KARahaman
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June,2014
TableOfContent
Introduction…………………………………………………………………………11.Basictools………………………………………………………………………….22.PartsoftheLaptop……………………………………………………………113.InstallingOperatingSystemsonLaptops&Netbooks……..264.LaptopDisassembly………………………………………………………….655.CD/DVDDriveRepairing………………………………………………….1056.RecoverLostDatafromaDeadHardDrive……………………..1147.LaptopScreenRepairing………………………………………………….1278.LaptopPoweronProblem……………………………………………….1399.LaptopMotherboardComponent……………………………………17210.TheSolderingProcess……………………………………………………17911.MotherboardRepairing…………………………………………………192
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Introduction
Iwrotethisbookforpeoplewhowanttoupgrade,repair,maintain,andtroubleshootlaptopandnotebookcomputersaswellasforthoseenthusiastswhowanttoknowmoreaboutlaptopsorportablePChardwareingeneral.
Nocomplicatedtechnicaltheory,fullypracticalbasedstepbystepguidebook.Itwillgivesyouacompleteandtothepointknowledgeonwhattodotorepairyourlaptop.Itisnotthatbasicthatyougetbored.Stillhasaveryeasytounderstandlanguagethatalltypeofpeoplecanlearnfrom.Evenyoudon’tneedanyprevioustechnicalknowledgetoreadandunderstandthebook.Ifyouwouldliketostepintolaptoprepairworld,Irecommendthisbookhighly.
ThisisabookthatgoesdeeperintotheMotherboardEndofLaptopRepairing.Afterreadingthebookinit’sentirety,thenrereadingitasecondtime,youshallabletorepairabunchoflaptopmotherboards.
Thisbookiswrittentoteachforthosepeoplewho–
1.Technicallyinclinedandwanttoknowhowtosuccessfullyrepairalaptopornotebookcomputer.2.Whoisserioustolearntomakehiscareerasalaptoprepairtechnician.3.Individualtoknowhowtorepairandmaintainhisownlaptop.
Thisbookisacompleteguidebooktofulfillthoserequirements.
ThisbookwaswrittentoallowabetterunderstandingastohowexactlyaLaptopcanfailandhowanindividualsuchasyourself,cantroubleshoot,diagnoseandproperlyrepairthefaultyissue(s)thatmayarisewhilesavingatonofmoneyratherthansendingittoarepairfacilityorbuyingnewreplacementparts.
GreatforcurrentStudentsenrolledinTechnologyrelatedcourses,asthisinformationisnottaughtinclasses.
Pleasetakethetimetoreadthisbookinitsentirety,thenre-readitagaintoensureyougetaclearunderstandingofallitscontent.IalsorecommendthatyoupurchasemyFirstbookreleaseentitled:World’sFirstCompleteGuidetoLaptop&NotebookRepair.–Suitableforallagegroupsandlearninglevels–thisbookwillteachyouwithoutallthetechnicaltermsused,andwillexplain,stepbystep,ingreatdetail.Iwillnotincludeallthearithmeticequationsused,orthespecificdetailedcomponentschematics,rather,IwillreplacethoseconfusingtermswitheasilyunderstandablereplacementtermsforyourconvenienceandtoallowabetterunderstandingfortheBeginnerorinexperiencedtechnician.
Chapter1
BasicToolsIntroduction
InthischapterIamgoingtodiscussaboutthetoolsthatareneededtoalaptoptechnician.HereIwilllistthecommonnamesofthetoolsthen,Iwillgiveabriefdescriptionofthattool’susagesrelatingtoLaptoprepairing
1.ScrewdriversforLaptop
Thisisnottheaveragesizedscrewdriver,asthatwouldbetoolargeforthetinyscrewsusedonlaptopstoday.Thisisthemicro-sizedscrewdriver,whichcanbeboughtatyourlocalHomeImprovementstore.Imyselfuseanallin-onescrewdriverthathousestheextratipsinsidethescrewdriveritself.Then,Ialsousethescrewdriverset
fromanEyeglassRepairKit.YoucanpurchaseonefromyourlocalAutoPartsStore(asktheclerkforassistanceinlocatingone)andyouwilldefinitelyneedthemultipletippacktoallowdifferentsizesfordifferentlaptopmodels.
2.MiniPliers
Isuggestthatyoubuyminineedlenosedpliersbecausetheyareeasiertouseonthemicrosizedcomponentsthatmakeupthelaptop.ThepliersIuseare3incheslong,Ifindthatthenormalsizedpliersarewaytoobiganddonotreachintocertainareasthattheminican.
3.Scissors
Yeah,scissors,weneedascissors.Thesmallerthebetterwhenobtainingyourscissors.Iusehaircuttingscissorsbecausetheyaresmallandthecuttingtipsarethinandnarrow.
4.
ElectricalTape
Thisisusedtowrapcablesandwires,andusedtosecureorflattenwire
orcabletracksonorinthelaptop.ItrynottousethisonwireorcablewrappingifpossiblebecauseIhavefoundthatovertimethetapewillslowlyunravelandcanbecome―stickyontheouter-side.
5.ShrinkWrapTubing
Thesecanusuallybefoundinvarietypacks,thelargerofthesizeswillbetheoneyouusemostcommonlyinlaptoprepair.Theseareplacedovertherepairareaonthewireorcable,theyarebasicallyrubbertubesthatyoucuttoyourspecificallyneededlength,thenheatthetubetoshrinkittothesizeofthewireorcablebeingrepaired.
6.CopperFoilTape
Alesscommonitemused,thoughyouwilleventuallyneedthisifyouarerepairinglaptopsonaregularbasis.ThiswillbeusedformotherboardPCBrepairandmorecommonlyusedforDCJackC-ringreplacement/repair.
7.AdjustablePliers
Thisisalesscommonlyusedtool,thoughitwillbeneededattimes.I
8.LiquidFlux
willrarelyusethisonaDCJackrepairtogentlywigglethejackloosefromthedesolderedcontactpads.Youwillfindotherusesforthistoolsoitisagoodtooltoaddtoyourcollection.
Forthistool,IrecommendthatyougetbothapasteformandtheliquidPENform.Botharereadilyavailableonlocalstoreforasmallprice,yetarehardtofindlocallyatastore,youcantryshoppingatRadioShackforFluxPaste,butdoubtfultheyhavethefluxpens.
9.PlasticPryingTools
Thesewillbeneededforalmosteverylaptoprepairprocedure.When
able,youwillALWAYSuseplasticovermetaltodisassembleorworkonthelaptoporanyelectroniccomponent.Therearevariouskindsthatareusedandneeded.Aguitarpickisthemostusedtool,notaflimsypickratheraslightlythickerguitarpickthatcanwithhold
bendingbackandforthnumeroustimes.
10.2PartPlastic/MetalEpoxyGlue
Youwillfindmanyvarietiesofthisproductandwillhavetochoosethebestoneforyourself,ItypicallyusetheBlack/Clearmix…Asithasalongerdryingtime,itwillallowmorestrengthovertimeandholduptoheatexposure.Thiswillbeusedinmanyareasofthelaptop,andbeingthatalaptopmotherboardisSelfGrounded…itcanbeuseddirectlyonthePCBtocovercomponentsortraces.AcommonuseforthisEpoxyisforDCJackRepair,asitwillbeusedinthelaststepandappliedtothe
jacksrearendandsidestohelpsecureittothemotherboard.AlsothiswillbeusedtobracetheJackwhenthelaptopslowercasesDCJackholdingcagebreaks(commonissueforToshiba–newermodellaptops).
11.ThermalPaste
YouwillonlybeusingSilverthermalpasteinaLaptop,NeverCeramicPaste.Laptopswilluse2coolingsources….EitherSilverpasteorathermalpad.Padswillbehardto
repurchase,andsilverthermalpastewillbereadilyavailableforsaleeverywhere.Ifapartorcomponentoriginallyusedathermalpad,itishighlyrecommendedthatyoukeepusingapadandnotswitchitoutto
usingpaste…Thesepadsalsoareusedtocoveragapwhichisleftforthatspecificpartforthermalexpansionandcontraction.
12.30to50WattSolderingIron
Youcanuseanybrandoftheseandtheyaretypicallydisposable.I
recommendthatyoudodisposeofthecheapersolderingironsafter10orsouses,orgetyourselfsomeTinnertorefreshthetip.Idorecommenda50wattironforlaptopcomponentrepairasitwillallowforbetter―flowofthesolderduetothehighertemperatureoutput.
13.Solder
TheaverageRosinCoreSolderwilldo,getyourself1.0mmsolder,anythickeranditwillapplytoheavily.
14.Toothbrush
This,believeitornot,isthesecondmostusedtoolinLaptopRepair.
Yes.Atoothbrush…Youwillusethisoneachandeverylaptopyourepair.Whyyouask?Thetoothbrushisusedtocleananyandallpartsandcomponentsinandonthelaptop.Cleaningthelaptoppartsasyourepairisdetrimentaltothelongevityofthelaptopslife.Itisusedtocleanthe
keyboard,themotherboardandanycasepart.Moredetailedusageswillfollowthroughoutthisbookandshouldbeappliedasinstructed.
15.Toothpicks
Thesehavemanyusesandareahandytooltohavenearby.Usedtoapplyfluxes,usedtoapplyepoxies,alsocanbeusedtohelpplugorunplugcertainribboncablesorthin
wire(s).
16.CircuitBoardCleaningSolution/WD40
Thissolventisusedtocleanthemotherboard,andIwillclarifyitsusesthroughoutthisbook.WD40ismorereadilyavailabletopurchaseandcansuffice.Again,IwillalsoexplainhowtoproperlyuseWD40tocleancomponents/removefluxandsoforth.
17.ThinTippedBlackPermanentMarker
Thisisusedoftentomarkscrewholes,ortomarktheareasofdamageonthelaptopsparts.
18.Multi-meter
19.HeatGun
ThiscanbeboughtatyourlocalHomeImprovementstore,andyouwillfindawidevarietyofqualitychoices.Forabeginner,itisoktopurchasethecheapestMulti-meterto
learnitsusesandfamiliarizeyourselfwithit.
Thebetterthequalitythebetterthefinalresultsofyourrepairswillbe.Onaverage,youwanttouseatleastaheatgunwithswitchablesettings…Onethatwillproducetemperatureof700to800degrees.IuseaRYOBIheatgun,120v,11a,Temp:200-1100degreesFarenheit.
20.HeatGunAddOnTips
YouwillfindforsaleonanylocalelectricalstoreortheWeb,tipsfortheheatgun…thesearethesameorsimilartothetipsusedinprofessionalReworkstations(I’llexplainwhataReworkStationislaterinthebook).Therearealotofdifferenttipsyoucanbuyandalotofdifferentsizestochoosefrom.Youwillbuytheseaccordingtoyourspecificneeds.Ipersonallyusethe
Conetelescopingtips,andtheSquareGPUCoveringtips
Chapter2
PartsoftheLaptopIntroduction
Alaptopisaportablepersonalcomputerwithaclamshellformfactor,suitableformobileuse.Theyarealsosometimescallednotebookcomputersornotebooks.Laptopsarecommonlyusedinavarietyofsettings,includingwork,education,andpersonalmultimedia.
Alaptopcombinesthecomponentsandinputsasadesktopcomputer;includingdisplay,speakerskeyboard,andpointingdevice(suchasatouchpad),intoasingledevice.Mostmodern-daylaptopcomputersalsohaveawebcamandamic(microphone)pre-installed.[citationneeded]Alaptopcanbepoweredeitherfromarechargeablebattery,orbymainselectricityviaanACadapter.
Iwillquicklygooverallthebasicandadditionalpartsandcomponentsthatmakeupyourlaptop.
1.Palmrest
Thisisthepartthatyouplaceyourhandsonwhentyping,itisbasicallythewholetop-halfofthelowerhalfofyourlaptop–minusthekeyboardandmediastrip.Whenreplacingthepalmrest,itiscommonforthereplacementparttoalsoincludethetouchpad.
2.Keyboard
Selfexplanatoryhere…Ifrepairingthekeyboard,thesimplestwayisto
replacetheentirekeyboard,thoughSinglekeyreplacementpartsarereadilyavailableonanycomputerhardwarestore.12
3.DisplayScreen
Thisiswhatproducestheimages,accessiblebyremovingthefrontbezel.Crackedscreenscannotberepairedanddoneedtobereplaced.
4.CCFLBulb
Thisislocatedinthedisplaypanelandwillbefoundonthebottomendofthescreenstretchingfromtherightendtotheleftend…TheCCFL
5.DisplayCable
bulbisenclosed..inanopenendmetaltraythathugsthebottomedgeoftheglasspanelonthescreenandshinesthelightupthroughtheglasspaneltoilluminatetheentirescreenevenly.
Thesearemadespecifictoeachmodellaptopandarenotinterchangeable.¾ofthecablewillhousethe–datawiresandtheother¼willhousethe
Power/Negativewiresfortheinverter.
6.DisplayPCBstrips
ThispartislocatedinsidethePowerInverter-laptopscreen,inthemiddle-bottomofthescreenhousing.Someinverterswillbelocatedindifferentplaces,italldependsonthemodel,andthosearerare…likeontherearsideofthescreenorthesideofthescreen…
butagainthosearerare,andyouwill90%ofthetimebereplacingonelocated
justbelowtheactualdisplaypanel.Thescreenlightplugismadeinsuchawaythatyoucannotreversetheplugandaccidentallyplugitinthewrongway,rather,itwillonlyplugintotheinverterthecorrect
way(oneportislargerthantheother).
7.LEDlightstrips
Thesearethenewersourceoflightforlaptops.ThelightemittedismuchbrighterandwhiterasopposedtotheyellowishtinttoaCCFLbulb.LEDlightstripswillhavetheinverter/converterbuiltintotherearsidecircuitboardpanelonthescreenandtheywillnothaveaphysicalinverterboardunderthescreen.
8.HingeSet(L&R)
Thehingesattachtothebottombaseofthelaptopandwillsecureoneitherendoftheinnerscreen,securingitselftothescreensrearcover,thensecuringthescreenbyusingHingerailsthatrunupeach
sideofthescreen.
9.Touchpad/Mouse
Anotherself-explanatorypartthateveryoneshouldalreadyknow…Someofthesewillhavethecapabilityofbeingdisabledorreenabledbyabuttonlocatednearbyonthepalmrest,
somewillnot.
10.MediaStrip
Thispartislocateddirectlyabovethekeyboardandwillsometimesincludethehingecoverswithit.Itwillusuallyincludethepower
button,andsomelightediconssuchasbatterymonitor,harddrivemonitor,15luetoothandWi-Fimonitor.Somelaptopswillallowtouchsensitivebuttonsandsomewillbepushbuttons,thoughall
willbelabeled.Thispartisusuallyjustasnapinplacepart,thoughifitissecuredtothelaptop,itsscrewswillbelocatedinthebatterybayandontheundersiderearendofthelaptopnearthecorners.
11.OpticalDrive
ThisincludesaDVDdrive,acddriveaBlu-rayplayerorsimilar.
12.HardDrive
Thisiswheredataisstored,thelaptopcanusedifferentkindsofharddrives.Thecurrent3mostcommonfoundareSATA,PATAIDEandSSD.SSDreferstoSolidStateDrives,whicharesimilarlookingtoalaptopsWi-Ficard.TheSSDisthenewestofthesethreedrives.ThePATAIdeistheoldestofthethree.TheSATAandPATAdrivesareidenticalexceptfortheconnectionplugends,astheybothusePlattersandmagneticstostoredata.SSDcardsaremadewithnomovingparts.Thisiswhatmakesthemdifferentthanthetypicaldrive.TheywillnotproduceheatliketheSATA/PATAdrives,mostcommonlyusedinFanless
Netbooks.
13.Wi-FiCard
Thiscaneitherbelocatedonthebottomsideofthelaptop(mostcommonplace)ortheupperside–underthekeyboard.Thispartisoneofthemoststablepartsonthelaptopanditwillrarelyfail,soifyouareexperiencingWi-Fiissues,youwouldtestallsoftwareendissuespriortochangingthewirelesscard.Thebrandofthecardwillbelistedonthestickerofthecard,andwillhelpyouindeterminingwhatdriverto
useforthatspecificlaptop.ItisoktomismatchthecolorguidefortheWi-Fiantennawires.Typicallythewiresarewhiteandblack,andwillhavecoloredarrowsontheWi-Ficardshowingyouwhatwiretoconnecttowhatsiteinputplug.Itisoktoplugtheblackontothewhiteportandvisaversaasitwillstill
allowforsignalgainoftheantennawires,becauseremember,theyarejustthat,antennawires,notpowerwireswhichabout60percentofthelaptopsshippedoutoftheFactory
comemix-matched–reversedwiresfromday1…
14.EthernetCard
Mostlaptopswillhavethisintegratedintothemotherboard,andsomewillhaveanextensionboardthatconnectstothemotherboard.Usedforinternetaccessornetworkingpurposes,everylaptopwillhaveoneoftheseonit,whetherintegratedoracard.
15.PowerButton
Usuallylocatedjustabovethekeyboard,somelaptopswillplacethe
powerbuttonindifferentareas,likethelidofthelaptop,orthefrontofthelaptoporitssides.Powerbuttonscanbeleverstyle,buttonstyle,touchsensitiveorswitchstyle.Most
commonisthepushbuttonstyle.Whenapowerbuttonispressed,itpushesabuttonpadonthe
motherboardoradaughterboard.
16.LidLockLever/Switch
Thesecanbeahooklatchstyleortheycanbemagnetic.Themorecommonstyleisthehookandlatchstyle.Thisusesapush-pulllever,orabuttontolockandunlock,whichreleasesthelidfromthebottombaselockingportslots.Themagneticstylehas
novisibleworkingpartsbecausethemagnetsarelocatedinthelidand/orthebottombaseofthelaptop.
17.HingeCover(
Hingecoverswillsecuretothebottombasetypicallyusingasnapandtabsystem,andsomewillsecurewithbothsnaps/tabsandscrews(1or2).So,firstlookforanyscrewsandremove,thenattempttounsnapthemfromthebottombase.Youmustuseplasticpryingtoolstodothistonotscratchthelaptop.AguitarpickisaLaptopTechniciansbestfriend,andyoushouldruntothestore
rightnowandbuy5or10ofthem.
18.BottomBase
Ifyouflipthelaptopoverwhenit’sclosed,youwillencountertheBottomBaseofthelaptop.Thiswillusuallyhaveremovablecoverslocatedsomewhereonit(harddrivecover,Wi-Fiport
cover,etc…).
19.USBExtensionBoard
EachlaptopmodelwilluseadifferentUSBconfiguration,somewilluseUSBextensionboardsandsomewilljusthavetheintegratedUSBportsthatcomeonthemotherboard.ThisextensionboardisusedtostretchPortstooppositesidesofthelaptopwhenitisnotpossibletouseintegratedports.Theyconnecttothe
motherboardusingaplugin(daughterboard),orawireand/orribboncablesandplugs.
20.EthernetExtensionBoard
ThesewilltypicallybeEthernetExtensionBoardincludedontheUSBextensionboardthough
canbeontheirownboardsaswell.
21.RubberShoes/Feet/ScrewCovers
Rubbershoeswillbefoundonthebottomofthelaptopandwillalsobefoundonthefront
bezelofthescreen.
22.CaseCovers
ThesearethecoversthatarelocatedonCaseCoverstheundersideofthelaptop.Typicallytheywillindividuallycoverthecomponents
separately.Forinstance,theharddrivewillhaveitsowncover,usuallysecuredby2or4screw’s,Wi-Ficardaccessbaywillsometimeshaveitsowncovertoo.TheRAMDIMMslotsarealwaysaccessiblefromcasecoversandwillusuallyhavetheirowncover.Somelaptopswillcombinethecoversinto1largecoveror2separatelargercovers.
23.Motherboard
ThelaptopsmotherboardistheMaincomponentofalaptop…Itusuallytakesup¾of
theinsideofthebaseofthelaptop.
