When your Dell Latitude 7490 laptop starts acting up, it can be frustrating. But before you give up and take it to a professional, there are a few things you can try to fix it yourself. One common issue is a faulty battery, which can be easily replaced. Another common issue is a clogged fan, which can be cleaned with a can of compressed air. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, you can even try to replace the hard drive or the RAM.
In this article, we’ll show you how to take apart your Dell Latitude 7490 laptop so that you can perform these repairs yourself. We’ll provide step-by-step instructions with clear photos, so that even beginners can follow along.
Before you begin, make sure to power down your laptop and unplug it from any power sources. You should also remove any external devices, such as a USB drive or a mouse. Once you’ve done that, you’re ready to start taking apart your laptop.
Essential Tools and Precautions
Before embarking on the disassembly of your Dell Latitude 7490, it is crucial to gather the appropriate tools and observe necessary precautions to ensure a successful and safe procedure. Here’s a comprehensive list of what you’ll need and the precautions to take:
Essential Tools:
To disassemble the Dell Latitude 7490, you will require the following tools:
| Essential Tools |
|---|
| Anti-static wrist strap |
| Precision screwdriver set (Phillips #00 and Torx T5) |
| Plastic spudger or pry tool |
| Tweezers |
| Magnetic mat or tray |
| ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) bag (optional) |
Precautions:
To minimize the risk of damage to your laptop or injury to yourself, please adhere to the following precautions:
- Ground yourself: Wear an anti-static wrist strap or touch a grounded metal object before handling the laptop to prevent electrostatic discharge (ESD).
- Power down and disconnect: Ensure that your laptop is turned off and all cables are disconnected before starting disassembly.
- Work on a clean, flat surface: Choose a well-lit and clutter-free workspace to avoid accidental spills or loss of small components.
- Avoid excessive force: Use gentle force when removing components to prevent damage. If you encounter resistance, reassess the situation and identify the cause.
- Keep track of screws: Place screws in a magnetic mat or tray and keep track of their original locations to ensure proper reassembly.
Preparing the Laptop
Before commencing the disassembly process, ensure the laptop is powered down and all external peripherals are disconnected. Place the laptop upside down on a clean and stable surface. Locate the six screws securing the base cover and remove them using a Phillips #00 screwdriver.
Lifting the Base Cover
Once the screws are removed, carefully lift the base cover by inserting a plastic pry tool or your fingernails into the seam along the edge. Use caution to avoid damaging the plastic clips holding the cover in place. Gently lift the cover until it is completely separated from the laptop chassis.
Caution: Handle the base cover with care to prevent damage to the internal components, such as the battery or cooling fan.
Note: The base cover may contain additional tabs or clips that require gentle maneuvering to release. Use a plastic pry tool to safely disengage any remaining clips.
Removing External Components
Before disassembling the internal components of the Dell Latitude 7490, it is crucial to remove all external components to ensure safety and prevent damage.
Step 1: Detach the Power Cord
Locate the power cord connected to the laptop and gently unplug it from the power source. Always hold the plug, not the cord, to avoid damaging the wires.
Step 2: Remove the Battery
Slide the battery release latch located on the bottom of the laptop. Hold the battery firmly and slide it out of its compartment.
Step 3: Remove the SIM Card and microSD Card (if applicable)
- Locate the SIM card slot on the side of the laptop and insert a SIM ejector tool (or a paperclip). Press down gently to eject the SIM card.
- If the laptop has a microSD card slot, insert a microSD card ejector tool (or a paperclip) and press down gently to eject the microSD card.
| Component | Location | Removal Method |
|---|---|---|
| Power Cord | Back of laptop | Unplug from power source |
| Battery | Bottom of laptop | Slide release latch and slide out battery |
| SIM Card | Side of laptop | Insert SIM ejector tool and press down |
| microSD Card (if applicable) | Side of laptop | Insert microSD card ejector tool and press down |
Removing the Keyboard
To begin, you’ll need to remove the back cover of the laptop. This is done by removing the screws that hold it in place. Once the back cover is removed, you’ll need to disconnect the battery and then remove the speaker assembly.
With the speaker assembly removed, you’ll have access to the screws that hold the keyboard in place. Remove these screws and then carefully lift the keyboard out of the laptop.
Be Gentle with the Keyboard Ribbon Cable
| Step 1: Uncover the Ribbon Cable | Locate the ribbon cable connecting the keyboard to the motherboard. It’s usually covered by a small plastic protective cover. Use a pry tool to gently lift the cover and expose the ribbon cable. |
|---|---|
| Step 2: Disconnect the Ribbon Cable | Flip the small lever at the end of the ribbon cable’s connector. This lever secures the cable in place. Once the lever is flipped, gently pull the cable out of the connector. |
| Step 3: Maneuver the Keyboard | With the ribbon cable disconnected, you can now carefully lift the keyboard out of the laptop frame. Maneuver it gently to avoid damaging the surrounding components or the ribbon cable. |
Detaching the Battery
To detach the battery from the Dell Latitude 7490, follow these steps:
1. Ensure that the laptop is powered off and all cables are disconnected.
2. Slide the battery release latches located on the bottom of the laptop towards the center.
3. Lift the battery slightly from the back of the laptop.
4. Slide the battery out of the compartment at an angle.
5. Disconnect the Battery Cable:
Before completely removing the battery, it is important to disconnect the battery cable to prevent any damage to the motherboard or the battery.
