In this guide I will be taking apart a Sony Vaio VGN-SZ series laptop. In my case I’m working with a Sony Vaio VGN-SZ330p laptop but the guide should work for the entire VGN-SZ line.

In you need replacement parts, search here.

STEP 1.

Turn off the laptop, unplug AC adapter and remove battery.

Remove one screw securing the keyboard.

STEP 2.

There are two latches securing the keyboard. They are located above the F2 and Insert keys.

STEP 3.

Using a small screwdriver press on the locking latch above the Insert key and lift up the right side of the keyboard.

STEP 4.

Do the same with the second latch and lift up the keyboard from the laptop base.

STEP 5.

Place the keyboard upside down on the palm rest so you can access the cable connector underneath.

STEP 5.

In order to unlock the cable connector move the black clip about 2 millimeters towards the touch pad. The clip must stay attached to the connector base.

If you break the connector, you’ll have to remove the motherboard. Work very carefully.

STEP 6.

Release the keyboard cable. Remove the keyboard and replace it with a new one if needed.

STEP 7.

Remove four screw securing the heat sink cover. Remove the cover.
Remove two screws securing the memory cover. Remove the cover.

STEP 8.

Remove two screw securing the CPU heat sink.

STEP 9.

Remove heat sink from the laptop.

Now you can clean the cooling fan and heat sink with compressed air.
Also, you get an access to the CPU.

STEP 10.

Both memory modules could be access through the door on the bottom of the laptop.

STEP 11.

Remove four red screws securing the switch cover.
Remove three yellow screws securing the palm rest.

STEP 12.

Carefully lift up and remove the switch cover.

STEP 13.

Remove three screw securing the palm rest.
Unlock the touch pad cable connector and release the cable.

In order to unlock the connector simply lift up the right side of the locking clip with your finger nail.

On the picture below the connector is shown in the unlocked state.

STEP 14.

Release the touch pad cable and remove the palm rest assembly.

When the palm rest assembly is removed you get an access to the hard drive, DVD drive, wireless card and CMOS battery.

STEP 15.

Remove three screws securing the hard drive assembly.

Disconnect the hard drive cable connector from the motherboard.

STEP 16.

Remove the hard drive assembly from the laptop.

If you are replacing or upgrading the hard drive you’ll have to transfer the mounting bracket and cable from the old drive to a new one.

STEP 17.

Remove one screw securing the DVD drive.

STEP 18.

Slid the DVD drive to the right to disconnect it from the motherboard.

There is an adapter between the DVD drive and motherboard. This adapter has to stay attached to the motherboard.

STEP 19.

Remove DVD drive from the laptop.

STEP 20.

In order to remove the wireless card, disconnect two antenna cable from the card, remove two screws securing the card and pull the card from the slot on the motherboard.

If you would like to replace the CMOS battery, simply unplug it from the motherboard and replace with a new one.

In one of the previous guides I explain how to remove the LCD screen and inverter board from a Sony Vaio VGN-SZ series laptop.

In the following guide I will remove and replace the power board in an Acer TravelMate 3260 series laptop. Most likely my guide will work for some other Acer TravelMate laptops but I don’t know all models. If this guide fits your laptop, please mention the model number in comments after the post.

In Acer TravelMate 3260 laptop power from AC adapter goes to the motherboard through the power board. When the power board goes bad, the laptop stops working at all and appears to be dead. In order to get access and replace the power board we’ll have to disassemble the entire laptop.

STEP 1.

If you need spare parts for your Acer TravelMate 3260, you can find them here.

First of all, turn off the laptop and remove the battery.

Remove two screws securing the switch cover on the back of the laptop.

STEP 2.

Start removing the switch cover and lift it up by the hinge cover.
Continue removing the cover with your hinges.

STEP 3.

Remove the switch cover.

STEP 4.

Remove two screws securing the keyboard.

STEP 5.

Carefully lift up the keyboard from the laptop base and place it upside down on the palm rest so you can access the cable connector underneath.

STEP 6.

You have to unlock the connector before you can pull the cable and remove the keyboard.

