Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

46

Time Required

                          30 minutes - 2 hours

Sections

1

  • Lenovo ThinkPad X131e Disassembly
  • 46 steps

Flags

3

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              External Battery Removal
  • Remove external battery by unlocking the safety latches near the external battery
  • Move the safety latches from the “Locked” to “Unlocked”

Remove external battery by unlocking the safety latches near the external battery

Move the safety latches from the “Locked” to “Unlocked”

1024

Step 2

              First Screws
  • Remove the two 7 mm Phillips 1 screws from the top left and right corners.
  • Two 7mm Phillips #1 screws
  • Unscrew the 3 captive screws (they will NOT come out, once they unscrew and “click,” they are out of their socket)

Remove the two 7 mm Phillips 1 screws from the top left and right corners.

Two 7mm Phillips #1 screws

Unscrew the 3 captive screws (they will NOT come out, once they unscrew and “click,” they are out of their socket)

Step 3

              Pry Bottom Cover
  • Insert a plastic spudger and pry up the bottom cover from the laptop.

Insert a plastic spudger and pry up the bottom cover from the laptop.

Step 4

              Access to Main Components/Hard Drive Removal
  • Here you can access RAM, HDD, WiFi and WiFi modules.
  • Remove the two 6 mm Phillips #1 screws holding down the HDD Cage
  • Then pull the HDD plastic pull tab at a slight angle to unseat the HDD from the computer.

Here you can access RAM, HDD, WiFi and WiFi modules.

Remove the two 6 mm Phillips #1 screws holding down the HDD Cage

Then pull the HDD plastic pull tab at a slight angle to unseat the HDD from the computer.

Step 5

              Removal of WiFi Cards
  • Insert a plastic spudger underneath the antenna cable connections.
  • Be careful and make sure to pry up evenly as the connector is small and fragile. It will pop out with relatively small effort if prying at the correct angle.
  • Remove the two 4 mm Phillips #1 screws and then pull out the WiFi modules.

Insert a plastic spudger underneath the antenna cable connections.

Be careful and make sure to pry up evenly as the connector is small and fragile. It will pop out with relatively small effort if prying at the correct angle.

Remove the two 4 mm Phillips #1 screws and then pull out the WiFi modules.

Step 6

              Remove Keyboard Screws
  • Remove the four 9 mm Phillips #1 screws that are holding down the keyboard.

Remove the four 9 mm Phillips #1 screws that are holding down the keyboard.

Step 7

              Removal of the Keyboard
  • Press both hands down firmly on the keyboard and slide forward to unseat the keyboard.
  • Next lift and slightly pull out the keyboard.
  • Be careful when lifting the keyboard as there are two ribbon cables attached to the main laptop which can tear easily.

Press both hands down firmly on the keyboard and slide forward to unseat the keyboard.

Next lift and slightly pull out the keyboard.

Be careful when lifting the keyboard as there are two ribbon cables attached to the main laptop which can tear easily.

Step 8

              Disconnecting Keyboard Ribbon Cables
  • Unlatch the ribbon cables’ retaining flap with a plastic spudger.
  • Note: When reattaching the ribbon cables, they don’t slide “in” to their connector, they lay on the pins, and what holds them down is their retaining flap.
  • Make sure the pins are aligned with the ribbon cable when securing the retaining flap.

Unlatch the ribbon cables’ retaining flap with a plastic spudger.

Note: When reattaching the ribbon cables, they don’t slide “in” to their connector, they lay on the pins, and what holds them down is their retaining flap.

Make sure the pins are aligned with the ribbon cable when securing the retaining flap.

Step 9

              Removing Top Cover
  • Unscrew the three 5 mm Phillips #1 screws that are holding down the top cover.

Unscrew the three 5 mm Phillips #1 screws that are holding down the top cover.

Step 10

              Disconnecting Trackpad Ribbon Cable
  • Use a plastic spudger to lift the lap on the trackpad’s ribbon cable.
  • Then carefully pull out the ribbon cable.

