Dell Inspiron 16 5000 Keyboard Replacement
Complete guide to Dell Inspiron 16 5000 keyboard replacement. Cost estimates, difficulty level, time required, and environmental impact.
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💰 Cost Breakdown
💡 Tip: Costs vary by location and repair shop. Authorized service centers typically charge more than independent repair shops.
🔧 Repair Overview
Keyboard Replacement is one of the most common repairs for Dell Inspiron 16 5000. This repair involves replacing the damaged input component with a new or refurbished part. The process typically takes 2-4 hours and requires difficult skill level.
🔧 Required Tools
What You'll Need
- Replacement input part (OEM or aftermarket)
- Precision screwdriver set (Phillips #000 or pentalobe)
- Opening tools (plastic spudger, suction cup)
- Adhesive strips or glue
- Clean workspace with good lighting
Step-by-Step Process
Step 1: Removing the battery
The first thing is to remove the battery as you would in any repair of a laptop. This repair was done by Perry's Computer Repair in Ocean View, DE.
This repair was done because water was spilled on the laptop and it did not boot. Best guess was that the system board was not functioning. Picture shows system board which is our objective to replace.
Step 2: Removing the base cover
Removing the base cover: Using a plastic scribe, pry up the base cover on the back of the laptop starting from the inner edge, and lift it off the computer base. You will see the hard drive and RAM. First picture shows hard drive and second picture shows RAM.
Step 3: Removing the Hard Drive
There are four screws to remove the hard drive bracket. Then you can detach the hard drive from its cable or you can remove the cable first and then the bracket.
Step 4: Removing the RAM
Remove the RAM by lifting up the bracket. RAM is subject to static electricity. So use a wrist band.
Step 5: Removing the wireless card
Remove the screw that secures the wireless-card bracket and the wireless card to the system board. Lift the wireless-card bracket off the wireless card.
Disconnect the antenna cables from the wireless card, remembering the white and black cable locations. White cable is circled in third picture. Their location is noted on the white label on the card.
Step 6: Removing the keyboard
Using a plastic scribe, gently release the tabs that secure the keyboard to the palm-rest assembly. Start at the upper right of the key board.
Carefully turn the keyboard over and place it on the palm-rest assembly. Gently lift the black latches and disconnect the keyboard cable and keyboard-backlight cable if it has one, from the system board as in picture 2.
Step 7: Removing the optical drive
Turn the computer on its back and remove the screw that secures the optical-drive assembly to the computer base. Turn the computer over and open the display. Using a plastic scribe, push the optical-drive assembly out of the optical-drive bay.
Pull the optical-drive assembly out of the optical-drive bay. See the second picture and note the hook where the drive hooks into the laptop.
Step 8: Removing the laptop base
Lift the latch and disconnect the optical-drive cable from the system board. See first picture with blue circle.
Remove 15 screws that secure the computer base to the palm-rest assembly.
Close the display and turn the computer over. Disconnect the speaker cable which is next to RAM chip from the system board. See second picture with blue circle. Remove the antenna cables from the routing guides on the computer base.
Using your fingertips, starting from the rear, pry the computer base off the palm-rest assembly. Ensure the antenna cables from wireless card are completely removed from the routing guides on the computer base.
Turn the computer base over. Remove the optical-drive interposer.
Step 9: Removing the I/O board
Lift the latch and disconnect the I/O-board cable from the system board or the I/O board.
Step 10: Removing the fan and heat sink
Disconnect the fan cable from the system board at left in picture. In sequential order, as indicated on the heat-sink assembly, loosen the three captive screws that secure the heat-sink assembly to the system board. Remove the screws that secure the heat-sink assembly to the system and lift off.
Step 11: Removing the system board
Turn the computer over and open the display as far as possible. Lift the connector latches and disconnect the power-button board cable top right and the touchpad cable lower left from the system board. See picture.
Close the display and turn the computer over. Lift the latch and disconnect the display cable at top of the system board. See picture. Remove the screw that secures the system board to the palm-rest assembly.
Peel the I/O board cable off the palm-rest assembly and disconnect from system board. See third picture.
Step 12: Removing the system board continued
Carefully lift the system board from the inner edge to release the system board from the system-board connector on the palm-rest assembly.
Turn the system board over and Disconnect the power-adapter port cable in picture from the system board. Note corrosion on the cable which was done by water.
Lift the latch and disconnect the I/O-board cable from the system board.
This Dell Inspiron has the CPU integrated with the system board. See picture. Be aware of this if you are replacing the system board which will cost you $649. 99 from Dell. The cost of this laptop is $699. By the time you read this costs might be down, but be aware of this pitfall.
This concludes my discussion of this laptop. Other parts of the laptop were not included.
📖 Repair guide provided by iFixit - The free repair manual. Licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0.
iFixit Difficulty: Difficult | Time: NaNh NaNm
DIY vs Professional Repair
✋ DIY Repair
- ✅ Lower cost (parts only: $120-$360)
- ✅ Learn new skills
- ❌ Risk of further damage
- ❌ No warranty
- ❌ Requires tools and time
🔧 Professional Repair
- ✅ Expert installation
- ✅ Warranty included
- ✅ Faster turnaround
- ❌ Higher cost ($200-$600)
- ❌ Need to find reputable shop
Environmental Impact
By choosing to repair your Dell Inspiron 16 5000 instead of replacing it, you're preventing approximately 235 kg of CO₂ emissions. Manufacturing a new Dell Inspiron 16 5000 generates 250 kg of CO₂, while this repair only produces about 15 kg of CO₂. That's a 94% reduction in carbon emissions!
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