On the picture below you see connector in the unlocked position.
Pull the cable and remove the keyboard.

The keyboard has been removed.

STEP 7.

Remove the hard drive and memory/Wi-Fi covers.

STEP 8.

Remove one screw securing the hard drive assembly.

STEP 9.

Pull the hard drive to the left and disconnect it from the motherboard.
Remove the hard drive from the laptop.

STEP 10.

Remove one screw securing the optical CD/DVD drive to the base.
Push the drive from the laptop with your finger.
Remove optical drive from the laptop.

It is not necessary to disconnect memory modules, wireless card, modem card and CMOS (RTC) battery for the purpose of my guide . You can leave them connected to the motherboard.

STEP 11.

Remove all marked screws from the bottom of the laptop.
Disconnect cables I pointed with yellow arrows.
Disconnect two antenna cables from the wireless card (green arrows).

STEP 12.

Remove one screw from the back side of the laptop.

STEP 13.

Disconnect the video cable connector.
Unroute both Wi-Fi antenna cables and pull them through the opening in the motherboard.
Remove four screws securing LCD panel hinges.

STEP 14.

Remove the LCD panel.

STEP 15.

Remove five screws securing the top cover assembly.
Disconnect the touchpad cable.

STEP 16.

Start separating the top cover assembly from the laptop base.

STEP 17.

Remove the top cover assembly.

STEP 18.

Remove two screws securing the motherboard.

STEP 19.

Start removing the motherboard from the top left corner.

Release and lift up the top right corner of the board.

Carefully pull the motherboard from the base assembly.

STEP 20.

On the picture below you see the power board attached to the motherboard.

The DC power jack and power switch are located on the power board. If the DC power jack is broken, you can repair it using this technique.

Remove two screws securing the power board.

Disconnect the power board from the motherboard.

The power board part number is printed right in the middle. It’s DA0ZR1PB6D1 (REV:D). You can find a replacement power board here.

STEP 21.

While the motherboard is removed from the base, you can clean the cooling module.
Loosen six screws securing the heat sink assembly.
Disconnect fan cable from the motherboard.

Remove the heat sink assembly and blow off dust using compressed air.

In this guide I remove the motherboard and repair the DC power jack in a Dell Inspiron B130 laptop. You can use same instructions for Dell Inspiron 1300 and Inspiron B120 laptops. All three models have same type of body.

In my case the power jack started failing intermittently. The laptop started switching from AC to battery power on its own. In order to switch it back to the AC power I had to fiddle with the adapter plug and find the right position. I tested the laptop with another adapter and it failed exactly the same way. I came to a conclusion that the DC power jack is not making good contact with the motherboard and has to be repaired.

In Dell Inspiron 1300/B120/B130 laptop the DC power jack is soldered to the motherboard. If the jack is broken, you’ll have to unsolder it and replace with a new jack.

Let’s start removing the motherboard.

STEP 1.

Check out spare parts for Dell Inspiron 1300/B120/B130.

Before you start taking the laptop apart, do not forget to turn off the power and remove the battery.

Lift up the right side of the keyboard cover with a small screwdriver and continue removing the cover with your fingers.

STEP 2.

After the cover is removed you can access two screws securing the keyboard. Remove both screws.

STEP 3.

Lift up the keyboard and place it upside down on the palm rest.

STEP 4.

Now you can access the cable connector and release the cable.

STEP 5.

Unlock the connector, pull the cable and remove the keyboard.

On the following picture the connector is displayed in the unlocked position.

STEP 6.

Remove two screws securing display hinges on the bottom of the laptop.

STEP 7.

Remove two screws securing display hinges on the back side of the laptop.

STEP 8.

Disconnect the video cable connector from the motherboard.
Disconnect the wireless card antenna cable.

STEP 9.

Remove the display panel assembly.

Here’s an example of removing the LCD screen from a Dell display panel.

STEP 10.

From the bottom of the laptop you can access the hard drive, memory modules, wireless card, optical CD/DVD drive and heat sink.

STEP 11.