24.DCJack
Thisiswhereyouplugthechargercordintoonanylaptop.Theyaretypicallyelongatedboxshapedhavingpowerpinsontherearsideandcenter…andgroundingpinsoneithersides.Iwilldiscussrepaironthispartlaterinthisbook.Replacementjacks
canbeboughtoffanycomputerhardwarestoreandareallusuallyunder$10USDperpart.
26.RAM25.DockingPort
TheseareusedmoreofteninanOfficeatmosphereratherthanthetypicalhome.
LaptopRAMwillbeavailableindifferentspeedsandusuallythelaptopwillallowthevariousspeeds,thoughsomeareBIOSprogrammedtonotacceptanythingbutthedefaultRAMassigned.Forinstance,alaptop
thatwasrunningDDR2666speedshouldbeabletoalsorunthenextslowestspeedof555/533andpossiblythe444.
27.Bluetoothcard
TheinternalBluetoothcardsarenottypicallyintegratedintothemotherboard,theyareusuallypluggedintothemotherboardandwillsitina―cagesomewhereonthelaptopscasing,somearescrewedontothemotherboardusingriserscrewstolevitateitawayfromthemotherboard.
28.WwanCard
ThiscardisidenticaltotheWLANcardortheWi-Ficard.Andisnot
installedoneverylaptop,ratheritismorefoundonthebusinessendlaptopsorthegaminglaptops.Wwaniscommonlyusedforcorporationsorlargersizedbusinessesrunningcrosscountryorworldwideserversornetworks.SamegoesfortheGamingbasedlaptopsliketheAlienwarem17xwhichusesWwantoGameOnline.Alotofmanufacturersoflaptop
motherboardswillapplytheportcontactpadsbutdonotinstalltheportduetospecificlaptopcasespecsandtheportnotfittingcertainlaptopcaseconfigurations.
29.Webcam
Laptopwebcamshavenothadalotofimprovementinthepastfewyears,Ican’tthinkofanylaptopmodeloffhandthathasagoodWebcam.Ifalaptopdoeshaveone,itwillusuallybelocatedontheupperportionofthefrontofthescreen.Itwillusuallyhaveamicrophonelocatedrightnexttoitornearby.Thesearealmostalwaysstationarycamerasanddonotmoveinanyway,thoughtherearemodels
thathavemovablecameras.Acerhassomemodelsthatusedaspinningcamera.Itcouldrotateupordown,thoughnotleftorright.
30.PCSlotCard/SD/MMC
Thesewillbefoundonboththesidesandthefrontofcertainlaptops,morecommonlyfoundonnewerlaptops.TheyallowtheuseofexternalcomponentssuchasMemorycards,EthernetNetworkcards,Modemsandsimilar.
32.HDMI/Other31.VGAOut
Thisisaportthatwillbefoundonalmosteverylaptopeverreleased.Itisusedtoconnectanexternalmonitororviewingdeviceto.ItisVideoOut,notVideoIn.ThemostcommonthingtoconnecttothisportisaDesktopComputerScreen.
HDMIportsarefoundoncertain
newerlaptops,mainlyinstalledonthe―entertainmentbasedlaptop,ortheGamingLaptop.ItcanpassVideoandAudiotoandfromthetelevisionorsimilarsource.DVIorminiDVIportsare
alsousedoncertainlaptopstopass
video.
33.ScreenBezel
ScreenBezelsarethescreenframesthatcoverthefrontsideofthescreen.MostbezelswillsecuretotherearpanelbyaSnap-Tabconnection,oftenalsousingscrewsatall4cornersandsometimesinthecenteroftheupperandorlowerscreenbezel.ScreenFrontBezelscanalsobesecuredwithdoublesided
tapefromthemanufacturer.
34.ScreenRearCover
35.Battery
Thisistheshellorlidofthelaptopwhichisthebacksideofthelaptopsscreen.Thesecanneedreplacingfromabusetothehinges.TheRearScreenCoveristypicallyconnectedtoboththehingesandthefrontbezel,thoughitcancrackandbreakifthehingesbecomelooseorweak.
AlllaptopshaveabatteryasitistheentirereasoningbehindtheLaptopitselfanditsportabilityability.Laptopbatteriesaremadewithdifferentstrengthorvalues.Theyalsomakebatteriesforthesamemodelwithdifferentshapestothem.Forinstance…ADelloriginalbatterythatwas
soldwiththelaptopratedat3800mAH.Thatsamemodelhastheabilitytorunabetterbattery;the4300mAHversion,orbetteryettheyoffera6600orhigher…Thehigherthenumber,thelongerthebatterywillholdacharge.LaptopbatterymanufacturerswillmakethehighermAHbatteriesusinga
differentshapethantheoriginal,theywilladdabumptothebatteryortheywillextendthelength/widthofthebattery.PersonallyIprefertheBumpadditionbatteriesbecausetheywilllifttherearendofthelaptopupintheairwhichwillkeepitsbasecooler.
36.ACAdapter
Thisisalsocommonlycalledthe―chargingcordanditspurposeistosupplythecorrectamountofpowertothelaptop.ThecordendoftheACAdapterwhereitplugsintothewalloutletistheACendofthecord,where120voltsaretravellingthroughtothecenterinverterpowerbox.Inthisinverterbox,theACcurrent(alternatingcurrent)isconvertedtoDCcurrent(directcurrent),then,travelsto
theplugtip.Inthisplugtip,youwillcommonlyfind2mainwires…Thecenter―powerwireandtheoutertwistedgroundingwire(usuallywrappedaroundtheentirecircumferenceofthecable)
37.InternalSpeakers
Alllaptopswillhaveinternalspeakers,though90%ofthemarenotofgreatquality.Theyaretheremoreforthe—dingsandpings¡andbeepingnoisesthatthedefaultsoundthemeproduceswhenbrowsingwindowsexplorerorinternetexplorer.Theyarenotreallymeanttobeblastingmusicfromatitshighestlevel.
Therearesomemodels,though,onceagainintheentertainmentandgamingbuiltseriesoflaptops.Theywilladdsubwoofersandtweetersandamplifierstoenhancetheaudio.
38.Audio/Headphone/Mic.–OutPort
Mostalllaptopswillhavethissetlocatedsomewhereonit.Itiswhereyouconnectanexternalmicrophoneorheadphonesorexternalspeakerorevenanexternalamplifier.
39.PrinterPort
Theseusedtobefoundoneachandeverylaptop,butnowyouwillrarelyfindtheseonyourlaptopastheyarebecomingoutdatedduetotheuseofWi-Fi,USBandBluetooth.Itisa25pinportandwouldconnectaparallel/serialcabletoyourprinter.Thelistaboveistheparts/componentsthatarethemostcommon,
theonesthattypicallyalllaptopswillhave…Yes,thereareothersnotlisted,buttheyneednotbediscussedinthisparticularbook.
Chapter3
InstallingOperatingSystemsonLaptops&NetbooksIntroduction
Tothoseofyouwhohaveneverinstalledanoperatingsystem,Iwillexplainthebasicprocesstakenbeforegoinganyfurther.AlwaysrememberthatwhenreinstallinganOS,youwillalsoneedtore-setupyourWi-Fi…Soifthisrepairisnotforyourself,youmustensurethatthepersonyouaredoinganOperatingSystemReinstallforknowstheirWEPorWAPkeytobeabletoreinstalltheirNetworkSSIDandKEY.Thereareacouplewaystostartthisprocess.FirstwouldbeputtingtheOSinstallcd/DVDintotheopticaldrive.
HowToInstallWindowsXPProfessional
PictureofHowToInstallWindowsXPProfessionalThissetofinstructionsisteachyouhowtoeasilyinstallWindowsXP.Injust10easysteps,youwillbeabletoinstallandrunWindowsXPfromyourlaptopornotebook.
Step1:InsertyourWindowsXPbootabledisk
OpenyourCD-RomdriveandinsertyourWindowsXPdisk.YoucannowclosetheCD-RomDrive.
Step2:HowtobootfromaCD/DVD
Youmustbepoweredontoejecttheopticaldrivetrayortoinsertcdintoslot.Nextyoucantryusingyourcorresponding-Fkey,suchasF12orF11totellthelaptoptobootfromCD/DVD.SomelaptopdefaultBIOSsplashstartupscreensettingswillshowyouforabriefsecondthecorrect-FkeytopresstobootfromCD.Thiswilltakeyoutothebootoptionsmenu.
Nowthatyouareinthebootoptionsmenu,youwillneedtousethearrowkeysonyourkeyboardtomoveoverthechoiceforanOnboardorUSBCD-ROMDrive.PressEnter.
AfteryouhavepressedEnter,mostWindowsXPdiskswillpromptyoutopressanykeytobootfromtheCD(Asseeninpicture2).Whenthisappears,youwillhaveonlyafewsecondstopressanykeyonthekeyboard.IusuallychoosetheSpace-barbecauseitistheeasiesttofindandpress.
Step3:BeginningtheProcess
AfteryouhavechosentobootfromtheCD,youwillhavetowaitafewminutes.ThediskwillcheckyourharddrivetoseeifwindowsXPiscurrentlyinstalledonit.Afterthediskhasmadeitscheckyoushouldseeascreenliketheoneinthefirstpictureonthispage.
YouwillwanttopressEnterbecauseyouareplanningoninstallingWindowsXPonyoursystem.Ifyourealizethatyouhavedataonyourharddriveandneedtobackitup,nowwouldbethetimetopressF3andexittheinstallationprogramtobackitup.
Step4:LicensingAgreementandBeginSetup
ThenextpagethatyouwillseeistheWindowsXPLicensingAgreement.Onthispage,youcantakethetimetoreadthroughtheagreement,butitisjustsayingthatyouwillnotbebreakinganylawsusingthisproduct.IpersonallyjusthitF8(toagree)andmoveontothenextstepintheinstallation.
AfterpressingF8,youwillcometothebeginningoftheWindowsXPsetup.Onthispage,youwillwanttopresstheEsckeyonthekeyboard.Thiswilltelltheprogramnottotryandrepairthecurrentinstallation.
Step5:DeletingthecurrentPartition
ThenextstepininstallingWindowsXPistodelettheoldpartitiononyourharddrive.Youwillseeascreensimilartotheoneinthefirstpictureofthispage.YouwillwanttoscrollovertheC:partitionthatiscurrentonyourharddrive.ThenextthingyouwillneedtodoisclicktheDkey.ThiswilltelltheprogramthatyouwanttoDeletethecurrentpartition.
AfteryouclicktheDkey,youwillseeascreenliketheoneinthesecondpicture.OnthisscreenyouwillwanttopresstheLkeytoconfirmthedeletionofthepartitionoftheharddrive.
Step6:BeginningtheInstall
Nowthatyouhavedeletedtheoldpartition,youwillneedtobesurethatpartitionisselectedandpresstheEnterkey.ThiswilltelltheprogramthatyouwanttoinstallWindowsXPonthatpartition.
Step7:ChoosingtheTypeofInstallation
Inthisstep,youwillwanttochoosewhetheryouwanttohavesystemdoaquickinstallationorastandardinstallation.Forthepurposesofthissetofinstructions,Ihavechosentodoastandardinstallation.Afterchoosingyourmethodofinstallation,youwillwanttopresstheEnterkeytocontinuetotheinstallation.
Step8:AllowingWindowsXPtoInstall
Thisstepwillprobablybethelongeststep.ThisisbecauseyouareatthemercyofthesystemandhowfastitinstallsWindowsXP.AfteryouhavepressedtheEnterkeyinthelaststep,youwillseethescreeninthefirstpicturehereappear.Thiswillmeanthattheprogramisrunningtheinstallation.
Overtime,theprogressbarwillmoveacrossthescreen,asshowninthesecondpicturewheretheprogressbarisattwenty-fivepercent.AftertheInstallationhasfinishedplacingthefilesystemonyourharddrive,youwillseetheprogramrestartyourcomputer.Donotbealarmedatthis.itwillbootbackupandyouwillseeascreensimilartothethirdpictureonthispage.
Step9:ChoosingyourKeyboardLayout,organization,andComputerName
Thefirstscreen(seeninthefirstpicture)thatwillcomeupwillbeascreenforyoutoselectthelanguageandkeyboardstylethatyouwishtouseforyournewinstallationofWindowsXP.IhavechosentousetheEnglishLanguageandtheUSkeyboardlayout.YoumayselectanyconfigurationthatyouarecomfortablewithandthenpresstheNextThenextthingtheprogramwillaskforisthenameandorganizationthatthisinstallisaffiliatedwith(asseeninthesecondpicture).Youwillwanttofillthisinwithyourinformation.Afterfillingintheinformation,youwillpresstheNextbutton.
Whenthenextscreencomesup(asseeninthethirdpicture),youwillwanttochoosethenameyouwanttogivetoyourcomputerandthepasswordtheAdministratorofthecomputerwillhave.PresstheNext
Step10:ChoosingyourTimeZone
Youwillnowseetheareaforyoutochoosethetimeanddatetobesetonthecomputer.ThiswillcorrespondtotheTimeZoneinwhichyoulive.IliveintheCentralTimeZone,soIhavechosentohavethedateandtimecorrespondtothat.Youmaypickwhicheveryouwouldlikefromthismenu.
AfterchoosingtheTimeZoneyouarein,youwillneedtomakesurethetimeiscorrect.Thiscanbedonebycheckingthetime(asseeninthesecondpicture).
Step11:WaitingforInstallationtocontinue
Nowyouwillneedtowaitfortheinstallationtocontinuebeforeyoucandoanythingmore.
Step12:DisplaySettings
Theinstallationwillpromptyoutoimprovethedisplaysettings(asseeninthefirstpicture).YouwillneedtopresstheOKbuttonforthistocontinue.
AfterpressingtheOKbutton,youwillseeanotherboxappear(liketheoneinthesecondpicture).ThisboxwillwantyoutopresstheOKbuttonalso.
Step13:ProtectingyourComputerandGivingitaUser
AfterpressingOKinthelaststep,youwillseetheMicrosoftWindowswelcomescreenappear(likethefirstpicture).Onthispage,youwillwanttopressthenextbuttonatthebottomright.
NowyouwillseeascreenpromptingyoutoprotectyourPC.YouwillwanttodecideifyouwantWindowsXPtohaveautomaticupdatesonornot.Ichosetohavethesystemdoautomaticupdatingtosavefromthehassleofhavingtobesurethecomputer’suserrememberstoupdatethecomputer.Aftermakingyourchoice,youwillneedtopressthenextbuttoninthebottomright.
Nowyouwillbepromptedtogivethecomputerauser.ForthepurposesofthissetofinstructionsIgaveitausernamed“MyName”,butyoucannamethisuserwhateveryouwouldlike.Aftergivingthecomputeratleastoneuser(youmaywanttogiveitmany),youwillneedtopressthenextbutton.
Step14:FinishingtheInstallation
Afterpressingthenextbutton,youwillseeaThankyouscreen.OnthisscreenyouwillneedtopressFinish.
Thiswillbringupascreensimilartothesecondpictureonthispage.
Nowyouwillseethatthecomputerhasloggedyouinforthefirsttime.Youshouldseeascreenlikethethirdpictureonthispage.
IhopeyouenjoyedthetutorialonhowtoinstallWindowsXPProfessional!
HowtoInstallWindows7onLaptop
XPinstallisdifferentthanWindows7install.WithXP,itisalittlelessgraphicalandwillaskyoumorequestionsthanwillWindows7.InaWindows7install,youwillstartbychoosingCustominstall.InevereverrecommenddoinganUpgradeofanyversionofOSinstall…simplynotneeded.Followthroughthepromptsanduntilyougettothescreenshowingtheharddrivepartitions.Hereyouwillmakeadecisiontowipetheentireharddrivecleanortosavecertainpartitionsorpartialpartitions.
IfyouneedtosaveDATAfromthepreviousOperatingSysteminstall,thenyoucanleaveallpartitionsastheyare,eveniftheWindows7operatingsystemisanupgradetowhatwaspreviouslyonthedrive(likeXPorVista).Simplykeepthedefaultchoicepartitionselected…whichwillbethelargestsizedpartition,thesystempartition…andinthiswindowyouwilljustchoose―NEXTandnotmesswithanyothersetting.1.Turn“ON”yournotebookandinsertoperatingsystemDVDintodrive.
2.PressF12toselectbootdeviceandselect“CD/DVD/CD-RWDevice”thenpressenter.
3.YourLaptopwillautomaticallystartbootingfromDVDbypressinganykey.4.Windowswillautomaticallystartloadingfiles.Itwilltakefewminutes
5.Anewwindowwillappear,selectsuitablelanguageandtimeformatthenclicknext.6.Click“InstallNow”etupbuttonwillstartinitiatingas.results
7.Readandacceptthelicensetermsbyclickingthecheckboxandpressnext.8.Select“Custom(advanced)”settings
9.Inthisscreenwindowssetupwillshowallexistingpartitionsofdrive,deletethepartitionsonebyonebyselectingdriveoptions.10.HighlightDrivepartitionandselectdelete.
11.PressOK.
12.Afterdeletingallpartitionswindowssetupwillshowcompleteunallocateddiskspace,selectNew.
13.Defineyourrequiredspaceandpress“Apply”.
14.ClickOK.
15.ClickNext.
16.Finallywindowswillstartinstallingitsfilesandthenrestartsystemautomatically.
17.Typeusernameandpressnext.18.Typepasswordandpressnext.
19.Selectuserecommendedsetting.20.Selecttimeanddatethenpressnext.
21.InstallationhasbeensuccessfullycompletedremoveOSmediafromdrive
WordOfWarning!!!DoNotReinstallAnyOperatingSystemUnlessYouAreSureYouHaveACopyOfTheEthernetandorWirelessCorrespondingDrivers…TheOSInstallitselfmightnotloaddriversforeitherwhichwillleaveyouwithnointernetcapabilityuntiltheyareinstalled.
DriverInstollation
Onceattheirmainpageofthewebsite,youwilllookfora―Services&Supportor―Driversn&DownloadsorsimilartogettotheirDriversPageforyourmodel.Next,youwillbeallowedtochooseyourLaptopsmodelnumberandseriesnumber.TherewillusuallybealisttochoosefromoranAutoDetectfeatureonthatWebPage.OnceatyourDriversWebPage,youcanseethelistofallyourdriverssuchasEthernet,Chipset,Audio,Wi-Fi,BIOS,etc…Downloadoneorallofthem,andifneeded,youmighthavetoflipthroughthedifferentoperatingsystemversionstofindallthedrivers…therewillbeaplacesomewhereonthatpagetochangewhatoperatingsystemversionthedriversare
for…
IfinstallingfromaUSBdevice,makesurethatyousettheBIOSsettingtoallowthelaptoptoboottothatUSBdevicefirst.
Chapter4
LaptopDisassemblyIntroduction
Iwillexplainherehowtodisassembleanylaptop,andnotjustfocusononespecificmodel.Iwillteachyouthiswaybecausethereisageneralrhythmtotheplacementofthescrewsanddifferenttypesused.Withalllaptops,youwillstartthedisassemblingbyflippingthelaptopovertoitsbottomside.Useafoampadifavailablesoyoudonotscratchthelid/cover.
Thesedirectionsaretodisassemblethecompleteunit.Youwillneeda5.5mmNutDriver,amediumsizePhilipsscrewdriver.
Beforedisassembly,makesurethe
notebookispoweredoff.
1.RemovingtheBatteryPack
Toremovethebatterypackfromthebatterybay,followthestepsbelow:1.Turnthenotebookupsidedown.2.Slidetherightbatteryreleaselockinthedirectionofthearrowtounlockthebatterypack.
3.Slidetheleftbatteryreleaselatchinthedirectionofthearrow.Thebatterypackwillpop-upautomatically.Gentlyprythebatterypackfromitshousing.
NOTE:Alwaysstartlaptopdisassemblybyremovingthebatterypackfirst.
2.RemovingtheHDDModule
FollowthestepsbelowtoremovetheHDDmodule:
1.Turnthenotebookupsidedown.2.RemovethetwoM2.5x4screwssecuringtheHDDcompartmentcover.
3.PulluptheHDDcompartmentcoverinthedirectionofthearrow..
4.RemovethetwoM2.5x4screwssecuringtheHDDmoduleinplace.
5.PullthetabtoremovetheHDDmoduleinthedirectionofthearrow.
