Toshiba Satellite A210 Motherboard Replacement

ID: 14096

Description: Before attempting this guide, please have all...

Steps:

1. Unplug the AC adapter and all other auxiliary components from the laptop.
2. Slide the battery lock tab away from the center of the laptop to unlock the battery.

3. Slide the battery release tab away from the center of the laptop and hold it.
4. Lifting from the small notch between the two tabs, pull the battery out of the laptop.

5. Remove the screw holding the RAM cover with a PH1 screwdriver.
6. Remove the RAM cover.

7. Push outwards on the metal tabs to release the RAM.
8. Remove the RAM. Some force may be needed.
9. Be careful not to touch the gold pins on the RAM chips as there may be a build-up of static electricity. This can fry the parts of the chip that houses memory.

10. Use a PH0 screwdriver to remove the screw holding the optical drive in place.
11. Using your index finger, push the metal tab inside the RAM bay which is located directly underneath the screw-hole.
12. The optical drive will then slide out.

13. Unscrew the 4 highlighted screws with a PH1 screwdriver.

14. Orient the laptop so that the screen is open and facing you.
15. Slide the plastic opening tool underneath the top edge of the black plastic insert.
16. Pull it off and set aside.

17. Remove the 2 PH1 screws.
18. Lift the keyboard from the top being carful not to remove it fully. There is still a ribbon cable that connects the keyboard to the laptop.

19. Disconnect the keyboard ribbon cable and remove the keyboard from the laptop.

20. Close the laptop and flip it over.
21. Unscrew the 11 red circled screws with a PH1 screwdriver. These screws are larger in size.
22. Unscrew the 2 orange circled screws with a PH1 screwdriver. These screws are shorter and thicker than the previous.
23. Unscrew the 1 yellow circled screw with a PH1 screwdriver. This screw is longer and thinner than the previous.

24. Flip the laptop over and open it so that the screen is facing you.
25. Locate the hinges on either side of the screen, which secure the display to the body of the laptop.
26. Unscrew the 2 screws in each hinge with a PH1 screwdriver.
27. The display is no longer connected to the laptop and could fall. Be careful not to drop it during the next steps.

28. Unfasten the connectors from the highlighted locations.
29. Disconnect by gently pulling on the fasteners which connect the wires to the laptop.
30. Pulling directly on the wires could cause permanent damage to the connectors or the wires themselves.
31. Unscrew the screw indicated by the yellow circle.

32. Slide the plastic opening tool underneath the edges of the upper casing, which is shown in the images.

33. The LCD screen can now be removed from the laptop.
34. Lift the upper plastic casing and remove it from the lower half of the laptop.

35. Unfasten the two connections shown.
36. Unscrew the two screws securing the fan to the laptop. Use a PH1 for the screw that is adjacent to the speaker and a PH0 for the other screw.
37. Lift up the fan and pull the black plastic tab away from the fan housing. Remove the fan.
38. Do not remove the metal fan housing. It is taped to a metal heat-sink and should not be removed.

39. First, remove the one screw with a PH1 screwdriver.
40. Next, remove the black connector marked by the yellow box.

41. Gently pull the the small white ribbon cable from its housing on the motherboard.
42. Locate and unfasten the small white clip from the motherboard near the bottom right.

43. Disconnect the two white fasteners that connect the speakers to the motherboard.

44. Gently slide the plastic opening tool underneath and around the motherboard.
45. Do not force the motherboard out. If the motherboard breaks, it is not repairable. You will have to buy a new one.
46. After the motherboard is free of the plastic casing, do not pull it all the way out. There is still a connector on the underside of it.
47. Remove the connector on the underside using your fingers.