SYSTEM BOARD

The system board is the main

logic board in any laptop.
All internal components are
connected to the system
board.
This is one of the most
expensive parts in a laptop.


SYSTEM BOARD

SYSTEM BOARD
A system board also known as
motherboard or mainboard is the
main circtuit board in any laptop.
Unlike desktop PC system boards,
laptop system boards come in
thousands of different shapes and
sizes.
SYSTEM BOARD
Laptop motherboards are model-
specific.
In other words, you cannot remove
motherboard from a Toshiba laptop and
stick it into a Dell laptop.
All parts inside a laptop are connected
to the system board, either directly via
a connector mounted on the system
board or through a cable.

SYSTEM BOARD
The system board
is mounted inside
the laptop base
assembly.
In order to remove
or replace the
motherboard,
youll have to
disassemble the
whole laptop.

List of ports and
components that are
permanently attached to
the system board and
cannot be easily removed
and replaced without
soldering:
1. Hard drive (HDD) connector.
2. CD/DVD drive connector.
3. Memory (RAM) slots.
4. Battery connector.
5. Keyboard connector.
6. Audio (headphone and
microphone) jacks.

List of components..
Continuation..
7. Volume control wheel.
8. USB ports.
9. Ethernet (RJ45 aka network)
port.
10. IEEE 1394 (Fire Wire) ports.
11. Video chip and some other
components and ports.

SYSTEM BOARD FAILURE
SYMPTOMS
When a system board fails, you may
experience the following most
common problems with your laptop.
The laptop is completely dead.
There are no LED light activity
when you press on the power
button or plug in a known good AC
power adapter.
SYSTEM BOARD FAILURE
SYMPTOMS
2. The laptop starts but the video
output on the LCD screen or external
monitor is garbled.
Most likely this is related to the VGA
chip failure.
SYSTEM BOARD FAILURE
SYMPTOMS
The laptop turns on without video on
the screen and the power LED starts
flashing.
The laptop works fine with AC power
adapter but will not charge a known
good battery.
If thats the case, most likely there is
something wrong with the battery
charging circuit or DC power jack.

Which is cheaper???
System board, processor (CPU) and
LCD screen are the most expensive
parts in any laptop.
In some cases, when one of these
three parts fails, its cheaper to buy
a brand new laptop than replace
the failed part.
AC/DC Power Adapter
known as power supply or power brick
converts the high voltage AC power
from a wall outlet into the low voltage
DC power needed for your laptop.
The AC/DC adapter provides power for
the laptop and charges the battery.
Its very important to use the right
adapter for your laptop.


You can find
the output
voltage and
amperage on
the adapters
label.
As you see on
the picture
below, my
adapter
outputs 19V-
3.42A.

AC/DC Power Adapter
If you are looking for a new adapter, you
should check the following:
1. Your new adapter must have exactly
the same plug (adapter tip) as the
original one.
2. Your new adapter must output exactly
the same voltage as the original one.
3. Polarity on the new adapters plug
must be the same as on the original one.

AC/DC Power Adapter
When you buy a new adapter, you
can follow this rule:

The output voltage must be the
same, the amperage could be the
same or higher than on the original
power adapter.
For example, if my laptop requires
19v-3.42A adapter, I can safely use
19v-3.95A adapter.

HOW TO TEST OR REPAIR
POWER ADAPTERS.

MAIN BATTERY
Any laptop computer has a battery
pack which provides power to the
laptop while its not connected to the
wall-plug through AC/DC power
adapter.
Laptop batteries come in many
different shapes and they are model-
specific.

MAIN BATTERY

The laptop battery life depends
upon many conditions and
circumstances:
screen brightness
intensity of running programs
the temperature of the working
environment, etc

MAIN BATTERY
OPTIMIZED BATTERY
SETTING
You can lower screen brightness
reduce CPU processing speed
chance cooling method
and other settings available on your
laptop.
Some of these settings could be changed
only through the manufacturers power
management software.

In most laptops the main battery
connects directly to the system board.

MAIN BATTERY
TROUBLESHOOTING LAPTOP
BATTERY PROBLEMS
If the laptop stopped running on the battery
power.
It works fine from the AC adapter but shuts
down as soon as you unplug the adapter.
If thats the case, try reconnecting the main
battery.
Remove it from the laptop and install back.
Its possible the battery is not making good
connection with the motherboard.

