Lenovo IdeaPad A1-07 Motherboard Replacement

Introduction

The motherboard of the Lenovo IdeaPad A1-07 may need to be replaced if the tablet has become unresponsive due to a software issue. Over time the motherboard can degrade from constant use or even crack if under a lot of pressure. This guide will walk you through how to carefully take the tablet apart to access and remove the motherboard from the device.

What you need

Step 1 Back Cover/Midframe

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With the blue plastic opening tool, use the lock screen switch by the volume button as an access point to gently lift the back cover off.
Wedge the opening tool until you start hearing the back cover popping off the body of the device.
Slide the opening tool down the length of the device.
Once it is about half way off, you can use your thumb to pull the rest of the back cover off.

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Step 2

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Using a Phillips #000 screwdriver, remove all 18 of the 4mm screws.
With the blue plastic opening tool, gently wedge the tool between the screen and the gray frame until you feel resistance.
Do not force the frame off because you can break off the teeth securing the frame to the screen.
Push in the teeth with the blue plastic opening tool, towards the center of the device, and gently pull off the frame.
The gray frame will still be connected to the device by a pair of wires from the motherboard to the speaker.

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Step 3

The speaker in the grey frame is connected to the motherboard by the white plastic connector.
Disconnect the speaker by separating the two sides of the speaker connector.

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Step 4 Battery

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Use a plastic opening tool to push the white battery connector out of its socket on the motherboard.
Lift the battery away from the device.

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Step 5 Motherboard

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Remove the three, 3mm screws holding the motherboard to the screen using the PH #000 screwdriver.
You will have to disconnect all the connectors on the motherboard.
The first connector to remove is in the center of the motherboard.
Use the blue plastic opening tool to slide the little black retainer, relieving pressure on the brown ribbon cable.
Use the blue opening tool to pull the brown ribbon cable out of the connector.

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Step 6

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On the top left of the motherboard, to the right of the back camera is another connector.
To disconnect, use a blue plastic opening tool to lift and pry it up.
Once it snaps up out of place, it has been disconnected.

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Step 7

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Using the same process as the previous connector, disconnect a similar connector just to the left of the back camera.
Once it snaps up out of place, it has been disconnected.

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Step 8

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On the top left of the motherboard, just next to the volume button, is another connector.
Use a blue plastic opening tool to lift up on the black lever.
Once it is pushed up, the brown ribbon can be pulled out using the spudger.

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Step 9

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The final connector is a grey cable with a gold tip called the coaxial cable.
To disconnect, slide the blue plastic opening tool up to the base of the tip.
Twist the opening tool to gently lift up the coaxial cable.
The coaxial cable is snapped in tightly and may take a little bit of force.

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Step 10

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While lifting the motherboard, you need to push the connector heads down through the holes that they come through.
With the cameras oriented on top, there will still be one ribbon on the right of the motherboard connected to the screen.
Simply lift the motherboard on the left side and flip it over to the right like turning a page.

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Step 11

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Once all the connectors are pushed through, the last thing still connecting the motherboard to the screen is the motherboard battery.
The connector is fixed to the metal frame by adhesive.
Using the black spudger, gently pry up the connector by pulling at the base of the battery.

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Step 12

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Now you will be free to detach the screen from the front cover.
With the device face down, you can pull up on the top left side of the metal frame while pushing out a plastic tooth using two metal spudgers.
Gently lift until you feel the tension of the adhesive on the right side.
Once you feel tension, slide a metal spudger tool down the length of the right side to remove the adhesive.
Be sure to move the tool straight down the side. There is a thin copper film that can be crumpled if the spudger enters from the side.