Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

19

Time Required

                          30 minutes

Sections

1

  • Complete Disassembly
  • 19 steps

Flags

0

  • BackIBM ThinkPad T42

  • Full Screen

  • Options

  • History

  • Save to Favorites

  • Download PDF

  • Edit

  • Translate

  • Get Shareable Link

  • Embed This Guide

  • Notify Me of Changes

  • Stop Notifications

Introduction

  • BatteryHard DriveOptical DriveMemory CoverRAM Memory Keyboard/Trackpad/Top CoverMini-PCI SlotWi-Fi CardInternal Battery DisplaySide BezelVideo Card / FanProcessorMetal CasingsPlasticsMotherboard

  • Hard DriveOptical Drive

  • RAM Memory

  • Mini-PCI SlotWi-Fi CardInternal Battery Display

  • Video Card / FanProcessor

  • Processor

  • Motherboard

What you need

Step 1

              Complete Disassembly
  • Removing the battery
  • Unplug the power cable before removing the battery.
  • Slide the 2 sliders on the under side of the laptop to the unlock position, as shown.
  • Grasp the battery and pull it straight out - not at an angle.

Removing the battery

Unplug the power cable before removing the battery.

Slide the 2 sliders on the under side of the laptop to the unlock position, as shown.

Grasp the battery and pull it straight out - not at an angle.

1024

Step 2

  • Removing the Hard Drive
  • Unscrew the screw holding the Hard Drive slot in place.
  • Pull the hard drive out with the help of pictured ridges. Cautiously maneuver it out - it might help to open the display slightly.

Removing the Hard Drive

Unscrew the screw holding the Hard Drive slot in place.

Pull the hard drive out with the help of pictured ridges. Cautiously maneuver it out - it might help to open the display slightly.

Step 3

  • Removing the Optical Drive
  • Remove the screw holding the optical drive on the underside of the laptop
  • Push the small slider to unlock position, a tab will automatically pop out.
  • Pull tab to dislodge the optical drive, then pull the drive out.

Removing the Optical Drive

Remove the screw holding the optical drive on the underside of the laptop

Push the small slider to unlock position, a tab will automatically pop out.

Pull tab to dislodge the optical drive, then pull the drive out.

Step 4

  • Removing Memory Cover/Replacing RAM
  • Unscrew the pictured screwed holding the memory cover in place.
  • Pry the cover open carefully (flathead screwdriver might help)
  • To remove the RAM memory stick, push both metal pieces holding it in place outwards, and the stick will pop up. -picture of RAM inside -
  • Pull the stick out carefully. - Picture of the RAM stick -

Removing Memory Cover/Replacing RAM

Unscrew the pictured screwed holding the memory cover in place.

Pry the cover open carefully (flathead screwdriver might help)

To remove the RAM memory stick, push both metal pieces holding it in place outwards, and the stick will pop up. -picture of RAM inside -

Pull the stick out carefully. - Picture of the RAM stick -

Step 5

  • Removing Rear Cover
  • Unscrew the rest of the screws on the underside of the T42.
  • Unscrew the 4 screws on either side the rear end of the laptop.
  • Note: for ease of reassembly, keep track of which screws go where.
  • [ a line-drawing version is included so it can be printed and screws can be taped on ]

Removing Rear Cover

Unscrew the rest of the screws on the underside of the T42.

Unscrew the 4 screws on either side the rear end of the laptop.

Note: for ease of reassembly, keep track of which screws go where.

[ a line-drawing version is included so it can be printed and screws can be taped on ]

Step 6

  • Removing Keyboard and Trackpad
  • Flip the laptop over and open the display carefully - the keyboard, palm rest and bezel will be loose.
  • Maneuver the palm rest away from the keyboard carefully, both the keyboard and palm rest/trackpad will come off together.
  • WARNING Both the keyboard and trackpad have connectors to the motherboard. Disconnect these before completely removing either component.

Removing Keyboard and Trackpad

Flip the laptop over and open the display carefully - the keyboard, palm rest and bezel will be loose.

Maneuver the palm rest away from the keyboard carefully, both the keyboard and palm rest/trackpad will come off together.

WARNING Both the keyboard and trackpad have connectors to the motherboard. Disconnect these before completely removing either component.

Step 7

  • From here you can remove multiple components.
  • Removing Wi-Fi Card
  • To remove Wi-Fi card, first disconnect both display wires on the top right.
  • Then slide both of the metal pieces holding it down outwards, and it will pop up.
  • Carefully pull it out.

From here you can remove multiple components.

Removing Wi-Fi Card

To remove Wi-Fi card, first disconnect both display wires on the top right.

Then slide both of the metal pieces holding it down outwards, and it will pop up.

Carefully pull it out.