Remove the hard drive cover.
Pull the hard drive assembly to the left and remove it from the laptop.

STEP 12.

Remove one screw securing the optical CD/DVD drive to the laptop base.
Pull the drive from the laptop and remove it.

STEP 13.

It’s not necessary to remove both memory modules and wireless card for the purpose of this guide but you have to disconnect the Wi-Fi antenna cable.

STEP 14.

Loosen four silver screws securing the heat sink.

STEP 15.

Pull the heat sink up and disconnect it from the processor.
As you see, in my laptop the heat sink is clogged with dust and needs a good cleaning.

STEP 16.

Remove all marked screws from the bottom of the laptop.

STEP 17.

Remove eight screws securing the top cover.
Disconnect the touch pad cable.
Disconnect the lid close switch cable.
Disconnect the CMOS (RTC) battery.

In this model the lid close switch is discrete module and mounted under the fight hinge.
If the lid close switch failed, you can remove it and replace with a new one or simply unplug the faulty switch from the motherboard and use the laptop without it.

STEP 18.

Separate the top cover assembly from the laptop base and remove the cover.

STEP 19.

Remove five screws securing the motherboard.
Disconnect the speaker cable from the motherboard.

STEP 20.

Start removing the motherboard from the right side as it shown on the picture below.

STEP 21.

Remove motherboard from the laptop base.

The DC power jack is soldered directly to the motherboard.

I assumed that the power jack is not making good contact with the motherboard and I was correct.

As you see, there is a crack in the solder joint around the “+” pin.
The “+” pin got oxidized and not making good contact with the motherboard.

If you resolder the jack without cleaning the “+” pin, your repair will not last.

It is necessary to unsloder the power jack, clean all contacts and solder it back to the motherboard.

You’ll find more detailed instructing in this guide for fixing failed DC power jack in a laptop.

On the following picture you see the same jack soldered back to the motherboard.
You can find a new power jack for Dell Inspiron 1300/B120/B130 here for less than $8.

In this guide I will help you to remove and replace the cooling fan in a Dell Latitude D600 laptop. The cooling fan in this model is buried deep inside the laptop under the top cover. Also you can use this guide for cleaning the cooling module and removing dust from the heat sink and fan.

If your laptops shuts down on its own without any warning, most likely it happens because of overheating. Make sure the cooling fan works and the heat sink is not clogged with dust. Replace the fan if it failed or clean the heat sink if it’s clogged.

Before you start, turn off the laptop, unplug the AC adapter and remove the battery.

When you are replacing the cooling fan, it is not necessary to remove memory, hard drive, wireless card or optical drive. I did that only because I was upgrading the laptop.

STEP 1.

Remove all marked screws from the bottom of the laptop.

STEP 2.

Lift up the switch cover with a small screwdriver. Continue removing the cover with your fingers.

STEP 3.

When the switch cover is removed you can access two screws securing the keyboard. Remove these screws.

STEP 4.

Lift up the keyboard and access the cable. Disconnect the keyboard cable from the motherboard.
Search for new keyboards here.

STEP 5.

Remove three (red) screws securing display hinges.
Remove one (yellow) screw securing the video cable ground.
Disconnect the video cable connector from the motherboard.

STEP 6.

Remove and replace the LCD assembly.
Take a look at this guide for the LCD screen removal instructions.

STEP 7.

Remove three screws securing the top cover.
Disconnect the touchpad cable from the motherboard.

STEP 8.

Start separating the top cover from the base with your fingers.

STEP 9.

Remove the top cover assembly.

STEP 10.

Now you can clean the cooling module (fan and heat sink) using compressed air. In order to replace the fan, continue laptop disassembly.

Loosen four screws securing the heat sink.
Lift up and remove the heat sink.

STEP 11.

Remove two screws securing the cooling fan.
Disconnect fan cable from the motherboard.

STEP 12.

Remove and replace the cooling fan with a new one. You can find a new replacement fan for Dell Latitude D600 laptop here.

