How To Disassemble Laptop (Sony Vaio VGN-C25G)

After a long search for laptops and successfully completed my university, I have finally found our next candidate for disassembly. Today a friend has kindly contributed a laptop to the AhWee.com laptop disassembly guide. It is the Sony Vaio VGN-C25G (PCG-6R6P) one of the Vaio VGN-C series laptops.
This guide will explain detailed step by step sequence to dismantle a Sony Vaio VGN-C25G laptop.

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AhWee.com is not by any means giving out professional advice. AhWee.com will be held no responsibility for any hardware and warranty faults.
If a warranty sticker that states “Warranty void if removed” is present. I highly discourage you to proceed further unless you are well aware of your warranty period.

Tools you need for dismantling and cleaning

1. Philips Screwdriver (I use a Pro’s Kit #0×75, blade size approximately 2.4 mm)
2. Flat Blade Screwdriver (Anything smaller than 2.5 mm)
3. Polyester brush (about 1/2″ wide would do)

 Before you start

There are a few things you will need to do before you start disassembling your Sony Vaio VGN-C25G.

1. Clear your table
   Ensure that you have plenty of space (1 meter square would be great) to put all the components so they won’t go missing or dropping off the table.
2. Remove the battery
   To remove the battery from your Sony Vaio VGN-C25G. Unlock the battery and slide the battery latch to the right, then slide it out.
   
3. Ground the motherboard
   When the battery is removed, simply ground the motherboard by pressing on the power button for a few seconds.
4. Ground your hands
   Ground your hands by wearing a wrist grounding strap or touching an unpainted metal surface from time to time.

And now you are set to dismantle your Sony Vaio VGN-C25G.

Step 1: Removing harddisk

Always remove your harddisk first if you are cleaning your laptop and put them in an anti static bag if possible.

1. Remove two screws (M2x7mm)
2. Carefully slide it out of the hub.

Step 2: Removing CPU fan

If you are not confident in laptop maintenance, I suggest Step 2 is the furthest you should go. Most dust collects near the fins of the heat sink and the CPU fan. This model (Sony Vaio VGN-C series) is designed with CPU fan cleaning in mind, thus the CPU fan is easily reachable.

1. Open the CPU cover by removing two screws (M2x7mm) and one captive screw shown below.
2. Lift the cover up.
   
3. When you see the fan, remove four screws (M2x4mm) and unplug the power cable.
   
4. Lift the fan out of its seating.

If you think there is a need to remove and clean the heat sink by itself, by all means, remove the four screws (M2x4mm) near the processor. Bear in mind to always use a thermal compound to replace the old one to maintain optimum heat transfer from the processor to the heat sink.

Step 3: Removing the memory modules

1. Remove the captive screw on the RAM covers.
2. Pull the pins sideways as shown in the picture below.
3. Carefully slide the RAM modules out of the connector.

Step 4: Remove the optical drive

1. Remove one screw (M2x7mm) pointed out in the picture below.
2. Slide the optical drive out of the bay.

Step 5: Remove the keyboard

1. Remove one screw (M2x15mm) located at the center.
   
2. First use a little flat bladed screwdriver to pry up one side of the dead securing pin located at the far right of the keyboard.
3. Then, using your nails, press in four remaining live securing pins and lift up the keyboard as you go. (!) Be careful when you lift the keyboard as there is a connector at the back of it.
   
4. Disconnect the connector at the back of the keyboard.

Step 6: Removing the palm rest

This is the trickiest part for most beginners and I highly suggest you not to rush this step. Take it slow and make sure all the screws are out before taking the palm rest apart.

1. Turn to the back of the laptop and remove ten (M2x7mm) screws and three (M2x3.5mm) screws located near the optical drive.
2. Turn the laptop upright and remove two (M2x7mm) screws and one (M2x15mm) screws.
3. Disconnect three cables (power, speaker and touchpad).
4. Carefully lift the palm rest from the base of the laptop from the back.

Step 6: Removing the PCMCIA module

Although step 6 and 7 might seems unnecessary, but some of the cables are overlapping each another. So I have took the time to disassemble them to show you how it really works.

1. Remove two screws (M2x2.5mm).
2. Disconnect the FPC (Flat Printed Circuit Cable) shown in the picture.
3. Lift the board up.

Step 7: Remove the communication board

Depending on how the laptop is initially setup, this step is done either before or after Step 8. If the display cable routes below this board, then you will have to do this step first. If it goes on top, then you can skip this step.

1. Remove two screws (M2x3mm) on the communication board.
2. Remove two screws (M2x3mm) on the RJ45 and RJ11 mount.
3. Disconnect two FPC cables.
4. Disconnect two WLAN cables.
5. Lift the communication board up.

Step 8: Remove the LCD screen

1. Disconnect the LCD connectors using the blue coloured pull tab.
2. Unscrew six hinge support screws (M3x3mm)
3. Carefully lift the LCD screen up and make sure to put it on a smooth surface.

That is it folks. The Sony Vaio VGN-C25G/PCG-6R6P disassembled.