Taking apart Toshiba Satellite P55W-C5316

Today I’ll be taking apart a Toshiba Satellite P55W-C5316 laptop.

These instructions should fit the following Toshiba Satellite P55W-C models: C5200, C5204, C5208, C5210, C5212, C5314.

For Toshiba Satellite P55W-B series check out this P55W-B5112 disassembly guide.

This laptop has many loose cables inside. Pay attention to how the cables are routed on the top case during the disassembly process.

STEP 1.
Remove ten screws securing the bottom cover.

STEP 2.
Separate the bottom cover from the top case. There are hidden latches securing the bottom cover. Use a case opener tool to remove the bottom cover.

STEP 3.
Remove the bottom cover.

STEP 4.
Remove three screws attaching the main battery to the top case frame.

STEP 5.
Lift up the battery and disconnect the battery cable from the motherboard.

Toshiba Satellite P55W-C5316 battery model: PA5208U-1BRS.

STEP 6.
Disconnect the hard drive cable from the motherboard.

In order to disconnect the cable you will have to unlock the connector first.
Lift up the locking tab (red arrow) and pull the cable out (yellow arrow).

STEP 7.
Remove the hard drive assembly with the cable attached.

I suggest upgrading this drive with a 2.5″ solid state drive to improve laptop performance.

STEP 8.
Toshiba Satellite P55W-C series laptop has two memory slots. Both RAM modules are hidden under the black mylar cover. Both RAM modules are easily accessible for replacement or upgrade.

This laptop can handle up to 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3-12800 SODIMM RAM modules.

STEP 9.
Remove three screws securing the left display hinge bracket.

STEP 10.
Lift up and remove the left bracket.

By the way, with the bracket removed you can access the CMOS battery.

STEP 11.
Disconnect the DC power jack cable from the motherboard.

STEP 12.
Remove black tape securing the DC jack cable to the top case.
Remove the DC power jack.

STEP 13.
Remove one screw from the USB/audio board.
Disconnect the I/O cable from the motherboard (color-coded in yellow).
Disconnect one of the display cables from the USB/audio board (color-coded in green).

Remove black sticky tape securing the cable to the top case. As I mentioned earlier, pay attention to how these cables are routed.

STEP 14.
Remove the USB/Audio board with the CMOS battery and I/O cable attached to it.

STEP 15.
Disconnect both antenna cables from the wireless card.

STEP 16.
Remove one screw securing the wireless card and pull the card out.

STEP 17.
Remove two screws from the right display hinge bracket.

STEP 18.
Lift up and remove the right display hinge bracket.

STEP 19.
Remove six screws securing the cooling fan and the processor heatsink.
Disconnect the fan cable from the motherboard (color-coded in orange).

STEP 20.
Carefully separate the heatsink from the processor.
Remove the fan/heatsink assembly.

STEP 21.
Disconnect all display cables from the motherboard.

STEP 22.
Separate the cables from the top case.

STEP 23.
Open the display panel and remove two screws securing the left and right display hinges.

STEP 24.
Separate the display panel from the top case assembly.

STEP 25.
Unscrew the left and right speakers from the top case.
Disconnect the speaker cable from the motherboard.

STEP 26.
Remove both speakers.

STEP 27.
Remove two screw securing the motherboard.
Disconnect the touchpad cable (yellow), keyboard cable (green) and keyboard backlight cable (blue) from the motherboard.

STEP 28.
Lift up and remove the motherboard.

Here’s a photo of the top case with the motherboard removed. With the motherboard removed you can access and remove the keyboard.