Introduction
Replace motherboard in an Acer Aspire 5100.
What you need
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Lift the fan and detach the cable that connects the fan to the motherboard.
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When detaching the cable, do not pull on the cable itself. Instead, use a small spudger to detach it at the white section that connects it to the motherboard.
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Open and push the screen back all the way until it is horizontal with the rest of the laptop.
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Use an opening tool to remove the panel above the keyboard that has the power button on it.
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After you have released the tabs, lift up the panel.
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Release the catch on the ribbon socket by sliding the two tabs toward the ribbon.
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Pull the ribbon under the keyboard to detach it from the motherboard.
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Remove the keyboard.
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Open the lid of the laptop and locate the cover that surrounds the keyboard and track pad.
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Use the spudger to pry open the sides of this cover.
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Slightly lift up the cover to see the ribbon connection.
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Release the catch by sliding the two lugs toward the ribbon, then pull the ribbon to detach it from the motherboard.
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Lift up the cover from the laptop.
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On the cover that was removed, flip it around and locate where the back of the track pad is.
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Remove the three screws located at the corners.
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Lift up the bracket that you just unscrewed and remove track pad.
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Detach the white rectangle located on the motherboard at the end of the wire connected to the LCD screen.
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Flip the laptop upside down.
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Remove the four screws from the back panel of the laptop.
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Lift the panel up and set it aside.
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Locate and remove the screws on the motherboard.
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There is normally only one remaining screw holding the board. Bottom right (sometimes under tape).
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All the other screw holes except screws holding the base cover on and are kept empty.
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Flip the laptop upside down.
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Locate the heat sink, which is the copper "L" shaped component, and unscrew the four screws that connect it to the motherboard.
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Find the VGA connector located next to the USB ports.
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Push out the back of the casing by the VGA connector to be able to get the motherboard out.
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Lift up and remove the motherboard from the laptop casing.
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Remove the USB add-on card to use it with the new motherboard.
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