Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Motherboard Replacement

ID: 140250

Description: The motherboard of a laptop is the component...

Using your fingers, slide the lock on each side of the battery to the unlocked position.
Remove the battery from the slot.

Use the Phillips #1 screwdriver to loosen the two screws parallel to the battery compartment.

Push the keyboard towards the screen and away from the trackpad and then slide it out towards you gently.
The keyboard is connected to the board by two ribbon connectors.
Be careful not to rip the connectors when you flip the keyboard over.

Flip the keyboard over towards you to expose the backside of the keyboard and the two ribbon connectors.
Using the black nylon spudger, flip the first ribbon connector lock open. Slide the first connector out.

Using the black nylon spudger, unlock the second ribbon connector and slide it out from the port.

Insert the blue plastic opening tool into the space between the lower case and the chassis.
Slide the opening tool around the perimeter of the case to release the clips holding the case and the chassis together.
If it feels like the battery well portion of the back cover isn't loose, these clips may be holding the cover to the laptop. Use your opening tool to pry the clips loose and try removing the cover again.
Remove the back case.

Use a Phillips #1 screwdriver to remove the two 4.6 mm screws that secure the internal battery to the frame.

Use the spudger to slide the battery socket connector parallel to the motherboard and out of its socket on the motherboard.

Lift the battery straight out of its recess and remove it.
If the battery is difficult to remove from the recess, use a nylon spudger to gently lift it on one edge, making it easier to grasp and remove by hand.
To prevent damage or potential fire, do not bend or flex the battery. Only use a plastic spudger and avoid any sharp tools that could puncture the battery.

Pull the black plastic sheet back to reveal the RAM stick.
Using your fingers, pull the metal arms (located on both sides of the RAM stick) slightly away from it .
The RAM will pop up by a few millimeters.
Remove it at an angle and not straight up so you don't damage the socket.

Slide the RAM stick out from the memory module slot.
Repeat for the RAM stick located below. This computer did not have RAM in the slot below however.

Using the Phillips #1 screwdriver, remove the single 3.6 mm screw at the top of the Wi-Fi card attaching it to the motherboard.

Slide a thin, ESD-safe pry tool or angled tweezers under the metal neck of the connector (as close to the head as possible) and lift straight up from the board.
For additional tips on disconnecting coaxial cables, check out the Recognizing and Disconnecting Cable Connectors guide.
When working with these connectors, always lift the head straight up. If pried on at an odd angle, you risk breaking the socket off of the board underneath.
Use tweezers to hold the connector in place over its socket and gently press down with your finger or a spudger—the connector should "snap" into place. If you're having trouble, reposition the head and try again.
Don't try to force the connector into place or you may permanently damage it.

Using an IC extractor or black nylon spudger, unplug the connector from the socket on the motherboard.
This connector may be very difficult to remove and is easily damaged. Be careful that you don't damage the port when removing the coin cell battery connector.

Using the black nylon spudger, pry the coin cell battery off of the motherboard.
The coin cell battery is stuck to the board with a light adhesive.

Using the Phillips #1 screwdriver, remove two 4.8 mm screws from the right speaker.

Lift the right speaker out of the case.
Gently remove the speaker cable from the perimeter of the chassis, connecting the right speaker to the left speaker.

Remove two 4.8 mm screws from the left speaker using the Phillips #1 screwdriver.

Using the black nylon spudger, remove the slide connector which attaches the left speaker to the motherboard.
Remove the left speaker from the case.

Using the Phillips #1 screwdriver, loosen the four captive screws in the arm of the heatsink.

Use the black nylon spudger to slide the fan connector parallel to the motherboard and out of its socket on the motherboard.

Using the Phillips #1 screwdriver, remove three 4.6 mm screws from the I/O bracket.

Using the Phillips #1 screwdriver, remove the three 4.1 mm screws from the RJ45 bracket.
Lift the bracket off of the motherboard.

Use the black nylon spudger to lift up the small locking flap on the power button cable's ZIF connector.
Slide the power button cable out of the ZIF connector.

Use the tip of a spudger or an opening tool, to flip up the small, hinged locking flap on the camera cable connector to remove the cable from the motherboard.