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Motherboard Disconnection

Prerequisite Only
This guide is only intended to be used as a prerequisite for other guides. It's incomplete by itself.

Introduction

Prereq for disconnecting the motherboard for the motherboard guide only.

What you need

  1. Motherboard Disconnection, Insert an opening pick: step 1, image 1 of 2 Motherboard Disconnection, Insert an opening pick: step 1, image 2 of 2

    • Lay your eReader down so the back cover is facing up.

    • Insert the flat edge of an opening pick between the frame and the bottom left corner of the back cover.

    • Push the pick downwards at a slight angle until it slides under the back cover.

    Edit

  2. Motherboard Disconnection, Release the bottom clips: step 2, image 1 of 3 Motherboard Disconnection, Release the bottom clips: step 2, image 2 of 3 Motherboard Disconnection, Release the bottom clips: step 2, image 3 of 3

    • Slide the pick toward the bottom right corner to release the clips along the bottom edge.

    Edit

  3. Motherboard Disconnection: step 3, image 1 of 2 Motherboard Disconnection: step 3, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the pick and reinsert it under the bottom left corner.

    • Angle the pick flat under the back cover and rotate it around the bottom left corner to release its clips.

    • If you're having trouble, try twisting the pick to lift the corner clips out of their slots.

    Edit

  4. Motherboard Disconnection, Release the left clips: step 4, image 1 of 3 Motherboard Disconnection, Release the left clips: step 4, image 2 of 3 Motherboard Disconnection, Release the left clips: step 4, image 3 of 3

    • Slide the pick toward the top left corner to release the clips along the left edge.

    Edit

  5. Motherboard Disconnection, Remove the back cover: step 5, image 1 of 3 Motherboard Disconnection, Remove the back cover: step 5, image 2 of 3 Motherboard Disconnection, Remove the back cover: step 5, image 3 of 3

    • At this point, you should be able to grip the back cover and release its remaining clips. If not, slide a pick under the perimeter of the back cover until you can grip an edge.

    • Grip the left edge of the back cover and lift it away from the eReader to release the remaining clips.

    • Remove the back cover.

    • During reassembly, align the back cover over the eReader and press along the perimeter until all its clips snap back into place.

    Edit

  6. Motherboard Disconnection, Coating information: step 6, image 1 of 3 Motherboard Disconnection, Coating information: step 6, image 2 of 3 Motherboard Disconnection, Coating information: step 6, image 3 of 3

    • The entire surface of the eReader's internals is covered in a thin, plastic-like waterproof coating. Keep the following in mind as you continue disassembly:

    • While this won't hurt your device, removing the coating compromises the device to potential water damage.

    • The coating is brittle and can flake into many small pieces. Heating the coating helps, but working with it is still a time-consuming process.

    • The ZIF connector locking tabs are coated in a gel that can jam the hinge and keep the locking tab from completely unlocking. Make sure the tabs are completely upright before disconnecting any cables.

    • Depending on your repair, you might have to remove the coating from ZIF connectors and their cables.

    Edit

  7. Motherboard Disconnection, Soften the battery connector coating: step 7, image 1 of 2 Motherboard Disconnection, Soften the battery connector coating: step 7, image 2 of 2
    Edit

  8. Motherboard Disconnection, Remove the battery connector coating: step 8, image 1 of 3 Motherboard Disconnection, Remove the battery connector coating: step 8, image 2 of 3 Motherboard Disconnection, Remove the battery connector coating: step 8, image 3 of 3

    • Use the tip of a spudger to scrape up the coating along the white battery connector head—enough so you can grab clumps of it with pointed tweezers.

    Edit

  9. Motherboard Disconnection: step 9, image 1 of 3 Motherboard Disconnection: step 9, image 2 of 3 Motherboard Disconnection: step 9, image 3 of 3

    • Use pointed tweezers to peel off all of the coating around the battery connector head and its socket.

    • If the coating becomes too brittle and hard to peel off, reheat the connector and try again.

    • This is a meticulous process! Failure to remove enough of the coating could damage the plastic head during disconnection, so take your time!

    Edit

  11. Motherboard Disconnection, Disconnect the battery: step 10, image 1 of 2 Motherboard Disconnection, Disconnect the battery: step 10, image 2 of 2

    • Insert the point of a spudger under the edge of the battery connector head opposite of the cable.

