User Guide

System Board Assembly: Dell™ Latitude™ CP and CPi

The system board's BIOS chip contains the system service tag number, which is also visible on a bar-code label on the bottom of the computer. The replacement kit for the system board assembly includes a diskette that provides a utility for transferring the service tag number to the replacement system board assembly.

1. Remove the palmrest assembly.
2. Remove the 12.1-inch LCD display assembly or 13.3-inch LCD display assembly.
3. Remove the audio board.
4. Remove the (2) 2.5-mm screws securing the thermal cooling assembly (TCA) to the microprocessor module.

CAUTION: To ensure maximum cooling for the microprocessor, do not touch the heat transfer areas on the TCA. The oils in your skin reduce the heat transfer capability of the thermal pads.

5. Remove the TCA from the microprocessor module.
6. Remove the processor hold-down clip, if one is attached to the processor module fence.

Two tabs lock the clip to the fence. To remove the clip, you must bend these tabs away from the fence as follows:

1. Insert a small flat-blade screwdriver into one of the slots at the top of the clip (see the following figure). 
2. Bend the tab away from the fence by carefully tipping the screwdriver away from the processor module.
3. Repeat substeps a and b for the second slot.
4. Lift the clip off the fence and discard it.



7. Remove the three screws that secure the processor module to the system board.
8. Use a processor extractor tool to remove the processor module.

The tool fits on the left side of the module, in the notches.

CAUTION: Pull the module straight up. Do not move the tool from side to side to extract the processor board.

9. Remove the air flow duct.
10. Verify that the PC Card ejectors do not extend from the PC Card bay.
11. Remove the 2.5-mm screw from the center of the computer's left rear foot.
12. Remove the following two screws from the system board assembly:
    • The 5-mm screw near the reserve-battery cable connector
    • The 5-mm screw near the microprocessor module
13. Lift the system board assembly out of the bottom case assembly.

Be sure and transfer the memory module(s) to the replacement system board assembly. If you are replacing the thermal cooling assembly with a new one, remove any lining present on the thermal pad before installing the new thermal cooling assembly.

After replacing the system board assembly, be sure to enter the system's service tag number into the BIOS of the replacement system board assembly. Insert the diskette that accompanied the replacement system board assembly into the diskette drive, and turn on the computer. Follow the instructions on the display.

Processor Module Installation

To reinstall the processor module in the system board, perform the following steps:

1. Carefully position the processor module and press down evenly at all four corners of the module.
   When the processor module is seated, all four corners must be at the same height. If one or more corners of the module are higher than the others, the module is not seated correctly. To ensure the processor module is seated correctly, look at the holes on the processor-module fence. You should see no less than the top half of the holes all the way around the processor module (see the following figure).

   

2. Install the three screws to secure the processor module to the system board.
3. Place a new processor hold-down clip over the corner of the fence as shown in the previous figure.
   Press the clip down to lock it in place. Do not reuse the old clip.

Thermal Cooling Assembly Installation

Before you install the TCA in the computer, you must attach Kapton tape to the left tab at the front of the TCA. The tape must be attached so that the entire length of the tab is covered.

To apply the tape and install the TCA, perform the following steps:

1. Place the tape along the length of the back of the tab.
   No less than 1/16 inch (0.16 cm) of tape should extend up from the bottom edge of the tab. The following figure shows a cross-sectional view of the TCA tab with the tape wrapped around it.

   

CAUTION: The tape must not go over the top of, or come in contact with, the thermal transfer pad on the top of the TCA. If the tape touches the thermal transfer pad, the tape will degrade the passive cooling solution and could degrade the system performance.

2. Wrap the tape under the bottom edge and then up the front of the tab, as shown by the arrow in the following figure.
   Wrap the tape over the top edge of the tab and onto the top of the TCA.

   

3. Press the along the entire surface of the tape to secure it to the TCA.
4. Carefully position the TCA over the processor module.
5. Use two 2.5-mm screws to secure the TCA to the processor module.