How to Replace a Motherboard in an Acer Laptop

If your Acer laptop will no longer load its operating system or will not power on at all it might be time to replace the motherboard. Replacing a motherboard is always time consuming because of all of the other components that must be removed first, but its especially intensive with a laptop because of the smaller parts.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Screwdriver
• Replacement motherboard

1. Click on the "Start" button and choose the "Shut Down" option. Wait for the Acer laptop to finish powering down and then remove the power cable and any other cords that are connected to the ports. Close the lid and flip the laptop onto its back.

2. Hold down the battery release latch at the top of the case and pull the battery out of the laptop. Set it aside.

3. 
    
   The Laptop Bottom

   Locate the eight screws along all four of the edges of the case and remove them with a screwdriver. Flip the unit back over and open the lid. Slide the flat end of a screwdriver underneath the plastic piece below the screen where the power button and indicator lights are.

4. 
    
   The Plastic Bezel

   Wiggle the screwdriver up and down until the plastic piece pops up. Lift the piece up carefully and then disconnect the cable that runs from it to the motherboard. Take the entire piece off and set it aside.

5. 
    
   Pulling out the keyboard

   Pull out the two screws at the top of the keyboard that hold it to the case. Lift the keyboard up so that its cable is visible. Disconnect the cable from the motherboard. Set the keyboard aside. Remove the screws holding the lid hinges into place and pull the hinges out of the case.

6. Find the processor cooling fan and heat sink assembly at the right side of the motherboard. Remove the two screws holding the fan to the motherboard and then disconnect the cable. Pull the fan and heat sink assembly off the motherboard.

7. Grab both sides of the exposed processor and lift it straight up and off the motherboard. Remove the remaining screws holding the motherboard into place and carefully lift it straight out of the case.

8. Set the replacement motherboard down into the case and re-attach the screws. Re-assemble the processor, fan and heat sink assembly, keyboard, hinges and plastic bezel.

9. Place the battery back into the Acer laptop and then turn it on. Wait for the operating system to fully load to ensure that the new motherboard is working correctly.

Tips & Warnings

• Prevent electrostatic discharge from damaging the internal components of your laptop by briefly touching any piece of metal that is firmly connected to the ground before you open the Acer's case.
• The pins on the processor are extremely fragile so it's important that you don't bend them while pulling the processor out of the motherboard.

Resources

• Acer Laptop Support Website
• Buy Laptop Motherboards