6.RemovethefoursilverM3x3screwstotakeofftheHDDcase.
7.RemovetheHDDmodulefromtheHDDcase.
3.RemovingtheDDRRAM
FollowthestepsbelowtoremovetheDDRRAM:1.Turnthenotebookupsidedown.2.RemoveoneM2.5x4screwandoneM2.5x18screwsecuringtheRAMcover,andthenremovethecover.
3.PushthelatchestoreleasetheRAMmodule.Aspringwillforceoneendofthemoduleup.
4.Graspthemoduleandpullitout.
4.DisassemblingtheODD(CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/CD-RW…)
Followthestepsbelowtodisassembletheopticaldrive(ODD):1.Turnthenotebookupsidedown.2.RemovetheM2.5x10screwsecuringtheODD.3.InsertaflatscrewdriverintotheslotasshownandgentlypushouttheODD.
4.RemovethetwoM2x3screwsfromthebracketplate,andthenremovethebracketplate.
5.RemovingtheKeyboard
Openthedisplaypanelandfollowthestepsbelowtoremovethekeyboard.1.Liftupthestripcoverfromtherightsideandremoveit.
2.RemovethetwoM2.5x4screwssecuringthekeyboard.3.Turnoverthekeyboard,revealingthekeyboardcableunderneath.
4.Useathintoolsuchasascrewdrivertoleveruptheconnectorbracketanddisconnectthekeyboardcablefromthemotherboard.
6.RemovingtheSwitchBoardOpenthedisplaypanelandfollowthestepsbelowtoremovetheswitchboard.1.RemovethetwoM2.5x4screwssecuringtheswitchboard.
2.Removetheswitchboard.7.RemovingtheWirelessLANCard
ToremovethewirelessLANcard,followthestepsbelow:1.Turnthenotebookover.RemovethetwoM2.5x4andtwoM2.5x18screwssecuringthethermalcover.
2.Removethecover.
3.DisconnectthethreeantennasfromthewirelessLANcard.
4.RemovethetwoM2x3screwsattachingthestand-offbrackettothemotherboard.
5.Removethestand-offbracket.
6.GraspthewirelessLANcardandpullitout.
CAUTION:DonottouchtheconnectorsonthewirelessLANcardoronthecomputer.Debrisontheconnectorsmaycausetheunittomalfunction.
8.RemovingtheSystemFan
Toremovethesystemfan,firstremovethewirelessLANcard.Thenfollowthestepsbelow:
1.Turnthenotebookover.RemovethethreeM2.5x4screwssecuringthesystemfan.
2.Disconnectthefanconnectorfromthemotherboardasshown,andliftoutthesystemfan.
9.RemovingtheThermalModule
Toremovethethermalmodule,firstremovethewirelessLANcard.Thenfollowthestepsbelow:1.Turnthenotebookover.Removethefourspringscrewssecuringthethermalmoduletothemotherboard.
2.Liftandremovethethermalmodulefromthemotherboard.
CAUTION:Whenyouremovethethermalmodule,usetheCPUgreasetooltoremovethegreaseontheCPUandthermalmodule.Reapplyfreshgreasebeforereinstallingthethermalmodule.
10.RemovingtheCPU
ToremovetheCPU,firstremovethewirelessLANcard,andthermalmodule.Thenfollowthestepsbelow:1.TurnthecamontheCPUsocketwithaflat-bladescrewdriversothatthenotchonthecamisalignedwiththeopensideoftheCPUsockettounlocktheCPU.
2.GentlyliftouttheCPU.
11RemovingtheBluetoothModule
ToremovetheBluetoothmodule,firstremovethekeyboard,andswitchboard.Thenfollowthestepsbelow:1.RemovethetwoM2x3screwssecuringtheBluetoothmoduletothelogiclower.
2.DisconnecttheBluetoothcable,andremovetheBluetoothmodule.
12RemovingtheRobsonCard
ToremovetheRobsoncard,firstremovethekeyboard,andswitchboard.Thenfollowthestepsbelow:1.RemovethetwoM2x3screwssecuringtheRobsoncardtothelogiclower..
2.RemovetheRobsoncard.
13.RemovingtheLCDModule
ToremovetheLCDmodule,firstremovethekeyboard,andswitchboard.Thenfollowthestepsbelow:1.DisconnecttheLCDpower(LVDS),CMOS,andmicrophonecablesandpullthewirelessantennasfreefromthelaptopasshown.
2.RemovethefourM2.5x4screwssecuringtheLCDmoduletothelogicupper.
3.RemovetheLCDmodule.
14.DisassemblingtheDisplayandtheInverterBoard
Todisassemblethedisplayandinverterboard,firstremovethekeyboard,andswitchboard.Thenfollowthesesteps:1.Removethesixscrewpadsasshown.
2.RemovethesixM2.5x6screwssecuringtheLCDbezeltotheLCDmodule.
4.CarefullyinsertyourfingersbetweenthedisplayandtheLCDbezelasindicatedbythearrow,andgentlypryuptheLCDbezel.
4.Removethefivescrewsmountingthedisplay,inverterboard,andLVDS/CMOScabletotheLCDcover.TwoM2.5x6screwsonthedisplay.TwoM2.5x4screwsontheinverterboard.OneM2.5x4screwontheLVDS/CMOScable.5.Disconnectthetwoconnectorsoneithersideoftheinverterboard.Removetheinverterboard.
6.Gentlyliftoutthedisplay.RemovetheeightM2x3screwssecuringthehingestothe
display.7.DetachtheLVDScablefromthebackoftheLCDpanel.
15.RemovingtheCameraModule
Toremovethecameramodule,firstremovethekeyboard,switchboard,LCDmodule,LCDdisplay,andinverterboard.Thenfollowthesesteps:1.DisconnecttheCMOScablefromthecameramodule.
2.RemovetheM2x3screwsecuringthecameramoduletotheLCDcover.Removethecameramodule.
16RemovingtheLogicUpper
Toremovethelogicupper,firstremovethebatterypack,HDD,memorymodule,ODD,keyboard,switchboard,wirelessLAN,systemfan,thermalmodule,CPU,Bluetoothmodule,andLCDmoduleasdescribedintheprecedingsections.Followthestepsbelowtoremovethelogicupper.1.Turnthecomputerupsidedownandremovethe14M2.5x8screwsfromthebottomsideofthenotebook.
2.RemovetheM2x3screwandM2.5x8screwsecuringthelogicuppertothelogiclower.
3.TurnthecomputeroveragainanddisconnectthepowerUSBboardFFC,touchpad,andfingerprintercablesasshown.
4.Liftoffthelogicupper.
17RemovingtheLEDBoard
Toremovethefrontboard,firstremovethelogicupperasdescribedintheprecedingsections.Thenfollowthestepsbelow:1.RemovethetwoM2.5x4screwssecuringtheLEDboardtothelogiclower.
2.RemovetheLEDboard.
18.RemovingtheMotherboard
Toremovethemotherboard,firstremovethelogicupper,andLEDboardasdescribedintheprecedingsections.Thenfollowthestepsbelow:1.RemovethefourM2.5x4screwssecuringthemotherboardtothelogiclower.
2.DisconnecttheUSBboardFFC,speakerandaudioboardcables.RemovetheDC-INsocketfromitshousingandliftoutthemotherboard.
3.TurnoverthelaptopanddisconnecttheMDCcardcable.
19.RemovingtheModemCard
Toremovethemodemcard,firstremovethemotherboardasdescribedintheprecedingsections.Thenfollowthestepsbelow:1.RemovethetwoM2x3screwssecuringthemodemcardtothemotherboard
2.Removethemodemcard.
20.RemovingtheVGABoard
ToremovetheVGAboard,firstremovethemotherboardasdescribedintheprecedingsections.Thenfollowthestepsbelow:1.RemovethefourspringscrewssecuringtheVGAheatsinktotheVGAboard.
2.RemovetheVGAheatsink.3.RemovethetwoM2x3screwssecuringtheVGAboardtothemotherboard.
4.RemovetheVGAboard.
21.RemovingtheAudioBoard
Toremovetheaudioboard,firstremovethelogicupper,LEDboard,andmotherboardasdescribedintheprecedingsections.Thenfollowthestepsbelow:1.RemovethetwoM2.5x4screwssecuringtheaudioboardtothelogiclower.
2.Removetheaudioboard.
22.RemovingtheUSBBoard
ToremovetheUSBboard,firstremovethelogicupper,LEDboard,andmotherboardasdescribedintheprecedingsections.Thenfollowthestepsbelow:1.RemovethetwoM2.5x4screwssecuringtheUSBboardtothelogiclower,andremovetheUSBboard.
23.RemovingtheRJ11Port
ToremovetheRJ11port,firstremovethelogicupper,LEDboard,andmotherboardasdescribedintheprecedingsections.Thenfollowthestepsbelow:1.LifttheRJ11portfromitshousinganddetachthecabletoremoveitfromthelogiclower.
24.RemovingtheTouchPadButtonBoardandTouchPad
Toremovethetouchpadbuttonboardandtouchpad,firstremovethelogicupperasdescribedintheprecedingsections.Thenfollowthestepsbelow:1.RemovethetwoM2.5x4screwssecuringthetouchpadbuttonboardtotherearsideofthelogicupper.
2.Disconnectthetouchpadbuttonboardcablefromthetouchpadmodule.
3.Removethetouchpadbuttonboard.
4.Disconnectthetouchpadcable.
5.RemovetheM2.5x4screwsecuringthetouchpadbrackettothelogicupper.Liftoffthebracketandremovethetouchpad.
25.RemovingtheFingerprinterModule
Toremovethefingerprintermodule,firstremovethelogicupperasdescribedintheprecedingsections.Thenfollowthestepsbelow:1.RemovetheoneM2x3screwsecuringthefingerprintermoduletotherearsideofthelogicupper.
2.Removethefingerprintermodule.
26RemovingthePowerUSBBoard
ToremovethepowerUSBboard,firstremovethelogicupperasdescribedintheprecedingsections.Thenfollowthestepsbelow:1.RemovethetwoM2.5x4screwssecuringthepowerUSBboardtothelogicupper.
2.RemovethepowerUSBboard.
Chapter5
CD/DVDDriveRepairingHowtoFixaLaptopCDDrive
Yournotebook’sCDdriveisoneofthefirstcomponentstogobellyup.Adeadlensisthemainreasonbehindanopticaldrive’sfailuretoreadorwritedatatoaCD.Anotherreasonmightbeadamageddrivebelt,butitcanbereplacedwithanewone.Anaverageopticaldrivelastsforayearandstopsfunctioningbecausethelaserwearsoutorslipsoutofalignment.
Ifyournotebook’sopticaldrivestopsreadingorwritingdata,thenyoushouldreplaceitwithanewdrive.However,youcaneasilyfixalaptopCDdriveifthereisaminorsoftwareorhardwareproblem.Thisguidewillassistyouintroubleshootingyournotebook’sopticaldrive.
UseMicrosoftFixit
Microsoft’sveryownsoftwarefixallowsuserstofixCD/DVDdriveproblems.Installandrunthisprogramifanyofthefollowingproblemsoccurs:
YournotebookopticaldriveisdisabledTheopticaldrivecannotreaddataItcannotwritedatatoaCDorDVDNoCD/DVDdriveiconTheopticaldrivedriverismissingorcorrupt
VisitMicrosoft’sofficialFixitsiteandclickontheRunbuttontodownloadtheprogramonyourdesktop.
Step1:Double-clickontheinstaller.Onceready,itwillaskyoutoacceptthetermsandconditions.ClickonAccept.TheinstallerwilldownloadadiagnostictoolpackageandtheFixitengine.
Step2:Youwillseetwooptions.Clickontherecommendedoption.Thediagnosticwilldetectproblemsandapplyapatchifitfindsany.
Step3:ChooseyourCD/DVDdrive.Next,selectanyoneofthetwooptions.Ifyournotebook’sopticaldrivehasreadingissues,selectthefirstoption.FortroubleshootingCDwritingissues,selectthesecondoption.
Step4:Thenextscreenwillaskyoutoinserta
readable/writeablemedia.Basedonthechoiceyouhavemade,insertawriteable/readableCDandthenchoosetheopticaldrive.
Step5:TheFixitenginewilldetectandtroubleshootproblems.Oncecomplete,itwillshowthecompletionwindowwithstatusshowingas“Fixed”.
SystemRegistry
Can’tseetheCDROMdriveonMyComputer?Well,theproblemmightbeconnectedtoyourWindowssystemregistry.AregistryentrymaygetcorruptedbyuninstallingCDburningsoftware.Becauseofthis,WindowscannotaccesstotheCDROMdrive.Tofixthis,followthesesteps:
1.Start>Run>typeREGEDITandpresstheEnterkey.Thiswillopentheregistryeditor.
2.Navigatetotheregistryentryasshowninthe
screenshotabove.
3.Youwillfindtwounwantedentries–UpperFiltersandLowerFilters.Right-clickeachentryandclickonDelete.Youcanalsosingle-clickonthemandpressthedeletebuttontoremovethem.
4.ExitthewindowviatheFilemenuandrebootyournotebook.YoucannowseetheCD/DVDicononMyComputer.
LaptopDVDTrayWon’tEject-HowToOpenACDOrDVDDrive
TherearequiteafewreasonstheDVDtrayinyourlaptopmightfailtoopenwhenyouhittheejectbutton.Abouttheworstthingitcanbeisifthemotororgeartrainfailed,whichwouldmeanreplacingthedrive.IfthediscinthedriveplaysOK,youknowthatthepowerandtheconnectorarefine.Ifnot,youshouldtryreseatingthedriveinthebay.It’salsopossibleforthedrivetobelockedinsoftwarebytheoperatingsystem,orforapowermanagementscheme
tohavecutpowertothedrive.Checkthesebyrightclickingthedriveiconandcheckingproperties,orlookingatyoupowermanagementsettings.But,whenallelsefailsandyoucan’tgetthediscoutofthedrive,there’salways,THEMIGHTYPAPERCLIP.
CDandDVDdrivesforcomputershavebeendesignedwithanemergencyreleasemechanismsincetimeimmemorial.UnlikeyourDVDplayerforyourTVoryourstereoCDplayer,thediscinyour
computerdrivemaybemuchmorevaluablethanthedriveitself.Yes,ifyouownthesoftwarelegally,youshouldbeabletogetareplacementfromthesoftwarecompanyforamoderatecharge,butmaybeyouneeditnow.Inanycase,the
emergencyreleasefortheDVDtraydoesn’trequireanyspecialtoolsorskills,justapaperclip.Startbyunbendingalegofthelargestdiameterpaperclipthatwillfitinthehole
onthefaceplateofthedrive.Next,insertititstraightintothehole,andifyou’relucky,therewillbeealittleclickbeforeitgoesinveryfar,andthetraywillpopoutafractionofaninch.
Inthepicturetotheright,Ihaven’tusedanyforceatall,beyondgentlypushinginthepaperclip,andtheCDtraypoppedoutthatfarbyitself.Fromhere,it’saneasytasktopullitoutallthewaysothedisccanberemoved.Below,I’mopeningtheDVDdriveoutofaSonyVaio,butthetraydidn’tspring
outwhenthepaperclippushedintherelease,whichyoucantellbyfeel.SoIhadtopullonitwithmyfingernailbehindtheplasticfacadewhiledepressingtherelease.Itopenedprettystifflyforthefirstfractionofaninch,andthenpulledrightouttherestoftheway.Thatprettymuchcoverswhatyou’llencounterwithmanuallyopeninganopticaldrive,eitheritwillpopopenassoonasthepaperclipworksthelatch,oryou’llhavetohelpitalong.
Butthereareinstancesinwhichtheemergencyreleasewon’tgetthetraytoeject.Theworstoftheseisifadiscshatteredathighspeedandjammedallthemechanicsupwithlittleshardsofplastic.You’llknowthisisthecase
bythenoiseifyougentlytiltthedrivebackandforth.Anotherpossibilityisthatanadhesivelabelpeeledoffinthedriveandhas
gummeduptheworks.Ineithercase,theoddsofthedrivebeingsalvageablearen’tverygood,butifitwasalabelfailure,youshouldbeabletorescuethediscbydisassemblingthedrivearoundituntilthetrayejectsorthediscisaccessible.Andbeforeyourush
outandbuyasupposedgenericreplacementforthedrive,rememberthatwhiletheconnectormaybestandard,thedriveshelliscustomized,andyoumaynotbeabletotransferalloftheshellhardwarefromonedrivetoanotherformounting.
HowtoCleanCD/DVDDrives
WhenyourCDorDVD(disc)drivestartsgivingyouproblems,yourfirstthoughtmaybetoreplaceitortakeittotherepairshop,butagoodcleaningmaybeallitneeds.
Belowarethreemethodstocleanthediscdrive.Theeasiestmethodistheleasteffective.Thehardestmethodisthemosteffective.Sincethehardestmethodtakessometimetodo,Irecommendthatyoustartwiththeeasiestmethod.Ifitsolvesyourproblems,congratulations.Ifnot,trythenextmethod.
1.TheCleanerDiscmethod–this,theeasiestmethod,usesaspecialcleanerdiscwhichcanbepurchasedincomputerstores.Thediscusuallycomeswithalittlebottleofcleanersolution.Applyafewdropsofthesolutiontothediscandinsertitinthediscdrawer(besuretoreadandfollowtheinstructionsthatcomewiththecleanerdisc).Thedrivewillturnthediscandcleanthelens.
Unfortunately,thisonlyworksadequatelyabouthalfthetime.
2.TheCleaningStickmethod–thisiswhatIdoindesperationwhenthecleanerdiscdoesnotworkandIdon’twanttodisassemblethedrive.Sinceallthatisneeded(atleastinmymindthisistrue)isalittlemorepressureappliedtothelens,Istartoutinsearchofathin,flexiblestickofsometypewhichisatleastsixincheslong.Itshouldnothavesharporroughedgesthatwouldscratchthelens.Next,getasoft,thinclothandputwaterorrubbingalcoholinthemiddleofit.Placeoneendofthestickunderthewetpartoftheclothandslideitintotheopeneddiscdrawer.Thegoalistorubthewetclothonthelenstocleanit.Donotapplysomuchpressurethatyouwillscratchandruinthelens.Alsotryblowingintothediscdrivetoremoveanydirtthatmayhaveaccommulatedinit.Ifyoudonotsucceedatthis,proceedtothenextmethod
3.TheDisassemblymethod–thismethodshouldworkbutitrequiresyoutodisassemblethedrive.Soifyouarenotcomfortablewithtakingthedriveapart,pleasetakeittoacomputerrepairshopandletthemdoit.Takethecoveroffyourcomputer,unplugthecordsfromthebackofthediscdrive,removeanyscrewsholdingitin,andslideitout(youmayneedtoremovethefaceplateontheendofthedrawertogetthedriveout).Removethescrewsinthedrivehousingandtakethecoveroff.Thebottomsideofthedriveisacircuitboard,soifthatiswhatyouseewhenyoutakethecoveroff,figureouthowtoaccesstheotherside.Onthecorrectside,youshouldseealensthatrunsonatrack(thereisnoharminmovingthelensalongthetrackbutdonottouchthelensitself).Useawet,softclothtocleanthelens.Sometimesadiscdrivemalfunctionsbecausethereistoo
muchdustordebrisinit,sobesuretocleanouttheinsidewitheithercompressedair,asoftcloth,oracottonswab.Reassemblethediscdrive,putitbackinthecomputercase,andcrossyourfingers.Hopefully,itwillworkwhenyouturnonthecomputer.
Ifthesemethodswork,that’sgood.Ifnot,youneededabetterdiscdriveanyway..
AdditionalTips
Rebootyourlaptop.Whenitrestarts,quicklypresstheF8key.Thiswillinitiatethesafemode.InsertCDinyournotebook’sopticaldrive.ItmayreadCDs.IthoughtmyDVDdrivewasdead,untilIswitchedtosafemode.NowmydeadCDdrivecanreadCDsbutnotDVDs.
Updateyouropticaldrive’sdrivers.PressStartandtypeDeviceManagerinthesearchbox.ClickonitandchooseDiskDrives.Right-clickontheATAdriveicon.ClickonupgradedriverandthenclickSearchautomatically.Ifthere’sanupgradeavailable,itwillbedoneautomatically.
