Dell Inspiron 5481 User manual

Inspiron 5481
Service Manual
Regulatory Model: P93G
Regulatory Type: P93G001
June 2022
Rev. A02

Notes, cautions, and warnings
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your product.
CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid
the problem.
WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death.
© 2018-2022 Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. All rights reserved. Dell Technologies, Dell, and other trademarks are trademarks of Dell Inc. or its
subsidiaries. Other trademarks may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Chapter 1: Before working inside your computer........................................................................... 8
Before you begin .................................................................................................................................................................8
Chapter 2: After working inside your computer............................................................................. 9
Chapter 3: Safety instructions..................................................................................................... 10
Electrostatic discharge—ESD protection....................................................................................................................10
ESD field service kit .......................................................................................................................................................... 11
Transporting sensitive components...............................................................................................................................12
Chapter 4: Recommended tools................................................................................................... 13
Chapter 5: Screw list................................................................................................................... 14
Chapter 6: Removing the base cover............................................................................................ 16
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................ 16
Chapter 7: Replacing the base cover............................................................................................ 18
Procedure.............................................................................................................................................................................18
Chapter 8: Removing the battery................................................................................................ 20
Prerequisites.......................................................................................................................................................................20
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................20
Chapter 9: Replacing the battery.................................................................................................22
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................22
Post-requisites................................................................................................................................................................... 23
Chapter 10: Removing the coin-cell battery................................................................................. 24
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................24
Chapter 11: Replacing the coin-cell battery................................................................................. 25
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................25
Chapter 12: Removing the memory modules................................................................................ 26
Removing the wireless card............................................................................................................................................26
Prerequisites.................................................................................................................................................................26
Procedure......................................................................................................................................................................26
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................28
Chapter 13: Replacing the memory modules................................................................................ 29
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................29
Replacing the wireless card............................................................................................................................................ 30
Contents
Contents 3

Procedure......................................................................................................................................................................30
Post-requisites..............................................................................................................................................................31
Chapter 14: Removing the solid-state drive/Intel Optane............................................................ 32
Prerequisites.......................................................................................................................................................................32
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................32
Chapter 15: Replacing the solid-state drive/Intel Optane............................................................ 34
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................34
Post-requisites...................................................................................................................................................................35
Procedure to move the screw mount.......................................................................................................................... 35
Chapter 16: Removing the hard drive........................................................................................... 37
Prerequisites....................................................................................................................................................................... 37
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................ 37
Chapter 17: Replacing the hard drive........................................................................................... 39
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................39
Post-requisites...................................................................................................................................................................40
Chapter 18: Removing the heat sink............................................................................................. 41
Prerequisites........................................................................................................................................................................41
Procedure.............................................................................................................................................................................41
Chapter 19: Replacing the heat sink.............................................................................................42
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................42
Post-requisites................................................................................................................................................................... 42
Chapter 20: Removing the fan..................................................................................................... 43
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................43
Chapter 21: Replacing the fan......................................................................................................44
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................44
Chapter 22: Removing the speakers............................................................................................ 45
Prerequisites.......................................................................................................................................................................45
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................45
Chapter 23: Replacing the speakers............................................................................................ 46
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................46
Post-requisites...................................................................................................................................................................46
Chapter 24: Removing the I/O board........................................................................................... 47
Prerequisites....................................................................................................................................................................... 47
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................ 47
Chapter 25: Replacing the I/O board........................................................................................... 48
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................48
4Contents

Post-requisites...................................................................................................................................................................48
Chapter 26: Removing the power-adapter port............................................................................49
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................49
Chapter 27: Replacing the power-adapter port............................................................................50
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................50
Chapter 28: Removing the wireless card...................................................................................... 51
Prerequisites....................................................................................................................................................................... 51
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................ 51
Chapter 29: Replacing the wireless card......................................................................................53
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................53
Post-requisites...................................................................................................................................................................53
Chapter 30: Removing the display assembly................................................................................ 54
Prerequisites.......................................................................................................................................................................54
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................54
Chapter 31: Replacing the display assembly.................................................................................56
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................56
Post-requisites................................................................................................................................................................... 57
Chapter 32: Removing the display back-cover and antenna assembly.......................................... 58
Prerequisites.......................................................................................................................................................................58
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................58
Chapter 33: Replacing the display back-cover and antenna assembly.......................................... 60
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................60
Post-requisites....................................................................................................................................................................61
Chapter 34: Removing the display hinges.................................................................................... 62
Prerequisites.......................................................................................................................................................................62
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................62
Chapter 35: Replacing the display hinges.................................................................................... 63
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................63
Post-requisites...................................................................................................................................................................63
Chapter 36: Removing the camera...............................................................................................64
Prerequisites.......................................................................................................................................................................64
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................64
Chapter 37: Replacing the camera............................................................................................... 65
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................65
Post-requisites...................................................................................................................................................................65
Contents 5

