How to Perform Maintenance on a Laptop PC to Prevent Overheating

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 1: Place the plastic screw collection containers in a straight line.

   You will fill them in one by one in one direction.
   
   Make sure to place the screws from separate areas into separate containers.
   
   For example:
   Screws under the keyboard go inside one container and screws holding the motherboard go in another.
2. 2

   Step 2: Prepare a clean workspace.

   ,,,,,,,,, It should be a rectangular shaped box that was under one of the covers.
   
   In order to remove the hard drive, slide it out or if it just pulls out, disconnecting the SATA cable attached.
   
   If there is a silicone sleeve pinch it and wiggle it out of its enclosure. ,, If you can't tell then assume it is uni body.
   
   If there is a plastic cover, pry it off with your prying tool by going around the edges.
   
   Take off the cover and remove the screws underneath.
   
   If the keyboard does not have a cover, then there should be four to five small push tabs above the function keys.
   
   Use a flat head screw driver to push these in. , There will be a a large ribbon underneath., If there is one tab pull it perpendicular to the mother board. if there are two tabs push the m parallel to the mother board and away from the connector. ,,, There will be many different cables and ribbons connected to the motherboard.
   
   Unplug the cables by pulling on the plastic connectors.
   
   Release all the ribbons by unlocking the small plastic latches on the motherboard. ,, (Largest board inside the case) ,, It is a large black bale wrapped in cloth. pull on it by pinching the loose cloth or plastic in the perpendicular to the mother board,, The board is called a network card.,,, When one side of the card is out of the case slowly slide out the mother board in the direction away from the edge of the shell.,, Flip it to the side with the heat sink and the fan are located., Remove the screws around the fan. ,,,, Using a microfiber cloth, carefully wipe any grease still on the CPU.
   
   Be very delicate wiping the CPU., Spread it around the edges using the tip. , Do not over tighten them. , Reattach the unplugged cable and replace the screws.,,,, Push the two tabs on the sides perpendicular to the board or if it only had one tab push it down perpendicular to the board. , Apply the method from the previous step to the cables and ribbons on the hand rest.,,,,
3. 3

   Step 3: Flip the laptop upside down and remove the battery.

4. 4

   Step 4: Inspect if the laptop has multiple covers or one solid cover.

5. 5

   Step 5: If it has one solid cover

6. 6

   Step 6: skip to the next part of the article.

7. 7

   Step 7: Using Philips ph00 screwdriver unscrew any screws that are on plastic covers first.

8. 8

   Step 8: Take out every screw on the back case.

9. 9

   Step 9: If the laptop has a CD drive

10. 10

    Step 10: slide it out by just pulling it out perpendicular to the laptop

11. 11

    Step 11: If there was a rectangular chip (RAM) under of the covers you may pull it out by lifting it up and sliding it out at a 45 degree angle.

12. 12

    Step 12: Remove any screws that were under the plastic covers and the RAM chips.

13. 13

    Step 13: Locate and remove the hard drive.

14. 14

    Step 14: Flip over your laptop and open the lid.

15. 15

    Step 15: Inspect the keyboard to see if it has seams or if it is uni body with the hand rest.

16. 16

    Step 16: Lift off the keyboard.

17. 17

    Step 17: Identify if the ribbon connector has two tabs on on the sides or one tab in the middle.

18. 18

    Step 18: Remove any screws that were under the keyboard.

19. 19

    Step 19: Put on the grounding strap or touch a large metal object in order to discharge the static electricity in the body.

20. 20

    Step 20: Review what you see inside.

21. 21

    Step 21: Using the prying tool go around the seam in-between the case and the hand rest in order to unlock all the clips holding them together.

22. 22

    Step 22: Remove the hand rest revealing the motherboard.

23. 23

    Step 23: Disconnect the display cable.

24. 24

    Step 24: Remove any remaining screws on the mother board.

25. 25

    Step 25: Look for a small green board with two or three skinny antenna cables plugged in.

26. 26

    Step 26: Pluck out the antenna cables by pinching them and puling them out perpendicular to the board.

27. 27

    Step 27: Pull out the small network card by sliding it in a 45 degree angle.

28. 28

    Step 28: Slowly wiggle the motherboard out of the case by lifting up the side that's closer to the center.

29. 29

    Step 29: Blow off all dust and debris inside the case and on the surface of the motherboard using the air duster.

30. 30

    Step 30: Place the motherboard on a clean surface.

31. 31

    Step 31: In order to take out the fan

32. 32

    Step 32: unplug the wire coming out of the fan and into the motherboard.

33. 33

    Step 33: Clean any lint collected between the heat sink and the fan with the air duster.

34. 34

    Step 34: Using the air duster blow out the dust deposited in inside the fan.

35. 35

    Step 35: Remove all the screws going through the heat sink and detach it from the motherboard.

36. 36

    Step 36: Using you prying tool scrape off any dry thermal grease paste off the heat sink.

37. 37

    Step 37: Using the thermal grease syringe

38. 38

    Step 38: squeeze out a little drop on the CPU.

39. 39

    Step 39: Re-seat the heat sink on the motherboard and replace the screws.

40. 40

    Step 40: Reposition the fan back on the motherboard.

41. 41

    Step 41: Place the motherboard back into the case.

42. 42

    Step 42: Replace only the screws taken out during the mother board removal.

43. 43

    Step 43: Plug the cables back into their respective plugs.

44. 44

    Step 44: Insert the ribbons into their respective slots.

45. 45

    Step 45: Reposition the hand rest and reattach all the wires and the ribbon cables for it.

46. 46

    Step 46: Replace the keyboard based on the method used to take it out.

47. 47

    Step 47: Close the laptop lid

48. 48

    Step 48: flip the laptop upside down and re-seat the hard drive.

49. 49

    Step 49: If you took out the optical drive

50. 50

    Step 50: slide it back in now.

51. 51

    Step 51: Replace the screws from the back cover and insert the battery.

Detailed Guide

About the Author