Adirtylensmightbeoneofthecausesbehindfailuretoread/writedatatoaCD.Acanofcompressedairmightprovequitehandyinremovingdustfromtheopticallens.YoucanalsouseaCDdrivecleaningdisktoremovedust,lintandstaticfromtheopticallens.
IfanyoftheabovetipsdonotfixyourlaptopCDdrive,considerreplacingitwithanewone.IwouldrecommendexternalCDdrives.Theyarequiteaffordableandlastlongerthaninternalopticaldrives.
Chapter6
RecoverLostDatafromaDeadHardDriveIntroduction
Harddrivesfail.It’safactoflifeforanyonewhousesacomputer.Ifyoustoreirreplaceableinformationonyourharddrive,thenafailurecanbeacatastrophe.Butcanyourecoverthefamilyphotos,workdocumentsorfinancialdatathatyoukeptmeaningtobackup,butneverdid?Theremightbehope,sodon’tgiveuponthatbrokenharddriveyet.
We’regoingtodescribethewarningsignsofaharddrivefailure,explaintheinternalpartsofaharddriveandwhytheyfail,andthenwe’llgothroughafewstepsyoucantaketorecoveryourdata.Whilethefilescan’talwaysbe
recovered,there’sachanceyoumightbeabletoretrievethem.
Justrememberonething—evenifyourfilescanberestored,itwilltakehoursoffrustratingeffortandmightcostyouquiteabitofmoney,too.Thebestwaytofixadeadharddriveistosenditinunderwarrantyandreplaceitwithyourbackupdrivethathasallyourfilessafelystoredonit.Infact,afterreadingthisarticle,you’llfindthatagoodback-upplanwillkeepyoufromeverexperiencingthehorriblefeelinginthepitofyourstomachwhenyourealizethatallofyourfilesmaybegone.
WhyDrivesFail
Aharddriveisamechanicaldevicewithseveralmovingparts.Magneticplattersstorethedataitself,whileamotorizedspindlespinstheplatters.Aread/writearmmovesacrosstheplatters,retrievinginformationorputtingdownnewdata.Thearmismovedbyanactuator,andtheread/writeheadsthemselveshoveraninfinitesimaldistanceabovethe
platters.Thedistanceissosmallthatasinglepieceofdustcangetintheway.
Ifanyoftheharddrive’smechanicalpartsfails,thewholedrivewillfail.Thepartsoperatewithincredibleprecision,soharddrivesareratherfragile.Circuitboards,spindlemotors,ballbearings—anyofthesepartsaresusceptibletofailure.Theworsttypeoffailureisknownasaheadcrash.Inthiscase,theread/writeheaddropsdowndirectlyontotheplatterand
scrapesawaythemagneticmaterial.Thedatainthatcaseistotally,permanentlylost.Dataonunaffectedpartsoftheplattersmayberecoverable,butusuallydataarespreadaroundtheplatters,soaheadcrashisreallybadnews.Othermechanicalfailurescanbebothacurseandablessing.It’sacursebecauseitcanbedifficultandexpensivetogetreplacementpartsandfindsomeonewhocanmaketherepair.It’sablessingbecause,aslongastheplattersweren’tdamaged,thedataarestillthere.Ifyoucangetthedriverunningagain,thedatashouldbeaccessible.
Thefailuremightbenon-mechanical.Yourcomputerusesaspecialindexandfilestructuretoreadallthefilesstoredonthedisk.Ifthisindexbecomescorrupted,thecomputerwon’tbeabletoseeorreadthedata,eventhoughit’sstillthere.Inmanycases,thiscanberepairedwiththepropersoftware,althoughitcanbetricky.
There’sonelastareawhereadrivecanfail,andit’sparticularlyinsidiousbecausethedriveactuallydidn’tfailatall—thedrive’sconnectiontoyourcomputerfailed.Hard
drivesconnecttoyourcomputer’smotherboardviaavarietyofinterfaces,IDE,PATAandSATAbeingthemostcommon.Ifthisconnection,orthecircuitonthemotherboardthatcontrolsthedisk(calledthediskcontroller)hasfailed,thesymptomscanmimicthesymptomsofaharddrivefailure.
SignsofHardDriveFailure
Alltoooften,harddrivesfailwithnowarningwhatsoever.Oneminutethecomputerisworkingfine,thenextyouhavea“bluescreenofdeath”andallyourdataisgone.So,what’sthelessonhere?Don’trelyonwarningsignstopredictharddrivefailure.Assumethatyourharddriveisgoingtofail,andbackupcriticalfiles.Ifyouhaveareliableback-up,you’llsaveyourselfmanyheadaches.Somemechanicalcomponentscanfailgradually,however,sooccasionallyyou’llknowwhenadrivefailureisimminent.Thesewarningsfallintotwocategories:soundsandperformanceproblems.
Ifyouspendalotoftimesittingnearyourcomputer,you’reprobablyfamiliarwiththeusualsoundsitmakes.Ifyouheartheharddrivemakinganyunusualnoises,that’sprobablyacluethatsomethingisgoingwrong.Grindingorscreechingnoisesmightmeanthebearingsorspindlemotorarefailing.Aclicking,clunkingorclangingsoundcouldbetheread/writearmslammingbackandforth.Sometimesthesesoundscanbesubtleanddifficulttodetect.Ifyouthinkyou’rehearingfunnynoises,openyourcomputer’scaseandlistenwithyourearclosetotheharddrivewhilesomeoneelseusesthecomputertosaveormovesomefiles.
Performanceproblemsincludeasuddenincreaseinthefrequencyoffreeze-upsandcrashes.Ofcourse,thesetypesofperformanceproblemscanbesymptomaticofanynumberofcomputermaladies,fromvirusestomemoryleakstonon-driverelatedhardwarefailures.Amorespecifictell-tale:savingormovingfilessuddenlytakesavery,verylongtime.Whenyourunintoanyofthesesymptoms,backupanythingthatisn’talreadysavedandhopethedrivelastslongenoughtogeteverythingyouneedcopiedtoanotherdisk.
ExternalHardDrive?CheckWhetherTheIDE/SATAtoUSBEnclosureIsOK!
Whenyourexternalharddrivefails,itcandosoforallthesamereasonsaninternaldrivecanfail.Sometimes,however,it’snotthedrivethatstopsworking,butaconnectionwithintheenclosure!Andinthatcase,thedriveiseasytorevive.
Beforeyouopenupanyhardware,besuretodischargeyourbody’sstaticelectricity,i.e.groundyourself.RemovetheharddrivefromitscasinganduseaIDE/SATAdatacableandpowerconnectorto
installthedriveinternallyonyourdesktopcomputer.Alternatively,youcangetanIDE/SATAtoUSBadapteroranewUSBenclosure,soyoucanhookthedriveupexternallyviaUSB.
InternalHardDrive?MakeSureTheHardDriveConnectionsAreOK!
Sometimes,it’snotthedrivethatfailed,butthephysicalconnectionofcablesthatconnectthedrivewiththecomputer’smotherboard.Youcanonlywishthatthisisyourproblem!Sobeforeyouhireanexpensivetechnician,makesurethedataandpowercablesarefirmlyconnectedonbothends.
Topreventhazardstoyourhealth,it’sessentialtoturnoffthecomputerandunplugthepowercord.Asmentionedabove,youalsoneedtodischargeyourbody’sstaticelectricity,i.e.groundyourselfbeforeyougetworkingonyourcomputer’sinternals.ThenopenupthecaseandmakesureallconnectionsareOK.
OnceyouhavemadesuretheconnectionsareOK,bootthelaptopagain.
What’sThatSound?
syouaretryingtogettheharddrivetorun,listentothesounditismaking.Isitcompletelydead?Orisitstillspinning?Whatexactlydoesitsoundlike?CompareyoursoundtothelistofharddrivesoundsprovidedbyDataCent.Thiswillhelpyoudiagnosethetypeofdamage.
Thedamagecanbeeitherinternalorexternal.Aclickingsound,forexample,issuggestiveofamalfunctioninghead,i.e.internaldamage.Acompletelydeaddrive,ontheotherhand,couldbeduetoafaultyprintedcircuitboard(PCB),whichwouldbeexternaldamage.
IsTheHardDriveRecognized?
Sometimes,youcanhearyourdrivespinning,butitneverpopsup.Ormaybeit’scompletelydead.Topinpointthetypeofdamage,trytomanuallycheckwhetherornotthedriveisrecognizedbyyourcomputer.
YoucandothisviatheBIOSincaseit’stheprimaryharddriveandyourcomputernolongerboots.Afteryouturnonthecomputer,entertheBIOSbypressingatriggerkey,whichcouldbe[DEL],[ESC],[F2],or[F10],dependingonthemanufacturer.WithintheBIOS,navigatethroughtheavailablemenustofindwhereitlistswhichtypesofdrivesareconnectedtothecomputer.Usually,thisinformationisfoundundertheAdvancedmenu,butyoumightalsofinditindirectlyunderBootsettings.
Ifyouhavehookedupthedrivetoanothercomputer,youdon’tneedtoaccesstheBIOSat
all.InWindows,clickthekeycombination[Windows]+[R],whichwilllaunchtheRuninputwindow.Typecmdintothefieldandhit[Enter].ThiswillopentheCommandPrompt.Heretypediskpartandhit[Enter],toopentherespectivetool.Inthediskpartwindow,typelistvolumeandhit[Enter]toshowalldrivesconnectedtoyourcomputer.
Ifthedriveisrecognizedandthusappearsinthelistabove,butdoesn’tshowupasanaccessibledrive,chancesareWindowsonlyrecognizesthePCB,butthedriveitselfisdamaged(internaldamage).Inotherwords,ifthedriveisrecognizedinanyshapeorform,thePCBismostlikelyworkingandreplacingitwillnotfixtheharddrive!
IsThePrintedCircuitBoardBroken?
Asmentionedpreviously,yourdrivecanbedamagedinternallyorexternally.TheexternalPCB,ifdamaged,isrelativelyeasytoreplace.However,datarecoveryspecialistswarnthatswappingthePCBcanruinthedriveandcauseyoutolosealldataonit.Soifyoudocareaboutyourdata,bettererronthesideofcaution.
EvenifyoucanseethatyourPCBisdamaged,theremightstillbeinternaldamage.Moreover,asmentionedabove,replacingthecircuitboardyourselfcandamageyourdrivefurther,whichreducesyourchancesofrecoveringyourdata.
NotethatmanywebsitesnowsellPCBsandprovideguidestofindexactlytherightcircuit
boardforyourdrive.YoucaneasilyfindthemonGoogle.
Witchcraft&Wizardry
Whenmyharddrivefailed,thePCBwasfine;thedrivewasstillrecognizedandspinning,butitdidn’tshowupinWindows,meaningIcouldnotaccessit,andnosoftwarerecoverytoolcouldhelpme,either.SoIputmylasthopeintosomeofthoseobscuretricksthatyou’llfindfloatingaroundtheInternet,likeshakingthedrive,hittingitontoahardsurface,exposingittodryheatintheoven,orstickingitinthefreezerovernight.Ifyouhaveanyideahowaharddriveworks,thenanyofthesemethodsshouldgiveyoutheshivers!
Well,Ididn’tdaretomeltmydrive,butmysuspicionwasthattheheadwasstuck.SoIdidshakeit,buttonoavail.SinceIcouldfollowthereasoning,IalsowrappedmydriveinanairtightZiplocbackandstuckitinthefreezerovernight.Theideaisthatthelowtemperaturescausemetalstoshrinkandcontract.Soiftheheadwasstuck,the
coldmightgetitunstuck.Inpractice,thatdidn’tworkeither.AndIprobablycausedcondensationtosettleontheharddriveplatter,whichcouldhavecausedalotmoredamage.IeventuallygaveupandstoredthedriveforafutureinwhichIwashopingtobeabletoaffordprofessionaldatarecovery.
TroubleshootingaDeadDrive
Whenyourdriveseemstohavegivenuptheghost,therearesomestepsyoucantaketodeterminewheretheproblemlies.IfyourcomputerisrunningWindows,thefirstthingyoushoulddoisrebootthecomputerandgointothebasicinput/outputsystem(BIOS).UsuallyyoudothisbypressingtheDeletekeyduringtheboot-upsequence-watchforon-screenprompts.BIOShasautilitythatautodetectsdrives.Runthisandseeifthedriveshowsup.Ifitdoesn’t,theremaybeaproblemwiththeconnectionsbetweenthedriveandthemotherboard.Checkallthoseconnections.
Ifthedrivedoesshowup,thenyoucanrunsomemorediagnostictests.You’llneedanotherfunctionalcomputertoaccomplishmostofthese,unlessyou’veplannedahead.Findthemodelnumberandmanufacturerofyourharddrive.Gotothemanufacturer’sWebsiteandlookforthecompany’sproprietarydiagnosticsoftware.You’llhavetodownloadandthenburnittoaCD-ROMorsaveittoafloppydisk,dependingonwhatthe“dead”computerisequippedwith.Bootthedeadcomputerfromthediagnosticdiskandrunit.Thediagnosticsshouldgiveyousomeindicationofwhattheproblemis,althoughsometimesitwillfindnoproblems,eventhoughthedriveisstillnotworking.
Youcanalsocreateabootablevirusscandiskandscanthedeaddriveforanyvirusesthatmightbecausingtheproblem.Ifyourcomputerisinfected,youmaybeabletousethevirusscandisktorepairtheproblemaswell.
Ifallhasgonewell,atthispointyoushouldhavearoughdiagnosis.Youmightnotknowexactlywhat’swrong,butatleastyou’veruledsomethingsoutandnarroweditdown.Butwhatifnoneofthosetroubleshootingstepsworked?Tryconnectingthedrivetoanothercomputer,onethatyouknowworks.Thiswillletyouknowiftheproblemisreallywiththedriveitself.
Also,openyourcomputer’scaseandlistencloselytothedrivewhenyoubootupthecomputer.Isittotallysilent?Thatmeanstheplattersaren’t“spinningup,”indicatingaseriousmechanicalproblem.Doesitmakeanyofthewarningsoundswementioned
earlier?Remember,thesearealsoasignofmechanicalfailure.Ifitsoundsperfectlynormal(generally,asteadyhissastheplattersspinandinternalcoolingfansactivate—althoughdifferentdrivesmakedifferentsounds),thentheproblemisprobablynotmechanical.
HardDriveRepair
Ifyou’vedeterminedthatyourdrivehasamechanicalproblem,youmayhavesomedifficultiestoovercome.Thedrivemightbefixableandyourdatarecoverable,butitmightrequireaprofessionalrepair,whichcancosthundredsoreventhousandsofdollars.Themainreasonforthisisthatworkontheinternalsofaharddrivehavetobedoneina“cleanroom”environment.Anypieceofdustontheplatterscanruinthedrive.
Youcouldattemptamechanicalrepaironyourown,butyou’llneedtofindexactreplacementpartsfromtheexactmodelandversionofthedrive.Thiscanbeahugechallengeallbyitself(evenforprofessionaldatarecoveryexperts).Youmightbeabletoreplaceadeadcircuitboardyourself,butspindle
motorsandread/writeactuatorsareverydifficulttodealwith.Alsonotethatopeningyourharddrive’scasewillvoiditswarranty.Ifyoudodecidetogothisroute,remembertonevertouchtheplattersthemselves.Theoilsfromyourfingertipsareenoughtoruinthedrive.
Aproblemwithacorruptfilestructureordiskindexissolvedwithspecialsoftware.Therearesomeutilities,suchasfdisk,builtintomostoperatingsystemsthatcanbeusedforthispurpose,butyouhavetobeverycareful.Changingthepartitionsinthedriveorformattingitmightsolvetheproblem,butyou’llloseallyourdata.AnotheroptionistouseaspecializedrecoveryutilitysuchasDiskWarriortorepairtheproblemwhilekeepingasmuchofyourdataaspossible.Somecorruptedfilesmaynotberecoverable.
Chapter7
LaptopScreenRepairingIntroduction
Laptopscreenstodaywilluseoneoftwocommonlightingsystems.BotharestillconsideredLCDScreensbecausetheyare.TheImagetothescreenisLiquidCrystalDisplay;itisonlythelightingthatwillchangeforthese2types.
LEDlightonalaptopisnewertechnologybecauseallscreensusedtouseonlyCCFLbulbs.TheCCFLbulbisathinglasstubewithaprotrudingmetalpliablerodoneitherside.Wiresaresolderedtobothendsofthebulbthenattachtoaplugthatwillplugintothepowerinverter…Youwillneedtosolderthewirestotheendsifyoueverneedtoorderareplacementbulb.Youcanhoweverusuallyfindreplacementbulbsthatcomeprewiredwithplugsalsoattached.Yougetthesamesizebulbasyourscreenspecsspecify.
Howtoreplaceabrokenlaptopscreen
Gettingareplacementscreenandtools:Tobeginyourfix,you’llneedafewsimpletoolsandareplacementLCDscreen.Fortools,Irecommendascrewdriverwithavarietyofsmallbits,suchasaPhillips#00andaTorxT5.It’salsoagoodideatohaveafewthinmetalbladesorplasticspudgers.Thesearereallyhandyforremovingthetrimthatsurroundsthescreen.
AsforthereplacementLCD,youshouldbeabletobuyoneeitherfromthelaptopmanufacturer’sauthorizedpartsdealerorathird-partysupplier.Dependingthescreen,theyusuallycostbetween$50and$250dollars—moreifit’sahigh-enddisplayoryoubuyanOEMreplacement.Regardless,you’llwanttobuyanewscreenthatmatchesyourbrokenoneexactly.Theonlysurewaytodothisistoremovethebrokenone.
Thewayyoushouldbereplacing/orderingthescreenistoremovethescreen,thenlookatthewhitelargestickerontherearsideofthescreen.Itwilltellyoutheexactpart
numberofthescreen,itwillalsoshowyouthetype/modelofscreen.Thesenumbers/lettersareimportantinensuringyoureceiveanexactreplacementpart.
Thereplacementscreenpartreplacementnumberwillalmostalwaysincludethescreenssizeinthenumber.
Hereisatypicalscreenpartordernumber:LP173WD1HD+(TL)(A2)17.3”
Noticeinthenumberthatthescreensizeisinit(LP173),youwillfindthisinmostallscreennumbers.Now,noticethe(TL)andthe(A2)…thisisveryimportantthatyoureplacewiththesameexactnumbers.Ifyoudon’t,youareriskingdamagingthelaptop,orthescreensimplywillnotwork,itwillshowgreycolororawhite-out.
1.Removethescreenbezel:Afterdisconnectingthepowersupplyandremovingthebattery,carefullyexaminethebezelaroundthescreen.You’llneedtoremovethisbezeltoaccessthescrewsthatholdtheLCDpanelinplace.
Onthislaptop,severalrubbercushionshidescrews,whichholdthebezelinplace.I’llneedtoremovethesecushionsandthescrewsthatareunderneath.
Withthehiddenscrewsremoved,Iusedathinmetalbladetopoplooseoneofthebottomcornersandworkedmywayaroundthebezelwithaplasticspudger.
Note:Yourlaptopmaynothavecushionsorhiddenscrews.Thebezelmaysimplysnapontothelidorbeheldinplacewithdoublesidetape.Just,adaptmyinstructionstofityourspecificlaptop.
Regardlessofhowyoudoit,you’llneedtocompletelyremovethebezel.
2.RemovethebrokenLCDpanel:WiththeLCD’smountingbracketsexposed,youcanremovethescrewsthatsecureittothelid.Thenrestthedisplayfront-side-downonthecaseanddisconnectitscable.
Ifyourlaptopwasmadebefore2010andhasaLCDwithfluorescentbacklights,itwilllikelyhavetwocables.ButasthisisanLED-backlitLCD,itonlyhasone.
Now,locatethemanufacturer’slabelandnotethemodelnumber.Usingthisinformationyoushouldbeabletobuyanexactmatchforyourbrokenscreen.3.InstallthenewLCDpanel:Onceyournewscreenarrives,unpackitandmakesureitmatchestheoldone.
thedimensions,mountingbrackets,andconnectorallmatch,youreadytoinstallthescreen.Connectthenewpaneltothecable,positionthepanelinthelid,andsecureit
usingtheappropriatescrews.