    • There's a surface-mounted component close to the connector. Be careful not to touch it with your spudger!

    • Lift up the connector with the spudger to separate the rest of the coating and disconnect the battery.

    • During reassembly:

    • Inspect the connector head and its socket for any remaining coating that could prevent a good connection.

    • Peel off the coating, heating the area when the coating becomes too brittle.

    • It doesn't have to look pretty! You just need to remove enough coating so the connector head sits properly in its socket.

    Edit

  12. Motherboard Disconnection, Unlock the power button ZIF connector: step 11, image 1 of 3 Motherboard Disconnection, Unlock the power button ZIF connector: step 11, image 2 of 3 Motherboard Disconnection, Unlock the power button ZIF connector: step 11, image 3 of 3

    • There are surface-mounted components next to the power button ZIF connector. Follow the instructions carefully to avoid dislodging them.

    • Insert the tip of a spudger under the right side of the ZIF connector's black locking tab.

    • Lift up the locking tab with the spudger to unlock it.

    • The locking tab should be nearly vertical when unlocked. If not, gently push the tab forward to compress the gel and completely unlock the tab.

    Edit

  13. Motherboard Disconnection, Soften the power button ZIF connector coating: step 12, image 1 of 1

    • Apply a heated iOpener to the power button ZIF connector for 90 seconds to soften the coating.

    • Alternatively, you can use a hair dryer or a heat gun.

    Edit

  14. Motherboard Disconnection, Disconnect the power button: step 13, image 1 of 3 Motherboard Disconnection, Disconnect the power button: step 13, image 2 of 3 Motherboard Disconnection, Disconnect the power button: step 13, image 3 of 3

    • Because of the awkward angle, the next two steps requires some patience to avoid tearing the cable. Work slowly and apply heat regularly.

    • Use blunt nose tweezers to grip the power button cable close to the head

    • Twist the tweezers toward the top of the eReader to separate enough coating for the cable head to be angled above the battery.

    • Give your tweezers enough room so you don't puncture the battery as you twist them.

    • Gripping the tweezers closer to the tip can help you get a tighter hold on the cable.

    Edit

  15. Motherboard Disconnection: step 14, image 1 of 3 Motherboard Disconnection: step 14, image 2 of 3 Motherboard Disconnection: step 14, image 3 of 3

    • Grip the power button cable close to the head and pull it away from its ZIF connector slowly and steadily to separate the coating.

    • If the coating feels stubborn, reheat the connector and try again.

    • Keep pulling on the cable until it comes completely out of its socket.

    • During reassembly:

    • Inspect the head of the cable and the ZIF connector for any remaining coating that could prevent a good connection.

    • Peel off the coating—heating the cable and the ZIF connector when the coating becomes too brittle.

    • It doesn't have to look pretty! You just need to remove enough coating to have the cable sit properly in its connector.

    Edit

  16. Motherboard Disconnection, Unlock the digitizer cable ZIF connector: step 15, image 1 of 3 Motherboard Disconnection, Unlock the digitizer cable ZIF connector: step 15, image 2 of 3 Motherboard Disconnection, Unlock the digitizer cable ZIF connector: step 15, image 3 of 3

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to lift up the locking tab on the digitizer cable ZIF connector.

    • The locking tab should be nearly vertical when unlocked. If not, gently push the tab forward to compress the gel and completely unlock the tab.

    Edit

  17. Motherboard Disconnection, Soften the digitizer cable coating: step 16, image 1 of 1

    • Apply a heated iOpener to the digitizer cable ZIF connector for 90 seconds to soften the coating.

    • Alternatively, you can use a hair dryer or a heat gun.

    Edit

  18. Motherboard Disconnection, Disconnect the digitizer cable: step 17, image 1 of 3 Motherboard Disconnection, Disconnect the digitizer cable: step 17, image 2 of 3 Motherboard Disconnection, Disconnect the digitizer cable: step 17, image 3 of 3

    • Use blunt nose tweezers to grip the digitizer cable close to the head and pull it away from its ZIF connector slowly and steadily to separate the coating.

    • If the coating feels stubborn, reheat the connector and try again.

    • Keep pulling on the cable until it comes completely out of its socket.

