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Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers

Introduction

In this step-by-step guide, you will be removing the speakers from the Thinkpad A30 for replacement.

What you need

  1. Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers, Battery: step 1, image 1 of 2 Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers, Battery: step 1, image 2 of 2

    • Flip the ThinkPad over so that it is upside down.

    • Slide the highlighted tab to the left.

    • With your finger on the tab, remove the battery by lifting it upwards away from the laptop.

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  2. Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers, Upper Case: step 2, image 1 of 1

    • Make sure the laptop is upside down and oriented in the direction shown.

    • Remove the six 16.7mm screws inside the circled holes.

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  3. Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 3, image 1 of 1

    • Rotate the ThinkPad so that the hard drive bay is facing you.

    • Remove the black cover to reveal a 14.8mm screw.

    • Remove the uncovered screw with a Phillips #0 screwdriver.

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  4. Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 4, image 1 of 2 Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 4, image 2 of 2

    • Flip the ThinkPad over and open the LCD panel.

    • Pry apart the keyboard with a plastic opening tool or with your fingers.

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  5. Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 5, image 1 of 3 Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 5, image 2 of 3 Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 5, image 3 of 3

    • Be careful not to pull out the keyboard carelessly; there is a connector underneath it!

    • Lift the front end of the keyboard as shown.

    • Using your fingers, remove the black film cover.

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  6. Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 6, image 1 of 3 Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 6, image 2 of 3 Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 6, image 3 of 3

    • Locate the connector attached to the motherboard.

    • Disconnect the ribbon cable by removing the connector.

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  7. Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 7, image 1 of 2 Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 7, image 2 of 2

    • Lift and remove the keyboard.

    • Remove the two 5.6mm screws.

    • Remove the 16.7mm screw.

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  8. Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 8, image 1 of 3 Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 8, image 2 of 3 Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 8, image 3 of 3

    • You will need to use a little force. Be wary of the tabs.

    • Pry off the upper case with your hands.

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  9. Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers, Display Assembly: step 9, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the 5.6mm screw that holds the LCD to the upper case.

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  10. Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 10, image 1 of 3 Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 10, image 2 of 3 Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 10, image 3 of 3

    • Remove the 5.6mm screw on the left side of the three-pronged connector.

    • Remove the other two 16.7mm screws.

    • Lift and remove connector.

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  12. Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 11, image 1 of 2 Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 11, image 2 of 2

    • Pull out the white tab connecting the LCD to the motherboard.

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  13. Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 12, image 1 of 2 Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 12, image 2 of 2

    • Turn the laptop so that the back is facing you.

    • Remove the four 5.6mm long screws.

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  14. Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 13, image 1 of 3 Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 13, image 2 of 3 Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 13, image 3 of 3

    • Place the laptop so that the LCD is facing you again.

    • Gently lift the LCD monitor up and out.

    • Remove the black plastic tab.

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  15. Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers, Fan: step 14, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the following screws from the fan retention bracket:

    • Single 5.6 mm screw.

    • Three 16.1 mm screws.

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  16. Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 15, image 1 of 1

    • Lift the heatsink bracket up.

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  17. Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 16, image 1 of 3 Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 16, image 2 of 3 Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 16, image 3 of 3

    • Be careful not to pull too hard. There is a cable attached to the fan.

    • Lift the fan/heatsink assembly up.

    • Locate the fan power cable and pull upwards near the connector.

    • Remove the fan/heatsink assembly.

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  18. Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers, Speakers: step 17, image 1 of 1

    • Locate the floppy drive bay.

    • Remove the four 5.6mm screws.

    • Remove the 16mm screw.

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  19. Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 18, image 1 of 3 Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 18, image 2 of 3 Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 18, image 3 of 3

    • Turn the laptop over so the battery is facing you.

    • Locate the modem and ethernet card bay.

    • Remove the two 5.3mm cover screws.

    • Gently lift the cover.

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  20. Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 19, image 1 of 2 Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 19, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the four 9.1mm screws attached to the modem and ethernet cards.

    • When lifting the cards, be careful not to rip out the cables!

    • Gently lift the modem and ethernet cards.

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  21. Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 20, image 1 of 1

    • Locate the hard drive slot.

    • Remove the 8.8mm screw with a Phillips #0 screwdriver.

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  22. Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 21, image 1 of 1

    • Turn the laptop over again and orient it as shown.

    • Lift the left side of the floppy disk bay and and pull it out.

    • The black lever will pop out.

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  23. Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 22, image 1 of 2 Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 22, image 2 of 2

    • Locate the CD Drive Bay

    • Remove the three 5.6mm screws.

    • Remove the 16mm screw.

    • Lift the right side and pull the CD drive bay out.

    • The black lever will pop out.

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  24. Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 23, image 1 of 1

    • Locate the speakers on the bottom left and right of the ThinkPad A30.

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  25. Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 24, image 1 of 3 Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 24, image 2 of 3 Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 24, image 3 of 3

    • Remove the 5.6mm screws on each speaker.

    • Pull the right speaker out, making sure there is still slack in the wire.

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  26. Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 25, image 1 of 2 Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 25, image 2 of 2

    • Pull the blue tab that holds the speaker chip and pull the chip out.

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  27. Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 26, image 1 of 2 Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 26, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the wires from the white tabs by lifting the black wire casing.

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  28. Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 27, image 1 of 2 Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 27, image 2 of 2

    • Lift the left speaker out.

    • Pull the blue tab that holds the speaker chip and pull the chip out.

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  29. Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 28, image 1 of 2 Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Speakers: step 28, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the speaker data and power cables by pulling them from the motherboard.

    • You have successfully removed the ThinkPad A30 speakers.

    Edit
Conclusion

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

One other person completed this guide.

Author

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Alan

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Cal Poly, Team 4-44, Amido Fall 2010 Member of Cal Poly, Team 4-44, Amido Fall 2010

CPSU-AMIDO-F10S4G44

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