How to Replace the Headphone Jack on a Sony Vaio Laptop
Virtually all Sony VAIO laptops come with some sort of jack you can use to connect a pair of headphones or external speakers. Labels for the jack might vary, but the port performs essentially the same function on all VAIO units. If you use the jack often, you could damage the port when connecting or disconnecting your headphones if not carful. Many laptops have the headphone/speakers jacks soldered to the motherboard. However, Sony VAIO laptops use a modular board that contains the headphone and microphone jacks, which makes replacing them a relatively simple task as long as you are handy with a few basic hand tools.
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Things You'll Need
- Phillips #2 screwdriver
- Awl
- Small flathead screwdriver
- Needle-nose pliers
- Antistatic wrist strap
- Motherboard daughter card with headphone and microphone jacks
Instructions
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1
Turn off your Sony VAIO laptop. Close the display screen and disconnect the power cord. If you have other cables or devices connected to the laptop, disconnect those as well.
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2
Turn the VAIO laptop over and remove the battery pack. Remove the screw from the bottom of the laptop with a small icon picture of a memory stick next to it. Press the clips on the sides of the memory module outward. After the memory stick pops up, remove it from the laptop.
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3
Locate the hard drive tray cover on the side of the laptop. Remove the screw that secure the tray and remove the pull the hard drive and tray out of the laptop.
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4
Remove all screws on the bottom of the VAIO laptop labeled with a “K” or a small picture of a keyboard next to them. Flip the laptop over and open the display screen until fully extended.
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5
Use an awl or small flathead screwdriver to remove the small rubber screw hole cover on the right side of the laptop at the upper corner and next to the right edge of the LCD screen. Remove the screw with the Phillips screwdriver.
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Slide the keyboard edge cover to the right to remove it from the laptop. Loosen and remove the two screws at the base of the LCD screen and directly above the top row of keys.
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7
Use your fingers to lift up the top edge of the keyboard and rotate it towards you. Reach under the keyboard and disconnect the ribbon cable connected to the motherboard. Lift straight up on the keyboard to remove it from your VAIO laptop.
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8
Use the Phillips screwdriver to remove the screws that attach the palm rest and touch assembly to the lower half of the laptop chassis. Lift up on the palm rest and disconnect the touch pad connector cable from the motherboard. Remove the palm rest and touch pad from the laptop chassis.
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9
Locate the headphone and microphone jacks on the left or right side of the laptop. Use the needle-nose pliers to turn the lock washers to the chassis counter clockwise. After you loosen the lock washers, use your fingers to twist them until loosened completely.
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10
Lift straight up on the daughter card with the headphone and microphone jacks to remove the card and the jacks from the laptop. Set the old daughter card aside.
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11
Align the connector on the new daughter card with the pins on the motherboard. Also, align the headphone and microphone jacks with the holes in the side of the laptop chassis. Push the new daughter card down onto the pins on the motherboard.
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12
Tighten the lock washers to secure the new jacks to the side of the laptop. Reattach the palm rest assembly and connect the touch pad cable to the motherboard.
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13
Reassemble the VAIO laptop by reversing the steps you used to take it apart. Reinsert the battery pack and connect the AC power cord. Use headphones or speakers with the VAIO laptop as you normally would.
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Tips & Warnings
You can order the daughter card with the headphone and microphone jacks from Sony or leading online laptop specialty retailers.
Always use an antistatic wrist strap when working on your Sony VAIO laptop. Parts inside the laptop are very sensitive to damage from electrostatic discharge.
Some older VAIO laptops have headphone or microphone jacks soldered to the main board. If your VAIO does not have a daughter card with the jacks, take the laptop to a professional repair shop unless you are skilled with a soldering iron and desoldering tool.
