Acer Extensa 5420 Bluetooth Quick Installation Guide

DISCLAIMER

This guide was put together in order to help some of you who are having problems with your laptop internal bluetooth adapter.
Yes, you guessed it right, Einstein. It doesn't come with one. You have to buy it from a third party manufacturer.

Do not hold me responsible for the damage you WILL inflict on your laptop when you stick your ape fingers inside it.
Do not email me saying your laptop blew up in your face, causing you blindness, facial disfigurement and irreversible coma. Doing so will make me laugh, cry, feel pain, sadness, and joy. All at the same time while wondering how the hell you wrote the email anyway.
I will also be compelled to tell you: "I TOLD YOU SO!"

Be extremely careful! If you have never handled electronic components before, you are clueless, DON'T DO IT! Move on to the next blog. Go look at funny pictures or watch stupid videos.

OK, you've decided to stay and give it a shot. Good for you, pumpkin!
This is a very simple procedure. No big deal, actually. Scared ya up there, didn't I?

Tools

• Small phillips screwdriver. (figure out the size yourself, Brainiac)
• Needle-nose pliers, if you have big ape hands
• Small flathead screwdriver, same as above
  
• Loctite (optional)
• Double-sided foam tape (if not already on the adapter)
  

Components

• Your shiny, spanking new Acer Extensa 5420 laptop (I cry for thee)
• A compatible 4-pin internal Bluetooth adapter (look for it on eBay)
  

Before we begin
Please read all the steps carefully before you start disassembling the laptop.
Take your time and proceed with caution. Even though this may be a simple procedure, it only takes one mishap to damage the delicate internal components of your laptop.
Work on a plain, clutter free, well lit surface. Avoid carpets. Avoid extremely dry and cold environments to reduce the risk of electrostatic discharge.
Note: Be sure to remove the laptop battery. You shouldn't need instructions for that or you fail at life.

Now that we got the basics down, let's move on to the good stuff.
If you bought the right bluetooth adapter, this is what it should look like:

4-pin Internal Bluetooth Adapter v.2

Your laptop probably doesn't have that nice handsome face at startup.
That is OK. I forgive you.

Next, remove all the screws from the bottom plate. Be careful not to break any tabs. If you have giant sausage fingers use a small flathead screwdriver to GENTLY pry it off, starting at the back of the laptop.
That gives you access to your memory modules, hard drive, cooling fan, and all the other stuff you shouldn't touch under any circumstances.

7 Tiny Screws

Important Note:
All seven small screws have even smaller lock washers each to keep the screws from popping out. Should any screws come loose, check the laptop and the working area for lost lock washers.
DO NOT LEAVE IT INSIDE THE LAPTOP FOR IT WILL HAUNT YOU 'TILL THE END OF TIME!

Tiny screw & lock washer

Blurry close-up of tiny screw

Keep that sucker in place, sucka!

Bottomless Lappy

About 12 screws attach the bottom of the enclosure to the top, some going through the chassis and the motherboard. No lock washers there, so keep them safe.

You may not need to unscrew the ones in the very back of the laptop, but I did it anyway.
I'm cool like that.

Now comes the fun part!
Turn the laptop over and, VERY GENTLY, Igor, pry the front part of the enclosure open. You will not separate top and bottom parts completely since there are still screws left in there that will prevent you from doing so. There are also ribbon cables connection the motherboard to the touchpad and keyboard.
If the enclosure does come apart, then you done broke it, son.
Locate the bluetooth connector under the Touchpad.
If you have those stubby fingers we talked about earlier, you will need the needle-nose pliers to connect the bluetooth adapter.
It's a small opening so be very careful not to damage any internal components.

Bluetooth connector

Use a small piece of double-sided foam tape to attach the bottom of the adapter to the laptop.

Foam on a stick

Finding the right place for your adapter is crucial. Make sure to keep the area under the touchpad clear.
Do not remove the tape yet. Close the top and bottom parts and make sure the top is not touching or making pressure on the adapter.
I found a good spot close to the motherboard battery, where nothing touches the adapter.

Almost there

The sweet spot

Before closing it, make sure the wires are free and clear, and away from the tabs at the edge of the enclosure.
Shut the enclosure and screw it shut along the edges only, just in case you need to reopen it for adjustments. Put the battery in, connect the power and give it a go. If you followed the instructions and did not poke a hole in your laptop or break anything with your clumsy gorilla hands, everything should be fine and you're a happy camper, blogger... or whatever it is that you do with your laptop, you dirty bastard.

Go Vista, go!

Yay for me and the bluetooth button!

Good Luck!