Use a plastic spudger to lift the lap on the trackpad’s ribbon cable.

Then carefully pull out the ribbon cable.

Step 11

              Disconnecting Microphone Cable
  • With your fingers, grip the other exposed cable and carefully pull out horizontally to disconnect the connection.

With your fingers, grip the other exposed cable and carefully pull out horizontally to disconnect the connection.

Step 12

              Prying Off Top Cover
  • Insert a plastic spudger in between the top cover and frame of the laptop. Start prying, making your way around the whole laptop.
  • Remember to make sure the two 7 mm screws from Step #2 have been removed or else the top cover will not come off.

Insert a plastic spudger in between the top cover and frame of the laptop. Start prying, making your way around the whole laptop.

Remember to make sure the two 7 mm screws from Step #2 have been removed or else the top cover will not come off.

Step 13

              Disconnect Speaker Wire
  • Disconnect the speaker wire from the motherboard with your fingers or tweezers.

Disconnect the speaker wire from the motherboard with your fingers or tweezers.

Step 14

  • Remove the four 6 mm Phillips #1 screws holding down the speakers near the bottom of the case.
  • Pull out the two speakers and their wiring carefully.

Remove the four 6 mm Phillips #1 screws holding down the speakers near the bottom of the case.

Pull out the two speakers and their wiring carefully.

Step 15

              Removing Screws from the Motherboard
  • Remove the five 4 mm Phillips #1 screws.
  • These can be identified by a small white arrow pointing towards their socket.
  • Remove the two 6 mm Phillips #1 screws near the middle of the board.

Remove the five 4 mm Phillips #1 screws.

These can be identified by a small white arrow pointing towards their socket.

Remove the two 6 mm Phillips #1 screws near the middle of the board.

Step 16

              Disconnecting Ribbon Cables
  • Disconnect the safety latch near the bottom right with a plastic spudger and carefully remove the ribbon cable.

Disconnect the safety latch near the bottom right with a plastic spudger and carefully remove the ribbon cable.

Step 17

              Disconnecting More Ribbon Cables
  • Insert a plastic spudger to remove the safety latch of the top middle ribbon cable, then disconnect the ribbon cable.
  • when the ribbon cable meets the fold, carefully peel the cable off as there is some adhesive holding it down in place.

Insert a plastic spudger to remove the safety latch of the top middle ribbon cable, then disconnect the ribbon cable.

when the ribbon cable meets the fold, carefully peel the cable off as there is some adhesive holding it down in place.

Step 18

              Disconnecting Another Cable
  • Disconnect the last visible cable by pushing it horizontally out with a plastic spudger.

Disconnect the last visible cable by pushing it horizontally out with a plastic spudger.

Step 19

              Remove the Smaller Boards
  • Remove the small boards on the top left and right of the laptop with either your hands or tweezers.

Remove the small boards on the top left and right of the laptop with either your hands or tweezers.

Step 20

              Disconnecting Display Ribbon Cable
  • Peel off from the right of the sticker, there will be a black plastic pull tab that is there.
  • With your fingers, grip and pull the tab up vertically, with some force, the connector will disconnect.

Peel off from the right of the sticker, there will be a black plastic pull tab that is there.

With your fingers, grip and pull the tab up vertically, with some force, the connector will disconnect.

Step 21

              Removing the Motherboard
  • Insert plastic spudger from the left and slightly raise the motherboard.
  • There are plastic pegs on the left side of the motherboard, insert another pry tool or a finger underneath from the right side of the motherboard and lift “up” a bit to free the motherboard from the pegs.
  • After that, you can pull the motherboard away by pulling to the left.

Insert plastic spudger from the left and slightly raise the motherboard.

There are plastic pegs on the left side of the motherboard, insert another pry tool or a finger underneath from the right side of the motherboard and lift “up” a bit to free the motherboard from the pegs.

After that, you can pull the motherboard away by pulling to the left.

