Opening Sony Vaio PCG 141A notebook to replace HD

[britrfw]

I have removed the 5 screws from the bottom, located and released the snaps on the front of the computer but cannot lift the keyboard to access the HD.

The top is loose in the front but still tightly secured on both sides towards the rear.

Does anyone have access to a repair manual or know where the other hidden catches are?

[haajeehaa]

my laptop is only secured on the left side.
Have you found a way to remove the keyboard?
I carry on to try. If I find a solutions, I'll contact you.

Regards, Henk

Originally Posted by britrfw

I have removed the 5 screws from the bottom, located and released the snaps on the front of the computer but cannot lift the keyboard to access the HD.

The top is loose in the front but still tightly secured on both sides towards the rear.

Does anyone have access to a repair manual or know where the other hidden catches are?

[JorgeRed]

Originally Posted by haajeehaa

my laptop is only secured on the left side.
Have you found a way to remove the keyboard?
I carry on to try. If I find a solutions, I'll contact you.

Regards, Henk

Don’t know if it matters at this time…

Remove the 5 screws. (done already)

Remove 2 internal covers on the display hinges. They might have to be carefully pried to the inside.

Remove the left hinge screw.

Carefully push/slide the keyboard into the top of the frame (toward the function keys/top). I used a small flat head screwdriver to push the thin plate under the keys, either side of the space bar. The bottom side of the keyboard will lift out when pushed far enough to the top.

Detach keyboard ribbon cables from the Motherboard .

Remove 3 new screws that secure the top of the frame to the motherboard

Remove ribbon cables that connect the top frame to the motherboard

Remove ribbon cable that connects over the top of the HDD

Remove 4 screws that hold in the HDD bracket

Lift up back of HDD and use tool to gently pry the HDD connector away.

Your mileage may very…

Jorge

[britrfw]

Remove the 5 screws. (done already)

Remove 2 internal covers on the display hinges. They might have to be carefully pried to the inside.

Remove the left hinge screw.

Carefully push/slide the keyboard into the top of the frame (toward the function keys/top). I used a small flat head screwdriver to push the thin plate under the keys, either side of the space bar. The bottom side of the keyboard will lift out when pushed far enough to the top.

Detach keyboard ribbon cables from the Motherboard .

Remove 3 new screws that secure the top of the frame to the motherboard

Remove ribbon cables that connect the top frame to the motherboard

Remove ribbon cable that connects over the top of the HDD

Remove 4 screws that hold in the HDD bracket

Lift up back of HDD and use tool to gently pry the HDD connector away.

Your mileage may very…

Jorge[/quote]


Thanks Jorge for the info. I have located the hinge screw but still cannot budge the keyboard. I left the computer with a work colleague who replaced the drive and closed the computer. I cannot get hold of him for help. My next problem is that I cannot reinstall the operating system because the PCMCIA CD drive will not work. It checks out ok on another Sony computer but not on this one. Does it need a special driver? If so, where do I find it?

I am trying to open the computer again to see if I can boot the system with the old drive but am not having much success. I can boot from the USB floppy drive and have formatted the drive but obviously will not be able to install the op. system from floppies.

Roger

[SamBiondo]

There's an picture guide at
http://www.tomshardware.com/mobile/20010215/index.html.

You don't need much pressure when you pry the lid up at the indents but you might need a flashlight to find them. The picture shows exactly where they are.

Sam