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In this guide I show how to disassemble a Sony Vaio VGN-FW170J laptop.
Most likely this guide will work for the entire Sony Vaio VGN-FW line. Please mention your laptop model number if this guide works for you.
Before you start, make sure the laptop is turned off and battery removed.
STEP 1.
I start laptop disassemble with removing the hard drive and memory covers from the bottom of the laptop.
STEP 2.
Remove three screws securing the hard drive caddy to the base.
Slide the hard drive to the left and disconnect it from the motherboard.
STEP 3.
Lift up and remove the hard drive.
This laptop uses a regular 2.5″ SATA hard drive.
STEP 4.
Both memory modules can be accessed though the door on the bottom of the laptop.
In order to remove the memory module you’ll have to spread latches located on both sides of the memory slot.
The memory module will pop up at a 30 degree angle. After that you can pull the memory module from the slot.
Sony Vaio VGN-FW170J can handle up to 4GB RAM max. You can install up to 2GB RAM module into one slot. Use DDR2 PC2-640 memory modules.
STEP 5.
Remove two screws securing the DVD drive.
Pull the DVD drive from the laptop.
STEP 6.
I remove all screws because I’m going to remove the top cover assembly.
If you only removing/replacing the keyboard, you should remove four (green) screws securing the speaker cover and one (yellow) screw securing the keyboard.
STEP 7.
Carefully lift up one side of the speaker cover with a sharp object.
Continue removing the cover with your fingers.
STEP 8.
Lift up the side of the keyboard and place it upside down on the palm rest.
STEP 9.
Now you can access the keyboard cable connector.
Before you remove the keyboard, the connector has to be unlocked and cable released.
STEP 10.
On the following picture the connector is shown in the locked position.
In order to unlock the connector, move the brown locking tab about 2 millimeters towards the LCD screen.
WARNING! The brown locking tab must remain attached to the connector base.
STEP 11.
On the following picture the connector is shown in the unlocked position. As you see, the brown tab still attached to the base but the cable is release now.
Pull the keyboard cable from the connector.
STEP 12.
Remove the keyboard. Now you can replace it with a new one if needed.
A new keyboard for Sony Vaio VGN-FW laptops sold here. The keyboard color depends on the laptop model.
STEP 13.
Remove four screws securing laptop speakers.
Disconnect the cable from the motherboard and remove the speakers.
STEP 14.
Remove four screws securing the media button board.
Disconnect the media button board cable from the motherboard.
In order to unlock the connector you lift up the right side of the locking tab at a 90 degree angle.
After that you can pull the cable from the connector.
STEP 15.
Lift up the media button board.
You’ll have to disconnect the power button cable on the bottom of the board.
Remove the media button board.
STEP 16.
Disconnect display cables from the motherboard.
Disconnect two wireless card antenna cables from the wireless card (grab the gold connector with your fingers and lift it up).
STEP 17.
Remove four screws securing display hinges.
STEP 18.
Lift up and remove the display assembly.
STEP 19.
Separate the bottom cover from the top cover.
In this Sony laptop the motherboard is mounted to the top cover.
STEP 20.
Continue removing the bottom cover.
STEP 21.
The bottom cover removed.
NOTE: You can skip steps 7-19 if you only want to remove the bottom cover.
Warning: When installing the bottom cover back on the laptop pay attention to the wireless switch on the motherboard. The wireless switch located on the motherboard and it’s very small and weak. Make sure the wireless switch positioned correctly. The knob on the switch (located on the motherboard) has to match opening on the ON/OFF slider (located on the bottom cover) and fit into it. If the knob on the wireless switch positioned incorrectly, you can break it while installing the bottom cover back on the laptop.
On the following picture it’s hard to see ON/OFF slider but it’s located on the right side of the case.
STEP 22.
When the bottom cover removed, you can access the cooling fan, CMOS battery and DC jack.
Also, you can access the processor (CPU) after you remove the heat sink.
STEP 23.
Remove three screws securing the cooling fan.
Disconnect fan cable from the motherboard.
NOTE: In my laptop a piece of metal frame (where DC jack mounted) broke off of the main frame. That’s why the DC jack looks dislocated.
STEP 24.
Lift up and remove the cooling fan.
New cooling fans for Sony Vaio VGN-FW series laptops available here.
p/p
July 6th, 2012 at 3:13 pm
Consider placing “Note: I think you can skip steps 7-19 if you only want
To remove the back cover” before Step 7. I cut my finger on that speaker and all I wanted to do was remove the back cover. To that end, your instructions (save for steps 7-19) were helpful.
May 13th, 2012 at 7:35 pm
This Guide worked for me. The Laptop model number was Sony Vaio VGN-FW351J. Everything was exactly. I used your directions to replace the audio/usb board. Excellent step by step instruction… Question; Under the RAM memory modules, there is a connector. What is it used for?
April 17th, 2012 at 7:36 am
Question, Do you have to take apart the laptop as described in this how – to if you just want to access the cooling fan?
March 31st, 2012 at 12:03 pm
Hi,
I’m having the same issue as Vinz with my VGN-FW270J it will turn on with the green like on and hard drive will spin but no fan activity at all the screen remains blank and can’t hold down the power button to turn it off, it shows the battery charging when it’s in but aside from that there’s nothing else, i’ve stripped it down to the bare and it’s the same problem have taken out the battery, DVD drive, memory, Cmos battery, tried external monitor but with no luck just the same problem.
March 12th, 2012 at 12:42 pm
@ James,
Cannot tell. I don’t have this laptop anymore.
March 12th, 2012 at 12:37 pm
@ James,
You can try tightening two hinge screws shown in the step 17. Maybe they got loose.
March 10th, 2012 at 8:41 pm
Could you please upload an instruction to disassemble Sony Vaio SR-390, particularly the power jack? It’s broken so that I have to replace it. Thank you very much for you help.
March 9th, 2012 at 9:16 pm
And by the way, just to make sure..
what’s the brand of your memory?
dvd drive?
hard drive?
I doubt that my laptop was being manipulated by a Filipino technician here..replacing the genuine parts of my laptop (geez… I wish I have full knowledge about these matters as early as before..=|
dvd drive : Panasonic (made in the Philippines)
memory : samsung..
Having a laptop repair here in the Philippines is troublesome. Some technicians are abusive.
#justsaying
March 9th, 2012 at 9:07 pm
Hey, can you please tell me how to disassemble the left hinge part ‘coz i have problem with it.. it was starting to shake.. I mean, it gets loose.
What are the possible alternatives to this?
(I don’t know how to get spare parts here in the Philippines, so I think there’s no available here in my country. BTW, my dad bought my computer in computerxpress – Mr. Ezequiel Perez in Long Beach, California..)
Pls help..
cheers!
March 7th, 2012 at 3:36 pm
@ Vinz,
If there is no physical switch somewhere close to hinges, most likely it’s magnetic.
Try minimizing the laptop to bare bone system and test after each step.
Here’s the procedure:
http://www.laptoprepair101.com/laptop/2008/06/14/laptop-dead-troubleshoot-the-problem/