Difficulty
Difficult
Steps
35
Time Required
45 minutes - 1 hour
Sections
11
- External Battery
- 2 steps
- Keyboard
- 6 steps
- Back Cover
- 2 steps
- Internal Battery
- 3 steps
- RAM
- 2 steps
- Wi-Fi Card
- 3 steps
- CMOS Battery
- 2 steps
- Fan Assembly/Heatsink
- 3 steps
- Hard Drive
- 2 steps
- Motherboard
- 8 steps
- Fingerprint Reader
- 2 steps
Flags
0
BackLenovo ThinkPad T480
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Introduction
The fingerprint reader is not something that needs to be replaced often but in the case that it has been damaged, due to a scratch on the surface for example, it may need to be replaced.
Prior to beginning the repair, disable the internal battery, shut down the device, and unplug it from the charger.
What you need
Step 1
External Battery
- Disable the battery, power down, and unplug your device before you begin.
- Flip the laptop over so the bottom of the device is showing.
Disable the battery, power down, and unplug your device before you begin.
Flip the laptop over so the bottom of the device is showing.
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Step 2
- Using your fingers, slide the lock on each side of the battery to the unlocked position.
- Remove the battery from the slot.
Using your fingers, slide the lock on each side of the battery to the unlocked position.
Remove the battery from the slot.
Step 3
Keyboard
- Use the Phillips #1 screwdriver to loosen the two screws parallel to the battery compartment.
Use the Phillips #1 screwdriver to loosen the two screws parallel to the battery compartment.
Step 4
- Open the laptop so the keyboard is facing you.
Open the laptop so the keyboard is facing you.
Step 5
- Push the keyboard towards the screen and away from the trackpad and then slide it out towards you gently.
- The keyboard is connected to the board by two ribbon connectors.
- Be careful not to rip the connectors when you flip the keyboard over.
Push the keyboard towards the screen and away from the trackpad and then slide it out towards you gently.
The keyboard is connected to the board by two ribbon connectors.
Be careful not to rip the connectors when you flip the keyboard over.
Step 6
- Flip the keyboard over towards you to expose the backside of the keyboard and the two ribbon connectors.
- Using the black nylon spudger, flip the first ribbon connector lock open. Slide the first connector out.
Flip the keyboard over towards you to expose the backside of the keyboard and the two ribbon connectors.
Using the black nylon spudger, flip the first ribbon connector lock open. Slide the first connector out.
Step 7
- Using the black nylon spudger, unlock the second ribbon connector and slide it out from the port.
Using the black nylon spudger, unlock the second ribbon connector and slide it out from the port.
Step 8
- Remove the keyboard from the laptop.
Remove the keyboard from the laptop.
Step 9
Back Cover
- Using the Phillips #1 screwdriver, loosen the six captive screws.
Using the Phillips #1 screwdriver, loosen the six captive screws.
Step 10
- Insert the blue plastic opening tool into the space between the lower case and the chassis.
- Slide the opening tool around the perimeter of the case to release the clips holding the case and the chassis together.
- Remove the back case.
Insert the blue plastic opening tool into the space between the lower case and the chassis.
Slide the opening tool around the perimeter of the case to release the clips holding the case and the chassis together.
Remove the back case.
Step 11
Internal Battery
- Using the Phillips #1 screwdriver, remove the two 4.6 mm screws securing the internal battery to the frame.
Using the Phillips #1 screwdriver, remove the two 4.6 mm screws securing the internal battery to the frame.
Step 12
- Use the spudger to slide the battery socket connector parallel to the motherboard and out of its socket on the motherboard.
Use the spudger to slide the battery socket connector parallel to the motherboard and out of its socket on the motherboard.
Step 13
- Using the black nylon spudger, wedge the battery up from the case and lift it out.
Using the black nylon spudger, wedge the battery up from the case and lift it out.
Step 14
RAM
- Pull the black plastic sheet back to reveal the RAM stick.
- Using your fingers, pull the metal arms (located on both sides of the RAM stick) slightly away from it .
- The RAM will pop up by a few millimeters.
- Remove it at an angle and not straight up so you don’t damage the socket.
Pull the black plastic sheet back to reveal the RAM stick.
Using your fingers, pull the metal arms (located on both sides of the RAM stick) slightly away from it .
The RAM will pop up by a few millimeters.
Remove it at an angle and not straight up so you don’t damage the socket.
Step 15
- Slide the RAM stick out from the memory module slot.
- Repeat for the RAM stick located below. This computer did not have RAM in the slot below however.
Slide the RAM stick out from the memory module slot.
Repeat for the RAM stick located below. This computer did not have RAM in the slot below however.
Step 16
Wi-Fi Card
- Using the Phillips #1 screwdriver, remove the single 3.6 mm screw at the top of the Wi-Fi card attaching it to the motherboard.
Using the Phillips #1 screwdriver, remove the single 3.6 mm screw at the top of the Wi-Fi card attaching it to the motherboard.