In this guide I will disassemble a HP 530 Notebook PC and remove the top cover assembly. I’m replacing the top cover assembly because one of the touch pad buttons is broken. When you press on the button it feels loose and sometimes will not click. The plastic button is a part of the top cover and when it gets broken you have to replace the whole top cover.

In order to replace the top cover I will have to disassemble the whole notebook. I’ll be removing all internal parts including hard drive, keyboard, motherboard, cooling fan and other key components.

It’s possible that my guide will work for some other HP notebooks. If it works for you, please mention the notebook model in the comments below and help other people.

First of all, turn off the notebook and remove the battery.

STEP 1.

Remove the memory and hard drive covers from the bottom of the notebook.

You will find the wireless card under the memory cover.

STEP 2.

Remove one screw securing the CD/DVD optical drive. Push the drive from the laptop with a small screwdriver.
Remove the optical drive.

STEP 3.

Pull the hard drive assembly to the left to disconnect it from the motherboard. Remove the hard drive assembly.

STEP 4.

When you replace the top cover, you don’t have to remove memory modules and wireless card, but it’s necessary to disconnect the wireless card antenna cables from the card.
Disconnect both Wi-Fi antennas from the wireless card.

STEP 5.

Remove eleven (yellow) screws from the bottom of the notebook. These screws are securing the switch cover (power button cover).
Remove two (red) screws. These two screws securing the display panel assembly.
Remove two (orange) screws. These two screws securing the keyboard.

STEP 6.

Turn the laptop over and start removing the switch cover. If you cannot separate the cover from the base, you can use a piece of plastic (I’m using a guitar pick).
Insert the guitar pick between the switch cover and base and carefully lift up the cover. Continue removing the cover with your fingers.

The switch cover has been removed.

STEP 7.

You removed two screws securing the keyboard in the step 5. Now you can lift up the keyboard from the base.

Place the keyboard so you can access the cable connector underneath.

In order to unlock the connector, you’ll have to move the brown locking clip towards the display panel. Move it about 2-3 millimeters, not more. The locking clip must stay attached to the connector base.
Now you can release the keyboard cable and remove the keyboard.

WARNING! If you break the keyboard connector, you’ll have to replace the motherboard.

Need a replacement keyboard for HP 530 notebook? Find a new keyboard here.

STEP 8.

Disconnect the video cable from the motherboard.
Pull the wireless antenna cable through the hole in the motherboard. You disconnected these cables from the wireless card in the step 4.
Remove two screw securing the display panel hinges. You removed two more screws securing the display panel in the step 5.

Remove the display panel assembly from the notebook base.

You can find the LCD screen removal instruction in the official service guide for HP 530 notebooks. Take a look on the page 49.

Search here for new LCD screens.

STEP 9.

Disconnect the switch board cable from the motherboard. Unlock the connector the same way as you unlocked the keyboard connector in the step 7.
Remove one screw securing the switch board.
Remove the switch board.

STEP 10.

Remove all remaining screws from the bottom.

STEP 11.

Disconnect the touch pad cable from the motherboard.

STEP 12.

Start separating the top cover from the notebook base.

Continue separating the top cover from the base.
By the way, in a HP 530 notebook PC the motherboard is attached to the top cover, not to the base assembly as a most other notebooks.

Remove the base cover.

STEP 13.

The base cover has been removed.
Now you can access and replace the RTC (CMOS) battery if needed.

STEP 14.

Remove one screw securing the cooling fan.
Disconnect the cooling fan cable from the motherboard.

Remove the cooling fan.

Here are replacement cooling fans.

STEP 15.

Loosen four screws securing the heat sink.

Remove the heat sink.
In my laptop the heat sink was clogged with dust and needed a good cleaning.
After the heat sink is removed, you can access and remove the processor (CPU) if needed. I’ll leave the processor attached to the motherboard.

STEP 16.

Disconnect the speaker cable.
Remove one screw securing the motherboard to the top cover.

Start removing the motherboard from the top cover.

The motherboard has been removed.

STEP 17.

The touch pad is attached to the top cover and secured by a metal bracket. I’m not removing the touch pad because when you buy a new top cover it comes with the cover.