Step 22

              Disconnecting Power Delivery Cable
  • Flip the motherboard to its other side.
  • Then pull out the charging cable by holding it with your fingers and “wiggling” it out.
  • The motherboard is now free.

Flip the motherboard to its other side.

Then pull out the charging cable by holding it with your fingers and “wiggling” it out.

The motherboard is now free.

Step 23

              Remove the WiFi and Cellular Antenna Cables
  • Grab the black and blue antenna cables carefully pull them out of their path until they’re no longer held down.

Grab the black and blue antenna cables carefully pull them out of their path until they’re no longer held down.

Step 24

              Remove the WiFi and Cellular Antenna Cables Continued
  • Do the same thing with the gray and red antenna cables.

Do the same thing with the gray and red antenna cables.

Step 25

              Free the Last Display Cable
  • Grab and remove the last cable from its place.

Grab and remove the last cable from its place.

Step 26

              Remove the Hinge's Screws
  • Remove the four 6 mm Phillips #1 screws from the hinges.
  • The display will now be free.
  • Note: If you noticed any screws attached to my hinges, those are there because my computer’s frame is broken, and I didn’t want to lose the threading for the screws. If your frame isn’t broken, then there won’t be any screws left on the hinges.

Remove the four 6 mm Phillips #1 screws from the hinges.

The display will now be free.

Note: If you noticed any screws attached to my hinges, those are there because my computer’s frame is broken, and I didn’t want to lose the threading for the screws. If your frame isn’t broken, then there won’t be any screws left on the hinges.

Step 27

              Removing Charging Port
  • The charging port is held down with pressure
  • Stick a plastic spudger on the bottom port of the charging port and pry up to remove the port.

The charging port is held down with pressure

Stick a plastic spudger on the bottom port of the charging port and pry up to remove the port.

Step 28

              Disassembly of Display
  • Now that the display is free, insert a thin metal prying tool like tweezers or a needle to pry off the plastic screw covers in the four corners.

Now that the display is free, insert a thin metal prying tool like tweezers or a needle to pry off the plastic screw covers in the four corners.

Step 29

              Removal of Bezel
  • Now insert a plastic spudger between the top of the assembly and the bezel and start prying.
  • Make your way around the bezel. You can also pry from the other side of the bezel by the screen with your finger to make it easier.

Now insert a plastic spudger between the top of the assembly and the bezel and start prying.

Make your way around the bezel. You can also pry from the other side of the bezel by the screen with your finger to make it easier.

Step 30

              Removal of Bezel Continued
  • Keep prying until the bezel is free.

Keep prying until the bezel is free.

Step 31

              Unscrewing LCD Panel
  • Remove the four 4 mm silver screws holding down the LCD panel.

Remove the four 4 mm silver screws holding down the LCD panel.

Step 32

              Before Removing LCD Panel
  • Lift and remove the silver shielded wire connected to the LCD panel out of the way.

Lift and remove the silver shielded wire connected to the LCD panel out of the way.

Step 33

              Removing LCD Panel
  • Use a plastic prying tool near the edge of the panel where the silver screws once were to lift up the LCD panel.
  • The LCD panel is now free.

Use a plastic prying tool near the edge of the panel where the silver screws once were to lift up the LCD panel.

The LCD panel is now free.

Step 34

              Removing Hinge Assembly
  • Remove the two 6 mm screws holding down the two hinge assemblies.
  • The hinges are no longer secured to the frame and can be lifted away.

Remove the two 6 mm screws holding down the two hinge assemblies.

The hinges are no longer secured to the frame and can be lifted away.

Step 35

              Webcam and Microphone Removal
  • The webcam and microphone are both attached to a silver shielded cable.
  • The webcam assembly can be lifted away.
  • There is black tape over the microphone that can be peeled off by tweezers, and then the microphones can be lifted away too.

The webcam and microphone are both attached to a silver shielded cable.

The webcam assembly can be lifted away.

There is black tape over the microphone that can be peeled off by tweezers, and then the microphones can be lifted away too.