To disconnect the battery cable, follow these additional steps:
- Locate the battery cable connector on the right side of the battery compartment.
-
Using a pair of tweezers or your fingers, carefully pry open the connector latch and pull the
battery cable free from the connector.
Caution: Handle the battery cable with care to avoid damaging the delicate wires.
6. Once the battery cable is disconnected, you can completely remove the battery from the laptop.
Dismantling the Top Bezel
1. Remove the rubber feet
Use a spudger to pry up the rubber feet on the bottom of the laptop. There are six feet in total.
2. Remove the screws beneath the feet
There are six screws beneath the rubber feet. Remove them using a T5 Torx screwdriver.
3. Pry up the bottom bezel
Use a spudger to pry up the bottom bezel, starting from the back of the laptop. Work your way around the edges until the bezel is loose.
4. Lift the bottom bezel away
Once the bezel is loose, lift it away from the laptop. Be careful not to damage the wires connecting it to the motherboard.
5. Disconnect the webcam cable
Use a spudger to disconnect the webcam cable from the motherboard. The cable is located on the right side of the laptop.
6. Pry up the top bezel
Use a spudger to pry up the top bezel, starting from the back of the laptop. Work your way around the edges until the bezel is loose.
| Screw Size | Quantity | Location |
| M2x3 | 2 | Rear corners of the top bezel |
| M2x4 | 6 | Along the sides and top of the top bezel |
| M2x5 | 2 | Near the front corners of the top bezel |
7. Lift the top bezel away
Once the bezel is loose, lift it away from the laptop. Be careful not to damage the wires connecting it to the motherboard.
Removing the Motherboard Assembly
To remove the motherboard assembly, follow these steps:
-
Disconnect the battery cable from the motherboard.
-
Remove the two screws that secure the motherboard assembly to the system board.
-
Disconnect the following cables from the motherboard:
-
Power cable
-
Display cable
-
USB cables
-
Audio cable
-
Camera cable
-
Keyboard cable
-
Touchpad cable
-
Fan cable
-
Speaker cable
-
Microphone cable
-
Lift the motherboard assembly out of the system board.
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Place the motherboard assembly on a clean, flat surface.
-
Remove the following screws from the motherboard assembly:
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Two screws that secure the battery connector
-
Two screws that secure the speaker
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Two screws that secure the fan
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Two screws that secure the microphone
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Two screws that secure the keyboard
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Two screws that secure the touchpad
-
Two screws that secure the display
-
Two screws that secure the power switch
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Two screws that secure the USB ports
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Two screws that secure the audio ports
-
Two screws that secure the camera
-
Carefully remove the following components from the motherboard assembly:
-
Battery connector
-
Speaker
-
Fan
-
Microphone
-
Keyboard
-
Touchpad
-
Display
-
Power switch
-
USB ports
-
Audio ports
-
Camera
-
Place the removed components in a safe place.
-
The motherboard assembly is now removed.
| Screw Size | Quantity |
|---|---|
| M2x3mm | 10 |
| M2x4mm | 6 |
| M2x5mm | 4 |
Unplugging and Removing Cables
Battery Removal
Before you begin disassembling your Dell Latitude 7490, it’s essential to unplug and remove all cables. Disconnect the AC adapter and any other cables connected to the laptop.
Keyboard Removal
To remove the keyboard, first, locate the screws securing it to the chassis. Usually, there are two screws on the bottom of the laptop. Once the screws are removed, carefully lift the keyboard upward to release it from the chassis.
Touchpad Removal
To remove the touchpad, you’ll need to detach the battery first. Then, locate the two screws securing the touchpad to the chassis. Remove the screws and gently lift the touchpad to release it.
Display Removal
Removing the display is a bit more involved. First, you’ll need to remove the top cover of the laptop. Once the top cover is removed, you can access the display assembly. Locate the screws securing the display to the chassis and remove them. Carefully lift the display to release it.
Bottom Cover Removal
To remove the bottom cover, first, remove the screws securing it to the chassis. Then, gently lift the bottom cover to release it.
Motherboard Removal
To remove the motherboard, you’ll need to disconnect all cables and connectors attached to it. Once the cables are disconnected, locate the screws securing the motherboard to the chassis and remove them. Carefully lift the motherboard to release it.