4.TestthenewLCDpanelandreinstallthebezel:Beforereattachingthebezel,it’sagoodideatotestthenewpanel.Reconnectthebatteryandpowercableandturnthemachineon.Ifthedisplayworks,youcanreattachthebezelandanyexternalscrewsandrubbercushions.Therepairisnowcomplete.
Asfixesgo,thisoneisn’ttootough,butitdoestakealittlepatienceandplanningtomakesureyougettherightreplacementscreen.
PowerInverterIssues
ThePowerinverteristheonlypartleftforscreenrepairing.
Youcanonlydosomuchtorepairtheinverteriffailureoccurs.TheonlythingIhavefoundthatworksabout%60ofthetimeistochangethetransformerblockontheInverter.Itisthepartwiththecopperwirewrappedallaroundit…alongrectangularshapedcomponentwithlegsonbothends(usually2to3ononesideand2to6ontheother–thelegsattachingtocontactpadsontheinverterboard.Youwillneedtouseasolderinggunandfluxpaste.
ThejobofaLaptoppowerinverteristoconvertDCpowercurrentbackovertoACpowercurrent,thisisdonebecauseanLCDbulbneedsmorepowerthandcvoltagecanprovide.
Whenapowerinverterfails,youwillloseyourlighttothescreen,thebulbwillstillbegood,andthescreenisstillgood,thedisplaywillevenberunningwithoutlight.
Theeasiestwaytotestafaultyinverteristoreplacewithaknowngoodone.Anotherwaytotesttheinverteristoattachanotherdisplaypaneltoyourlaptop..ifthatotherscreenaswellhasnolight,you’vejustruledouttheLCDbulbasbeingtheproblem…youknowthisbecauseyouknowforafactthatthesecondaryscreenthatyou’veattachedisa“knownworking”screen…andthatithasa“good”bulb.
Chapter8
LaptopPoweronProblemIntroduction
Therearequiteafewdifferentreasonswhyalaptopcanhaveissuespoweringon.ThemostcommonwouldbeafaultyDCJack.ThoughotherthingslikeafaultyGPU,orincorrectlyseatedRAM,orablownmotherboardcomponent,abadbattery,adamagedharddrive,ashortintheacadapter,orevenliquiddamagecanaswell…Soyousee;itisnotonlythepowerareathatcanfailrenderingthelaptopunabletopoweronandstaypoweredonitcanbeavarietyofdifferentissues,anditwillbeuptoyoutodoprocessofeliminationtestingtoruleoutallotherpossibleproblemsandpinpointtheexactcomponentcausingtheissue.
Let’sSay…Thelaptopinfrontofyouwillpoweronwhenthepowerbutton/switchispushed,itwillevensplashtheBIOSscreen(thescreenshowingtheLaptopsmanufacturerslogo),thenshutsitselfdown.
Okay,Nowfortheprocessofeliminationtestingtodeterminetheissue.Youwillwanttofirstcheckalltheeasiestthingsthatyoucan,theeasiestpartstoaccessgetlookedatfirst.
BatteryIssue
Startbyremovingthebattery.PlugtheACAdapterinandtrypoweringon…Ifthesame,continueon…
RAMIssue
Next,removetheRAMcoverontheundersideofthelaptop(someRAMslotsarealsosituatedunderthekeyboardonthetopsideoftheMotherboard;youwilldeterminethelocationandreseatbothsticks.ThenattempttopowerbackonafterreseatingtheRAM.ReseatingtheRAMmeansthatyouremovebothRAMsticksandplacethembackintotheDIMMslotsagaintoensuretheyareinstraightandnotatanangleorslightlyajar.
Ifyouarestillgettingthesamefailurewhenpoweringon,thenpulloutbothsticksofRAMagainandjustuseonestick,placingitinDIMM1first,thencheckingPower,thentryingjustDIMM2,thentryingtopoweron,thentakingthe2ndstickofRAManddoingthesamething…tryingDIMM1thenDIMM2…ThatwilleitherruleouttheRAMasbeingtheissueifnothingchanges,oritwillcorrecttheissue,whichwouldalsotellyouthatyouhaveafaultyDIMMslotifthelaptopRunsandPowerson
goodwith1missingRAMstick…
HardDriveIssue
NextyoucanmoveontotheHardDrivebysimplyremovingit.Youwanttoremove/unplugitfromtheportandsetitaside,thentrypoweringupthelaptopbecause
iftheharddrivehadanyissueswithitthatwerestoppingthelaptopfrompoweringon,removingthedriveshouldbypasstheissueandallowthelaptoptoturnon.Liquiddamagetotheharddriveisacommonreasonthiscanhappen…Liquiddamagetotheinternalcomponentscancause
powerredirectionwherethecontactpadsjoinandwhenthisoccurs,itwilltellthemotherboardtoshutdowntopreventfurtherdamage.Ifthelaptopisstillnotpoweringon,continuewithprocessofeliminationtesting…
SoyouhavenowruledouttheBattery,theDCJack,theRAM(memory)andtheharddriveasbeingthecausingissue.Notehere,that,youhaveruledouttheDCJacksimply
becauseitispoweringoninitially,then,shuttingdown.Ifthejackwerefaulty,youwouldgetnopowerinitially,ortheshutdownswouldbemoresporadicandonlyoccurwhenthecordorplugweremovedslightly.Batterywasruledoutsimplyforthefactthatremovingitdidn’tchangethefault.
So,nowthatyoustillhavealaptopthatwon’tpoweronproperly,andyouhaveruledouttheeasierparts/components,youwillnowhavetomoveontodisassemblingthelaptoptobegintroubleshootingandviewingallpartsandcomponents.Whiledisassemblingthelaptop,youwillbelookingforcertainthingsalongthewayastherootofthefailurecausingthelaptoptonotpowerupproperly.Youwillbasicallybelookingateverything.SomethingassimpleascrossingpinsinsidetheEthernet/cat5cableinputportthatarebentandtouchingoneanother,orpossiblyevencrossedpinsinsidetheUSBportcancausethelaptoptopoweronthenshutdown.Soyouwillneedtocloselylookatallpartsandcomponentsnowtodeterminewherethefailurehasoccurred.
LiquidDamageIssue
Nowwewilldiscusswhattolookforwithliquiddamagetoalaptopandwhythatcouldbethereasonforthelaptopnotpoweringupcorrectly.
ThisisatoughRepairtohandle…ButIhavehadgreatsuccessinrepairingmotherboardsthatreceiveliquiddamage…AndImheretosharemyknowledgetoyou…
Manytypesofliquidcan/willspillontoLaptops,themostcommonbeingwater,beer,milk,wine,tea,Coffee,juiceetc.
Eachoftheseliquidcausedamage,thougheachwillcausedamageindifferent
ways.
Whenlookingforsignsofliquiddamage,firstyouwanttopressdownonallthekeysofthelaptopskeyboard,youaredoingthistofeelfor―crispinessorstickingkeys.Sincemostliquidspillswilloccuroverthekeyboard,thisisthefirstplacethatwillbeaffected.Ifakeyboardissaturatedinliquid,andthatliquidhappenstoflowthroughtheprotectiveplasticfilmunderthekeys,itcandamagethedigitizercontactpadsofthekeyboard,itcanalsotravelthroughthekeyboardanddowntothemotherboard.Mostpeoplewillleavethebatteryin
andcanevenleavethelaptoppluggedinafteraspilloccurs,butwhattheydon’trealizeisthattheelectricitythatistravellingthroughthelaptopiscontinuingtocausedamagetoalltheareasthatcontainliquid.The
liquidwilldryeventuallyifleftuntouched,thoughitwilltakealotlongertodryifanyliquidleakedinsidethelaptopscaseandintothemotherboardarea.Ihaveseenliquidspills2monthsoldthatstillhad―puddlesofliquidstillresidingonthemotherboardandonthecomponents.
ThiscanoccurunderICchips,underprotectivestickersthatareplacedonmostmotherboards,andevenintheopenareas.
Youshouldnowalsolookatthepalmrestandbottombase,youwillbelookingforliquidstreamremains.Whenliquidtouchesthecaseparts,itismorevisibleontheinnersideofthepartsthantheouter,thoughstillvisibleontheoutertoo.
Liquidwillleavea—trailofevidencebehindwhenspillageoccurs,youwillseetheplastichasturnedadifferentcolorandwillhave¨Dflow¡Îremainsfromtheliquid.Whendisassembled,youwillalsolookatthemotherboardforanyremainsofliquid.LiquidwillalsoleaveavisibletrailonanyPCB(printedcircuitboard).Waterwilldrycleartowhitishincolor,Powderylookingwhendried.Milkwilldry
toawhitecolor;itcanalsostaythickandnotcompletelydissipate.Coffee,Soda,Beerwillalldrytoadarkbrownishtotan
colorandwillalsousuallystayprettythick-notcompletelydissipating.Waterseemstocausethemostdamageofalltheliquidscommontoaspill.
LiquidthatisleftonanyPCBthathaspowersuppliedtoitwillcorrodethesoldercontactsonthePCB.Thisiswhereyouwillbeabletovisuallyseeawhitishpowdery(lookslikebatteracid)substance.ItwillcontinuetocorrodetothepointthatitwillcausethatcomponenttoshortoutandpossiblycontinuetofurtherdamagesurroundingcomponentsandthePCBitself.Worstcasescenarioisthatthelaptopcouldpotentiallysetfire.And,yes¡-alaptopcanmostcertainly-setfire…Ihavepersonallyseenithappennumeroustimes,IhavealsohadcustomersthatwereFireChiefsthatwouldshowmethepicturesofthehousesburnttotheground,thenshowingmethephotooftheburnt/meltedlaptopwiththeirlidsstillopenasbeingdeterminedthecauseofthefire.
Somostimportantrulehereifpotentialliquiddamagehasoccurredistoremoveanyandallsourcesofpowerrunningthroughthelaptop,rightdowntotheCMOSbattery(iftheplugintype)…thencompletedisassemblyofthelaptopisamust,youmustremovealltracesofpastandpresentliquidorresidueorcorrosion.
Anylaptopthathassufferedfromliquidspillshouldbecompletelydisassembledandinspired.
Eachspecificliquidwillappeardifferentlyonthemotherboard,anddependinghowlongithasbeenthereandifpowerwasstillonwhenthespilloccurred.Itwillalsososignsofcorrosion.
Thisiswhatyouwillbelookingfor(corrosion)…withwateritwillappearasawhiteishcolorandkindofpowdery.
IuseaproductcalledCRCelectricalGrade2-26precisionlubricantspraytostartmy
motherboardcorrosioncleaningprocess.
Iuseasoft–bristledToothbrushtoinitiallycleanthemotherboard..applyingalightamountofspraytothebristles..thetoothbrushwont
ruinthemotherboard,Norwillitripofanycapacitorsorothercomponents..anditwillsafelyremovethecorrosionandhelptopreventitfrom
returning.
Youwanttoinspectbothsidesofmotherboard,startattheDCjackarea,lookattheshoulderpinsofthejacktoseeifanywhitepowderysubstanceexistorpossiblyshorterpinconnections..thenyouwillstartbylookingatallthecapacitors.Youmightneedamagnifyingglasstogetacloseview..LookintheRAM(DIMM)ports,lookingatthegoldspinstoseeifanyhaveatarnishedlookoragainapowderysubstanceonthem,cleanthepinswiththetoothbrush.
UsetheCRC2-26sprayonthetoothbrushbristles.Thendabthetoothbrushontoapieceofpapertoweltoremovesomeofthespray.Youdon’twantthetoothbrushtobewet..itshouldhaveaverytinyamountofsprayonit..thenbackonforthoncapacitors,resistors,MOSFETsetc..thathavevisiblecorrosion.
Youneedtoalsochecktheportthatyourvideodisplaycableplugsintoonthemotherboard..lookintoitforanycorrodedpins..cleanwithtoothbrush.Lookatthedisplaycableplugendtoo.Andcleanifnecessary.Ifyouknowwheretheliquidinitiallyspilledthenyoucanusuallydirectyourmotherboardcleaningtothatspecificarea.Butifyoudon’tknowandallliquidhasalreadydriedthenIsuggestyougooverthewholemotherboardwithyhetoothbrushandspray.Thendosellcircuitboardcleaneratelectricstores.ButIhavehadsuchgoodsuccesswiththeforementationedspraythatitisallIuse.
Ifyouareaseriousrepairtech.Irecommendedyoupurchasesomethingcalledcapacitorwizard.
Thisisalaptoptechiniciansmusthavetool.Itwilltestyourincircuitcapacitorsandwillgiveaccurateimmediateresults.Itwilltellyouthebadonesandthegood
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ones.Nomoretakinghoursuponhoursusingamultimeter.Nomorefindingastablenegativepostandnomoremisdiagonosedcapacitors.Itwilltestothercomponentsonthemotherboardaswellwhenusingthemeter.Icanfullytestamotherboardinamatterofacoupleminutes.WithmydigitalmultimeterIttookmehours.SometimedaysandstillIwasleftwanderingonsomeusingthemultimeter.Butnotwiyhyhecapacitorwizard.Asitmeasuresdifferentlythanamultimeter,itmeasureESR(EquivalentSeriesResistance)andthemeterprobesarenonpolar.
VideoRelatedIssue
Alllaptopshaveavideocard;othercommontermsforthevideocardare-graphicscardor-GPU(graphicsprocessingunit),graphicschipsetor-videochip.The-videochipisintegratedonthemotherboard,andthe-videocardisproprietaryinthatitconnectstothemotherboardusingaZIFslot(zeroinsertionforce)thensecuredbyscrews
Avideocardorchipwillfailmainlyduetothermalbreakdown.Themostlikelyreasonforthisbreakdownisoverheatingofthelaptop.Overheatinghappenswhenthefanandheat-sinkassemblybecomeclogged.Aheat-sinkistypicallyametalmix/blend,mainlybeingcopper.Itisalsofragile.Youdonotwanttobendorflextheheatpipeoftheheat-sinkoryouwillincreasethechanceofoverheatingduetoincorrectmotherboardthermaltemperaturereadings.Theendoftheheat-sinkwillhave―radiatorfinsattachedtotheheatpipeend.Thesemetal/copperfinsaidinthecoolingandheatdissipationbypushingtheheattothepipeendandthencarryingitthroughthefinsandouttheexhaustport.
Asshowninthephoto,thedustanddebriscanbuildup…Similartoalaundrydryer’slinttrapthatyouremoveandempty…exceptthelaptopdoesn’tallowonetoeasilycleanthiswithoutcompletedisassemblyofthelaptop.Atoothbrushisusedtoclean
betweenthefinsoftheheat-sink,removealldustanddebrisfromtheheatsink.Youwillthenneedtounscreworun-bracethefanfromtheheat-sinktoproperlycleanthefan.Thesewillbemicrosizedscrewstypically4ofthemandsomemightbehiddenunderplasticstickers.
Fan/Heat-SinkSeparationandCleaning
Separatethefanlidfromthefanbasetoclean.Mostfanswillbemagneticnotballbearing,andyouwillbeabletopullthefanbladeoffofthefanbasetocleanit.Runthetoothbrushinbetweenthefanbladesfromthetopsideandbottomsidesofthefan.Itisagoodideatoalsouseapapertowelorsimilar(Iwillsprayglasscleaneronit,thenfolditabunchoftimestomakeitthicker,thenrunthewettowelinbetweenthefanblades)tobettercleanit,alsocleaningthebaseofthefanhousing.Reassemblethefanandreattachittotheheat-sink.Reapplyanythermalpastetotheheat-sink’scoolingpadsifneeded.Ifyouplanonaddingthermalpastetotheheat-sink,First,ItabsolutelymustbeSilverThermalPaste,notCeramic(silverincolor,notwhiteorpinkincolor).Also,youabsolutelymustremoveanyremaining―oldthermalpastefromboththeHeatSinkandtheChiporCPUitiscovering.Toremoveoldpaste,usedenaturedalcoholonapapertowel,rubaway.Iftheoldpasteisrealthickandcrusty,useaguitarpickorflatplasticcardortoolto
gentlyscrapeawaythepaste.Importantherenottogougetheheat-sinkthermalplateifyouarescrapingthepasteaway…thatiswhyyouwoulduseplastictoremoveit,orjustapapertowel.
TheCPUwillalwaysusethermalpastebecauseitdoesnotgetashotastheGPUdoes.TheGPUwillalmostalwaysuseathermalpadandnotpaste.Thermalpadswillallowforthenaturalthermalexpansionofthechipsetandwillallowforthegreatestheatdissipation.DonotreplacethethermalpadwithacoppershimonaNVidiachipset…Youmustreusethethermalpadonthevideochip.
WhyGPUCancausePowerIssue
Okay,nowbacktotheGPUandwhy/howitcancausePowerIssueswiththelaptop.
TypicallyamotherboardwillhaveaNorthbridgechipset,aSouthbridgechipsetandaGPUchipset(3SeparateICChips),thoughtheneedforsmallerandthinnerlaptopshasledtonewertechnologypartsandcomponents.AlotoflaptopswillintegratetheSouthbridgechipsetandtheGPUintooneICchip.AgoodexampleistheHPDVseries,whichmainlyusedanAMD/NVidiaorIntel/ATIChipset.TheAMD/NVidiaICwoulduseintegratedSouthbridge/GPUonabouthalfofthemodelsreleased.Iftheheat-sinkonlyhasoneadditionalcoolingthermalpad(besidestheCPUpad),thenchancesaretheGPUandSouthbridgechipsetsareintegrated.Iftheheat-sinkhas2additionalthermalcoolingpads,theoneclosesttotheCPUwouldbetheGPUandthefurthestistypicallytheSouthbridgechipset.TheNorthbridgedoesnotproduceheat.
TheCPUisoneofthemoststablecomponentsinalaptopandtherewillbenoneedtodiscussanyrepairtothatpartinthisbook.Theycan“fail”thoughandifareplacementCPUisreadilyavailable,youcantryexchangingjusttoruleouttheCPU.Butchancesare,itisnottheCPUthatiscausingtheissue(unlessyouinstalledanincompatibleone
TheGPUconnectstothemotherboardusingaBGA(ballgridarray)connection;thisisaconnectionthatdoesnotallowforphysicalremovalofthechipwithoutspecialequipment(reworkmachineorsimilar
AsopposedtoaZIFFsocketCPUwhereinsteadofsolderball–tocontactpadconnection,youhavepinsprotrudingfromtheCPUandfittingintothematchingpatternontheZIFFCPUdock.
ThermalOver-ExposureiswhatcreatesfailuresintheBGAconnectiongridoftheGPU(videochip).TheheatcombinedwithsomeGPUsusingincorrectsolder;willbreakdownthesolderballcontactconnectionovertimeandoverprolongedexposuretooverheatingconditions(cloggedfan/heat-sink).
VideoChipBGARework(Reflow)
Thecoinstackplaysseveralrolesinthereflowprocess..Andisthereasonwhymymethodworks.
IuseacoinstackbecauseoftheavailabilityofaCoinworld-wide.Istartedoutbeforereleasingthismethodusingablockofsilver,whichequaledtheweightof6quartersand2
nickels..andsincecoinareeasyforeveryoneWorldwidetoobtain..Iwentwiththecommonchoice.
Theimportanceofweightingthechipismyothermainkeyreasonforthismethodandit’ssuccess.It’samatterofthelawsofsciencethatanythingbeingheated..especiallytothetemperatureofthereflow..willwanttoexpand(asapposedtocontracting)andbynaturethechipwillwantto“expand”andriseupfromtheconnection.Thisisalsowhysealentisusedbymanufacturers.
Onceyouhavereachedthecorrecttemperatureortimelength,letthecoinstacksitontopofthechipuntilcooled.Thenremovethecoinstackandthissheets/foil.
IwilltakeaminuteheretoExplainHotAirReflowingandDebunktheMythsSurroundingtheuseofHotAirasopposedtoInfrared.
Useofa-HotAir¡Îgun,ifdoneright,willworkexactlyasareworkmachine.Afterall,itisthesameexactsetupasareworkmachineexceptforthePCBbraces,temperaturedialsandthemetalsupportingarmtoholdtheheatsource.
