Replacing a Dell E6420 Screen

Replacing a screen on a Dell Latitude E6420

Replacing this screen is very simple with only a small Phillips head screwdriver. It takes less than 15 minutes.

I purchased a replacement screen from http://www.laptopscreen.com.  I chose this supplier because their web site provides search methods to insure I would buy the correct replacement and the price was very competitive.   It was easy to identify the appropriate replacement screen by using their search menu and I also removed the old screen far enough to see and verify the screen information as seen  on the old screen label below. This took only a few minutes. (See the following steps to remove the screen to verify the information.)

I replaced the screws and put the plastic frame back on until the new screen arrived.  I paid the extra shipping cost to receive it in 3 days, I received it in two!

The first step to check the screen label or to replace the screen is to remove the battery and make sure there is no electrical connection to the laptop.

After insuring the battery is disconnected and making sure all electric is disconnected, use finger nails to gently reach between screen surface and plastic frame pull frame from around laptop screen.

 Next remove the 6 screws holding the screen in place, there are two on each side at the bottom and one on each side at the top.  After removing them, lay the screen face down on the keyboard.

At this point you can see the label on the old screen to confirm you are ordering the correct one.  I put mine back together until the new screen arrived.  To finish the replacement, with the screen flat on the keyboard, pull up the tape holding the connector in place.  Keep the tape for use on the new screen.  There is also a clear tape that holds the connector.  Pull it from the edge of the tape nearest the top of the screen toward the connector, and then also peel it from the bottom side which will allow the connector to be pulled loose from the socket with a finger nail.

Remove the metal bars on both sides of the old screen by removing the two screws that hold each of them in place.  After taking them off place each of the metal bars to the respective side of the keyboard in the same orientation they were removed.  Lay the new screen on the keyboard.  Note there is a piece of plastic taped to it.  Remove the tape from the sides to allow installation of the bars that were removed, but keep the plastic underneath it to protect the screen surface.  Install the side bars on the new screen in the same orientation they were on the old screen.  There is a locating pin in the center of each to align them for the installation of the screws.

After installing the side bars, re install the plug to the screen.  I used a magnifying glass to insure I had it properly aligned, then used my fingernail to push the plug into the socket.  After insuring the plug is fully engaged, press the taped surface of the connection wires against the back of the screen then replace the piece of tape across the connector that was taken from the removed screen.

Place the new screen back into the cover aligning it with the two pins beside the top two screw holes.  Replace the 6 screws and push the plastic frame back in place with your fingers.  Replace the battery and you are finished.