Now you can replace the top cover assembly with a new one.

You can find a new top cover assembly (with touch pad) using the HP spare number. In my notebook the part number is 441626-001.
I think you can use the same top cover for all HP 530 Notebook PCs.

You can find a new or used top cover assembly here.

Today I will take apart an HP Compaq 2710p Tablet PC. I will explain how to access notebook memory, remove hard drive and replace keyboard. It’s possible that my guide will work for some other HP tablets. If this guide works for you, please mention the notebook model in the comments below.

Memory modules, hard drive and some other components can be accessed from the door on the bottom of the notebook.
Do not forget to turn off the notebook and remove the battery before you start taking it apart.

Remove six screws securing the cover and remove the cover.

Under the cover you’ll find both memory modules, hard drive, WLAN (wireless LAN) module and WWAN (Wireless Wide Area Network) module.

In order to remove WLAN and WWAN modules, you’ll have to disconnect antenna cables from each card, remove two screws securing each card and pull each card from its slot. Each antenna cable has a lable with the connector number. All connectors on the cards are marked too, so there shouldn’t be any confusion where each antenna cable connects.

In order to remove the memory (RAM) module, simply spread latches on both sides of the slot until the memory module pops up at a 20-30 degree angle. After that you can pull the memory module from the slot by the edges.

HP Compaq 2710p notebook can take up to 4GB RAM total. You can install up to 2GB RAM module into each slot
Use PC2-5300 DDR2 667MHz or faster memory.

Here’s how you can remove the hard drive.
Remove two screws securing the metal plate covering the hard drive connector. Lift up and remove the plate.

In order to remove the hard drive assembly from the notebook you’ll have to follow these steps:
1. Disconnect the hard drive cable from the connector on the motherboard.
2. Slide the hard drive assembly to the right (towards the WLAN and WWAN modules).
3. Lift up the hard drive assembly from the notebook.

Remove hard drive from the rubber shock protector.

Remove sticky tape securing the hard drive cable.

Very carefully unlock the connector and pull the cable from the hard drive.
The locking clip opens up at a 90 degree angle as it shown on the picture below. Be very careful with the connector.

Now you can replace the hard drive with a new one if needed.
It’s not a regular 2.5″ notebook hard drive.

In 2710p notebook HP uses a smaller 1.8″ Toshiba MK1214GAH hard drive (same drive found in some iPods).

Now we’ll go through the keyboard removal steps.

Remove six screws securing the keyboard. One of the screws I marked in red because it’s hidden under the rubber screw seal.

You can remove the screw seal with a sharp object.

Insert a small flat head screwdriver between the keyboard and notebook base and lift up the keyboard as it shown on the picture below.

You’ll find a few small plastic latches securing the keyboard on the top and both sides. Here’s one of them above the F11 key.
Carefully lift up the keyboard and force it through the latches.

When the keyboard is released, you can access connectors underneath.

This keyboard has two cables connected to the motherboard.
On the picture below I marked the pointing stick cable, you’ll have to disconnect this one first.

1. Unlock the connector by moving the white clip to the direction shown by two arrows. You have to move the clip about 1-2 millimeters, not more. The clip must stay attached to the connector base.
2. Pull the cable from the connector.

Turn the keyboard upside down and place it on the palm rest.
Now you can access the second cable.

Again, before you can pull the cable you have to unlock the connector.
On the picture below the connector is shown in locked position.
Open the locking clip with your fingernail. The clip opens at a 90 degree angle.

On the next picture the connector is shown in the unlocked position. Now the cable is released and you can pull it from the connector.

Finally, you can remove the keyboard and replace it with a new one if needed.
Need a new keyboard for your HP Compaq 2710p Tablet PC? Find a new one here.

This guide will help you to remove and replace memory, hard drive, optical drive and keyboard in Sony Vaio VGN-FE series laptops. As an example I took a Sony Vaio VGN-FE855E laptop. All these parts can be removed without opening the laptop case.

If this guide works for your Vaio, please mention the model number in comments below. This will help other users with similar laptops.

STEP 1.