Therearedifferencesbetweentheuseofinfraredandhotair,thoughtheaveragepersonwillnotbeabletoobtainoraffordanexpensiveinfraredreworkmachine,whichiswhythisbookwillteachyoutheProfessionalReflowingHotAirMethod,ForUseonAnyandAllVideoChipsets.Infraredwilltransferheatwithoutoverheatingthesurroundingareas;itismoreconstantsourceofheatandwillpenetratethePCB/ICsmorerapidly.Thoughwiththerightheatgunandtherightinstructions,hotaircanandwillobtainsimilarresults.InfraredisrecommendedforReballingandreplacingtheGPU,butforreflowing(whatistaughthere),HotAirisnotonlymorecostefficient,convenientandcosteffective.
MONITORINGTHETEMPERATUREDURINGTHEVIDEOCHIPREFLOWPROCESS
TIPSFORASUCESSFULREFLOW:
RemoveChipSealant:MostGPUChipsetswillhavesomesortofsealantorglueusedontheedgesofthechiptosecureittothemotherboard(usuallyred,black,orclear)Ihavehadmanysuccessfulrepairswithoutremovingthissealant,thoughitisbesttoremoveitpriortoreflowtoallowthefluxandheattoenter.
Removalofthesealantshouldbedoneaspartofthereflowprocess,thebeginningoftheprocess.YoubeginheatingtheGPUwithoutthecoin-stack,holdingthetipoftheheatgunroughly3inchesawayfromthechipata45degreeangleandcirclingthechipwhileyouheatit.Youmovearoundthechipinacircularmotionaimingtheheatbetweenthechipandboard.ThebestthingtodowouldbetogettheConeTip(lookslikea3tiercake)fortheprocess.UseeithertheconetiporanexactfitSquaretipforreflowing.
BeginheatingthechipandmonitorthetemperaturewithanInfraredLaserGuidedThermometer(ifavailable)toatemperatureof145degreesCelcius.
REMEMBERthatyoumustinsulateanypartsorcomponentsthatwillmeltorcanbedamagedfromtheextremetemperature…Thiswouldincludeanyplasticplugports,CPUDock,RAMDIMMportsetc…UsetinsheetsorAluminumFoilorsimilar…NoneedtowrapthemotherboardlikeaPresentthough,justthecomponentsintheimmediatearea.ItisalsoagoodideatocovertheCMOSbatterywithfoil;orremoveiftheplug-intype.
Onceyouhavereached145degreescelcius,youwilluseaminiflatheadscrewdrivertoremovethesealant.Notagoodideatousearazorbladefordoingthisbecauseifyouaccidentallydigintothemotherboard,youcouldriporbreakoneofthetracesonthemotherboardthatrunundertheGPU(thereareHundreds).Carefullyholdthemini-screwdriverata45degreeangleandimmediatelyaftertakingtheheatawayfromthechip,youwanttobeginscrapingawaythechipsealant.Nvidiachipsetswillmainlyusetheredglue,andtheamountwillvary.Somewillapplyitindotsaroundthechip,somejustatthe4corners,andsomewillusethesealantthewholewayaround.Applyslightpressuretostartthescraping/peelingoftheredepoxy…donot―digǁ…youwantthescrewdriverasflatandparalleltothechip/motherboardasyoucangettohelppreventscrapingoftheboardorchip.Ifyouhavereachedtherighttemperature,removalshouldbeeasy,asitshould―peelǁrightoffandaway.Donotdigunderthechipasyoucandamagetheconnectionorcausethermalspotting;especiallyifyouwedgeanyepoxyunderit.Youmightneedtoheatthechipacoupletimestocompletelyremovethesealant,ifyounoticeitbecomingharderto―peelǁthesealantyouwillneedtoapplymoreheat(usuallytwiceissufficient).
PreheattheUndersideoftheMotherboard:-Beforethereflowprocessisstarted,yet,afterthechipsealanthasbeenremoved,youcanbegintopreheattheundersideofthemotherboardpriortoreflowingtheGPUChipset.Thisshouldbedonewithoutmovingthemotherboardduringthereflowprocess.Meaning,youshouldonlybeheatingtheundersideoftheboardifyoucansetthemotherboardupinsuchawaysothataftertheundersideisheated,youcanquicklymovetothetop-sidewheretheGPUistobeginheatingthatimmediatelywithoutmovingthemotherboard.HowThisIsDone:Iworkonamarbletable,soheatisnotafactorwhenworriedaboutruiningthe¨Dworkarea¡Î,andIwillplacethemotherboardovertheedgeofthetabletoexposethedirectundersideofthemotherboard.Youarenotheatingtheentireundersideofthemotherboard.Rather,youareheatingjusttheareadirectlyoppositefromtheGPU(abouta2inchby2incharea).
Youwillnotdothisiftheundersideoftheboardhasplasticcomponentsplacednearthatareabecauseyouwillruntheriskofmeltingordamagingtheseparts.Youcanalsodothisbyusingboardbraces,whetheryougetyourselfaprofessionalPCBbracingsystem,orgo
toyourlocalHomeImprovementstoreandmakeyourselfone.Youwillneedtohaveonewiththecapabilityofeasilyflippingoverorcapableofflippingtheboardoverwithoutdisconnectingitfromthebraces.Useaconetipontheheatgunifableto,heattheundersideoftheGPUandmonitorthetemperatureusingyourinfraredthermalgun.Youwanttoheattheareatoaround180degreescelcius,thenasquicklyaspossible,youwillbeginheatingtheGPU.Butwait…
UseLiquidFluxonGPUduringReflow:RightnowistheperfecttimetoapplyanyliquidnoresiduefluxtotheoutsideoftheGPU.YoucanbuyaPenApplicatorversionofLiquidFlux,asopposedtoabottlewithaneyedropper(morecommon);IrecommendyouinvestinthePenstyle.Toapplythepenstyleflux,youwillshakethepenforafewsecondstomoistenthetip,dabthetiponcetoreleasefluxintothetip,thencarefullyapplytheliquidfluxaroundthechipsedgewhereitmeetsthemotherboard,thegoalisthatwhentheheatisapplied,thefluxwillflowunderthechiptoreachtheBGA.YoudonotwanttocreatePuddlesunderthechipsodonotusealotofflux,youwantenoughsothatyouseeitresidingontheboard,yet,notsomuchthatitstartstospreadandflowwithoutheating.
Isthepenisnotavailabletoyou,andyouareusingadroppertoapplytheflux,youshouldapply1droptoeachside,orahalfdropifableandspreaditdownthesideusingthetipofthedropper.Ordon’tusethedropperanddipaQ-Tipintothefluxbottletoapplytheflux.
FanMod:ModificationoftheLaptopsFanThermalControlFeaturecannotbedoneonallfans.Matteroffact,therearefewmodelsthatwillallowthis.ThelaptopsCPU/GPUfanisthermalcontrolled,andcertainfansusingafourthcontrollerwirecanallowyoutodisablethefanspeedcontrolandrunthefanatfullspeed–fulltime.
TakeforinstancethefanusedontheHPDVseries(notall)(theTX,2000,6000,9000models)useawhitewire(4wirestotal)asthethermalcontrollerwire.Ifyouremovethiswhitewire,thefanwillrunatfullspeedthewholetimeitispoweredon.Ifyouattemptthisonadifferentmodelandyougotopoweritonbutthefandoesn’tspinatall…YouwillnotbeabletoModthatfanandwillhavetore-plugthewirebackin…Doingthisandhavingitnotworkwillnotharmthelaptopor―blowanything.
Todothemod,youneedyourMicro-sizedflatheadscrewdrivertopulltheplugwirelockupwardtoreleasethewirefromtheplugtip.Lookonthewhiteplugtipofthefan,youwillseethinlockingtabsononlyoneside(theoppositesideistheflatside).Thisisthetabyouwillbepryinguptoreleasethewirefromitshousing.Youwilltakethewirethatyouremovedandbenditupwardsecuringittothewiresetusingelectricaltapeorusingheatshrinkwiretubing(purchasedinelectronicsorhomeimprovementstores)
WhyAThermalPadIsUsed,NotPasteorShims:LaptopcomponentssuchastheGPUandCPUandintegratedRAMwillgenerateheatwheninuse.AndtheLawsofScienceandPhysicswilltellyouthatanypartthatheatsandcoolswillalsoexpandandcontract.Whydoyouthinktheheat-sinksontheCPU/GPUallhavesomesortofspringloadedmechanismtosecurethem,whetheritisheattreatedmetalthatwillallowforflexing;or,screwsonRiserpoststhathavemetalspringsattachedtothem.
TheCPUdoesnotgenerateasmuchheatastheGPUandiswhyusingthermalpasteissufficient.CertainGPUswillgeneratemoreheatthanothers,anditisusuallytheGPUsthathavetheSouthbridgechipsetintegratedintothemmakingthechipboththeGPUand
SouthbridgeChipsetinone.Itisimperativethatathermalpadisused.Again,whydoyouthinkthemanufacturersusethem;definitelynotto―cutcostsǁ;they’reusedforareason.
ThermalPadsareusedontheGPUtoallowforthenaturalexpansionandcontractionoftheChipandtheupperflipchipthatissecuredtoallGPUs.Youcan’tphysicallyseethisoccurrence,yetitdoeshappen.LaptopmotherboardrepairingdealsalotwithScienceandPhysicsalongwithElectronics,soitisgoodtoknowalittleofeachofthesecategoriesofstudy,themoreyouunderstandofeach…thebetter.
IfyoureplacethepadwithsomethinglikeaCopperShim,youruntheriskofapplyingtoomuchpressuretotheupper―flipǁchipanddamagingitoritsBGAconnectiontotheGPUchip.―Yahǁ,youwillfindalotofpeopleontheinternettellingyouthatyoushoulduseashimtoreplacethepad…Yettheyhavenocluewhatthey’retalkingabout…theydonotknowhowthesecomponentsoperatetoeducateanyoneonthesubject.AshimcanbeusedonGPUsthatdonotgeneratemassiveamountsofheat,likesomeIntelGPUsorcertainATIGPUsbutIneithercondone;norrecommendyoudothis.
Ifyouremovethethermalpadthinkingyoucanjustapplysome―freshǁsilverpastetotheGPU…youarewrong.Thereisa―gapǁbetweentheheat-sinkandtheGPUsupperflipchip,soifyouuseonlypasteontheGPU,theheat-sinkwillnotmakecontactwiththesurfaceoftheGPU…thepasteisnotthickenough,andtheheat-sinkmustsitonthesurfacetoproperlydissipatetheheat.
MotherboardIssues
ThelaptopmotherboardcanhavemanydifferentissuesBlownVoltageRegulator–
VRchipsarealsocalledMOSFETs.Theywillbeoneofthemostcommonboardfailurecomponentsyouwillcomeacross.TheywilltypicallyfailneartheDCJackortheDCJackinputplugport(bothupperandundersidesofthatarea…)
Somereasonstheycanfailinclude:
PowersurgeorPowerDip,Liquidcontact,boardflex,contactwithanymetalobjectwhilepowerisrunningthroughlaptop,pressuretothepalmrestorreferredfailureduetoanothercomponentfailingsuchasacapacitororseriesofcaps.Youcansometimes
visuallyseewhentheyhaveafaultorhaveblown.TheywillrevealacrackorcanhaveacircleshapedburnmarkonthesurfaceiftheICitself.
Whilefailingcapacitorstypicallyresultsinsysteminstabilities,occasionallyfailedcapacitorswillleadtoafailureofthevoltageregulatorsonthemotherboard.Therearetwocommontheoriesonwhythishappens.
Thefirst(andsimple)theoryisthatthefailingcapacitorsdevelopaveryhighleakagecurrent,overloadingthevoltageregulatorsandcausingthemtooverheat.ThesecondtheoryisthatasthatasthecapacitancedecreasesandtheESRincreases,thebuckcontrollerfortheload.SincemostoftheMOSFET’sheatoutputisproducedduringtheswitchingtransistors,theincreasedfrequencycausesthemtooverheat.
Acapacitorrated2200Fmayexperienceadropincapacitytoaslittleas75F.Thedesignengineermighthaveassumedthatitmightdropupto50%overitslife,butnotto5%ofitsoriginalvalue.Thestabilityofthebuckswitchingregulatoriscompromisedbysuchadramaticdropandtheregulator,svoltageoscillatoriscompromisedbysuchadramaticdropandtheregulator’svoltageoscillates(perhapswildly)tovoltagesabovetheabsolutemaximumratingoftheICstowhichthesupplyisconnected.
ThemostcommonfailuremodeofthevoltageregulatorisfortheMOSFETtoshortcircuit.Causingthesystem,spowersupply(5or12voltsdependingonthemotherboard)tobeapplieddirectlytotheCPU,northbridge,RAMorothercomponents.This,inturn,causesthosepartstocatastrophicallyfail.Amotherboardwithsymptomsoffailingcapacitorsshouldbetakenoutofserviceuntilitisrepairedinordertopreventfurther
damage.
TheBesttoolforexaminingalaptopmotherboardisyoureyes…youneedtovisuallyinspectthemotherboard.Mostofthetimewillbeabletoseeifacapacitorhasblownorpopperyouwillbeabletoseeifaregulatorchiphasblown,oraMOSFEThasblownjustbyit’sappearance…
Alaptopthatwon’tpoweronislikelycausedbyablowncapacitor.Belowisanenlargeviewofblowncapacitor.
Youneedtophysicallyinspectthemotherboard,usingalightedmagnifyingglass,youcanfindanexactreplacementfortheblowncapacitorbyremovingonefromadeadmotherboard.Otherwiseyouwillneedtobyesomecapacitor.
Symptomsofablowncapacitor:-WhenyouplugintheACadapter,andthegreenpowerlightonyheadaptorgoesout…resultinginnopowertothelaptop.
Ifyoufindablowncapacitor,youneedtoreplaceit.Youdesolderitfromthemotherboard.Youmustbeextremelycarefulindoingso,becauseifyouoverheadthecontactpadsthatthecapacitorconnectto,youwon’tbeabletoresolderanewcapontothemotherboard.Addatinyamountoffluxpastetoeachendofthecap,thenuseathindesolderingbrald(solderwick)andtouchtheendofthecapwithit,takeyoursolderinggunandtouchittothedesolderingbraid–thentouchingthecapacitorendtoremovethethinlayerofsoldercoveringit.Youdin’tneedtoremoveallthesolder.Dothisonceagaintotheoppositeend.
NowyouuseaMicro-sidedflatheadscrewdriverandgentlytouchthesideofthecapacitor,andatthesametime,gentlyapplyressurewiththescrewdrivertothesideofthecaptopushitsidewaysoffit’spad.Heattheendtomeltingpoint.Thenquicklyswitchtotheoppositeendandheat.Thecapacitorwillpoppffandrolloffit’spad.Nowyoucansolderanewone.
IfthelaptopispoweringonbyitselftheinstantyouplugintheACAdapterorinsertthebattery,chancesarethereisamis-seatedplug,cableorwiresetattachedtothelaptopormotherboard.Toremedythis,youshoulddisassemblethelaptop,then,reassembletohopefullycorrectthefault.
Chapter9
LaptopMotherboardComponent
LaptopMotherboardIcidentificationCommonLaptopICChip.
POWERSUPPLYCHIP:-(MAX1632,MAX1904,MAX1634,SB3052,SC1402,LTC1628,TMP48U,ADP3160/ADP3167,ADP3168,APW7060,ETC)
IOCHIP:-(PC97338,PC87392,FDC7N869,FDC37N958,LPC47N227,LPC47N267,PC87591S/PC87591L/PC97317IBW/PC87393VGJPC87591EETC)
CPUpowersupplychips:-(ADP3166,ADP3170,ADP3421,AIC1567,CS5322,FAN5056,ITC1709,MAX1710/MAX1711/MAXl712,HIP6004)Chargedischargecontrolchip:-(MAX745,TC490/591,AAI3680,ADP3806,DS2770,LTl505G,MAXl645B,MAX745,MB3878,AAT3680,ETC)
CPUtemperaturecontrolchip:-(MAX1617,MAX1020A,AD1030A,CM8500,MAX1989,DS1620,GraphicsBrandchip:-(ATI,NVIDIA,S3,NEOMAGIC,TRIDENT,SMI,INTEL,FW82807,andCH7001AEthernetchips:-(RTL8100,RTL8139,IntelDA82562,RC82540,3COM,BCM440LF8423,LF-H80P,H-0023,H0024,H0019,ATPL-119
SoundaudioChip:-(ESS1921,STAC9704,AU8810,4299-JQ,TPA0202,8552TS,8542TS,BA7786,AN12942,AD1885,ALC655,APA2020/TPA0202
PCCardChip:-(R5C551,R5C552,R5C476,R54472PCCardpowersupplychips:-(TPS2205,TPS2206,TPS2216,TPS2211,PU2211,M2562A,M2563A,M2564ACOMportchip:-(MAX3243,MAX213,ADM213,HIN213,SP3243,MC145583
Keyboard-chip:-(H8C/2471,H8/3434,H8/3431,PC87570,PC87591Keyboardchip:-(H8/3434,H8/3437,H8/2147,H8/2149,PC87570,PC87591,H8S/XXX,M38857,M38867,M38869)BatteryICchip:-(BQ2040BQ2060BQ24700BQ2470lBQ24702/BQ24703M61040FP..)Memorycontrolchip:-(CM8501/CM8501CM8562)ClockIC:-(CS950502CY28404CICS9248-153ICS954218ICS9248-151ICS9248-39ICS950901,WINBOND,)Lcdbacklightcontrol:-(MAXl522/MAXl523/MAXl524OZ960)Ddrmemorypowersupply:-(MAX8794NCP5201SC1486/SCl486ASC2616TPS51020ISL6520,ISL6537CM8501,ISL6224ISL6225)OtherCommonchipset:-(AAT3200AAT4280AMS1505,MIC2545,MIC5205,ADP3168,AICl567,cM8562,CMl9738,CSS5322,DSl620)MosfetsUsedCrystal(14.318Clock)ConnectorSocket(display,battery,dvdrom,modem,keypad,touchpad,onoffpaneletc)
Chapter10
TheSolderingProcessThischapterwillgiveyouthecompleteguideofsolderinganddesolderingcomponents.
SolderingTechniqueRequiredTools
Beforediscussingsolderingtechniques,oneshouldmustsetupa\solderingworkstation”.Thefollowingisalistoftoolsforatypicalsolderingstation.
1.Variabletemperaturesolderingiron:usedforapplyingheattojointsduringthesolderingprocess.2.Dampsponge:forcleaningsolderingirontip.3.Rosin-coresolder:toelectricallyandmechanicallybondacomponenttothePCB.4.Wirecuttersorsidecutter:fortrimmingcomponentleadsandstrippinginsulationfromwires.
5.Needlenosepliers:forholding,placingandshapingcomponents.6.Desolderingpumpand/ordesolderingbraid:forremovingsolder.7.Scotchtapeand/ora\ThirdHand”:forsecuringcomponents.8.Safetyglasses:foreyeprotection.Thesearemandatoryinthelab.
9.Magnier:toprovidemoredetailduringintricatework.Amagnifyingglassisconvenient,butanilluminatedmagnierisbetter.10.Lightsource:topreventeye-strain.11.Ventilation:toextractanddispelfumesgeneratedduringthesolderingprocess.
12.Flux:tocleancomponentsandPCBpads.13.Acidbrush:toassistintheremovalofuxresidue.
PriortosolderingitisagoodideatohaveallcomponentsorganizedasitwillmakepopulatingthePCBmoreecient.MakeaBOM(billofmaterials)forthePCB,andensurebeforesolderingthatthecomponentshavebeencollected.TheschematicandPCBlayoutwillalsobereferredtowhenpopulatingtheboard
ImportantSolderingTips
Thefollowingtipsprovideaquickguidelineonhowtomakeproperjoints.
