How to Change the Motherboard on a Notebook

The motherboard provides the slots and connectors needed to attach hardware to the notebook. Along the surface of the motherboard are circuits and pathways that allow devices to communicate with one another.



Motherboards, just like any other component inside a notebook, can fail or become damaged. To replace a notebook's motherboard, you must remove all of the components connected to the board and insert a new, compatible board in its place. You can typically extract the hard disk, optical drive, Wi-Fi card, battery supply and memory modules from the computer without disassembling the notebook. However, to access the motherboard itself, you must remove the top cover and keyboard shielding the interior components.

• 1

  Verify that the form factor (physical dimensions) of the new motherboard is identical to the form factor of the motherboard that you want to replace in your notebook. Some online computer-parts stores provide information regarding which motherboards are compatible with particular notebook models.

• 2

  Shut down the computer. Remove the AC adapter from the power jack on the side of the notebook. Disconnect any other peripheral devices connected to the docking station.

• 3

  Close the lid to the laptop. Turn the computer over onto its face. Release the lock securing the battery in place. Secure an anti-static armband to your wrist to protect your computer from harmful static electricity.

• 4

  Extract the battery from the notebook. Unscrew the panels covering the hard drive, memory and Wi-Fi adapter. Set the panels aside.

• 5

  Release the retainers holding the memory in place. Grab the memory module by its edges and pull it from its slot. Remove any other modules connected to the computer.

• 6

  Loosen the screw securing the hard drive to the base of the notebook. Gently extract the hard drive from its bay. Disconnect any cables connected to the drive.

• 7

  Remove the screw securing the optical drive in place. Slide the drive out of the notebook. Disconnect the antenna lead from the wireless card. Unscrew the card and remove it from its slot.

• 8

  Release the retainer securing the CMOS battery to the PC. Extract the CMOS battery from it slot. Loosen any screws located along the base of the laptop.

• 9

  Turn the notebook over and open the lid. Wedge a flat-head screwdriver beneath the keyboard bezel to loosen it from the base of the notebook.

• 10

  Remove the bezel from the notebook. Disconnect any cables connecting the bezel to the motherboard. Wedge the flat-head screwdriver in between the top of the keyboard and the base of the computer.

• 11

  Push the keyboard towards you. Lift the keyboard up and turn it over, laying it flat on the notebook. Unlock the connector securing the keyboard cable in place. Detach the keyboard cable from the motherboard.

• 12

  Set the keyboard aside. Carefully disconnect any visible cables connecting any hardware devices to the motherboard. Loosen the screws securing the top cover assembly to the notebook's base.

• 13

  Disconnect the cable connecting the touchpad to the motherboard. Remove the top cover-assembly. Unscrew and remove the ExpressCard (expansion) slot and the Bluetooth module.

• 14

  Remove the screw or screws securing the motherboard to the base of the notebook. Lift the motherboard away from the notebook and remove any remaining cables connected to the motherboard.

• 15

  Remove the screws securing the heatsink and fan to the motherboard. Set the cooling assembly aside. Release the tab securing the CPU in place. Remove the CPU from the motherboard.

• 16

  Remove the new motherboard from its protective packaging. Secure the CPU to the motherboard, then, after applying thermal grease to the surface of the processor, place the heatsink and fan on top of the CPU.

• 17

  Secure the cooling assembly in place. To reassemble the rest of the laptop, follow the above steps in reverse order.