Unfortunately, the only reliable way to
test the main battery is replacing it with
another known good battery.
If the laptop cannot detect the battery,
even though its installed, try replacing
the battery with a new one.
If you still have the same issue, most
likely there is a problem wiht the system
board.

CMOS BATTERY
Any laptop computer has a CMOS battery also
known as RTC (REAL TIME CLOCK) battery.
The CMOS battery connects directly to the laptop
system board and helps to retain important BIOS
settings such as system time, date, BIOS
configuration while the laptop is turned off or
even when the main battery is removed.
The CMOS battery is rechargeable and its
getting charged when the laptop is plugged into
the mains.
CMOS batteries come in different shapes and
sizes.

On the picture below you see a
basic coin cell CMOS battery.
This type of
batteries
usually found
in older
laptops.
This battery is
removable and
replaceable.

Another type of CMOS
battery.
Basically, its two
coin cell batteries
but they are
bundled together
and have a cable
which plugs into
the system board.
This battery is
removable and
replaceable.

A CMOS battery which
is soldered to the
system board.
In order to replace
this type of battery,
youll have to
unsolder it from the
system board.

CMOS BATTERY LOCATION
IN A LAPTOP.

In some laptops
the CMOS battery
could be easily
accessed from the
bottom, as it
shown on the
picture below. As
an example I took
a Dell Inspiron
1720.

In some laptops
the CMOS battery
is hidden under
the keyboard. As
an example I
took a HP
Compaq nc6400
laptop.

CMOS BATTERY LOCATION
IN A LAPTOP.

Heres the worst case scenario!!!
The CMOS battery is hidden under
the laptop cover.
In order to access and replace the
battery youll have to disassemble
the whole laptop.
As an example I took a Toshiba
Satellite A305 laptop.

CMOS BATTERY LOCATION
IN A LAPTOP.


CMOS BATTERY RELATED
PROBLEMS
Each time you turn off the laptop it resets
date and time back to factory defaults.
When you turn the laptop back on it asks
you to set date and time.
If thats the case, most likely your CMOS
battery is old and has to be replaced.
***By the way, removing the CMOS
battery on most newer laptops will not
clear the BIOS password.***

KEYBOARD
In laptops, a keyboard is the main input
device.
Its interface between a user and a laptop.
In most laptops the keyboard is
connected directly to the motherboard via
a flat ribbon cable.

KEYBOARD REMOVAL STEPS:
STEP #1

Remove keyboard bezel.
Unscrew the
keyboard from
the laptop base.
Usually there is
one or more
screws securing
the keyboard.

KEYBOARD REMOVAL STEPS:
STEP #2

Disconnect the keyboard cable from the
motherboard and remove the keyboard.

KEYBOARD REMOVAL STEPS:
STEP #3

KEYBOARD RELATED
PROBLEMS.
When you press on keys U, I, O, J, K, L,
M the keyboard types 4, 5, 6, 1, 2, 3, 0.
It happens because the Number Lock
function is enabled.
You can turn this function off via a
shortcut on the keyboard.
Hold down the Fn key and at the same
time press once on the NumLk key.
KEYBOARD RELATED
PROBLEMS.
One or more keyboard keys came
off.
You can install these keys back on
the keyboard, youll find lots of
instructions on the internet or
YouTube how to do that.
KEYBOARD RELATED
PROBLEMS.
When you press on one key it types
two letters.
For example, you press on W but it
types WE, you press on T and it
types TY, etc
Most likely this problem is related
to the keyboard and it has to be
replaced.

KEYBOARD RELATED
PROBLEMS.
4. Some keys in horizontal or
diagonal row stopped working at
all. Again,
most likely there is a problem with
the keyboard and it has to be
replaced.

ATTENTION!
If you still have the same issue after
replacing the keyboard, there could be
a problem with the keyboard controller
on the motherboard.
It means the whole motherboard has to
be replaced.
A laptop keyboard is not repairable.
If it stopped working, you have to
replace the whole unit.

PROCESSOR
A processor also known as CPU
(Central Processing Unit) is the
brain of a laptop computer.
The processor is one of the main
components in a laptop.
Laptop processors are made mainly
by Intel and AMD.