Cooling Fan Removal
To remove the cooling fan, you’ll need to locate the screws securing it to the chassis. Once the screws are removed, carefully lift the cooling fan to release it.
Memory Removal
To remove the memory modules, locate the clamps securing them to the motherboard. Gently push the clamps outward to release the memory modules. Then, carefully pull the memory modules out of their slots.
Cable Disconnection
After removing the necessary components, you’ll need to disconnect all cables and connectors attached to the laptop. This includes the power cable, display cable, touchpad cable, and any other cables connected to the motherboard.
| Cable | Location |
|---|---|
| Power Cable | Connected to the motherboard |
| Display Cable | Connected to the display assembly |
| Touchpad Cable | Connected to the touchpad |
| Other Cables | Varies depending on the specific laptop model |
Accessing Internal Components
1. Prepare the Workspace
* Ensure a clean, well-lit, and anti-static work environment.
2. Remove the Battery
* Locate the battery release latch on the bottom of the device.
* Slide the latch to release the battery and lift it out.
3. Remove the Back Cover
* Identify the screws securing the back cover (typically 9 screws).
* Use a Phillips #0 screwdriver to unscrew them.
* Carefully lift the back cover off the device.
4. Disconnect the Display Cable
* Use a plastic spudger to gently pry up the display cable connector.
* Pull the cable straight up to disconnect it.
5. Remove the Display
* Lift the display assembly up and away from the device.
6. Disconnect the Battery Cable
* Locate the battery cable connector on the motherboard.
* Use a plastic spudger to pry up the connector.
* Pull the cable straight up to disconnect it.
7. Remove the Heat Sink
* Unscrew the screws holding the heat sink in place (typically 4 screws).
* Carefully lift the heat sink off the motherboard.
8. Remove the Motherboard
* Unscrew the screws holding the motherboard in place (typically 10 screws).
* Gently lift the motherboard out of the device.
9. Accessing the Fan and Cooling System
* The fan and cooling system can be accessed by removing the following components:
* Heat sink
* Power button board
* Speaker module
* Keyboard
| Component | To Remove |
|---|---|
| Heat sink | Unscrew the screws holding it in place and lift it off. |
| Power button board | Disconnect the cable and remove the screws holding it in place. |
| Speaker module | Disconnect the cables and remove the screws holding it in place. |
| Keyboard | Disconnect the cable and remove the screws holding it in place. |
Reassembling the Dell Latitude 7490
Once you have reattached the battery, you can begin reassembling the Dell Latitude 7490.
Start by aligning the bottom case with the top case.
- Make sure that the hinges are lined up properly.
- Press down on the bottom case until it snaps into place.
Next, reattach the screws that you removed from the bottom case.
- Use a Phillips #00 screwdriver to tighten the screws.
- Make sure that the screws are tightened securely, but do not overtighten them.
Finally, reattach the display assembly to the bottom case.
- Align the display assembly with the bottom case.
- Press down on the display assembly until it snaps into place.
Here are some additional tips for reassembling the Dell Latitude 7490:
|
| Once you have reassembled the Dell Latitude 7490, you can power it on and test it to make sure that it is working properly. |
How To Take Apart Dell Letitude 7490
To take apart a Dell Latitude 7490, you will need the following tools:
- A Phillips #0 screwdriver
- A Torx T5 screwdriver
- A plastic spudger
Once you have gathered your tools, follow these steps:
- Remove the six screws on the bottom of the laptop using the Phillips #0 screwdriver.
- Pry off the bottom cover using the plastic spudger.
- Disconnect the battery cable by gently pulling it straight up from the motherboard.
- Remove the four screws that secure the heatsink to the motherboard using the Torx T5 screwdriver.
- Lift the heatsink off of the motherboard.
- Disconnect the fan cable from the motherboard.
- Remove the two screws that secure the fan to the heatsink using the Phillips #0 screwdriver.
- Lift the fan off of the heatsink.
- Remove the four screws that secure the motherboard to the chassis using the Torx T5 screwdriver.
- Lift the motherboard out of the chassis.
People Also Ask
How do I remove the keyboard from a Dell Latitude 7490?
To remove the keyboard from a Dell Latitude 7490, you will need to remove the following screws:
- Two screws on the top of the keyboard
- Three screws on the bottom of the keyboard
Once you have removed the screws, you can lift the keyboard up and away from the laptop.
How do I replace the battery in a Dell Latitude 7490?
To replace the battery in a Dell Latitude 7490, you will need to remove the following screws:
- Two screws on the bottom of the laptop
Once you have removed the screws, you can lift the battery out of the laptop.
How do I upgrade the RAM in a Dell Latitude 7490?
To upgrade the RAM in a Dell Latitude 7490, you will need to remove the following screws:
- Two screws on the bottom of the laptop
- One screw on the top of the laptop
Once you have removed the screws, you can lift the cover off of the laptop and access the RAM slots.