Turn off the laptop and remove the battery.
Remove the memory and hard drive covers from the bottom of the laptop. Each cover is secured by two screws.

If you are removing the keyboard, you’ll have to remove one screw (green) securing the keyboard.

STEP 2.

Remove two screws securing the hard drive.
Slide the hard drive to the left to disconnect it from the motherboard.
Lift up the hard drive and remove it from the laptop.

The hard drive is mounted inside the caddy.

Remove two screws from each side. These screws securing the hard drive to the caddy.

Remove the hard drive from the caddy.

In my laptop I had a 2.5″ 120GB SATA hard drive installed. This hard drive can be replaced with any other larger 2.5″ SATA hard drive.

STEP 3.

In a Sony Vaio VGN-FE laptop both memory modules can be access from the bottom.

In order to remove the memory module spread latches on both sides of the slot until the memory module pops up at a 20-30 degree angle.

Pull the memory module from the slot by the edges.

This Vaio laptop can take up to 2GB memory. You can install up to 1GB memory stick into each slot.
Use DDR2 PC2-5300 or faster SODIMM modules.

STEP 4.

Remove three screws securing the optical CD/DVD drive. Pull the drive from the laptop.

If you are replacing the optical drive, it might be necessary to transfer both mounting brackets and the face plate to the new drive.

STEP 5.

Remove three screws located in the battery compartment. These screws are securing the speakers cover.

Start removing the speakers cover with your fingers.

Carefully release and lift up the right side of the cover.

Continue removing the cover with your fingers. It might take some time. It’s harder than looks on the pictures.

The speaker cover has been removed.

STEP 6.

Remove four screws securing the keyboard.

Lift up the keyboard and place it upside down on the palm rest.

Now you can access the keyboard cable connector. The keyboard is connected to the motherboard.

Before you can remove the keyboard, you’ll have to unlock the connector and release the keyboard cable.

In order to unlock the connector, move the black clip about 2 millimeters to the direction shown by two arrows. The click must stay attached to the white base. Now you can release the keyboard cable.

WARNING! If you break the connector, you’ll have to replace the whole motherboard OR use the laptop with an external keyboard.

Remove the keyboard and replace it with a new one if needed.
Need a keyboard replacement? You can buy a brand new keyboard here.

In this guide I explain how to remove keyboard, replace memory module and access hard drive in a HP 2133 Mini-Note PC. Fortunately all these three components can be removed without taking the whole thing apart. Even a novice user can do that if he/she is careful enough.

Also, you should be able this guide for taking apart a HP 2140 Mini-Note PC which has the same body.

Before you start do not forget to turn off the laptop and remove the main battery.

STEP 1.
REMOVING THE KEYBOARD.

In the battery compartment you’ll find three screws securing the keyboard to the laptop base. Remove these three screws.

Carefully lift up the top side of the keyboard as it shown on the picture below. There are small plastic latches securing the keyboard on both side but they should’t be a problem. Do not lift up the keyboard too much, it’s still connected to the motherboard.

Set the keyboard so you can access the cable connector underneath. You’ll have to unlock the connector before you can release the cable and remove the keyboard.

WARNING! Be very careful with the connector. You cannot replace the connector if you accidentally break it. The connector is permanently attached to the motherboard. If it’s broken, the whole motherboard has to be replaced.

In order to unlock the connector, lift up the brown locking clip. The clip will open as a door on hinges.

On the picture below you see the same connector in the unlocked state.

Now you can release the cable and remove the keyboard.

Here’s the back side of the keyboard removed from a HP 2133 Mini-Note PC.

You can find a new replacement keyboard if you search by the part number 482280-001. The keyboard is not expensive and can be purchased for less than $25. Searches by the keyboard model number 468509-001 also will bring you some results.

STEP 2.
REMOVING THE MEMORY MODULE.

HP 2133 Mini-Note PC has only one memory slot and it’s located under the keyboard. After the keyboard is removed, you’ll find the memory module between the cooling fan and hard drive.

In order to remove the memory module, carefully spread latches on both sides of the slot.