PROCESSOR
The processor
connects directly
to the system
board via a
processor socket
aka CPU socket
as it shown on
the picture
below.
PROCESSOR
QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS.

Question: Can I overclock the CPU in my laptop?
Answer: No, you cannot. In most laptops the BIOS
doesnt give you this option.
Question: Can I upgrade the CPU in my laptop?
Answer: Unfortunately, laptop manufacturers do not
provide this information to general public. Yes, its
possible on some laptops. Youll have to find a new
CPU which fits the same socket and try it.
Question: Are CPU failures very common?
Answer: No, they are not. CPUs fail rarely. If your
laptop stopped booting, the CPU will be the last
component to blame. Check the memory and
motherboard first.

COOLING FAN
A CPU cooling fan is a dedicated fan which cools
down the heatsink and eventually the CPU
(Processor).
Usually the CPU cooling fan comes as a part of the
heatsink assembly a metal part drawing heat from
the CPU chip.
In addition to the CPU cooling fan, some laptops
have a dedicated GPU (graphics processing unit) fan
which cools down the GPU chip.
The CPU and GPU cooling fans connect directly to the
motherboard via a cable running from the fan. When
CPU and GPU chips get hotter, the cooling fan spins
faster.

COOLING FAN

COOLING FAN LOCATION
IN A LAPTOP
On some laptops
the cooling fan
can be easily
accessed through
a door on the
bottom, as on the
following
Gateway laptop.

COOLING FAN LOCATION
IN A LAPTOP

COOLING FAN RELATED
PROBLEMS

If your laptop feels very hot and shuts
down without any warning, its possible
that you have a faulty fan.
Listen for the fan. Is it working?
Sometimes you can see the fan
through the fan grill on the bottom of
the laptop.
If the fan never starts, probably it is
bad and has to be replaced.
COOLING FAN RELATED
PROBLEMS

When the fan bearing goes bad, the fan
starts making grinding noise.
In this case youll have to replace the
fan.
If your CPU fan works hard all the time,
most likely it happens because the
heatsink is dirty and is clogged with
dust and lint.
You can clean the heatsink using
compressed air.
LAPTOP MEMORY
A laptop memory also know as RAM (Random-
access memory) is a temporary data storage.
Its a volatile type of memory. When you turn off
the laptop, all the information stored in a RAM
module is lost.
More memory installed into your laptop gives
you a better (faster) performance.
You can test laptop memory with a free
diagnostic tool called Memtest86+.
A type of memory used in laptop computers
called SO-DIMM (Small Outline Dual In-line
Memory Module).

LAPTOP MEMORY

LAPTOP MEMORY
Faster DDR2 memory modules are backward
compatible with slower DDR2 memory
modules.
For example, if your laptop requires a PC2-
4200 memory module you can safely use a
PC2-5300 module but it will run at PC2-4200
speed.
DDR2 memory modules are not backward
compatible with DDR modules. The notch on
DDR2 is located in a different position from
DDR.

WHERE MEMORY
MODULES ARE LOCATED.
In a laptop computer memory slots
could be found in a few different
locations, it depends on the brand
and model of the laptop.

WHERE MEMORY
MODULES ARE LOCATED.
1. Both memory slots can be accessed
from the door on the bottom.
2. One slot is located on the bottom and
another one under the keyboard.
3. Both memory slots are located under
the keyboard.
4. There is only one memory slot
available for upgrades. The main memory
is integrated into the motherboard.

HOW TO REMOVE MEMORY
MODULE FROM THE SLOT.

Step1.
Release latches on both sides from the
memory module with your fingers.

HOW TO REMOVE MEMORY
MODULE FROM THE SLOT.
Step2.
The memory module will pop up at a
20-30 degree angle.

HOW TO REMOVE MEMORY
MODULE FROM THE SLOT
Step3.
Carefully pull the memory module from
the slot by the edges.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE
BUYING LAPTOP MEMORY.
1. You are looking for SO-DIMM
memory used in laptop computers.
2. Type of the memory used in your
laptop: SDRAM, DDR, or DDR2.
3. How many memory slot are
available.
4. How much memory your laptop
can handle.