Step 17
- Insert the point of a spudger under one of the antenna cables close to the connector. Pry straight up to disconnect the cable off of the Wi-Fi card.
- Be careful as you pry the cables off of the Wi-Fi card as they are fragile and easily damaged.
Insert the point of a spudger under one of the antenna cables close to the connector. Pry straight up to disconnect the cable off of the Wi-Fi card.
Be careful as you pry the cables off of the Wi-Fi card as they are fragile and easily damaged.
Step 18
- Slide the Wi-Fi card out from the slot to remove it from the board.
Slide the Wi-Fi card out from the slot to remove it from the board.
Step 19
CMOS Battery
- Using an IC extractor or black nylon spudger, unplug the connector from the socket on the motherboard.
- This connector may be very difficult to remove and is easily damaged. Be careful that you don’t damage the port when removing the coin cell battery connector.
Using an IC extractor or black nylon spudger, unplug the connector from the socket on the motherboard.
This connector may be very difficult to remove and is easily damaged. Be careful that you don’t damage the port when removing the coin cell battery connector.
Step 20
- Using the black nylon spudger, pry the coin cell battery off of the motherboard.
- The coin cell battery is stuck to the board with a light adhesive.
Using the black nylon spudger, pry the coin cell battery off of the motherboard.
The coin cell battery is stuck to the board with a light adhesive.
Step 21
Fan Assembly/Heatsink
- Using the Phillips #1 screwdriver, loosen the four captive screws in the arm of the heatsink.
Using the Phillips #1 screwdriver, loosen the four captive screws in the arm of the heatsink.
Step 22
- Use the black nylon spudger to slide the fan connector parallel to the motherboard and out of its socket on the motherboard.
Use the black nylon spudger to slide the fan connector parallel to the motherboard and out of its socket on the motherboard.
Step 23
- Lift the fan assembly off of the board.
- Prior to replacing your fan assembly, remember to apply thermal paste.
Lift the fan assembly off of the board.
Prior to replacing your fan assembly, remember to apply thermal paste.
Step 24
Hard Drive
- Using the black nylon spudger, lift the connector lock up.
- Disconnect the storage cable from the system board.
Using the black nylon spudger, lift the connector lock up.
Disconnect the storage cable from the system board.
Step 25
- Lift the hard drive up with a tab if it has one or with your spudger.
- Lift the drive assembly from the system.
Lift the hard drive up with a tab if it has one or with your spudger.
Lift the drive assembly from the system.
Step 26
Motherboard
- Using the Phillips #1 screwdriver, remove three 4.6 mm screws from the I/O bracket.
Using the Phillips #1 screwdriver, remove three 4.6 mm screws from the I/O bracket.
Step 27
- Lift the I/O bracket off the motherboard.
Lift the I/O bracket off the motherboard.
Step 28
- Using the Phillips #1 screwdriver, remove the three 4.1 mm screws from the RJ45 bracket.
- Lift the bracket off of the motherboard.
Using the Phillips #1 screwdriver, remove the three 4.1 mm screws from the RJ45 bracket.
Lift the bracket off of the motherboard.
Step 29
- Use the black nylon spudger to lift up the small locking flap on the power button cable’s ZIF connector.
- Slide the power button cable out of the ZIF connector.
Use the black nylon spudger to lift up the small locking flap on the power button cable’s ZIF connector.
Slide the power button cable out of the ZIF connector.
Step 30
- Using the black nylon spudger, disconnect the LCD cable from the motherboard.
Using the black nylon spudger, disconnect the LCD cable from the motherboard.
Step 31
- Use the tip of a spudger or an opening tool, to flip up the small, hinged locking flap on the camera cable connector to remove the cable from the motherboard.
Use the tip of a spudger or an opening tool, to flip up the small, hinged locking flap on the camera cable connector to remove the cable from the motherboard.
Step 32
- Using the black nylon spudger, remove the NFC cable connector and trackpad connector from the motherboard.
Using the black nylon spudger, remove the NFC cable connector and trackpad connector from the motherboard.
Step 33
- Using the Phillips #1 screwdriver, remove seven 3.6 mm screws from the motherboard.
- Lift the motherboard off of the case to remove it.
Using the Phillips #1 screwdriver, remove seven 3.6 mm screws from the motherboard.
Lift the motherboard off of the case to remove it.
Step 34
Fingerprint Reader
- Using the Phillips #1 screwdriver, remove one screw at the bottom of the bracket covering the fingerprint reader.
Using the Phillips #1 screwdriver, remove one screw at the bottom of the bracket covering the fingerprint reader.
Step 35
- Lift the bracket with the fingerprint reader attached to it with black tape up from the chassis.
- The ribbon cable was already detached from the motherboard; however make sure that it is disconnected so it doesn’t rip.
Lift the bracket with the fingerprint reader attached to it with black tape up from the chassis.
The ribbon cable was already detached from the motherboard; however make sure that it is disconnected so it doesn’t rip.
To reassemble your device, follow the above steps 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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