ByteRot :: Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Motherboard

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Disassembling IBM ThinkPad A30 Motherboard

Device	IBM ThinkPad A30
Difficulty	Difficult
Time	30 - 45 minutes
Steps	35

This guide is by Alan on iFixit and is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0. ByteRot mirrors it for non-commercial preservation: formatting changed and photos resized for old browsers; full-size photos and the text are on the FTP in /DOCS/REPAIR. Original guide >>

Tools: Phillips #00 Screwdriver; Phillips #1 Screwdriver; iFixit Opening Tool

Step 1

• NOTE: Flip the ThinkPad over so that it is upside down.
• Slide the highlighted tab to the left.
• With your finger on the tab, remove the battery by lifting it upwards away from the laptop.

Step 2

• Remove the highlighted screw with a Phillips #1 screwdriver.
• Pull the hard drive out.

Step 3

• Hold the laptop in the same orientation as the picture. Then, locate the switch immediately above and to the left of the drive.
• Slide the switch to the right. A black plastic tab will pop out.
• Pull the plastic tab to expose the CD drive.
• If there is a problem with your tab, whether it doesn't pop out or it doesn't expose the CD drive, please check the corresponding entry in the troubleshooting page.

Step 4

• Carefully pull the CD drive out from the laptop.

Step 5

• NOTE: Hold the Thinkpad as the picture shows.
• There is a switch located just above and to the right of the drive.
• Slide the switch to the right. A small, black tab will pop out.

Step 6

• Pull the small black tab away from the computer to access the drive.
• Gently pull the drive out from the laptop.
• If there is a problem with your tab, whether it doesn't pop out or it doesn't expose the floppy drive, please check the corresponding entry in the troubleshooting page.

Step 7

• NOTE: Make sure the laptop is upside down and oriented in the direction shown.
• Remove the six 16.7mm screws inside the circled holes.

Step 8

• Rotate the ThinkPad so that the hard drive bay is facing you.
• Remove the black cover to reveal a 14.8mm screw.
• Remove the uncovered screw with a Phillips #0 screwdriver.

Step 9

• NOTE: Flip the ThinkPad over and open the LCD panel.
• Pry apart the keyboard with a plastic opening tool or with your fingers.

Step 10

• CAUTION: Be careful not to pull out the keyboard carelessly; there is a connector underneath it!
• Lift the front end of the keyboard as shown.
• Using your fingers, remove the black film cover.

Step 11

• Locate the connector attached to the motherboard.
• Disconnect the ribbon cable by removing the connector.

Step 12

• Lift and remove the keyboard.
• Remove the two 5.6mm screws.
• Remove the 16.7mm screw.

Step 13

• CAUTION: You will need to use a little force. Be wary of the tabs.
• Pry off the upper case with your hands.

Step 14

• Remove the 5.6mm screw that holds the LCD to the upper case.

Step 15

• Remove the 5.6mm screw on the left side of the three-pronged connector.
• Remove the other two 16.7mm screws.
• Lift and remove connector.

Step 16

• Pull out the white tab connecting the LCD to the motherboard.

Step 17

• Turn the laptop so that the back is facing you.
• Remove the four 5.6mm long screws.

Step 18

• NOTE: Place the laptop so that the LCD is facing you again.
• Gently lift the LCD monitor up and out.
• Remove the black plastic tab.

Step 19

• Remove the following screws from the fan retention bracket:
• Single 5.6 mm screw.
• Three 16.1 mm screws.

Step 20

• Lift the heatsink bracket up.

Step 21

• CAUTION: Be careful not to pull too hard. There is a cable attached to the fan.
• Lift the fan/heatsink assembly up.
• Locate the fan power cable and pull upwards near the connector.
• Remove the fan/heatsink assembly.

Step 22

• Use a flathead to turn the screw 180 degrees.
• Remove the CPU by lifting it upwards.
• NOTE: If the CPU is reusable, place it in an antistatic bag and away from moisture.

Step 23

• Locate the floppy drive bay.
• Remove the four 5.6mm screws.
• Remove the 16mm screw.

Step 24

• Turn the laptop over so that the battery is towards you.
• Locate the modem and ethernet card bay.
• Remove the two 5.3mm cover screws.
• Gently lift the cover.

Step 25

• Remove the four 9.1mm screws attached to the modem and ethernet cards.
• CAUTION: When lifting the cards, be careful not to rip out the cables!
• Gently lift the modem and ethernet cards.

Step 26

• Locate the hard drive slot.
• Remove the 8.8mm screw with a Phillips #0 screwdriver.

Step 27

• Turn the laptop over again and orient it as shown.
• Lift the left side of the floppy disk bay and and pull it out.
• NOTE: The black lever will pop out.

Step 28

• Locate the CD Drive Bay
• Remove the three 5.6mm screws.
• Remove the 16mm screw.
• Lift the right side and pull the CD drive bay out.
• NOTE: The black lever will pop out.

Step 29

• Once the CD drive bay is removed, locate the speaker data and power cables.
• Remove the cables from the motherboard.

Step 30

• Locate the expansion bay.
• Remove the 16mm screw.
• Lift and remove the expansion bay.

Step 31

• Rotate the laptop so that the back ports are facing you.

Step 32

• Remove the three 5.8mm screws with a Phillips #0 screwdriver.

Step 33

• Remove the six 11mm nuts with a wrench.
• NOTE: Pliers can be used, but are not recommended.

Step 34

• Rotate the laptop to its original position.
• Remove the 5.6mm screw located on the upper right corner of the motherboard.

Step 35

• CAUTION: The wireless and bluetooth cards are connected to the motherboard!
• Pull out the motherboard towards you carefully.
• Place the motherboard somewhere dry and clean.

Conclusion

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

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