HARD DRIVE
Most modern laptops use 2.5 hard
drives.
Older laptops use IDE hard drives,
newer laptops use SATA hard drives.
SATA and IDE drives are not
interchangeable, they have absolutely
different connectors.

HARD DRIVE
If your laptop came with an IDE hard drive you
cannot replace it with a SATA drive.
As you see on the picture above, a SATA drive has
two flat connectors and an IDE drive has two
rows of pins.
HARD DRIVE
SATA hard drives has faster data
transfer rate then IDE drivers.
SATA 150MB/s and IDE
100/133MB/s.
Laptop hard drives spin at different
speeds and most common are
4200RPM, 5400RPM, 7200RPM.

The RPM number indicates how fast the hard
drive platters spin.
Hard drives with high RPM number are
quicker than hard drives with low RPM
number because they can access data faster.
SATA connectors on a laptop hard drive are
similar to SATA connectors on a desktop hard
drive.
You can connect a SATA laptop hard drive to
a desktop computer using same SATA cables.

WHERE HARD DRIVE IS
LOCATED IN A LAPTOP
On most
laptops the
hard drive can
be accessed
from the
bottom.

WHERE HARD DRIVE IS
LOCATED IN A LAPTOP
On some laptops
the hard drive is
buried inside the
case and its
necessary to
disassemble the
laptop in order to
access and
replace the hard
drive.

HARD DRIVE UPGRADE
A hard drive is the slowest part in any laptop.
If you would like to speed up your laptop,
replace your low RPM drive with a faster one.
Fast RPM drives are backward compatible
with low RPM drives.
If you would like to install a larger hard
drive, take a look at the users manual and
laptop specifications.
Make sure your laptop supports larger drives.

GRAPHICS CARD
A graphics card also known as a video card
or VGA board is a laptop component
responsible for creating images on a laptop
screen.
In most low-mid range laptops the graphics
card is integrated into the motherboard.
If thats the case, the graphics card is not
removable or upgradeable.
If the graphics card fails, you have to
replace the whole motherboard.
GRAPHICS CARD
A discrete graphics
card can be found in
high range models
and high end
gaming laptops.
Discrete graphics
cards can be
removed and in
some cases they are
upgradeable.

GRAPHICS CARD RELATED
PROBLEMS
Lets say your display stopped working
properly.
The image is distorted or garbled.
Is this problem related to the VGA board or
LCD screen?
Connect your laptop to an external
monitor and take a look at the external
video output.
GRAPHICS CARD RELATED
PROBLEMS
If you see the same problem as on the
internal LCD screen, most likely its
related to the VGA board.
If video on the external monitor works
fine and the problem appears only on
the internal LCD screen, most likely
your problem is related to the LCD
screen or LCD cable.

TYPICAL VIDEO CARD
FAILURE

CD/DVD RW
Most modern laptops are equipped with
a CD/DVD-RW drive also known as an
optical disc drive which allows it to
read and write data from or to a
CD/DVD disc.
All laptop CD/DVD drives are shaped
the same but they all have different
face plates also know as front bezels.
CD/DVD RW

CD/DVD RW
When you are replacing a failed
CD/DVD drive, you have to make
sure that the face plate from the
old drive will fit your new drive.
On the picture below you can see
two different types of connectors
found in modern CD/DVD optical
disc drives
CD/DVD RW

CD/DVD RW
An optical disc drive with a SATA
connector is not interchangeable with
an optical disc drive with a slim ATAPI
connector and vice versa.
In other words, if your laptop
motherboard comes with a SATA
connector for the optical drive, you can
only use CD/DVD drives with SATA
connectors.

CD/DVD RW
You can connect a
2.5 laptop SATA
hard drive to a
desktop computer
using same cables
as you use for a
regular 3.5
desktop hard
drive.

REMEMBER
If you are replacing the CD/DVD disc drive in
your laptop with a new one, make sure your
new drive is compatible with the laptop.
The best way to find a new optical disc drive
is searching by the manufacturers part
number found on the old drive.
When you install
an optical drive
which is not
compatible with
your laptop, it
will not be
recognized by the
BIOS or youll get
an IDE #1 ERROR
on start up.

AUDIO BOARD
In most laptops the audio
board also know as sound
board is integrated into the
motherboard.
In other words, its a part of
the motherboard and cannot be
removed or replaced
separately.