Cleanliness:Allparts,includingthesolderingirontip,mustbecleanandfreefromgrease,oxidationandcontamination.Solderdoesnotflowovercontaminatedareas;moreover,solderisrepelledbydirt.Severecontaminationisevidentwhensolderbeginsto\bead”.Acommonsourceofcontaminationisoxidation.Oldcomponentsandcopperboardswilloftenhaveanoxidelayerthatpreventsagoodsolderjoint.EnsureallcomponentshaveshinyleadsandthePCBhascleantraces.Anabrasivesuchasablueorpinkeraser,emerypaper,orstellwoolcanbeusedtoremovetheoxidizedlayerfromthe
PCBboardandcomponents.
Tinning:Inadditiontobeingclean,thesolderingirontipmustalsobetinned(coatedwithsolder).Tinningthetipallowssoldertoowonthecomponentsmorequicklyratherthanthesolderingirontipitself.Tinninginvolvesaddingafewmillimetresofsoldertothetipandthenwipingandrotatingthetiponthedampspongetorevealashinysurfaceonthetipofthesolderingiron:athinlayerofsolderwillcoator\tin”thetipofthesolderingiron.Whendonesoldering,tinningtheironisrequiredtoprotectthetipfromoxidationtherebydramaticallyincreasingitslife.
Temperature:EnsurethatboththecomponentleadsandthePCB’scopperlayerareheatedatthesametime.ThesolderingirontipshouldcontactboththecomponentandthePCBpad.Thiswillensurethateachsurfaceisrelativelycloseintemperatureresultinginagoodjoint.Ifthereisatemperaturedierencebetweenthetwosurfaces,thesolderwillforma\dry”joint.Solderingironsaretypicallysetaround650Fahrenheit,dependingonthelead-tinratioofthesolderbeingused.Toomuchheatcausesexcessive\sputtering”offlux,andtoolittledoesn’tmeltthesolderinatimelymanner.
Duration:ThedurationthattheironisincontactwiththecomponentandPCBisdependentonthesizeofthejointandyoursolderingirontemperature.ForthetypicalPCBthrough-holejoint,itshouldtakeafewsecondstoheatthejointandapplythesolder.Thiswillrequirepractice,sodon’texpecttobefastifyouareabeginner.Excessiveheat(severalsecondsinduration)willdamagesensitivesemiconductors.Ifthisisaconcern,useaheatsinkattachedtothecomponentleads:sometimesassimpleasanalligatorclip.Theseconcernscansometimesbeavoidedbysolderingsocketsinsteadofthesemiconductoritself.
Adequatesoldercoverage:Iftoolittlesolderisapplied,thejointwillnotmakeasecureconnectionandwillcauseerraticbehaviour.However,iftoomuchsolderisapplied,thejointmaybridgewithadjacentjointsresultinginelectricalshorts.Howmuchsoldertoapplycomeswithexperience.
Handling:Mostmodernelectronicssystemscontainstatic-sensitivedevices.Useproperhandlingprocedurestominimizethelikelihoodofdamage:groundingwrist-straps,groundedsolderingirons,groundingmats,etc.
Precautions
SolderingIronsgetveryhot(600-8000F,315-4250C),pleaseensureyoufollowprecautionsduringuse.Basicsafetyprecautionsarelistedbelow.
Neverleaveyourironturnedonwhileunattended.
Turnthesolderingironoffwhenitisnotbeingused.Iftheironisleftonforlongperiodsofidletime,thesolderingirontipwillbedestroyedthroughoxidation.
Eyeprotectionmustalwaysbewornwhensoldering.Hotfluxcanspitupandintoanunprotectedeye.IntheCapstoneDesignLab,useofeyeprotectionismandatory.
Ifthecordofthesolderingironisdamaged,informthelabstawhowillensureitisreplaced.
Neversetthesolderingirondownonanythingotherthananironstand.Topreventburningyourngers,useneedlenosepliers,heatresistantgloves,orathirdhandtooltoholdsmallpieces.
Familiarizeyourselfwiththesafehandlingofallmaterialsusedduringthesolderingprocess.Thisincludessolder,flux,alcohol,anddesolderingbraid.EachhasaMaterialSafetyDataSheet(MSDS)andcanbefoundinthelaboronline.\SafeOperatingProcedures”arefoundpostedonthewallclosetothesolderingfacilities.
HowtoSolderThrough-HoleComponents
MostofthesolderingdoneintheCapstoneDesignLabisthrough-hole.Athrough-holejointisatypeofsolderingjointinwhichthecomponentjoinswiththePCBpadthroughaphysicalholeintheboard.ThefollowingstepswillillustratehowtomakeaproperthroughholesolderjointonaPCB.
1.Ensurethattheprintedcircuitboardandallcomponentsareclean.Cleaningcanbeachievedwithamildabrasiveand/ortheapplicationofflux.
2.Pluginthesolderingiron,turniton,andletitwarmupfor2-3minutes.3.Wetthesolderingstationspongewiththewaterprovidedinthelab.Donotwetthespongeinthebathroomorthewaterfountain.
4.Cleanthetipofthesolderingironandtinitwithsolder.5.Insertthecomponentintotheholes.Ensurethatthecomponentissecurebytapingthecomponentorbyusingathirdhand.Optionally,thecomponentleadscanbeclinchedasshowninFig.below,however,isnotrecommendedfortwo-sidedboardsastheflowofsoldertothecomponentsideisrestricted.
6.Applythesolderingirontiptoonesideofjointmakingcontactwiththecomponentleadandtheboardcopperfoil,ensuringthatbothareheateduptothesametemperature.
7.Slowlyaddafewmillimetresofsoldertotheothersideofthejoint.DONOTapplysoldertothesolderingirontip.IfenoughheatwasappliedtothePCBpadandcomponentwire,thesolderwillowfreelyontothejoint.
8.Removethesolderwhenthejointissuitablycovered.
Thegoalistogetthejointtobea“fillet”:acurve
9.IfthePCBisdouble-sided,thesoldershouldowthroughtheholearoundthecomponentleadandmakeabondonthecomponentsideoftheboard(oppositetothesidethatthesolderwasapplied).Ifthis\wicking”doesnotoccur,theholemaybeundersized,clinchingcouldbeblockingthesolder’spath,orthecomponentleadisnotclean.
10.Removethesolderingironandallowthejointtocoolnaturally.
11.Cuttheleadofthecomponent,ifnecessary.
GoodSolderJoint
JointExample
HowtoSolderSurface-MountComponents
Surfacemountsolderingrequiresmoreexperienceandskillthanthroughhole.Itisrecommendedthatonepracticeswiththrough-holepriortoat-temptinganysurfacemountsoldering.Asthenamesuggests,surfacemountinvolvessolderingacomponenttoeitherthetoporbottomsurfaceofaPCB.Dependingonthefootprint,thepadsareusuallyaspacedclosertogether(nerpitch),makingthe
solderingmoresusceptibletosolderbridges,etc.
Theactualsolderingofthejointsissimiliartothethrough-holemethod.Onediculty,however,ismaintainingthepart’salignmentonthePCBpads.Agoodtechniqueisoutlinedhere:
1.AlignthecomponentonthePCBpads.Thiscanbeaidedwiththeuseoftweezersanddentalpicks.
2.SecurethecomponenttothePCBbyapplyingasmallamountofpressureontothetopofthecomponentusingasmallslotscrewdriver.Anindexngerrestingontheendofthescrewdriverprovidesenoughforcetosecurethedevice.3.SolderoneofthecornercomponentleadstothePCBpad.
4.AligntheremainingpadsandsoldertheoppositecornerPCBpad.5.Soldertheremainingpadsinapatternthatdoesnotbuild-uptoomuchheatinthedevice
TestingConnections
AftercompletelysolderingacomponenttoaPCB,itisgoodpracticetoensureconnectivitybetweenthecomponentwireleadsandthePCBpadstheyaresolderedto.ADMM(DigitalMulti-Meter)issucienttodetermineconnectivity;manyDMMsincludeanaudibleconnectivitysetting,butfailingthis,measurethejointresistance.
DesolderingTechnique
Desolderingmayberequiredforseveralreasons:
acomponentmayhavefailedawrongpartwasinstalled;
adesignmodicationnecessitatesachange;orifaboardcontainsexpensivecomponentsthatcanbesalvaged.
Whateverthereason,therearethreecommontechniquestoremovesolderfromajoint:usingadesolderingpump,adesolderingwick,ordesolderingiron.
Regardlessofthemethodused,ifitispermissibletodestroythepartduringremoval,thenalotoftimeandeffortcanbesaved.Forinstance,usingwirecutterstotrimoffallthepinsofathrough-holeICsotheycanberemovedindividuallymakestheremovalprocessmucheasier.Inmostcases,avoidingdamagetothePCBisofparamountimportance.
SolderPump/Sucker
Adesolderingpumpisexactlywhatitsoundslike:apumpthatsucksupsolder.Usuallythepumpisspring-loadedandprovidesarecoilwhenreleased.Thefourstepsbelowoutlinehowtodesolderajointusingadesolderingpump.
1.Primethedesolderingpump.Thisinvolvesdepressingthedesolderingpumpspring.Thepumpwillclickwhencorrectlydepressed.
2.Heatthejointfromonesidewiththesolderingirontip.Wait1-2secondsuntilthesolderbeginstomeltfromthesolderingironheat.
3.Putthepumptipontheothersideofthe
joint.Don’tbeafraidtoactuallytouchthejoint.
DesolderingBraid/Wick
4.Pressthedesolderingpumpspringreleasebuttontosuckupthesolder.Thisprocedureshouldberepeatedifthejointhasasignicantamountofsolder.IfdonecorrectlythejointshouldeventuallyAdesolderingbraidremovessolderfromajointusingatechnique
knownas\wicking”.Desolderbraidisapieceofmaterialthatspongesupmoltensolderbycapillaryactionthatdrawssolderawayfromthejointthebraid.Thefollowingprocedureoutlinesthebasicstepsinvolvedindesolderingajointusingdesolderingbraid.
1.Placethedesolderingbraidoverthejoint.
2.Pressthedesolderingbraidontothejointwiththesolderingirontip.Thiswillapplyheattothedesolderingbraidandthejointallowingthemoltensoldertoflow.
3.Waitforthesoldertomelt.Thesoldershouldflowontothebraidandawayfromthejoint.
4.Cutoffthesoldercoatedportionofthedesolderingbraid.Thereshouldbeno
coppervisibleintheportionthatisremoved:braidisveryexpensive.
DesolderingIron
Usingadesolderingiron,availablewithhigher-endsolderingstations,issimilartousingasoldersucker.Thedesolderingironisessentiallyasolderingironwithabuilt-invacuum.
1.Makecontactbetweentheironandthejointtobedesoldered,ensuringthevacuumopeningisnotblocked.
2.Oncethesolderonthejointhasbecomemolten,depressthebuttonontheirontoactivatethevacuum.Itisveryimportantforthelifeofthedesolderingironthatthevacuumassemblybecleanedaftereverysessionofuse.Pleaseaskthelabpersonnelforadescriptionofthecleaningprocedure.
Aswithanormalsolderingiron,thedesolderingirontipshouldbetinnedbeforeandaftereveryuse.
RemovingComponentsEffectively
ToremoveacomponentwithlittleornodamagetothePCBorcomponenttakespracticeandpatience.Oftenwhenremovingacomponent,PCBpadsandtracksmaybedamagedby\lifting”o
theboard.BelowaresometipsthatmaybeusefulwhenremovingcomponentsfromaPCB.
Desolderalljointspertainingtoacomponentpriortoremoval.Itmaybenecessarytogooverthejointsseveraltimesbeforeallthesolderisremoved.Practicepatience.
Usepliersandgentlypulloncomponentswhileapplyingheattothejoints.Theassistanceofafriendcanhelpwiththis.
Donotpullwithforce,becausethePCBpadsandtrackswillbedamaged.Donottryandremovecomponentsbypryingthem.Donottrytopushthecomponentoutoftheholeswiththesolderingtip.ThiswillcertainlyliftthecopperpadoofthePCBandruintheirontip.Inordertogetbetterthermalconductivitybetweentheironandthesolderjoint,itissometimeseectivetoaddasmallamountofsolder.
Chapter11
MotherboardRepairingIntroduction
NowIgettheimpressionthatmotherboardsscarealotofpeopleinthisfield,youknowpeopledon’twanttodealwiththemorreplacethemortrytofixthem.It’salittledauntingtotrytodiagnosethemotherboarditmightseem,butwhatI’mgoingtellyouisit’sprettyeasy.Here’sfourmainsymptomsthatcouldgowrongwiththemotherboardandtheyare
Foursymptomsofabadmotherboard:
1.Computerwon’tturnon2.Componentswon’twork3.Computershutsdownrandomly4.Computeractsabnormally
1.computerwon’tpoweron
Wegotalaptopthatdoesn’tpoweron.Howcanyoutellifthemotherboardisbad?Well,youjustaskyourselfwhyelsewouldn’tacomputerpoweron?Numberone,ifit’sonbatterypower,thebatteryisdeadorthebatteryisbadandnumbertwotheACadaptercouldbebad,solet’srolloutnumberone.Pullthebatteryout,keepthebatteryoutofthecomputerforthistestandthentakeyourACadapterandcheckthevoltagewiththevoltmeterandI’mgoingshowyouhowtodothatrighthere.Takeavoltmeterandwhatyouwanttotestforisvoltage.Putthemeterat20voltsDCandtakethetip,thepowerjacktip.Youholdyourblack,yournegativeontheoutsideofthetipandyouputtheredintheholeintheinsideofthetip.Beverycarefulnottotouchtheredandtheblackandthetipstogether,otherwiseitwillcreateashortcircuit.Afterdoingthesethings,besureyouhave19voltsDCorjustabout19voltsDCregisteredonyourmultimetersowecanknowthatthepoweradapterworks.Now,justtomakesuretheconnectionsistight,kindabendthepowercordalittlebitandmakesurethattheregistered19voltsDConthemultimeterorvoltmeterwillnotfluctuateormovewhenyoubendthepoweradaptercordalittle.Okayifyou’restillgetting19voltsDCwhenbendingthepoweradaptercord,jigglethepoweradaptercordalittlebitaroundmakesurethatthere’snocrimsonwire.Now,afteryoubendthepoweradaptercordandjiggleitandyoustillhave19voltsregisteredonyourmultimeter,thenthepoweradaptertipisprobablygood.Alotoftimeyouknowthetipwillbreak,greatinthisareahere,andyouwouldn’tgetthat19voltsDCafteryoudothat,afterit’sbroken.Soinsteadofjusttakingthewholecomputerapartandfindingoutifthelaptophasappropriatelygoodpowerjack,testthepoweradapterfirst.
Nowanotherreasonamotherboardmightnotturnedonisbecauseit’snotgettingpowertothepowerjack.Powerjackmightbedamaged,soabsorbwhatyoucanfromtheoutsideandseeifit’sthepowerjackislooseordetachedfromthemotherboardandifitisthen
youknowyouhavetoreplacethepowerjackprobably,butifitlookslikeit’ssecuretheonlywaywewe’regonnabeabletotestthepowerjackistogetdowntothemotherboardlevelandlookitwherethepowerjackissolderedontothemotherboardandthisIcoverinmanyofthecasestudyvideos.Otherthingsthatmaycausealaptopmotherboardnottopoweron…
Nowthere’safewotherthingsthatmightcauseamotherboardnottoturnonorcomputernottoturnon,itcouldhaveabadprocessor,butbadprocessorarefairlyrareIwouldsay1outof75computersareworkingon,it’stheprocessorratherthanthemotherboardthat’sbadandalsothere’slikemaybethepowerbuttonontheactuallaptopisbrokenorsomethingmechanicallikethat,butagainthat’sunlikelybutyoucouldcheckthosethingstoo.
2.Componentswon’twork
Okaynumbertwo,componentsonalaptopwon’twork.Forexample,aCDdriveorawirelesscarddon’tshowupinwindows.Whethernotworkingproperly,wellthatcouldpossiblybeamotherboardbutthewaytotestthatistoreplacethatcomponent.IfyourCDdriveisnotworkingreplacetheCDdriveifit’sstillnotworkingmaybetheCDdrivecontrollerorthemotherboardisbad.I’vehadthathappenedonacoupleToshibalaptopsIworkedon.I’veboughtabrandnewCDdriveputitin,stillnotworking,stillwasn’trecognizedbytheBIOSanditwasabadmotherboard.NowHP,Ialsohadaproblemoftheirwirelesscardbutitwasn’tthewirelesscardsthatwerebaditwastheactualcontrolleronthemotherboard,thatcontrolsthecardthatwasbad.Ithinkitwaspositionednexttoachipthatgotrealhotlikethegraphicschiporsomethinglikethat,onthemotherboard.Soifyouhavealaptopwithcomponentsnotworking,youreplacethecomponentsandthey’restillnotworkingthenyoumighthaveabadmotherboard.Nowhowdoyourolloutifwindowsisn’tcausingthisproblemortheoperatingsystem’snotcausingtheproblem.Well,testitwithadifferentoperatingsystems.ThisisalwaysagoodtestofthemotherboardusinglikeLinuxdistributionlikeknoppixorusingtheUltimateBootCDforwindows.ThesearebothbootableCD’sandit’sessentiallytestingthehardwareofalaptopbecauseyou’rerunningitonadifferentoperatingsystems.Lastthingtotryifcomponentsaren’tworkingandyoususpectisyourmotherboard.Flashthebiosofthemotherboard,maybetheBIOSgotcorruptedsomehow,andsincetheBIOSislikehandlesthebasicfunctionsofacomputer,maybeit’snotdoingit’sjobandcausingsomeabnormalactivityinthecomputer.
3.Computershutsdownrandomly
Okaynumberthree,laptopshutsdownrandomly.Nowthisisacommonsymptomofalaptopoverheating.Solet’smakesureit’snotanoverheatingproblemandhowdowedothat?Well,whatIdoisItakeacanofcompressedairandIblowitinthelaptop,inthebottomwherethefanisandalsointheheatsink,onthesideofthecomputer.Ifyoudothisyoumightseecloudsofdustcomeoutandthat’sagoodthingthatyouwanttomakesureyougetallthechunksoutofthelaptopbeforeyouturneditbackon,becausethosechunksofdustthatmightstillbestuckinthere,mightcausethefanbladestoactually
stick.Igooverthisinthecasestudyvideosseveralofthem.WatchhowIdothatthereandyoucanseeinactionyouknowcleaningoutlaptop,gettingolddustoutofit.Now,onceyougetthedustoutofalaptopandyou’resurethatthefanisspinningandtheairwaysareclean,ifthecomputerkeepsshuttingdownafterthis,youcanbeverysurethat’snottheCPUoverheatingthat’scausingtheproblembuttheproblemwiththemotherboard.IhadsystemswhereIopenedthemupImakesurealltheairwayswereclean,Imakesurethattheheatsinkwasmakingagoodconnectionwiththeprocessor,putitallbacktogetherandthecomputerstillpowerdown.Itturnedoutitwasabadmotherboard
4.Computeractsabnormally
Okaynumber4,thecomputerorthelaptopactsabnormally.Itbluescreens,thingsaren’tworkingthewaythey’resupposeto,itdoesn’tbootupeverytime,itdoesn’tbootupatallsometimes.Now,firstIwanttomakesureit’snotWindowsthatcausingaproblem.Soagainwe’renotgoingtodealtomuchforthesoftwaresidestodoallyourWindowsfixesandmakesureWindowsisn’tcausingtheproblemorlikeIsaidbefore,justrunknoppixwhichisagoodLinuxdistribution,theUltimateBootCDforWindowswhichisalsogreatandthenyou’llknowWindowsisn’tthethingthat’scausingtheproblemthen.Ifyou’restillhavingproblemswiththecomputeractingabnormally,starttakingoutcomponentsonebyone.Taketheharddriveout,youcoulddothatifyou’rerunningitfromaliveLinuxdistribution.Taketheramout,replacetherammaybewiththestickaroundthatyouknowisgoodthatyouhavearoundintheshop,takethewirelesscardouttaketheCDdriveout.StarttakingcomponentsoutonebyoneandgetthemotherboarddowntobasicslikeCPU,onestickofram,motherboardandpower,andhookupthescreen,andjustmakesurethatitgoeson.Butbreakitdowntobasicssoyou’resurethatit’snotacomponentthat’scausingtheproblem.Soonceyouhaveitofbrokendowntobasicsandyou’resurewindowsisn’tcausingtheproblem,thenit’sprobablyabadmotherboard.Okayit’sabadmotherboard.
