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HTC Thunderbolt Power Button Replacement

What you need

  1. HTC Thunderbolt Power Button Replacement, Rear Panel: step 1, image 1 of 1
    • Insert the plastic opening tool into the top of the Thunderbolt near the power button.

    • Gently pry up on the rear panel around the edges until it is loose.

  2. HTC Thunderbolt Power Button Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 1
    • Lift and remove the rear panel.

  3. HTC Thunderbolt Power Button Replacement, Battery: step 3, image 1 of 2 HTC Thunderbolt Power Button Replacement, Battery: step 3, image 2 of 2
    • Using the plastic opening tool, lift up the battery from the bottom near the kickstand.

    • Remove the battery from the inner frame.

  4. HTC Thunderbolt Power Button Replacement, Rear Frame: step 4, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the six Phillips screws from the perimeter of the rear frame.

    • By removing the screw with the "void" sticker on it, your Thunderbolt will no longer be covered under warranty.

  5. HTC Thunderbolt Power Button Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 2 HTC Thunderbolt Power Button Replacement: step 5, image 2 of 2
    • Insert the plastic opening tool into the bottom of the phone underneath the soft keys.

    • Gently pry up on the plastic cover by sliding the plastic opening tool across the bottom of the phone.

    • Remove the plastic cover.

    • The plastic cover will have adhesive on it making it difficult to remove.

  6. HTC Thunderbolt Power Button Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the two Phillips screws where the plastic cover was.

  7. HTC Thunderbolt Power Button Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 2 HTC Thunderbolt Power Button Replacement: step 7, image 2 of 2
    • Insert the plastic opening tool in between the screen and the frame on the side of the phone.

    • Slowly slide the the plastic opening tool along the side of the phone until the screen begins to separate from the frame.

    • Do the same for the opposite side of the phone.

  8. HTC Thunderbolt Power Button Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 3 HTC Thunderbolt Power Button Replacement: step 8, image 2 of 3 HTC Thunderbolt Power Button Replacement: step 8, image 3 of 3
    • Carefully separate the screen and phone from the rear frame, starting from the bottom.

    • Gently pull down on the phone and screen to fully separate it from the rear frame.

  9. HTC Thunderbolt Power Button Replacement, Rear Inner Frame: step 9, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the two Phillips screws securing rear inner frame to device.

  10. HTC Thunderbolt Power Button Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 1
    • Insert the plastic opening tool between the rear inner frame and the motherboard and slowly work your way around the device.

  11. HTC Thunderbolt Power Button Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 2 HTC Thunderbolt Power Button Replacement: step 11, image 2 of 2
    • Remove the rear inner frame from the rest of the device.

  12. HTC Thunderbolt Power Button Replacement, LCD/Screen: step 12, image 1 of 2 HTC Thunderbolt Power Button Replacement, LCD/Screen: step 12, image 2 of 2
    • Using the tip of an plastic opening tool flip up the tab holding the capacitive button ribbon cable.

    • Be careful opening these tabs as they are very easy to break.

    • Use a pair of tweezers to pull the capacitive button cable out of its socket.

  13. HTC Thunderbolt Power Button Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 2 HTC Thunderbolt Power Button Replacement: step 13, image 2 of 2
    • Lifting from the side where the ribbon was disconnected, flip over the motherboard.

    • Remove the black tape covering the tabs connecting the motherboard and LCD.

  14. HTC Thunderbolt Power Button Replacement: step 14, image 1 of 1
    • Using the plastic opening tool pop up the two tabs connecting the LCD and motherboard.

  15. HTC Thunderbolt Power Button Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 2 HTC Thunderbolt Power Button Replacement: step 15, image 2 of 2
    • Once the tabs have been popped up, slowly pull the two pieces away from each other.

    • If there is resistance pulling apart the phone then a ribbon or tab has not been disconnected properly/completely.

  16. HTC Thunderbolt Power Button Replacement, Power Button: step 16, image 1 of 3 HTC Thunderbolt Power Button Replacement, Power Button: step 16, image 2 of 3 HTC Thunderbolt Power Button Replacement, Power Button: step 16, image 3 of 3
    • Flip the LCD over so that it is facing downward.

    • Pry out the power button with a plastic opening tool.

    • You have now removed the power button.

Conclusion

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

Brandon Younger

Member since: 01/17/13

212 Reputation

8 Guides authored

Team

Cal Poly, Team 19-45, Regan Winter 2013 Member of Cal Poly, Team 19-45, Regan Winter 2013

CPSU-REGAN-W13S19G45

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24 Guides authored

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