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In this guide I’ll be taking apart a Asus Eee PC 1201n netbook. I will show how to remove netbook memory modules, keyboard, top cover, hard drive, cooling fan and CMOS battery.
Most likely this guide will work for other Asus Eee 12XX netbooks. If it works for you, please mention the model number in comments after this post.
Make sure the netbook is turned off.
STEP 1.
Remove the battery.
Remove two screws securing the memory (RAM) cover and remove the cover.
STEP 2.
Both memory modules can be easily accessed through the door on the bottom.
Spread plastic latches on both sides of the memory slot until the memory module pops up at a 30 degree angle. After that carefully pull memory module from the slot by the edges.
In the following 7 steps I’ll be removing the keyboard.
STEP 3.
The keyboard secured by four latches on the top.
STEP 4.
Press on the latch with a sharp object and at the same time pull the keyboard a little bit up.
Do the same with remaining three latches.
STEP 5.
After all four latches are released, you can lift up the keyboard.
STEP 6.
Be careful, the keyboard attached to the motherboard with a flat ribbon cable.
Before you can remove the keyboard, you have to unlock the connector and release the cable.
STEP 7.
In order to unlock the keyboard connector, move the brown clip about 2-3 millimeters towards the display.
The brown clip must stat attached to the white base.
On the following picture the connector shown in the unlocked position.
STEP 8.
After the connector unlocked, you can release the cable and remove the keyboard.
You’ll find a few keyboard part numbers on the sticker. I’m not sure which one is the official Asus part number, but you can search on google for all of them.
I think one of these part numbers will lead you to the replacement keyboard.
In the following 5 steps I will show how to remove the top cover.
STEP 9.
Remove all screws from the bottom of the netbook.
STEP 10.
Remove all screws securing the top cover assembly.
Disconnect the touch pad cable.
STEP 11.
You unlock the touch pad connector same way you unlocked the keyboard connector.
STEP 12.
Start separating the top cover assembly from the netbook base. You can use a piece of soft plastic to separate the top cover. I’m using the guitar pick.
STEP 13.
Remove the top cover assembly.
STEP 14.
After you remove the top cover assembly, you can access the hard drive, cooling fan and CMOS battery.
STEP 15.
Remove four screws securing the hard drive assembly.
Slide the hard drive assembly to right to disconnect it from the motherboard.
Lift up and remove the hard drive.
As you see, it’s a regular 2.5″ SATA hard drive for notebooks.
STEP 16.
In order to remove the cooling fan, you’ll have to remove two screws and disconnect one cable from the motherboard.
After that the cooling fan is ready for the removal and replacement.
In the following guide I explain how to remove and replaced LED-backligt screen in Asus Eee PC 1201n netbook.
May 8th, 2013 at 11:20 am
@ raven,
You can buy screws for Eee PC 1201 here.
May 8th, 2013 at 10:44 am
I need the SCREWS for the Eee PC 1201 Series to reasemble it.
I wish I had access to this wonderful site when I took the unit apart.
Raven
May 8th, 2013 at 10:41 am
HELP PLEASE….I am in URGENT list of type & size and quantity of Eee Pc 1201 series.
Was in the middle of something when I had to move and I can’t find screws any where.
got lot’s of boxes unpackes though…………………LOL
Thanks eveer so much for reply ASAP.
Raven
January 20th, 2013 at 10:02 am
Hi,
Does anyone know if ASUS will be able to fix these two problems I have on my 1201N netbook. I didn’t feel like calling a waiting on hold, so I asked here.
1. The socket (hole where you plug in the charger) on the side of the netbook is really bad, meaning the adapter doesn’t fit anymore, the plug basically just hangs in the hole, I have to put my alarm clock on the plug positioned in such a way that holds it in place, other wise it will just fall out. I don’t think it’s the adapter itself, but I did replace it from a different company not asus (forgot which one) and it was not a snug fit at all, even when I first tried it.
2. I am also missing two keys on the keyboard, the B and X keys are missing, but ALL keys DO WORK, they are just missing.
Thanks in advance!
Brian
October 29th, 2012 at 8:08 am
step 16 – removing the fan is not detailed. i got here and then discovered that the fan is still stuck, and also the cable won’t disconnect.
can you elaborate?
July 17th, 2012 at 4:16 am
Hello,thank you for the tutorial.
I am interested in audio before it becomes digital for hdmi exit.Whould you know these points,please?
regards,
Milan
June 11th, 2012 at 11:39 pm
Hello, thx for tutorial, but i have problem with my Asus EEE 1001HA netbook, battery is under the motherboard so i can’t reach it. There is pic: http://i49.tinypic.com/1z3qm12.jpg. I guess its this black&red cable(look pic.: http://i48.tinypic.com/2ziplci.jpg). Last night i unplugged it and today i tried to plugin and turn on my netbook, but same thing is happening only bios screen showing and freezed there. I don’t know what else to do to restart my bios…? Tyvm
May 29th, 2012 at 10:26 am
@ simon,
If only one key failed and all other keyboard keys are working properly, most likely this is failed keyboard.
You cannot fix the failed key. You’ll have to replace the entire keyboard.
May 28th, 2012 at 2:44 am
how do i fix my keyboard the backspace key is not responding…rply plz
March 12th, 2012 at 2:15 pm
@ skisgirl,
I don’t think you can damage the motherboard this way.
Probably not unless you can find a cheap replacement motherboard.
What’s going on with the laptop? Is it turning on at all?