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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.
August 16th, 2012 at 8:13 am
VERY helpful page – thought I’d have to remove every screw under the whole laptop (Sony FE41S) to replace the keyboard but after reading the article it was only three. Removing the speaker cover was a bit heart-stopping but it did snap out eventually (rather than snap in two!). Four more screws and the keyboard came loose. The connector looked a bit daunting but reading a few more paragraphs of the article all became clear. Everything now back in place and I have a fully working keyboard!
June 17th, 2012 at 1:47 am
Hi,
I have a VGN-FE31M and it’s playing up (or dying!). Basically a week ago a heard a noise like electronics frying (just like the movies!). Since then the screen has been showing lines and distortion all over it. At first it would boot correctly the odd time but has now gone to this state full-time. As I understand, if it’s the graphics card this is built in to the motherboard and therfore I can forget about the laptop. But it might also be the inverter? It won’t hook up to an external monitor and is also distorted in safemode. Any ideas before I go spending money? Any help will be greatfully appreciated!!
January 2nd, 2012 at 5:56 am
hi, it really helped me a lot
however I only wanted to clean my keyboard, take out piece of dust, hair … so I found out that I did not had to open the keyboard, just take keys one by one with fingers, …
November 22nd, 2011 at 6:44 pm
This was a very helpful tutorial – beats trial-and-error hands down.
I’ve just followed it to replace the keyboard on a VGN-FE51B/H. Before the repair the S key was making constant contact, making the computer unusable. Now it’s back in action.
Follow the writer’s advice and take it slow. The speaker cover tabs are a bit fragile so take special care there, it’s fiddly. The cable connector is nicely wedged in but it’s so light it frees up suddenly.
Thank you!
July 18th, 2011 at 6:24 am
OH! You’re so great man! Helped a lot! I have a Vaio VGN-FE855E, and the keys are dying.. Now that I read your tips I can buy a new keyboard and replace it by myself..
Thanks for your help!
May 15th, 2011 at 10:23 am
ssa,
What do you mean it’s stuck?
What happen is you spread latches on both sides of the memory slot (as it shown in the step 3)?
May 15th, 2011 at 12:39 am
My memory card got stuck in slot. The computer does not see that it is there. I have used it 100′s times before without difficulty. Can you tell me how to remove it please? Vital pics stuck on the disc.
thanks
April 23rd, 2011 at 10:48 am
hey, i have an fe28b and about 12 of the keys have stopped working, i havnt spilt anything on the keys and ive had the laptop for 5 years so i think it might be down to wear. is it possible to fix individual keys or will i have to replace the unit? thanks, john
January 25th, 2011 at 3:26 am
Oh I forgot to mention, sometimes, but only sometimes if I hold CTR ALT DEL down as soon as the power up the laptop, it progresses to the normal Win XP screen.
Just done this and it’s brought up a System Config Utility screen telling me I’ve made changes to the way windows starts (currently in diagnostic/selective start-up). Anyway, still have a hundred help screens all over the place.
January 25th, 2011 at 3:09 am
Hi, Thanks for this. I bought a replacement keyboard and just fitted it but it’s not solved my problem. I wonder though if you have an idea what the problem is.
I have a Vaio FE21M and a year ago, I spilled water on the keyboard. At the time it froze and started making a constant beeping sound. After drying it out, it works erratically. Here’s what happens:
1) Boot up screen followed by constant beeps (close together no pattern to them). The only way to stop the noise..and to progress to the next screen is to press the volume + key (the keyboard cannot be operated during this time).
2) Hit and miss whether or not this takes it to a proper windows start up or hard disk recovery.
3) Weirdly the volume + key seems to operate the caps lock and num lock keys.
4) When it does progress to normal boot up, the keyboard works and every application results in a help screen popping up or the search function flickering constantly – these cause the whole thing to freeze up. Only once has it worked normally….then when I booted up the next time, it failed.
5) Thinking it was a sticky keyboard, I bought a new keyboard and have just fitted it…but it’s doing the same thing as always.
Do you think I need a new volume/short-cut bar or do you think the motherboard is fried? When I take out the keyboard, the sticky patch between the volume/short cut bar and the keyboard is stained. I’m stumped now. I’ve spent a few pounds on this now…but still less than Sony want to look at the bloomin’ thing.
Any thoughts, much appreciated.