The memory module will pop up at a 20-30 degree angle and you can pull it from the slot by the edges.
HP 2133 Mini-Note PC will take up to 2GB memory module. You should use DDR2 PC2-5300 or faster DDR2 SODIMM module.

STEP 3.
REMOVING THE HARD DRIVE.

Remove two screws (green) and loosen one screw (yellow) securing the hard drive assembly.

Pull the hard drive cable up and disconnect it from the motherboard.

Remove the hard drive assembly from the laptop.

Remove two screws from each side of the hard drive assembly. These screws securing the hard drive to the caddy.

Remove the hard drive from the caddy.

Disconnect the hard drive connector.

Now you can replace the hard drive with a new one. In my laptop I had a 120GB 7200RPM hard drive installed. You can replace it with a larger drive without any problem. Make sure then new drive also works at 7200RPMs. You can find a brand new 320GB 7200RPM hard drive here for less than &70.

CLEANING THE COOLING FAN.

If your laptop overheats, most likely it happens because the cooling module got clogged with dust.
When you remove the keyboard you can get a limited access to the cooling fan. It would be enough for cleaning the fan and heat sink.
For cleaning the fan use a can of compressed air of find an air compressor. Spray compressed air into the fan until all dust is gone.

Block the fan with your finger so it doesn’t spin when you spray air inside the cooling module. Hi RPMs can kill the fan bearing.

In this guide I will be taking apart a Compaq Presario M2000 notebook. The guide should work for all other notebooks in the Presario M2000 line. If it works for you, please mention the notebook model in the comments below. In my case I’m taking apart a Compaq Presario M2005US.

TAKING APART NOTEBOOK

First of all, turn off the notebook, unplug the power adapter and remove the battery.

The following 8 steps explain how to remove the keyboard.

STEP 1.

Remove two screws in the battery compartment. These screws securing the keyboard bezel.

STEP 2.

Lift up one side of the keyboard bezel with a small flat head screwdriver. Continue removing the bezel with your fingers.

STEP 3.

The keyboard bezel has been removed.

STEP 4.

Remove four screws securing the keyboard.

STEP 5.

Lift up the keyboard. Be careful because the keyboard is still connected to the motherboard.

STEP 6.

Place the keyboard so you can access the cable connector.

STEP 7.

Carefully unlock the connector by moving the white part of the connector towards the hinges.
WARNING! If you accidentally break the connector, you will have to replace the whole motherboard or use the notebook with an external keyboard.

STEP 8.

Now you can release the cable and remove the keyboard.

You will find the keyboard part number on the back side of the keyboard. In my laptop the part number is 367777-001. Do you need a new keyboard for Presario M2000 notebook? Find a new inexpensive keyboard here.

In the following 2 steps I will remove the notebook LCD panel.

STEP 9.

Remove six screws securing the display hinges (three screws per hinge).
Disconnect the LCD cable (video cable) from the motherboard.
If you laptop came with Wi-Fi card, you’ll have to disconnect Wi-Fi antenna cables from the wireless card and unroute the cables. My laptop came without wireless card and because of that there are no Wi-Fi antenna cables running from the display panel.

By the way, you’ll find the display panel part number on a sticker above the LCD cable connector. In my case the part number is 381066-001. This is part number for the whole display panel assembly including the LCD screen, video cable, hinges, plastic cover and bezel.

Some sellers use this part number just for the LCD screen. Make sure you know what you are buying, the whole display panel or just the LCD screen. Ask the seller.

STEP 10.

Remove the display panel assembly. Here you can buy a new LCD screen or entire display panel for Presario M2000.

In the next guide I explain how to disassemble the display panel so you can remove the inverter board and LCD screen.

STEP 11.

Remove two screws securing the button board.
Disconnect the white ribbon cable from the button board.

STEP 12.

Remove the button board. You can find a new button board using this part number: DACT2BPI6B2.

STEP 13.

Remove the RAM, HDD and Wi-Fi card covers from the bottom of the notebook.

STEP 14.

Pull the hard drive up and remove it from the notebook.

STEP 15.

