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In this guide I explain how to disassemble a Sony Vaio VGN-NR series laptop.
I’ll be taking apart a Sony Vaio VGN-NR120E laptop but I believe you can use same instructions for all other models in VGN-NR line. If this guide works for your laptop please mention the full model number in comments after the post.
The main goal of my repair is removing and replacing the failed hard drive which is mounted inside the laptop case. While accessing the hard drive, I’ll explain how to remove some other main laptop parts.
Before you start, make sure the laptop is turned off and battery removed.
STEP 1.
Both memory modules can be accessed on the bottom of the laptop.
Remove one screw securing the memory cover. Remove the cover.
STEP 2.
Release both memory modules and pull them from slots.
STEP 3.
Remove three screws securing the DVD drive.
Pull DVD drive from the laptop and remove it.
STEP 4.
Remove one screw securing the keyboard.
STEP 5.
There are four spring loaded latches securing the keyboard to the top cover.
I pointed to latch locations with four arrows.
STEP 6.
In order to remove the keyboard you’ll have to release all four latches.
Push on the latch with a sharp object. The keyboard will lift up a little bit and will not allow the latch to lock again.
Release all four latches.
STEP 7.
Now you should be able to lift up the keyboard and turn it over on the palm rest.
Be careful, the keyboard still attached to the motherboard.
STEP 8.
When the keyboard turned over, you can access the cable connector.
Before you remove the keyboard, the cable connector has to be unlocked and cable released.
STEP 9.
On the following picture the keyboard cable connector shown in the locked position.
In order to unlock the connector you’ll have to move the brown part about 2 millimeters to the direction shown by two arrows. The brown tab must stat attached to the white base. Do not move it too far. Do not separate it from the connector base.
STEP 10.
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 released now.
Pull keyboard cable from the connector.
STEP 11.
Now you can remove the keyboard.
If you need a new keyboard, you can find it here.
STEP 12.
Remove all screws from the bottom of the laptop. These screws securing the bottom cover to the top cover.
STEP 13.
Lift up and remove the bottom cover.
STEP 14.
When the bottom cover removed you can access the cooling fan, wireless card, processor and hard drive.
As I mentioned before, my goal is replacing the hard drive.
NOTE: In order to remove the cooling fan, you’ll have to remove the heat sink. Shouldn’t be very difficult.
You can find a new replacement fan here.
STEP 15.
Remove one screw securing the USB board. Lift up the USB board and put it aside.
STEP 16.
Remove one screw securing the hard drive assembly.
Slide the hard drive assembly to the right to disconnect it from the motherboard.
STEP 17.
Lift up the hard drive assembly.
Now separate the failed hard drive from the mounting bracket and replace it with a new drive.
This is a regular 2.5″ SATA hard drive.
Any large 2.5″ SATA hard drive should work fine in this laptop.
I think my guide should fit the following Sony Vaio models: VGN-NR110, VGN-NR115, VGN-NR123, VGN-NR140, VGN-NR160, VGN-NR180, VGN-NR185, VGN-NR220, VGN-NR240, VGN-NR260, VGN-NR270, VGN-NR280, VGN-NR285, VGN-NR290, VGN-NR295, VGN-NR298, VGN-NR305, VGN-NR310, VGN-NR320, VGN-NR330, VGN-NR360, VGN-NR380, VGN-NR385, VGN-NR398, VGN-NR420, VGN-NR430, VGN-NR460, VGN-NR475, VGN-NR480, VGN-NR485, VGN-NR490, VGN-NR498.
September 3rd, 2012 at 8:58 am
@ Emely,
There is no way I can tell what is wrong without looking at the laptop. Make sure it’s assembled correctly and all screws are installed correctly.
August 27th, 2012 at 10:16 am
When I replaced the hard drive, now the keyboard keys don’t line up. The ones specifically on the right. Any idea?