DeadMotherboard:TotalPowerLoss
Laptopdoesnotstart.Isitbadpowerjackorpowerfuse?
Let’ssayyourlaptopdoesnotstartatall.Youpluginthepoweradapterandpressonthepowerbutton,butthelaptopwillnotreact.It’sdeadandthepowerorbatterychargeLEDwillnotlightup.
Whatcouldbewrong?Isitbadpowerjackorthemotherboardisdead?Bytheway,thepowerjackakaDC-INjackisthepowersocketonthesideorbackofyourlaptopwhereyouplugtheAC/DCpoweradapter.
I’llexplainhowtoperformbasictroubleshootingandfindoutwhatiswrong.Thisisonlyforexperiencedpeople,whoknowhowtodisassemblelaptops.
Firstofall,testtheAC/DCpoweradapterwithamultimeter.It’sverylikelythatthereisnotingwrongwiththelaptopandyourproblemisrelatedtothepoweradapter.
Iftheadaptertestsfineandoutputcorrectvoltage,disassemblethelaptopandremovethe
topcover.
Asyouseeonthefirstpicture,inmylaptopthepoweradapterplugsintotheDC-INpowerjackwhichisconnectedtothemotherboardviaaharness.InsomemodelstheDC-INpowerjackissoldereddirectlytothemotherboard.PluginthepoweradapterandmeasurevoltageatthepointwheretheDC-INjackorDCharness(likeinmycase)connectedtothemotherboard.
IfyouarereadingthesamevoltageasontheACadapter,itmeansthepowerjackorharnessworksproperlyandtheproblemisrelatedtothemotherboard.
Ifthereisnovoltage,mostlikelythereisaproblemwiththejackorhardnessandithastobereplaced
Bytheway,insomecasetheproblemcouldberelatedtothefusewhichisusuallylocatedsomewhereveryclosetothepowerjack/harnessconnector.Youcantestthefusewithamultimeter.
Ifthefuseisbad,themotherboardwillappeartobedeadevenifthereisnothingwrongwiththepowerjackandAC/DCadapter.Ifthat’sthecase,replacingthebadfuseshouldfixtheproblem.
NopowerProblem
Diagnosis,CauseandRemedy:
ThefirstthingIdidwastestingthepoweradapterwithamultimeterinordertoverifywhetherthepoweradapteristheonethat’scausingthenopowerproblemornot.Thesupplyvoltageindicatedonthepoweradapteris19v,whenItestedit,thesupplyvoltageisjustnormal.Sincethepoweradapterisjustokay,ourconcentrationnowisonthelaptopitself.Inordertoascertainwhetherthemotherboardofthelaptoporotherperipheraldeviceswhichisconnectedtothelaptopcausesthenopowerproblem,wehavetodisassemblethelaptoppiecebypiece.Afterunscrewingallthelaptopparts,Iindividuallypullouteachperipheraldevices.Aftercompletelytakingoutalldeviceswhichisconnectedtothelaptop.Inowseparatedthemotherboardinordertobetested.ButfirstIcleanoutallthedustfromthemotherboardforthisisalsoaonefactorwhichcausesthemotherboardelectroniccomponentstobeshorted.Becausewhendustgetsthickitwillbecomeaconductor.
Soyouneedtobeawareofthis,everytimeyoudisassemblealaptopmotherboardyouneedtofreethemotherboardfromalldust,tobesurenotthedustistheelementcausingthemotherboard’selectroniccomponentpartstobeshorted.Aftercleaningallthedustfromthemotherboard,Iscanallthecomponentstoseewhetherthereareanydryjointsornot.Dryjointsmeanslooseorpoorsolderconnections.Poorsolderconnectionsonalaptopmotherboardusuallyoccurwhenyourlaptopisalreadywell-advancedinyears.Ididnotfindanypoorsolderconnectionsonanypartofthemotherboard,butforcontentmentIjustcarefullyresolderedalltheSMDcomponentsespeciallyonthepowersection.
Note:AlllaptopnowadaysisdesignedonaSurfaceMountedDeviceorSMDmode,andthisisrarelyhavedryjoints.ButforsatisfactionIcautiouslyresolderedalltheSMDcomponentsparticularlytheSMDcomponentsnearthedcpowerjack.
Afterresolderingallthesectionsthatneedstoberesoldered,Iinsertedthedcpowerplugadaptertothedcpowerjackandseewhetherthepowercomesup.Unfortunately,theconditionoftheproblemremainsthesame.Inowtestedalltheelectronicpartsonthemotherboardtofindoutwhetherthereareanyshortedelectronicelementpartswhichcausesthenopowerproblem.Aftertestingallthecomponentsthatcouldbetestedmerelywithamultimeter,Icouldnotfindanyshortedparts.TheonlypartsthatIstillnotcheckedwasthedcpowerjackandthefuse
ThefinalstepthatIdidwastestingpowerjackfrominputtogroundforshort.WhenItestedit,voila!theproblemfoundbecauseitisreallyshorted.Iusedx1rangeofmymultimetertoseethefaultandeitherwaythere’sadeflection.WhenIgoontestingthefuse,Ifoundthatthefusewasalsoopen,therateofthefuseis5.5amperesanduponfurtherinspectionIfoundashorteddiode.
Thereasonwhythepowerjackterminalswereshortedisbecauseoftheshorteddiodethatisconnectedtothepowerjack.Replacingthediodeandthefusebringsthelaptoptolife.
MoreAboutMotherboardRepairingABOUTTHEPCB
TheLaptopsmotherboardorPCBwhichstandsforPrintedCircuitBoardismadeupoflayers(itisn’tjustathickgreenplasticboard).Theselayerswillbe―layeredwithtraces.Thetracesarecopper―wiresthoughnotalltracesare―wirethattravelallthroughouttheboard.OncetheLayersandTracesareSetandtheboardOvercoatisApplied,TheHolesorLandsareapplied.Allaredrilledorlaseretched.Thencontactpadsareaddedtotheholes.Somewillhaveonlysurfacepads,andsomewillhavec-capsandlandsthatgothroughtheholeandouttotheoppositesidewithacontactpadattachedtobothsidesandhavingacontact―wallthroughtheentirewallofthehole.Thepurposeofthe―wallinthecenteroftheholeistomakecontactwiththetraceinsidetheboardlayerscorrespondingtotheholespositioningonthePCB.
TheLaptopsMotherboardwillbecoloredGreen(someareblue),Alwayshaving2shadesofgreen(orblue);alightgreen/blueandadarkgreen/blue.Thedarkgreenbeingthe―baseboardcolorandthelightgreenprintedontoindicateTracepathsandcomponentsections.Thenyouwillseewhitelinesprintedallovertheboardwhichwillcorrespondwiththeschematicsdataontheboardcomponentlayout.Themanufacturersstampthelinesinpositiontodiagram-outthecomponentpartnumbers;andprintedlabeling;foreverycomponent.
ABOUTLAPTOPSCHEMATICS
http://www.laptopschematic.comwillhavealotofSchematicsavailableforyouhttp://www.eserviceinfo.com/index.php?what=search2&searisanotherplacetoobtainSchematicsforLaptopPCBshttp://laptop-schematics.com/anothergreatplaceforschematics
http://notebookschematic.com/?tag=kt2-motherboardschematicTryhereaswell
LaptopmotherboardSchematicssheetsareavaluabletoolinlaptoprepairandwillbeneededforcertainmotherboardrepairs.Theschematicswillbethe¨Dblueprints¡Îofthemotherboardanditslayers.Itwillshowyouthecomponentslocation,thecomponentspowerrating,andifitrunsinaseries,itwillrevealthatalso.
Whenrepairingthemotherboard,youwillrefertotheschematicssheetwhenyoucanbothvisuallyseethedamagedcomponent,andalsowhenyoucan’tseeanyfaults.Theschematicssheetwillhelpyouwhentracere-routingisneededbyshowingyouallsurroundingareas(allsidesandbeneathareainquestion).Ifyoucanvisuallyseethefaultycomponent,theschematicssheetwilltellyoutheexactpartnameanditsrating.Thisinformationwillallowyoutoproperlytestthefaultandproperlytestpost-repairforcontinuity.
MOTHERBOARDREPAIRINGTECHNIQUES
Let’ssay,forinstance,thatthelaptophadalossofAudio,andyouhavealreadydeterminedthatthespeakersthemselvesarenottheissue.Youcanlookatthemotherboardschematicssheetblockdiagramtolocatethepathoftheonboardaudioandlocateallcomponentsonthatpath.Thiswillallowyoutohopefullylocateifthereisafault.TheaudiowilltravelfromtheSouthbridge,ortheGPU/Southbridge,andyouwillseeitbranchouttodifferentcontrollersections,liketheamplifier,themicrophone,theaudiojacks/modemetc…Eachsectionhavingitsownsetofcomponentslikevoltageregulators,resistors,capacitors,controllerICs,diodesetc…Knowingthefaultycomponentslocationinrelevancetoallothercomponentswillhelpyouindetermininganyhiddenfaultsandhelpyoubetterdirectyourtestinginsteadofhavingtotesttheentiremotherboard.
Knowinghowtheinitialfailureoccurredisverybeneficialtohelpingtolocatethefault.Ifyouknowthattheproblemisrelatedtoalightningstormandthepowerwasgoinginandout,youcandirectthediagnosingtowardsthepowerinputandleadingtracks.Thiswouldincludeallcomponentsonthosepaths,likevoltageregulators,tantalumcapacitors,resistors,diodesandrelated.Alsoyouwoulddeterminefromtheschematicssheets,thepropertestingvoltage/amp/currentofallthosecomponents.Letussaythatthatdidinfacthappentothelaptopinquestionwiththefault.YouwouldbeginbymakingsuretheACAdapterisproperlyfunctioning.Movingon,youwouldbeginavisualandaudioinspectionofthemotherboard.
Youraudioinspection:
Listeningcloselytoafaultymotherboardwillsometimesrevealthefaultslocation,oratleastshowtheendresultofablownseriesofcomponents.
Youwillsometimesbeabletohearblowncomponentsmakingahighpitchedbuzzingnoise,oritwillsometimesbeabeepingnoise,thensometimesitcanalsobeclickingnoises.
Yourvisualinspection:
Thevisualinspectionisthemostimportantpartofmotherboardtesting.Itcanalsobethedifferenceinhoursoftestingasopposedtodirectlynoticingtheissue.
Printedcircuitboards(PCBs)arevulnerabletoenvironmentalinfluences;forexample,thetracesarecorrosion-proneandmaybeimproperlyetchedleavingpartialshorts,whiletheviasmaybeinsufficientlyplatedthroughorfilledwithsolder.Thetracesmaycrackundermechanicalloads,oftenresultinginunreliablePCBoperation.Residuesofsolderfluxmayfacilitatecorrosion;thoseofothermaterialsonPCBscancauseelectricalleaks.Polarcovalentcompoundscanattractmoisturelikeantistaticagents,formingathinlayerofconductivemoisturebetweenthetraces;ioniccompoundslikechloridestendtofacilitatecorrosion.Alkalimetalionsmaymigratethroughplasticpackagingandinfluencethefunctioningofsemiconductors.Chlorinatedhydrocarbonresiduesmayhydrolyzeandreleasecorrosivechlorides;theseareproblemsthatoccurafteryears.Polarmoleculesmaydissipatehighfrequencyenergy,causingparasiticdielectriclosses.
AbovetheglasstransitiontemperatureofPCBs,theresinmatrixsoftensandbecomessusceptiblecontaminantdiffusion.Forexample,polyglycolsfromthesolderfluxcanentertheboardandincreaseitshumidityintake,withcorrespondingdeteriorationofdielectricandcorrosionproperties.Multilayersubstratesusingceramicssufferfrommanyofthesameproblems.
Conductiveanodicfilaments(CAFs)maygrowwithintheboardsalongthefibersofthecompositematerial.Metalisintroducedtoavulnerablesurfacetypicallyfromplatingthevias,thenmigratesinpresenceofions,moisture,andelectricalpotential;drillingdamageandpoorglass-resinbondingpromotessuchfailures.TheformationofCAFsusuallybeginsbypoorglassresinbonding;alayerofadsorbedmoisturethenprovidesachannelthroughwhichionsandcorrosionproductsmigrate.Inpresenceofchlorideions,theprecipitatedmaterialisatacamite;itssemi-conductivepropertiesleadtoincreasedcurrentleakage,deteriorateddielectricstrength,andshortcircuitsbetweentraces.Absorbedglycolsfromfluxresiduesaggravatetheproblem.Thedifferenceinthermalexpansionofthefibersandthematrixweakensthebondwhentheboardissoldered;theleadfreesolderswhichrequirehighersolderingtemperaturesincreasetheoccurrenceofCAFs.Besidesthis,CAFsdependonabsorbedhumidity;belowacertainthreshold,theydonotoccur.Delaminationmayoccurtoseparatetheboardlayers,crackingtheviasandconductorstointroducepathwaysforcorrosivecontaminantsandmigrationofconductivespecies.
Alightedmagnifyingglassorbetteryetamicroscopewouldhelpyouwiththevisualinspectiontobringyourfieldofviewupcloseandallowingyoutolookforfaults.Youcanbuyaheadsetmagnifyingglassthatrestsonyourheadandhasmultiplelensestoallowyougreatermagnification.TheheadsetalsohasbuiltinadjustableLEDlights.Thiswillallowyoutoworkwithbothhandsfree.Youwillinspectallcomponentsforphysicaldefects.VOLTAGEREGULATOR
VRswilltypicallyneedtobetestedwithamulti-meter.Tovisuallyinspecttheregulator,youwouldbelookingatthecontactarms,mainlywheretheymeetwiththecontactpads,lookingformeltedsolderaswell.Usuallyboardflex(heatcontractionandexpansionof
themotherboard)willcausetheVRsarmtobecomemis-seatedfromthepad.WhenaVoltageRegulatorfailsduetoapowersurge,itwillhavevisiblesignsoffailure.Youwillneedto―zoomǁintocloselylookatthesurfaceoftheVRchip.Youwillseeaburnareausuallycircleinshapeandcansometimesbeassmallasapin-headoraslargeasthechipsizeitself.CertainblownVRswillstillallowthelaptoptocontinuerunning,yettheblownVRswillalsocontinueto―shortǁandifleftunattendedandcontinuouspowerisapplied,itcancausethesurroundingareatoburnandpossiblysetablaze.Ifyouinfactdoseevisualdamage,youwillreplacethatvoltageregulatorfromthemotherboard.Usuallyitwillonlybethat1VR,andnottheset(ifinasetorseries).FirstareatocheckisrightneartheDCInput(whethertheDCJackLands,orthePlug-InDCJackPort)area,lookinginthedirectareaandalsoontheoppositesideofthemotherboard.TheHPdv9000,dv6000are2goodexamplesthathavecommonfailuretotheVoltageRegulatorchiplocatednearitsdcjackinputplugport.ThisVRblowsquiteeasilyandmostlikelyduetopoor/cheapmanufacturing.Groundingpinwillusuallybethelastpin,schematicscanhelpyouonthepincountofneeded,andwilltellyouthelastpinslocationandpossibleothergroundingpins(soyoudon’tgetfalsereadings).Onceyouplacethemulti-metersnegativeprobeonthegroundpin,youwillgoaroundthearmsstartingfromarm1andcontinuingaround.Totestforcontinuity,youwouldsetthemulti-metertobeeporscreechwhenpositivepowerisdetected.ToreplacethefaultyVR,youwillneedanexactreplacementVR.Youcan’tjusttakeonethatresemblesthefaultyoneoffofanalternatemotherboardandexpectittowork.Itwillmostlikelyhaveadifferentratingthantheoneatfaultandcancauseothernearbycomponentstoblowlikeoscillatorsorcaps.YoucanlocateanexactseriesmotherboardandremovetheVRfromittouseinreplacementofthefaultyone.Thismightbeyourbestoptionforreplacingthecomponentifyoudonotrepairlaptopsonaregularbasisandhaveaccesstocomponentinventorysurplus.Lookingupthepartnumber(zoominontheICsurfacetofindit),theneitherGoogleit,orgoonEBaytolocateanexactpartmatch.Ifyougetluckyyouwillfindit,youjusthavetohopetheseller/vendorallowsthepurchaseofasingularoneandnotrequireyoutobuyinBulk(usuallyacaseor144).CAPACITOR
Thecapacitor,orceramiccapacitor,ortantalumcapacitor…willalsobeacomponentyouwanttocloselylookatifyouarelookingtodiagnoseaPowerfailurelikealightningstrike(myexample)andaPowersurgeordipoccurred.Visualinspectionwillrevealcracksinthecapacitororcracksinthecontacttrayandpads.Electrolyticcapacitorswilltestdifferently,astheywillleakandwillbulgewhenfailing.AusefultoolformotherboardtestingisaUSBmicroscope.Theyaresoldinvariousstrengthsandeventhecheapest–loweststrengthscopewillhelpgreatlyinseeingthecomponents,especiallywhenyouareabletoviewitonamonitorandsavethecaptionstodisk.
ThewayacapacitorshouldbetestedisOutOfCircuitTesting,anycomponentforthatmatter.In-CircuitcapacitortestingcanbedoneusingaCapacitanceMeter,InCircuitESRmeter.OTHER
Thepowerinductorandthepowerchokecoil(s)canalsobeaffectedinamotherboardfailureissue.Youwillbeabletofeeltheheatresonatingfromthemusuallyafterfailure.
Resettablefuseswillfailbutrarelywill…BIOSchipsetswillfailtoo,theywillgetblowoutsinthecenterareaofthechipssurfaceandisusuallyvisible.
IMPORTANTAddition
Alotofmotherboardfailuresarenotadirectresultof―motherNatureǁorthemis-useoreventhermalormechanicalbreakdown.ThereareotherNotWellKnownwaysamotherboardcomponentcanfail.PackagingandStorageisone.ThemoisturecontentandchemicalexposureinthepackingmaterialscangreatlyaffectthelongevityandstabilityoftheMotherboardandComponentsthereof.Thiscancause―motherboardWarpǁ,itcanalsodeterioratecertainaffectedcomponentsontheboard,evendamagingthecontacts.Itwilldeterioratethewiresandcablesmakingthembrittleandfragile,itcancausealotofharm.Anotherhiddencauseleftundiagnosedcanbeanincorrectlycoveredtraceorland(manufacturerdefect).Thiscancauseshorts,itcancausetrailblow-outsbecausetheheatgeneratedfromthePCBscomponentswillfurtherwearawayatthefaultareas,causingthatcomponenttofail,whichforexamplecanthrowdcvoltagethroughapathrequiringnodc.
Anotherhiddencauseleftundiagnosedisasolderchiporballthatwasleftontheboardafterthemanufacturercompletedbuildontheboard.Thispiecemighthavestucktoanareaontheboardhavinga―negativecontact,thenatsomepointthatchiporballwasknockedloosebeingknockedaroundinsidethelaptopuntileventuallytouchingavoltageregulatorpositivepinarmorsimilarcomponentspowercontact.Which;inturn,wouldblowthat;oranyrelatedcomponent,leavingnosuspecttothecauseofthefailureuponinspection.
THEPOWERCHOKECOIL,PowerInductors&Chokes
Achokeisacoilofinsulatedwire,oftenwoundonamagneticcore,usedasapassiveinductorwhichblockshigher-frequencyalternatingcurrent(ac)inanelectricalcircuitwhilepassingsignalsofmuchlowerfrequencyanddirectcurrentbyhavinganimpedancelargelydeterminedbyreactance,whichisproportionaltofrequency(seeInductorandInductance).Chokesaretypicallyusedastheinductivecomponentsinelectronicfilters.
Thenamecomesfromblocking—“choking”—highfrequencieswhilepassinglowfrequencies.Itisafunctionalname;thesameinductorisoftencalleda“choke”ifusedtoblockhigherfrequencies,buta“coil”or“inductor”if,say,partofatunedcircuit.
TheEnd