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In this guide I will show how to disassemble a Sony Vaio VPCS111FM laptop in order to fix broken power button.
Also, this laptop has another model number on the bottom: Model PCG-51211L.
Here’s what happened. The power button got pushed into the laptop case and stopped working. It wasn’t possible to turn on the laptop at all.
In order to figure out what’s going on I had to disassemble the laptop base and take a closer look at the power button.
By the way, here’s my previous post explaining how to replace LCD screen on Sony Vaio VPCS111FM laptop.
STEP 1.
Make sure the laptop is turned off. Remove the battery.
STEP 2.
Remove four screws securing the hard drive and memory cover.
It’s not necessary to remove the memory cover for the purpose of this guide. I’m doing it just to show where laptop memory located.
STEP 3.
Remove two screws securing the hard drive assembly.
As you see, both memory modules can be accessed on the bottom of the laptop.
STEP 4.
Slide the hard drive assembly to the shown direction to disconnect it from the motherboard.
Remove hard drive assembly from the laptop.
STEP 5.
Remove two screws securing the DVD drive.
STEP 6.
Push DVD drive with a screwdriver and pull it from the laptop.
STEP 7.
Remove all screws from the bottom of the laptop.
NOTE: my Sony Vaio VPSS111FM laptop had both hinge covers missing. I don’t think you’ll have a problem removing them.
STEP 8.
Remove the express card cover.
Don’t forget to remove one screw located under the cover.
STEP 9.
Now you should be able to lift up the bottom cover and remove it from the laptop.
STEP 10.
The bottom cover removed.
STEP 11.
Under the top cover you’ll get access to the cooling fan assembly (fan and heatsink).
If the cooling fan looks dirty, blow the dust off the fan and heatsink.
STEP 12.
Remove screws securing the express card board.
STEP 13.
Disconnect the power button board cable from the express card board.
STEP 14.
Carefully lift up the right side of the express card board to disconnect it from the motherboard.
STEP 15.
The express card board still connected to the laptop by two wires (wireless card antenna cables). It’s not necessary to disconnect them. Just put the board aside.
The wireless card attached to the bottom side of the express card board.
STEP 16.
Remove one screw securing the power button cover.
Lift up and remove the cover.
Now you can see why the power button got pushed in.
The power button board mounted on the metal frame which is part of the top cover assembly.
A part of the metal frame where the power button board attached broke off.
STEP 17.
Remove the broken metal frame with the power button.
STEP 18.
Remove one screw securing the power button board to the frame and remove the board.
Now I’m going to glue the broken metal piece back to the main chassis.
I’ll be using JB weld Cold Weld compound to attach two metal parts.
I glued broken parts and let it cure overnight.
The next day I assemble the laptop and voila! The Sony Vaio VPCS111FM power button fixed!
March 19th, 2012 at 11:16 am
[...] in the next guide I explain how to disassemble laptop base and repair broken power [...]
March 24th, 2012 at 1:59 am
Dear Admin, can you teach me how to disaassemble an ASUS A53S? Cause i’m having problems with my display, its flickering like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juu7_Z0awDk i would love to hear back from you
thank you. btw thanks for guiding me how to disassemble my acer 4745g
April 2nd, 2012 at 6:37 pm
Hi admin, do you know if removing the cmos battery of an asus n53s will reset the bios password?
Thanks in advance.
April 3rd, 2012 at 11:24 am
How do I get Windows XP to recognize the hard drive as drive letter “C” instead of the card reader
THANKS!!!
April 11th, 2012 at 10:11 am
Hello,
May be you know what is the P/N of the plastic outer parts of the Power Button
and where I can order it ?
Many thanks,
Menachem Sharon
April 16th, 2012 at 4:31 am
Dear Admin,
I need to buy a new 17″ laptop. One of the most important criteria for my selection (brand and model) is that the cooling fan(s) must be easy to access for cleaning and/or replacement. I’d like to find a laptop that doesn’t need to be completely disassembled to access the fan.
Since it looks like you’ve disassembled 100′s or 1,000′s of laptops, I was wondering if you could recommend a brand and model (recent 2011 or 2012 make) would fit my need.
Dell Inspiron, Latitute, Vostro, XPS, or their Alienware? HP Envy or dv7? Acer? Asus? Sony? Toshiba?
Thanks for your help.
September 29th, 2012 at 9:19 am
Hi.
Thank you for yo guide.
I need to change my vaioS keyboard. Can you confirm that is the rear to be removed and not the front like the vaio Z guide to remove the keyboard?
Could you also tell me what screws can unlock the keyboard?
Thanks.
Damien
December 29th, 2012 at 3:16 am
Actually I’m having problem putting back a hinge cover on an almost identical model (s11e7e). It fell off yesterday and I’m not sure how to proceed. I think I will try to remove the screen bezel to see what’s below.
February 11th, 2013 at 7:24 am
Dear Admin:
I’m using Sony Vaio VPCS111FM. The “one button recovery” on top left corner of Keyboard does not work, Kindly guide if possible…….Thnx
2ndly, I presently have intalled Window 7 Home Premium & want to upgrade it to Windows 8…………….Do U know some solution??
Regards
April 18th, 2013 at 6:27 am
Just one little wrinkle in there. If there is a Sim card then remove this or you can’t get the back off. It’s in the battery compartment.
Thanks very much for this – much appreciated.