August 7th, 2012 at 7:12 pm
what a palava, The only reason Sony made it this difficult to get at the hard drive is because they know the vast majority of users would not attempt something like this in the case of hard drive failure, and paying some company to do it would cost about £170 with labour and parts. It’s a complete con to get more people to buy more computers or to ship them back to a sony repair centre
June 25th, 2012 at 10:25 am
Thanks. Fine, detailed explanation. This is much appreciated and it will apply to the VGN-NR120e too. Thanks for not bogging us down with extra details. Clear and concise.
June 25th, 2012 at 3:21 am
Excellent article. I’ve just used this to get the keyboard off the laptop (which had broke) and managed to find the correct part and ordered.
May 27th, 2012 at 2:24 pm
I should add on… After the battery trick to clear CMOS config data, I was able to boot into the bios and check all the screens etc. I was also able to do a Restore of the whole disk and get the system working again. There were two issues along the way…
1) As mentioned, I left two usb ports unusable but there are 2 more on the the right side that work fine.
2) The trackpad is not doing anything. I plugged in a cheap usb mouse rather than reopen the chassis again.
Thanks for these instructions!
Alan
May 20th, 2012 at 10:12 pm
The CMOS battery is (in my case) bright green in color and a little smaller than two dimes (though thicker). This is NOT on the side shown in step 14. It’s on the bottom instead, on the other side from the two memory slots. So after step 17, keep working as mentioned by others, if you want to reset the bios. My bios was freezing (F2 would enter, but couldn’t move from screen to screen (Main, Advanced, Security, Boot, Exit)). I pulled out the disk after 17, and connected it to my mac using an INFOSAFE SAT2510BU2B from Startech.com, and ran PhotoRec to retrieve files (partition was hosed). Got a ton of files to give back to my friend, the owner of the laptop.
To get to the CMOS battery, I had to remove the plastic battery casing (3 screws). I disconnected the tiny white connector from the usb board to the motherboard, and freed some cables here and there. By reassembly time, I found the usb board connector had slipped off the wires. Rather than guess at the wiring, I just left the 2-port USB board disconnected (but still in place) – small loss. I was able to unplug (and replug) the white connector from the CMOS battery without fully releasing the motherboard from the chassis. On reconnect, I also noticed the blue ribbon had become disconnected (see step 8 picture). I flipped up the connector and reinserted the ribbon cable, just before I inserted keyboard again.
I have a few more pictures, including one showing cmos battery. If author would like them, please contact me (you have my email from the post), and you can add them if you like.
March 26th, 2012 at 4:51 am
Great instructions!!! I used these directions to take my VGN-NR180 apart for a wireless switch on the front of the notebook that was not working. I was able to get the connection on the back of the on/off button reconnected back to the internal switch on the motherboard which allowed me to enable the wireless switch, the LED for the wireless card on the front of the notebook is now on solid green and the wireless connection is working again. Thanks for the assistance!!!
February 11th, 2012 at 1:43 pm
Excellent guide.IUsed it to open up my VGN-NR31J/S too reflow the GPU (GEFORCE 8400GT M) .
Unfortunately 2 wks down the line and GPU failed again. Obviously pushed the laptop to its limit by running Furmark benchmarks almost 3 times daily and reaching 85c max!
Steps followed:
1)Cleaned GPU with arctic clean 2)refluxed it with liquid flux 3) Used heatgun for 50 secs(at 300c) to melt the solder in conjuction with the liquid flux 4)Applied thermal paste and put heatsink and laptop back together.
On next fix(which is in a few days) will put a copper shim on top of GPU chip after applying thermal paste and thermal paste again on top of copper shim (see step 4) and drill a few holes at bottom of plactic cover where GPU is located (using a soldering iron) and using a custom made laptop cooler (which propels air into the holes)
Any ideas/suggestions are most welcome
Thanks
February 10th, 2012 at 4:49 am
Hi I am also having problems accessing and repacing the power jack for this laptop. I removed the fan and speaker but it is encased in a plastic surround that does not budge or have any screws visible. Any info or diagrams that anyone knows about ould be great.
Thanks.
Craig