How to remove memory, hard drive, optical drive and keyboard from Sony Vaio VGN-FE series laptop

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.