    • During reassembly:

    • Inspect the head of the cable and the ZIF connector for any remaining coating that could prevent a good connection.

    • Peel off the coating—heating the cable and the ZIF connector when the coating becomes too brittle.

    • It doesn't have to look pretty! You just need to remove enough coating to have the cable sit properly in its connector.

    Edit

  19. Motherboard Disconnection, Unlock the display ZIF connector: step 18, image 1 of 3 Motherboard Disconnection, Unlock the display ZIF connector: step 18, image 2 of 3 Motherboard Disconnection, Unlock the display ZIF connector: step 18, image 3 of 3

    • There are surface-mounted components next to the display ZIF connector. Follow the instructions carefully to avoid dislodging them.

    • Insert the flat end of a spudger under the right side of the ZIF connector's black locking tab.

    • Lift up the locking tab with the spudger to unlock it.

    • The locking tab should be nearly vertical when unlocked. If not, gently push the tab forward to compress the gel and completely unlock the tab.

    Edit

  20. Motherboard Disconnection, Soften the display connector coating: step 19, image 1 of 1

    • Apply a heated iOpener to the display connector for 90 seconds to soften the coating.

    • Alternatively, you can use a hair dryer or a heat gun.

    Edit

  21. Motherboard Disconnection, Disconnect the display cable: step 20, image 1 of 2 Motherboard Disconnection, Disconnect the display cable: step 20, image 2 of 2

    • Use blunt nose tweezers to grip the corner of the display cable closest to the charging port.

    • Pull the cable away from the ZIF connector slowly and steadily at a level angle to separate the coating at the corner.

    • If you're having trouble, try rocking the cable side-to-side while pulling.

    • Gripping the tweezers closer to the tip can help with getting a tighter hold on the cable.

    Edit

  22. Motherboard Disconnection: step 21, image 1 of 2 Motherboard Disconnection: step 21, image 2 of 2

    • Repeat the previous step for the other corner until the the cable comes completely out of its socket.

    Edit

  23. Motherboard Disconnection: step 22, image 1 of 3 Motherboard Disconnection: step 22, image 2 of 3 Motherboard Disconnection: step 22, image 3 of 3

    • Lift up the display cable and peel off any remaining coating holding it to the motherboard.

    • During reassembly:

    • Inspect the head of the cable and the ZIF connectors for any remaining coating that could prevent a good connection.

    • Peel off the coating—heating the cable and the ZIF connector when the coating becomes too brittle.

    • It doesn't have to look pretty! You just need to remove enough coating to have the cable sit properly in the connector.

    Edit

  24. Motherboard Disconnection, Unlock the backlight cable ZIF connector: step 23, image 1 of 3 Motherboard Disconnection, Unlock the backlight cable ZIF connector: step 23, image 2 of 3 Motherboard Disconnection, Unlock the backlight cable ZIF connector: step 23, image 3 of 3

    • Lift the display cable out of the way of the backlight cable underneath.

    • Use the point of a spudger to lift up the blue locking tab on the backlight cable ZIF connector.

    • The locking tab should be nearly vertical when unlocked. If not, gently push the tab forward to compress the gel and completely unlock the tab.

    Edit

  25. Motherboard Disconnection, Soften the backlight connector coating: step 24, image 1 of 1

    • Apply a heated iOpener to the backlight connector for 90 seconds to soften the coating.

    • Alternatively, you can use a hair dryer or a heat gun.

    Edit

  26. Motherboard Disconnection, Disconnect the backlight cable: step 25, image 1 of 2 Motherboard Disconnection, Disconnect the backlight cable: step 25, image 2 of 2

    • Use blunt nose tweezers to grip the backlight cable close to its head and pull it away from its ZIF connector slowly and steadily to separate the coating.

    • If the coating feels stubborn, reheat the connector and try again.

    • Keep pulling on the cable until it comes completely out of its socket.

    • During reassembly:

    • Inspect the head of the cable and the ZIF connector for any remaining coating that could prevent a good connection.

    • Peel off the coating—heating the cable and the ZIF connector when the coating becomes too brittle.

    • It doesn't have to look pretty! You just need to remove enough coating to have the cable sit properly in its connector.

    Edit
Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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Alex Diaz-Kokaisl

Member since: 01/16/22

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