AUDIO BOARD

AUDIO BOARD FAILURE
SYMPTOMS AND
TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS.
1. There is no sound from internal
speakers or headphones.
Make sure the volume level is not set to
minimum.
Make sure the volume is not muted.
If the volume is not mutes and volume level
is not set to minimum, but you still have no
sound, try reinstalling the audio driver.
If reinstalling the audio driver doesnt help,
try reinstalling the operating system.
If nothing helps, its possible you have a
problem with the audio board.

Headphones are working fine but
there is no sound coming from the
laptop speakers.
Sometimes contacts inside the
audio jack get stuck and there is
no external sound because of that.
Try to plug and unplug the
headphone connector into the jack
very quickly a few times.

WIRELESS CARDS
Laptop internal wireless
network cards also
know as WLAN card or
Wi-Fi card come in
different shapes and
sizes.
On the picture above
you see two most
common internal
wireless card types
found in laptops.

WIRELESS CARDS
MINI-PCI (OLDER LAPTOPS)
MINI PCI-E (NEWER LAPTOPS)

MINI PCI WIRELESS CARD
Antenna cables
MINI PCI-E WIRELESS CARD
Antenna
cables
DISPLAY
A laptop screen also known as screen
displays an image generated by the
laptop video card.
Laptop screens come in many different
sizes and resolutions.
In order to find the screen size (in
inches), youll have to measure the
screen between the two diagonal
corners.


The laptop screen mounts inside
the laptop display panel between
the screen bezel and display cover.
The screen is attached to the
screen brackets (display brackets)
which are permanently attached to
the display hinges.
DISPLAY CONSTRUCTION

TYPICAL LCD SCREEN
RELATED FAILURES

You can see
image only on a
part of the LCD
screen.
For example,
only the top side
of the screen
works properly.
There is one or
more thin multi
color lines
running down
the screen.
There is a
wide band
running
down the
LCD screen.
The

BUYING A NEW REPLACEMENT
SCREEN
The LCD screen is one of the most
expensive parts in a laptop computer.
If your screen is damaged and you
decide to replace it yourself, youll have
to make sure to purchase a new screen
compatible with your laptop.
Hear are a few things to consider
before buying a new screen:
BUYING A NEW REPLACEMENT
SCREEN
Hear are a few things to consider before
buying a new screen:
1. Screen size.
2. Some laptops come with full size LCDs.
Some laptops come with widescreen
LCDs.
3. LCD screen could be matte or glossy.
4. Same size LCD screens may have
different resolutions.

DISPLAY RELATED PARTS

SCREEN INVERTER BOARD
SCREEN BACKLIGHT LAMP
DISPLAY RIBBON CABLE
DISPLAY HINGES

SCREEN INVERTER
BOARD
The inverter board
works as a power
supply for the
backlight lamp
mounted inside
the LCD screen.
SCREEN INVERTER
BOARD
The inverter board
converts low voltage
DC power (few
volts) supplied by
the motherboard to
high voltage AC
power (few hundred
volts) needed for the
backlight lamp.
BACKLIGHT LAMP
A backlight lamp (also
know as backlight bulb,
screen backlight, CCFL
tube or bulb) is the
main and only source of
light in a laptop LCD
screen.
A typical laptop LCD
screen has only one
backlight lamp installed.
Video cable, Display cable
or Screen cable
This cable transfers
data signal from the
motherboard and
video card to the
LCD screen.
Also, most video
cables supply high
voltage DC power to
the screen inverter.

DISPLAY HINGES
Display
hinges
connect two
halves of a
laptop the
display panel
and base
assembly.
WEB CAMERA

WEB CAMERA
Most newer laptops come with a built-
in web camera also known as webcam.
The web camera is located on the top of
the display panel.
Some people think the web camera is a
part of the LCD screen but its not.
The web camera is a separate module
which is mounted inside the display
panel above the LCD screen.

WEB CAMERA
The web
camera board
and LCD
screen are two
separate
modules and
can be
removed and
replaced
separately.
WEB CAMERA RELATED
PROBLEMS.
You can see the camera detected in the
device manager, but it will not work.
What can you do?
Try reinstalling the webcam driver and
most likely the problem will be fixes.