image should be the top image, the view most recognizable and "normal."

Then say, turn over the tablet/laptop.

How do you "pop open the back panel"? Do you suggest using a spudger or is there a button or a release of some sort?

For the second image, I'd use the one in Step 2, only without the red circles on the screws.

lkmemphis - 26/04/17

Schritt 7

Use a T5 Torx screwdriver to remove the screws along the edge of the bottom cover.
Use a magnetic board if possible to keep track of screws.
Open the center cover and use a Phillips #00 screwdriver to remove single screw.

Unscrew what?

Unscrew the back cover using...

What happens to that panel you popped open in Step 1? Does it just hang there or does it come off when you lift off the back cover?

I think iFixit likes to have the screw identified. What size and length?

lkmemphis - 26/04/17

Schritt 8

Carefully remove the back cover.

Schritt 9

Caution: Be mindful of static electric charge across the battery port. Usage of an antistatic strap is recommended but not required.
Disconnect the battery to prevent electrical shock.
If battery replacement is desired then the battery may be removed at this point via removal of the battery's perimeter screws.

Schritt 10

Disconnect yellow-colored ribbon cable from its port which sits at the bottom left of the fan housing.

Schritt 11

Dislodge the CMOS battery.
Unplug CMOS cable.
This step is not completely necessary, it allows extra room to maneuver the fan in and out during replacement.

Schritt 12

Use a Phillips #00 screwdriver to loosen the screws that secure the heat sink's heat spreader.
Screws cannot be fully removed from heatsink.

What is the heatsink?

lkmemphis - 26/04/17

Schritt 13

Grip the heat sink from the sides and carefully lift it up to remove it.
Heatsink is a device used for absorbing heat and necessary to remove to reach the fan.
At this time there will be a whitish powder between the heatsink and the CPU. This powder below the heat spreader is degraded thermal paste. DO NOT wipe away this powder unless the thermal paste will be replaced upon reassembly.

If the screws cannot be fully unscrewed, then are you really removing the heatsink or loosening it and setting it aside?

lkmemphis - 26/04/17

Schritt 14

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two cooling fan screws.

What is the amber connector that is now loose?

lkmemphis - 26/04/17

Schritt 15

Unplug the fan cable.

Where does the fan cable plug into the fan? I see the cable, I think, but I don't know what part of the fan was connected to it.

lkmemphis - 26/04/17

Schritt 16

The cooling fan can now be removed and a new one can be installed.

...and a new fan installed/plugged in.

lkmemphis - 26/04/17

Schritt 17

Unplug the trackpad cable.

Schritt 18

Insert wisdom here.

Schritt 19

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the 4 trackpad screws.

Schritt 20

Remove the trackpad.

Schritt 21

We removed the battery to avoid electric shocks.
Disconnect the two wires from the WiFi card. You can do this with a pair of pliers or your fingernail.
Remove the screw with a #00 Phillips screwdriver.
Now remove your WiFi card to replace it.

Schritt 22

We removed the battery to avoid electric shocks.
Remove the adhesive tape.

Schritt 23

Remove the screw with a #00 Phillips screwdriver.
Remove the hard disk from its location.

Schritt 24

We removed the battery to avoid electric shocks. The hard disk, WiFi card and fan have also been removed.
Remove the connector with a pair of pliers or your fingernail.
Remove the screws with a #00 Phillips screwdriver.
Remove the card afterwards.

Schritt 25

Disconnect the various connections from the motherboard.
Remove the screws with a #00 Phillips screwdriver.
Carefully turn the motherboard over to disconnect the tablecloth from the keyboard.
You can now replace the motherboard.

Schritt 26

We removed the battery to avoid electric shocks. The hard disk, WiFi card, fan, touchpad and motherboard have also been removed.
Remove the screw with a #00 Phillips screwdriver and remove the bracket.
Remove the screw with a #00 Phillips screwdriver and remove the support.
Be patient and unscrew the 24 keyboard screws.