Chapter 38: Removing the display cable...................................................................................... 66
Prerequisites.......................................................................................................................................................................66
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................66
Chapter 39: Replacing the display cable...................................................................................... 67
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................67
Post-requisites................................................................................................................................................................... 67
Chapter 40: Removing the display panel...................................................................................... 68
Prerequisites.......................................................................................................................................................................68
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................68
Chapter 41: Replacing the display panel.......................................................................................69
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................69
Post-requisites...................................................................................................................................................................69
Chapter 42: Removing the system board..................................................................................... 70
Prerequisites.......................................................................................................................................................................70
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................70
Chapter 43: Replacing the system board..................................................................................... 73
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................ 73
Post-requisites................................................................................................................................................................... 75
Chapter 44: Removing the touchpad............................................................................................76
Prerequisites.......................................................................................................................................................................76
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................76
Chapter 45: Replacing the touchpad............................................................................................78
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................ 78
Post-requisites................................................................................................................................................................... 79
Chapter 46: Removing the palm-rest and keyboard assembly...................................................... 80
Prerequisites.......................................................................................................................................................................80
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................80
Chapter 47: Replacing the palm-rest and keyboard assembly.......................................................82
Procedure............................................................................................................................................................................82
Post-requisites...................................................................................................................................................................82
Chapter 48: Device drivers.......................................................................................................... 84
Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility....................................................................................................................84
Video drivers.......................................................................................................................................................................84
Intel Serial IO driver.......................................................................................................................................................... 84
Intel Serial IO driver.......................................................................................................................................................... 84
Intel Trusted Execution Engine Interface.................................................................................................................... 84
Intel Virtual Button driver................................................................................................................................................84
6Contents

Wireless and Bluetooth drivers...................................................................................................................................... 84
Chapter 49: System setup........................................................................................................... 85
Boot Sequence...................................................................................................................................................................85
Navigation keys..................................................................................................................................................................85
System setup..................................................................................................................................................................... 85
Entering BIOS setup program........................................................................................................................................ 86
System setup options.......................................................................................................................................................86
Clearing CMOS settings.................................................................................................................................................. 90
Clearing BIOS (System Setup) and System passwords........................................................................................... 91
Chapter 50: Troubleshooting....................................................................................................... 92
Updating the BIOS in Windows......................................................................................................................................92
Updating the BIOS using the USB drive in Windows............................................................................................... 92
Dell SupportAssist Pre-boot System Performance Check diagnostics................................................................92
Running the SupportAssist Pre-Boot System Performance Check................................................................93
Diagnostics..........................................................................................................................................................................93
Enabling Intel Optane memory....................................................................................................................................... 94
Disabling Intel Optane memory...................................................................................................................................... 94
WiFi power cycle............................................................................................................................................................... 94
Flea power release............................................................................................................................................................ 95
Chapter 51: Getting help and contacting Dell...............................................................................96
Contents 7

Before working inside your computer
NOTE: The images in this document may differ from your computer depending on the configuration you ordered.
Before you begin
1. Save and close all open files and exit all open applications.
2. Shut down your computer. Click Start > Power > Shut down.
NOTE: If you are using a different operating system, see the documentation of your operating system for shut-down
instructions.
3. Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets.
4. Disconnect all attached network devices and peripherals, such as keyboard, mouse, and monitor from your computer.
5. Remove any media card and optical disc from your computer, if applicable.
1
8 Before working inside your computer

After working inside your computer
CAUTION: Leaving stray or loose screws inside your computer may severely damage your computer.
1. Replace all screws and ensure that no stray screws remain inside your computer.
2. Connect any external devices, peripherals, or cables you removed before working on your computer.
3. Replace any media cards, discs, or any other parts that you removed before working on your computer.
4. Connect your computer and all attached devices to their electrical outlets.
5. Turn on your computer.
2
After working inside your computer 9

Safety instructions
Use the following safety guidelines to protect your computer from potential damage and to ensure your personal safety. Unless
otherwise noted, each procedure included in this document assumes that you have read the safety information that shipped
with your computer.
WARNING: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that is shipped with your
computer. For more safety best practices, see the Regulatory Compliance home page at www.dell.com/
regulatory_compliance.
WARNING: Disconnect your computer from all power sources before opening the computer cover or panels.
After you finish working inside the computer, replace all covers, panels, and screws before connecting your
computer to an electrical outlet.
CAUTION: To avoid damaging the computer, ensure that the work surface is flat, dry, and clean.
CAUTION: To avoid damaging the components and cards, handle them by their edges, and avoid touching the
pins and the contacts.
CAUTION: You should only perform troubleshooting and repairs as authorized or directed by the Dell technical
assistance team. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your warranty. See the
safety instructions that is shipped with the product or at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
CAUTION: Before touching anything inside your computer, ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal
surface, such as the metal at the back of the computer. While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal
surface to dissipate static electricity which could harm internal components.
CAUTION: When you disconnect a cable, pull it by its connector or its pull tab, not the cable itself. Some cables
have connectors with locking tabs or thumbscrews that you must disengage before disconnecting the cable.
When disconnecting cables, keep them evenly aligned to avoid bending the connector pins. When connecting
cables, ensure that the ports and the connectors are correctly oriented and aligned.
CAUTION: Press and eject any installed card from the media-card reader.
CAUTION: Exercise caution when handling Lithium-ion batteries in laptops. Swollen batteries should not be used
and should be replaced and disposed properly.
NOTE: The color of your computer and certain components may appear differently than shown in this document.
Electrostatic discharge—ESD protection
ESD is a major concern when you handle electronic components, especially sensitive components such as expansion cards,
processors, memory DIMMs, and system boards. Very slight charges can damage circuits in ways that may not be obvious, such
as intermittent problems or a shortened product life span. As the industry pushes for lower power requirements and increased
density, ESD protection is an increasing concern.
Due to the increased density of semiconductors used in recent Dell products, the sensitivity to static damage is now higher than
in previous Dell products. For this reason, some previously approved methods of handling parts are no longer applicable.
Two recognized types of ESD damage are catastrophic and intermittent failures.
●Catastrophic – Catastrophic failures represent approximately 20 percent of ESD-related failures. The damage causes
an immediate and complete loss of device functionality. An example of catastrophic failure is a memory DIMM that has
received a static shock and immediately generates a "No POST/No Video" symptom with a beep code emitted for missing or
nonfunctional memory.
3
10 Safety instructions