Difficulty

Easy

Steps

11

Time Required

                          15 - 20 minutes

Sections

3

  • External Battery
  • 2 steps
  • Bottom Cover
  • 6 steps
  • Fan and Heat Sink
  • 3 steps

Flags

0

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Introduction

The heat sink transfers heat from the laptop’s CPU to the fan, which redirects the heat away from the laptop’s internal components. The fan and heat sink work together to prevent the laptop from overheating, which can cause damage to the device.

Some signs that your fan and heat sink may be faulty include audible humming, rattling, or overheating. Before attempting to replace the fan and heat sink, see if you can troubleshoot any fan and heat sink issues. Always clean the thermal paste when separating the heat sink and CPU and reapply fresh paste before reassembling.

Make sure to disable the internal battery, power down your device, and disconnect from any external power sources before you begin.

What you need

Step 1

              External Battery
  • Before you begin this guide, make sure to disable the internal battery, power down your device, and disconnect from any external power sources.
  • Place the laptop so that the bottom is facing upwards.
  • Slide the latch on the left side of the battery to the left until it clicks in place.

Before you begin this guide, make sure to disable the internal battery, power down your device, and disconnect from any external power sources.

Place the laptop so that the bottom is facing upwards.

Slide the latch on the left side of the battery to the left until it clicks in place.

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Step 2

  • Slide the latch on the right side of the battery to the right and hold it in place with your thumb.
  • Use your other hand to slide the battery towards the back of the laptop.
  • Lift the battery up and away from the laptop.

Slide the latch on the right side of the battery to the right and hold it in place with your thumb.

Use your other hand to slide the battery towards the back of the laptop.

Lift the battery up and away from the laptop.

Step 3

              Bottom Cover
  • Loosen the eight captive screws in the bottom cover using a Phillips #1 screwdriver.

Loosen the eight captive screws in the bottom cover using a Phillips #1 screwdriver.

Step 4

  • Insert the flat end of a spudger in between the bottom cover and the rest of the laptop, starting in the lower left corner.
  • Pry the lower left corner of the bottom cover up by a few millimeters.
  • Slide the spudger along the bottom of the laptop to release the clips until you reach the lower right corner.
  • You may hear some snapping noises as the clips are released.

Insert the flat end of a spudger in between the bottom cover and the rest of the laptop, starting in the lower left corner.

Pry the lower left corner of the bottom cover up by a few millimeters.

Slide the spudger along the bottom of the laptop to release the clips until you reach the lower right corner.

You may hear some snapping noises as the clips are released.

Step 5

  • Slide the spudger along the right and top sides of the bottom cover to release the clips.
  • You may hear some snapping noises as the clips are released.
  • Potential for device damage: If the clips do not release easily, check to ensure that the captive screws are fully loosened. Forcing the clips to detach can crack the bottom cover.

Slide the spudger along the right and top sides of the bottom cover to release the clips.

Potential for device damage: If the clips do not release easily, check to ensure that the captive screws are fully loosened. Forcing the clips to detach can crack the bottom cover.

Step 6

  • Use the spudger to pry the upper left corner up by a few millimeters.
  • Pry up the sections of the bottom cover with printed logos of the ports.
  • Potential for device damage: Prying inside the ports themselves can damage your laptop. Be sure to only pry up on the sections of the cover that extend past the ports.

Use the spudger to pry the upper left corner up by a few millimeters.

Pry up the sections of the bottom cover with printed logos of the ports.

Potential for device damage: Prying inside the ports themselves can damage your laptop. Be sure to only pry up on the sections of the cover that extend past the ports.

Step 7

  • Use the spudger to pry up the bottom cover in the lower portion of the external battery compartment by a few millimeters.

Use the spudger to pry up the bottom cover in the lower portion of the external battery compartment by a few millimeters.

Step 8

  • Use both hands to lift the bottom cover up and away from the laptop.

Use both hands to lift the bottom cover up and away from the laptop.

Step 9

              Fan and Heat Sink
  • Use a pair of blunt nose tweezers to pull the white fan connector out of its socket on the motherboard.
  • This connector may be difficult to remove. You can use a pair of tweezers to gently rock the connector back and forth until it is free from the socket.

Use a pair of blunt nose tweezers to pull the white fan connector out of its socket on the motherboard.

This connector may be difficult to remove. You can use a pair of tweezers to gently rock the connector back and forth until it is free from the socket.

Step 10

  • Use a Phillips #1 screwdriver to loosen the first pair of captive screws on the fan assembly in a crosswise pattern.
  • Use a Phillips #1 screwdriver to loosen the second pair of captive screws on the fan assembly in a crosswise pattern.
  • Secure the screws using the same cross-pattern when reassembling the fan.

Use a Phillips #1 screwdriver to loosen the first pair of captive screws on the fan assembly in a crosswise pattern.

Use a Phillips #1 screwdriver to loosen the second pair of captive screws on the fan assembly in a crosswise pattern.

Secure the screws using the same cross-pattern when reassembling the fan.

Step 11

  • Use your hands to pull the fan assembly up and away from the laptop.

Use your hands to pull the fan assembly up and away from the laptop.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our Answers community for help.

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Author

                    Kristen Gismondi

Member since: 11/12/2014

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