ComputingYou will see this often
Laptop
Also called notebook, MacBook-class machine, portable PC.
A box of modules: battery, blower, wireless card, camera, speakers, heat pipe. The logic board is not a parts board. Record the exact model; many of the useful pieces only fit the same series.
A donor is the dead machine. The parts below are what is still worth removing from it. “Leave it” is a part that is physically in there and should stay in there: too dangerous, too worn, or only useful as part of a repair you are not doing.
A scrapped machine is a box of parts that failed at different times. The reason it was thrown out is often one bad piece. The motor, the cord, the supply, and the screws are frequently still good. This index says which is which.
Why it is in the trash while the parts are not
Broken screen, spilled drink, dead battery, or it simply got slow. A dead board often leaves the battery, the fan, and the drive healthy. A swollen battery is the exception: that one is already failed.
Before you open it
Do this while it is still unplugged, cool, and not leaking. Pull the main battery before you unscrew anything else. If it is swollen, do not pry the case against it. Unplug the charger. The CMOS cell is a separate small battery.
Where the dead machine usually is
- Home office — In the house
- Office cleanout — Commercial
- Repair-shop scrap — Commercial
- Move-out week — Curb
Repair shops have the best ones, already diagnosed. Ask. Do not take batteries they are storing for a recycler without asking.
How it comes apart
Search the model plus 'teardown' if the clips are hostile. Remove the storage drive whole. Photograph connector locations. Antenna leads pop off U.FL connectors with a spudger, straight up, not sideways.
Tools: Phillips 00, Plastic spudger, Torx on some, Tweezers.
Words on this page
- series
- Connected in a chain. Cells in series add their voltages. LEDs in series all go dark if one of them opens.
What to take
The table is the short version. The notes under it describe that part inside this machine, not only the general description.
| Part | Call | How many | How often | Where to look |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cylindrical lithium-ion cell | Prize | a pack | sometimes | Bottom cover, or internal. |
| Lithium pouch cell | Prize | 1 pack | usually | Inside the shell. |
| Blower (centrifugal fan) | Worth pulling | 1 | usually | On the heat-pipe assembly. |
| Heat pipe | Worth pulling | 1 | usually | From CPU to the fin stack. |
| Speaker driver | Worth pulling | 2 | usually | Front edge, left and right. |
| USB webcam | Worth pulling | 1 | sometimes | Top of the display bezel. |
| Wi-Fi card | Worth pulling | 1 | usually | Mini PCIe or M.2 slot. |
| SATA-USB bridge | Bonus | 1 | sometimes | Only if it was a USB external drive sitting next to the laptop. Internal drives are SATA or NVMe directly. |
| Coin cell | Bonus | 1 | usually | A small yellow-wrapped cell or a holder on the board. |
| Neodymium magnet | Bonus | 2–4 | usually | Display lid and the bottom case, as latches. |
| Screws and standoffs | Worth pulling | a labeled bag | always | Everywhere. |
| Flat flex cable | Leave it | several | always | Keyboard, trackpad, display. |
| Mechanical keyswitch | Leave it | many | sometimes | Only on the rare laptop that used real mechanical switches. Almost all are membranes. |
Prize
18650s in older packs; many newer packs are pouches instead. See the pouch entry.
Bottom cover, or internal.
Only if the pack is not swollen and you are set up to test cells. Otherwise recycle the pack whole.
One weak series group is the usual failure. Others may test fine.
3S or 4S is typical, with a BMS board in the pack.
Inside the shell.
Unplug the pack before other cables. Do not crease it.
Swollen is recycle. Flat and still above 3 V per cell is testable.
Worth pulling
A small centrifugal BLDC, 5 V or 12 V, often PWM.
On the heat-pipe assembly.
Unplug the fan before you lift the heatsink.
Good if it was not the reason the laptop was loud.
A sealed copper pipe. Keep it straight.
From CPU to the fin stack.
Release the screws in the numbered order so you do not warp the cold plate.
Dead if kinked.
Small, often 8 Ω, 1–2 W, with a plug.
Front edge, left and right.
Unplug. Note which side.
Cones are usually intact.
Often a USB camera on a short cable. Sometimes the microphone is with it.
Top of the display bezel.
Test before you celebrate. Some are UVC, some need the original board.
The flex is the usual casualty.
A complete radio with two antenna jacks.
Mini PCIe or M.2 slot.
Pop the antennas straight up, then the one screw.
Good if the jacks are not torn off.
M2 and M2.5, several lengths. The length matters.
Everywhere.
One bag per model.
Good if the heads are not stripped.
Bonus
Do not expect a bridge inside the laptop.
Only if it was a USB external drive sitting next to the laptop. Internal drives are SATA or NVMe directly.
N/A
N/A
CMOS backup.
A small yellow-wrapped cell or a holder on the board.
Unplug it. Some are soldered packs.
Often flat. The connector is what you learn from.
Small neodymium discs. Easy to lose.
Display lid and the bottom case, as latches.
Note where they sat so the lid sensor still has a target if you reassemble.
Strong for their size.
Leave it
Model-specific flexes. A crease kills them.
Keyboard, trackpad, display.
Only as a spare for the same model.
Fragile.
A membrane is not a keyswitch.
Only on the rare laptop that used real mechanical switches. Almost all are membranes.
Do not desolder a membrane looking for switches.
Worn.