Acer Iconia A100 I/O Board Replacement

Introduction

While I/O Board failure is uncommon, if the light sensor, microphone, RF and 3G are all failing, you may need to replace the I/O Board in your Acer Iconia Tab A100.

What you need

Step 1 Battery

Acer Iconia A100 I/O Board Replacement, Battery: step 1, image 1 of 1

Start at any side of the tablet.
Begin to take apart the tablet with a plastic opening tool along the sides of the tablet.
Work your way around the tablet.
There are four side pieces in total.

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Step 2

Remove the five 4 mm screws from the edges of the tablet with a Phillips #00 screwdriver.

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Step 3

Carefully separate the back piece from the device using a plastic opening tool.
Remember to open along the entire perimeter of the tablet.

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Step 4

Turn the tablet over so that the battery is facing upwards.
Remove the four 4mm screws located around the battery.

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Step 5

Use the tip of a plastic spudger or opening tool to gently push the connector head out of its socket.
Use your fingers or the flat edge of a plastic opening tool to lift the battery up and off of the device.
Be sure to not have any water around the device while removing the battery.
Be sure to be cautious while removing the battery and remove carefully; avoid ripping the wires attached to the battery.

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Step 6 I/O Board

Acer Iconia A100 I/O Board Replacement, I/O Board: step 6, image 1 of 1

Gently peel off any tape securing the FPC to the main plate.

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Step 7

Acer Iconia A100 I/O Board Replacement: step 7, image 3 of 3

Locate the two connectors at each end of the FPC.
Use the flat edge of a spudger tool or your fingernail to gently pry each connector straight upwards out of its socket, then remove the FPC cable from the unit.
While a metal spudger tool is shown here, it is best to use a plastic spudger / opening tool when possible, and only use a metal spudger as a last resort!
You should now see the yellow-colored strip on the metal base marking the location of the FPC

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Step 8

Locate the L-shaped I/O Board.
Locate the gray 3G Antenna wire.
If the gray 3G Antenna wire is connected to your I/O Board, disconnect it. If for some reason the 3G Antenna wire is already disconnected from the I/O Board (as it was in this device) simply lift it out of the way.

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Step 9

Locate the microphone cable.
You should be able to gently pull it out of its socket using only your fingers.
The spudger is used in the photo merely to hold up / identify the disconnected mic cable head.

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Step 10

Acer Iconia A100 I/O Board Replacement: step 10, image 3 of 3

Locate the light sensor connector.
Use the tip of a spudger or your fingernail to lift up and flip the small retaining flap on the connector. The light sensor ribbon cable should now be free, so simply pull it out.
This is a ZIF (zero insertion force) connector, which requires no force to remove / plug in the connector.
Please make sure you lift up on the small retaining flap on the connector, not the connector itself!
Use a Phillips #00 screwdriver to unscrew the single 3.0mm Phillips screw next to the light sensor connector.