Step 36

              Webcam and Microphone Removal Continued
  • Peel away the black cloth tape covering the microphone Printed Circuit Board (PCB)
  • The microphone’s PCB is glued down. Insert a plastic spudger from the left and make your way to the right to slowly release the microphone’s PCB.
  • With that, the microphone along with the webcam are now free.

Peel away the black cloth tape covering the microphone Printed Circuit Board (PCB)

The microphone’s PCB is glued down. Insert a plastic spudger from the left and make your way to the right to slowly release the microphone’s PCB.

With that, the microphone along with the webcam are now free.

Step 37

              Shielded Cable Removal
  • Farther down the same shielded cable, there is more black cloth tape.
  • Peel it away with some pliers.

Farther down the same shielded cable, there is more black cloth tape.

Peel it away with some pliers.

Step 38

              Shielded Cable Removal
  • Because the small PCB is glued down with adhesive, insert a plastic spudger from the left, underneath the shielded cable, to pry it away.

Because the small PCB is glued down with adhesive, insert a plastic spudger from the left, underneath the shielded cable, to pry it away.

Step 39

              Removal of Shielded Cable Continued
  • Carefully peel away the rest of the shielded cable.
  • Make sure to remove the cable from its cable routing carefully when you get to the bottom.
  • The cable is now free.

Carefully peel away the rest of the shielded cable.

Make sure to remove the cable from its cable routing carefully when you get to the bottom.

The cable is now free.

Step 40

              Removing WiFi Antenna Cables
  • Lift the cable shielding covering the cable routing for the WiFi and cellular antennas.
  • Start removing the cable’s from their routing slots.

Lift the cable shielding covering the cable routing for the WiFi and cellular antennas.

Start removing the cable’s from their routing slots.

Step 41

              Removing WiFi Antenna Cables Continued
  • Keep removing until you get to the top two black PCB’s that the cables are attached to the frame.

Keep removing until you get to the top two black PCB’s that the cables are attached to the frame.

Step 42

              Removing WiFi Antenna Cables Continued
  • Insert a plastic spudger between the the PCB and the frame, and carefully pry up.
  • The PCB should lift with relatively little effort.
  • Now do the same with the other PCB.

Insert a plastic spudger between the the PCB and the frame, and carefully pry up.

The PCB should lift with relatively little effort.

Now do the same with the other PCB.

Step 43

              Removing WiFi Antenna Cables Continued
  • Peel away the PCB’s and their attached copper tape carefully.
  • Please see the next step if the silver shielding is peeling away with the copper tape.

Peel away the PCB’s and their attached copper tape carefully.

Please see the next step if the silver shielding is peeling away with the copper tape.

Step 44

              If the Silver Shielding is Peeling with the Copper Tape
  • If the Silver Shielding starts to peel away with the copper tape, then insert a plastic pry tool from the bottom (other side) and start peeling from there.
  • Now the silver shielding won’t get damaged.

If the Silver Shielding starts to peel away with the copper tape, then insert a plastic pry tool from the bottom (other side) and start peeling from there.

Now the silver shielding won’t get damaged.

Step 45

              Removing WiFi Antenna Cables Continued
  • Repeat steps 40-44 on the other side with the other antenna cable.

Repeat steps 40-44 on the other side with the other antenna cable.

Step 46

              Disassembly Complete!
  • The laptop is now fully disassembled. Thanks for reading my guide!

The laptop is now fully disassembled. Thanks for reading my guide!

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

I’ve attached the Hardware Maintenance Manual from Lenovo for this machine in case you need a more specific guide to a certain part.

If I missed something, let me know and I’ll update the guide!

Cancel: I did not complete this guide.

Attached Documents

  • X131e Chromebook:Windows Hardware Maintenance Manual
  • PDF - 11.33 mb
  • View

X131e Chromebook:Windows Hardware Maintenance Manual

PDF - 11.33 mb

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                    Saul Torres

Member since: 12/04/2020

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