Remove both memory RAM modules.

STEP 16.

Remove one screws securing the CD/DVD drive and pull the drive from the notebook.
If you are just replacing the drive, you don’t have to go though all previous disassembly steps.

STEP 17.

Remove all screws from the bottom of the notebook.

STEP 18.

Remove all screws securing the top cover.
Disconnect the touch pad cable from the motherboard.

STEP 19.

Turn the notebook upside down and carefully lift up the base cover.

STEP 20.

Remove the base cover.

STEP 21.

Now you can access the cooling fan.
In order to remove the fan you’ll have to remove two screws and unplug the fan cable from the motherboard.

STEP 22.

Remove the cooling fan and replace it with a new one if needed.

STEP 23.

Unplug the speaker assembly cable from the motherboard and remove the speaker assembly.

STEP 24.

The battery is connected to the motherboard via a battery board.
Remove two screws securing the battery board and disconnect it from the motherboard.

STEP 25.

In a Presario M2000 notebook the power connector (power jack) is located on a separate power connector board. You can remove and replace the power connector board without removing the motherboard.

Remove two screws securing the power connector board and unplug it from the motherboard.

The power connector board is removed.

Using the part number DA0CT2PB6D8 you can find a new power connector board here.

In a case of power connector (power jack) failure either resolder/replace the power jack or replace the whole power connector board.

STEP 26.

Remove four screws securing the motherboard.

STEP 27.

Carefully lift up the motherboard on one side.

STEP 28.

Remove the motherboard.

The processor (CPU) is located under the heat sink.

In this guide I explain how to disassemble Sony Vaio TZ series laptops in order to remove and replace the hard drive. As an example I took a Sony Vaio TZ130N laptop (Model: PCG-4L3L). In this little laptop the hard drive is buried deep inside the case and we’ll have to disassemble the whole thing apart.

I assume that my guide will work for the entire Sony Vaio TZ line of laptops. If it works for you, please mention the model number in the comments below.

Do not forget to turn off the laptop and remove the battery. Work in static-free environment.

STEP 1.

Remove the memory cover from the bottom.

Pull the memory module from the slot.

You don’t have to remove the memory module in order to access and replace the hard drive. I’m doing that just to show where you can find the memory module.

STEP 2.

Remove all marked screws from the bottom of the laptop.

There are three more screws hidden under three rubber seals.

You can remove these rubber seals with a sharp object. Remove all three screws found under the seals.

Remove one more screw found under the square rubber seal located close to the hinge.

STEP 3.

Very carefully remove the plastic cover from the left hinge. It’s not easy. I spent about 5 minutes trying to figure out how to remove the cover. It has a couple of plastic latches inside and you can remove it using a small flat head screwdriver.

The cover has been removed.

Fortunately, you have to remove only one cover from the left hinge. This cover protects the power jack.

STEP 4.

If you have any SD card or cover inside the slot on the front of the laptop, remove both of them.

Start separating the top cover (keyboard) assembly as it shown on the picture below.

Work with your fingers until the top cover separated from the base.

Place the top cover (keyboard) assembly upside down on the palm rest and disconnect the cable from the motherboard.

Remove the top cover (keyboard) assembly.

STEP 5.

You cannot access the hard drive until you remove the SD slot/USB board.

Remove two screws securing the board and unplug the cable from the motherboard.

Lift up and remove the SD slot/USB board.

STEP 6.

The hard drive is mounted under the metal bracket. Remove one screw securing the hard drive bracket.

Remove the hard drive bracket.

Lift up the hard drive and disconnect the hard drive cable.

In order to release the cable you’ll have to unlock the connector first. Very carefully lift up the black piece on the connector. Pull the cable from the connector.

The hard drive has been removed. If you are replacing the hard drive, you’ll have to transfer four rubber corners to a new drive.

My Sony Vaio TZ130N laptop had a Toshiba 1.8″ 100GB hard drive (MK1011GAH) installed. It’s same type of hard drives found in iPods. These 1.8″ hard drives are not cheap but you can find them relatively inexpensive here.