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Removing System board

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  1. Removing System board, Remove screws from bottom of laptop.: step 1, image 1 of 2 Removing System board, Remove screws from bottom of laptop.: step 1, image 2 of 2
    • Flip the computer over to access the screws on the bottom.

    • Remove 8 black, 7mm PH0 screws (M2 x L7).

    • Note: Virtually all the other screws for this computer are PH1 screws which may get stripped when using a smaller screwdriver, but these screws require a Philips PH0 driver.

    • Pry up the clips/latches and then remove the lower case. Start at the front (four clips), then sides (three clips each side) and back (four clips) - there is also one clip in the middle of the case.

  2. Removing System board, Disconnect battery cable: step 3, image 1 of 1
    • Almost anything that is done with a computer is safer if the battery is disconnected, so it is good to do that now.

    • Disconnect the battery pack cable from the system board using fingernails or a pry bar. Use your fingernails to pull the connector to unplug it. Do not pull the cable. It can be very tight. I used a 3.5 mm flathead screwdriver to carefully push the side plastic edges down towards the battery. Do not knock any of the components on the board.

  3. Removing System board, Remove battery screws: step 4, image 1 of 1
    • Remove 6 black 4mm PH1 screws (M2 x L4). The lower right screw is close to a magnet that may pull it from where you want it to go - tweezers may be necessary. The Hardware Maintenance Manual does not show the bottom middle screw.

    • Note: Virtually all the screws for this computer are PH1 screws which may get stripped if you use a smaller screwdriver.

    • Lift out the battery.

  4. Removing System board, Remove the system board mylar: step 6, image 1 of 2 Removing System board, Remove the system board mylar: step 6, image 2 of 2
    • Remove the system board mylar.

    • Note: Retain the system board mylar and reuse it when reassembling the computer. Replace the system board mylar only if it is damaged.

  5. Removing System board, Remove the solid-state drive (SSD) shielding: step 7, image 1 of 1
    • Remove 4 black PH1 screws (M2 x L4) and then remove the SSD shielding.

    • Note: Virtually all the screws for this computer are PH1 screws which may get stripped if you use a smaller screwdriver.

  6. Removing System board, Unscrew Solid-State Drives (SSD): step 8, image 1 of 1
    • Remove 2 silver 2mm PH1 screws (M2 x L2), one for each SSD.

    • Note: Virtually all the screws for this computer are PH1 screws which may get stripped if you use a smaller screwdriver.

    • Remove each SSD by pulling it away from the slot.

    • Note: it may be important to replace the SSDs into the same slot, so label them in some manner - perhaps "T" for the top one and "B" for the bottom one.

  7. Removing System board, Remove the Wi-Fi card: step 10, image 1 of 1
    • Detach the main and auxiliary antenna cable connectors. Note which colour cable is connected to each post - the photographed board has a grey cable connected to the top post (marked as "#1 Aux" with a white triangle on the Wi-Fi card) and a black cable connected to the bottom post (marked as "#2 Main" with a black triangle on the Wi-Fi card).

    • Remove 1 silver 2mm PH1 screw (M2 x L2).

    • Note: Virtually all the screws for this computer are PH1 screws which may get stripped if you use a smaller screwdriver.

    • Remove the Wi-Fi card by pulling it away from the slot.

  8. Removing System board, Disconnect tape and cables: step 11, image 1 of 1
    • (1) Peel off the thermal DIMM plate tape from the system board.

    • (2-3) Lift flap and disconnect the I/O board cable from the system board.

    • (2-3) Lift flap and disconnect the audio FPC cable from the system board.

    • (2-3) Lift flap and disconnect the hinge cap lightingbar cable from the system board.

    • Note: my machine did not have the DIMM plate tape or the cable in the upper right.

  9. Removing System board, Disconnect the fan cables: step 12, image 1 of 1
    • Disconnect the three fan cables from the system board by lifting away from board.

  10. Removing System board, Remove screws and fans: step 13, image 1 of 1
    • Remove 7 black 6mm PH1 screws (M2 x L6) holding the fans.

    • Note: Virtually all the screws for this computer are PH1 screws which may get stripped if you use a smaller screwdriver.

    • Remove tape from fans - possibly using gentle heat

    • Remove the fans - be careful of Wi-Fi antenna cables around top left fan and speaker cable around small bottom right fan.

  11. Removing System board, Disconnect cables: step 14, image 1 of 1
    • Disconnect 9 cables connected to the system board.

  12. Removing System board, Disconnect more cables: step 15, image 1 of 1
    • Disconnect five more cables from the system board

    • Remove 3 black 4mm PH1 screws (M2 x L4) screws

    • Remove 2 black 6mm PH1 screws (M2 x L4) screws

    • Note: Virtually all the screws for this computer are PH1 screws which may get stripped if you use a smaller screwdriver.

    • Remove the flaps of tape holding the antenna wires to the board.

    • Remove the system board module carefully.

Conclusion

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

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johann beda

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