STEP 1

- Turn the laptop upside down.
- Unlock the battery (if locked) and remove it.

STEP 2

- Remove one screw from the memory module cover.
- Remove three screws from the modem/hard drive bay cover.
- Remove one Torx T-9 screw from the wireless card cover.

STEP 3

- Release the memory module(s) locking tabs and remove memory module(s).
- Remove two screws from hard drive, pull it to the right using fitted black vinyl pull tab, then lift it out.
- Remove one screw securing the modem.
- Lift the modem up and to the right to disconnect it from the system board.
- Unplug the cable on the modem card (inset). Note the orientation of connector.

STEP 4

- Carefully disconnect the wireless card antenna cables. Note that the white cable goes to MAIN and black cable goes to AUX.
- Release the card locking tabs.
- Remove the wireless card from the laptop.

STEP 5

- Remove one screw securing the DVD drive.
- Push on the grey metal tab to release the drive, and slide it out.

STEP 6

- Remove the 15 circled screws on the bottom of the case. The screws marked with an "M" are shorter than the others.
- Do NOT remove the two crossed-out screws; they secure the hinges and will be removed in a later stage.

STEP 7

- Lift the keyboard securing strip with a sharp object and continue removing with your fingers. The strip should rotate from the back toward the front. NOTE: It is eaiser to remove the strip if one starts at each side and works toward the middle.

STEP 8

- Remove the keyboard securing strip.

STEP 9

- Remove the two screws securing the keyboard.

STEP 10

- Lift up the keyboard.
- Slide the keyboard connector's white release tabs forward, then disconnect the flat keyboard cable from the system board.

STEP 11

- Carefully lift and remove the keyboard left trim piece.

STEP 12

- Remove two screws securing the display on the bottom of the laptop.

STEP 13

- Carefully pull the wireless antenna cables through the opening and out of the channel.
- Unplug the video cable.
- Remove the two screws securing the LCD panel assembly.

STEP 14

- Lift up the LCD panel assembly and remove it from the laptop.

STEP 15

- Slide the media panel connector's grey release tabs to the right, and disconnect the media panel ribbon cable.
- Slide the touchpad connector's grey release tabs toward you, and using the blue pull tab, disconnect the touchpad ribbon cable.
- Remove four screws on the front and one silver screw in the hard drive bay on the back (see inset) securing the system board.

STEP 16

- Carefully work a thin, flat object such as a small flat-blade screwdriver, around the edge between the top cover and the laptop base. Guitar picks are reportedly very good for this purpose.

STEP 17

- Lift up and remove the top cover assembly.

STEP 18

- Disconnect the speaker cable on the system board.

STEP 19

- Remove four small screws securing the bracket over the ExpressCard slot, and lift off the bracket.

STEP 20

- Remove six screws securing system board and ExpressCard module to laptop base.
- Remove wireless ON/OFF switch faceplate (edge view, inset).

STEP 21

- Remove two hex studs.

STEP 22

- Carefully lift up the system board and remove it from the laptop base.

STEP 23

- The video chip is under the heatsink on the top of the system board.
- Remove one screw to access the video chip.

STEP 24

- The CPU is located under the X-shaped heatsink on the underside of the system board.
- CPU fan and CPU removal is not discussed in this disassembly guide.