Acer E5-571-54FL Hard drive Replacement

Introduction

There are many reasons to replace your hard drive. You may be running out of storage space or want to upgrade to a solid state drive. Perhaps you are encountering errors with your data. This guide will get you fixed up in no time.

What you need

Step 1 Battery

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Power down the laptop prior to beginning.
Turn the laptop over with the battery closest to your body.

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Step 2

Insert the pointed end of a spudger into the battery release.
Slide the release gently all the way to the left.
You should hear a sound after the slide is all the way left. This lets you know the battery has disengaged.

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Step 3

Place your hands on each end of the battery.
Pull the battery towards your body to remove it.

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Step 4 Keyboard

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Using a #0 Phillips screwdriver, remove a total of eighteen identical 8mm Phillips screws and set them aside.

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Step 5

Rotate the laptop 180 degrees so that the battery compartment is now furthest away from your body.

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Step 6

Turn the laptop over so that you can easily open the screen to a vertical position.

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Step 7

Put your fingers under the top of the keyboard assembly directly below the Acer logo.
Carefully pull up on the center until you hear the tabs disengage from the bottom.

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Step 8

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Work your way around the seam with the plastic opening tool carefully prying the base and top cover apart.
If you have difficulty with the plastic opening tool, use a metal spudger but be more cautious to not damage or mar your laptop case.

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Step 9

When the two halves are separated, carefully lift up the front of the keyboard and touchpad assembly.
You will see three ribbon cables attached to the motherboard.

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Step 10

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Closest to the ribbon cable on the zero insertion force (ZIF) connector is a white locking tab.
Carefully lift up on the locking tab with the plastic opening tool to release the ribbon cable. (Picture 2)
Remove the ribbon cable from the connector.

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Step 11

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Closest to the ribbon cable on the ZIF connector is a black locking tab.
Carefully lift up on the locking tab with the plastic opening tool to release the ribbon cable. (Picture 2)
Remove the ribbon cable from the connector.

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Step 12

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On each side of the large connector there are two white tabs.
Carefully push away from you with the plastic opening tool on each white tab to release the cable. (Picture 2)
Remove the ribbon cable from the connector.

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Step 13

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Once all three ribbon cables are disconnected, lift off the top cover with the keyboard and touchpad.

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Step 14 Hard drive

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The hard drive and carriage are at the lower right of the laptop.
Using the plastic opening tool, carefully lift up on the black locking tab of the ZIF connector to release the USB port ribbon cable.
Move the USB port ribbon cable out of the way

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Step 15

Using a #0 Phillips screwdriver, remove the two 4mm screws securing the hard drive carriage in place.

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Step 16

Hold the right side of the laptop in place with your right hand.
Put the fingers of your left hand along the top edge of the hard drive carriage.
Push the hard drive carriage towards your right hand to disconnect it from the motherboard.
This procedure may require more force then other procedures.

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Step 17

Lift up on the edge of the hard drive carriage closest to your body to remove the carriage.
If doing the motherboard replacement guide, skip the next step.

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Step 18

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There are two 3mm Phillips screws holding the hard drive into the carriage. One on either side of the carriage.
Hold the hard drive carriage with your non-dominant hand along one side. Ensure one of the Phillips screws is visible.
Using a #0 Phillips screwdriver, remove the 3mm screw to release the side of the hard drive from the carriage.
Repeat the two previous procedures to remove the second 3mm Phillips screw freeing the hard drive from the carriage.