Have been awhile since I last written anything. Here is a laptop disassemble guide, the Dell Precision M65. A workstation class notebook built for business purposes 3 years ago. This is quite a fighter I must say. All thanks to HQ and Thomas I am able to disassemble this laptop.

This guide will explain detailed step by step guide on how to dismantle a Dell Precision M65 notebook.

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This guide is made for the purpose of cleaning your laptop.

Advices taken here are taken at your own risk. AhWee.com will be held no responsibility if you break any of the hardware and lose your warranty.

NOTE: Even though Dell said disassembling laptop yourself would lose your warranty, but I haven’t void anybody’s warranty in any possible way yet.

Contents

1. Tools Needed
2. Before You Start
3. Step by Steps
4. Replace RAMs

Tools You Need For Dismantling and Cleaning

1. Philips Screwdriver (M2.5 will do)
2. Flat Blade Screwdriver (usually a test pen)
3. A brush (not too big, about 1 inch in width or smaller)

I usually have 2 Philips screwdrivers, big one for more unscrewing force, small one for less screwing force (so that I don’t spoil the screws), then a test pen for prying up parts and a brush for cleaning.

Before You Start

Here are a few things you’ll need to do before you start disassembling your Dell Precision M65.

1. Clear your Table
   Ensure that you have plenty of space (1 meter square would be great) to put all the components so they won’t go missing or falling off the table.
2. Disconnect all the Cables & Components
   It’s wise to disconnect all usb cables, pendrives, power and HDMI cables.
3. Put Some Cloth or Thin Sponge Under the Laptop
   To make sure that the rough table surface would not scratch your laptop.
4. Remove the Battery
   To remove the battery from your Dell Precision M65, simply grasp on the latch and lift the battery from the handle.
   
5. Ground the Motherboard
   When the battery is removed, simply ground the motherboard by pressing on the power button for a few seconds.
6. Ground your Hands
   Ground your hands by wearing a wrist grounding strap or touching an unpainted metal surface from time to time.

All preparations done. This is one of the easier type of laptop that can be cleaned without removing the motherboard (which is tedious).

Step 1 : Remove The Harddisk

For the sake of your business data stored inside the laptop, I strongly suggest the harddisk to be removed first and placed somewhere safe. Preferably inside an antistatic bag.

1. Remove two screws that secures the harddisk.
2. Pull the harddisk out from its compartment.
   

Step 2 : Remove The Hinge Cover

Removing hinge cover can be a little tricky as the hinge cover can be bent quite easily. You don’t want to bent it too much and break it but you need to apply enough force to snap it out from the palm rest. So be gentle.

1. Open your LCD screen all the way until it is 180 degrees with the base of the laptop.
2. Note the little notch at the right side of the hinge cover.
3. Use your flat blade screwdriver to pry up the hinge cover from the notch.
4. The popping sounds indicates that the edges are disconnected
   

Step 3 : Remove The Keyboard

I like removing keyboards, because they are so easy.

1. Remove all three screws located at the upper side of the keyboard.
2. DO NOT pull your keyboard out yet, the connector is located right behind the keyboard.
3. Slowly lift the keyboard upwards so that you can disconnect the keyboard cable.
   

Step 4 : Remove WLAN Card

1. In case you don’t know where WLAN card is, it is located at the bottom left hand side, beside it is the WWAN slot.
2. Simply disconnect all those antennas. (Don’t worry if you will forget where the antenna go, the WLAN card clearly states that black is right side and white is left side)
3. Spread the securing metals apart to pop up the WLAN card.
4. Remove it from the slot.
5. Don’t forget to unroute the antennas from their routing guides.
   

Step 5 : Remove LCD Screen

1. Turn your laptop upside down and remove 2 screws labeled “D” (for display) at the bottom of the laptop.
2. Turn your laptop topside up and remove 2 screws at the back of the laptop.
   
3. Disconnect the display cable from the motherboard by pulling the blue tag.
4. Unroute all the cables from the routing guides (highlighted) as shown in the figure below.
   
5. Lift the LCD screen up.

Step 6 : Remove The Palm Rest

Tired of looking at the dirty fan but unable to reach it already? This is just one step away and the hardest one.

1. Remove the bluetooth device at the center of the hinge cover.
2. Remove three screws labeled “M2.5X5″ from the top of the palm rest.
3. Disconnect the speaker cable and the touchpad cable located in between the RAM and WWAN.
   
4. Turn your laptop upside down and remove twelve M2.5 x 5-mm screws.
5. Starting from the back of the laptop, slowly disconnect all the edges of the palm rest and the base of the laptop.

Step 7 : Remove The Fan

Finally, the fan.

1. Disconnect the fan’s power cable.
2. Remove two screws securing the fan.
3. Lift the fan from its compartment.
   

Be amazed at how dirty your fan can be.

Extra: How To Replace Dell Precision M65’s RAMs

How to replace DIMM A

The DIMM A of this Dell Precision M65 is located right beneath the keyboard. To reach it you have to follow steps 1 – 3 in order to reach it.

How to replace DIMM B

If you think removing DIMM A is much of a hassle, DIMM B can be reached from the bottom of the laptop.

1. Locate the cover located at the center (bottom view).
2. Remove the cover by loosening the captive screw.
3. DIMM B is located right there.

All Dell built RAMs follow one standard method of removing the RAM

1. Spread the metal clips outward
2. The RAM will pop up ready to be removed
   

That is all for how to disassemble Dell Precision M65. Happy disassembling.

More laptop disassembly guides at the Laptop Disassembly Archive.