Step 8

  • Removing Mini-PCI Port
  • Unscrew the screw holding the port’s bracket down, then remove the bracket.
  • Carefully disconnect it from the motherboard.

Removing Mini-PCI Port

Unscrew the screw holding the port’s bracket down, then remove the bracket.

Carefully disconnect it from the motherboard.

Step 9

  • Removing Top Plastic
  • Starting from the bottom right, carefully pry off the bezel. Use a small, flathead screwdriver if necessary.

Removing Top Plastic

Starting from the bottom right, carefully pry off the bezel. Use a small, flathead screwdriver if necessary.

Step 10

  • Removing the Display
  • To remove the display, unscrew the screws holding it down. Along with the one pictured, there is another one on the top right edge.
  • Carefully unplug the its connection with the motherboard.
  • Now it will be free to move. Carefully maneuver it out.

Removing the Display

To remove the display, unscrew the screws holding it down. Along with the one pictured, there is another one on the top right edge.

Carefully unplug the its connection with the motherboard.

Now it will be free to move. Carefully maneuver it out.

Step 11

  • Removing Lower Bracket
  • The bracket will be free to move, so remove it.
  • Then remove the small rubber piece covering the small battery.

Removing Lower Bracket

The bracket will be free to move, so remove it.

Then remove the small rubber piece covering the small battery.

Step 12

  • Removing Speakers
  • This component is free to move, so disconnect it’s connector and pull it out carefully.

Removing Speakers

This component is free to move, so disconnect it’s connector and pull it out carefully.

Step 13

  • Removing Fan
  • Unscrew the three shown screws, then unplug its connection with the motherboard.
  • **Since both the processor and graphics processor unit are attached to this fan with thermal paste, removing the fan might require some force and a flathead screwdriver to separate the paste from the fan.

Removing Fan

Unscrew the three shown screws, then unplug its connection with the motherboard.

**Since both the processor and graphics processor unit are attached to this fan with thermal paste, removing the fan might require some force and a flathead screwdriver to separate the paste from the fan.

Step 14

  • Removing Processor
  • After removal of the fan, you have access to the processor. Locate its locking mechanism.
  • Use a flat head screwdriver and twist it carefully to the “unlocked” position.
  • Carefully pull the processor out.
  • ***CAUTION - If replacing the processor, make sure the small arrow on the corner aligns with socket.

Removing Processor

After removal of the fan, you have access to the processor. Locate its locking mechanism.

Use a flat head screwdriver and twist it carefully to the “unlocked” position.

Carefully pull the processor out.

***CAUTION - If replacing the processor, make sure the small arrow on the corner aligns with socket.

Step 15

  • Removing Modem Daughter Card
  • Unscrew three phillips screws as shown.
  • The connector cables are wrapped around components for organization so follow these, unplug them and carefully pull them free.
  • Then remove the bracket that was sitting beneath it.

Removing Modem Daughter Card

Unscrew three phillips screws as shown.

The connector cables are wrapped around components for organization so follow these, unplug them and carefully pull them free.

Then remove the bracket that was sitting beneath it.

Step 16

  • Removing Metal Casing
  • Unscrew the Philips head screws as shown
  • It is attached to the smaller black plastic piece below it - carefully maneuver both of them out at the same time.

Removing Metal Casing

Unscrew the Philips head screws as shown

It is attached to the smaller black plastic piece below it - carefully maneuver both of them out at the same time.

Step 17

  • Removing Plastic
  • This will be free to move, so pull it out.

Removing Plastic

This will be free to move, so pull it out.

Step 18

  • Removing Motherboard
  • Unscrew Phillips screws shown in red in the picture.
  • Unplug the connector (shown in turquoise)
  • Carefully remove the board

Removing Motherboard

Unscrew Phillips screws shown in red in the picture.

Unplug the connector (shown in turquoise)

Carefully remove the board

Step 19

  • Congratulations
  • Now you’re left with the motherboard and the bottom casing
  • This is as far as the teardown goes.

Congratulations

Now you’re left with the motherboard and the bottom casing

This is as far as the teardown goes.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order. Remember when reassembling to apply a thin layer of thermal compound on the CPU block.

Cancel: I did not complete this guide.

                                                                                      17 other people completed this guide.

Author

                                      with 5 other contributors 


                    eric

Member since: 04/17/2010

591 Reputation

                                      1 Guide authored                  



                       Badges:
                       8







                                                        +5 more badges

Team

                       Cal Poly, Team 29-76, Johann Spring 2010                        

                                                  Member of Cal Poly, Team 29-76, Johann Spring 2010 



                    CPSU-JOHANN-S10S29G76                     


                                            4 Members                     


                                            35 Guides authored

MarhezCN - Jun 15, 2013

Reply

Excelent, it help me so much.

Gabriel Pettis - Jan 14, 2017

Reply

Great guide on how to take apart a computer!