Dell e1505 dead, won't start up

how did you get the motherboard out of the base? i've gotten it down to how it looks in your first picture, but i can't get the board itself out of the case.

i need to replace it because i spilled a drink on my computer and fried the board (luckily i think i saved everything else, other than the keyboard)...i obviously can't replace it if i can't get it out of the case though...

Well after you remove the heat sinks there was only 3 screws I think holding the motherboard to the base. When the motherboard is loose it is a little tricky to get it out since the plugs on the right side kind of interfere. I think if you pull the board toward you while rotating it clockwise, the plugs on the right side will clear the case.

If you still can't get it you can check out the manual on Dell online...I skimmed through it to make sure I got everything undone before I forced anything.

Good luck

I could be wrong, but I thought there was one hidden screw underneath the base

All the screws that come out from underneath (including the LCD screen and DVD drive) are all in plain site...so basically just take out everything you can see. There was nothing really hidden that I can remember. There was only 1 screw that I didn't see right away (until I looked at the manual), but it was before the top case was removed, so it sounds like he got that one taken care of.

I took apart a Toshiba Satellite for a friend to re-solder a broken power port and I have to say the Dell was MUCH easier to take apart....as far as all the screw locations and number of screws. The Toshiba was tricky and I definitely followed the manual carefully with it. I pretty much had the Dell apart w/o any help. Of course, these are the only two machines I've taken apart.

Kimsland, I don't really know what else to do with the mobo. I think to get a for sure confirmation that it's the mobo, I'm going to dismantle MY laptop which is the same exact model with same specs (they were ordered together) and start swapping parts to verify everything.

Actually I liked the Heat Gun idea
But obviously swap parts first

You could also drown it (totally spray the "heck" out of it) with Circuit board cleaner

I don't think it's finished testing yet

Just got done dismantling my e1505 to try some part swapping. I got my mobo bare (everything removed except processor) and plugged in the power. The power light went on solid and so did the number lock light...the scroll lock and caps lock flashed. It did it for 30 seconds or so before it shut off. I then removed the processor to see what would happen and applying power to it gave me all solid lights for the same amount of time.

So, I know how a good mobo should act. Since the other mobo didn't act this way, I can now say for sure its the mobo that is causing problems. I did swap some parts between the two mobos and nothing surprising came out of it.

Now that I know for sure its the mobo, I have two options. Break out the heat gun and try to "reflow" it myself...might as well since I have nothing to lose. And then if that doesn't work I'll try find a replacement board.

Yes I would do that

And once everything is tried, I would probably drop it on the floor from a reasonable height, that always gives me a good warm feeling inside

As always, excellent suggestions! :grinthumb

well, i got it out...and snapped the vga port off in the process. not that it really matters since the board is fried anyway, but it still ticks me off that the damn thing is so hard to take apart.

now the question is - how the heck do i get the vga port out of the case without breaking the case? it's stuck, somehow (which confuses me since there are no screws and no clips that i can see). also makes me wonder how i'm going to install the new board...

Soap and water
Obviously you're not the one doing dishes there

OH! I forgot about that! There are two little bolts you need to remove...you need a 3/16" socket to remove them. These holds the port to the case so when you plug in a monitor you aren't pushing on the entire mobo. They are on each side of the port. That's what was giving you the problems and I completely forgot about it I just undid it without thinking.

Here: MANUAL
Check out step #15.