Member Avatar for aikers99

Good People,

My motherboard went bad on my vaio..........It has set for over a year and now I have decided to replace the motherboard for an extra comp in the house.......I cannot get the case open...........I have taken out every screw..........any ideas or thoughts?

Thank you

  • 3 Contributors
  • 3 Replies
  • 122 Views
  • 1 Day Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by aikers99

Dani AI

Generated

— before forcing the chassis open, take a short checklist approach so nothing gets damaged.

First, safety and prep: remove all power sources (battery and AC), work on a flat anti-static surface, keep small containers for screws and take photos of each step. Grounding yourself and documenting screw locations will save time on reassembly.

Second, if the case won’t release, work the seams methodically with a thin plastic pry tool. Many Sony Vaio lids use snap clips and concealed retention points that release if you ease them along the entire seam instead of prying at one spot. Look for small plastic covers, port flaps, or removable bezels that come off before the top assembly. Release ribbon connectors by flipping their tiny retention levers rather than pulling, and keep track of every cable and screw—the boards have several small flex cables that are easy to tear.

Third, on replacement boards: do not assume a match by model name alone. Record the exact Sony part number printed on the original PCB and compare connector layout, BIOS ID, and voltage/power connectors with any replacement. Many Vaio boards have soldered components, so the correct part is often a full board swap. Ask sellers for clear photos of the board’s top and bottom if buying used.

If the chassis still refuses to separate, stop to avoid breaking clips. A model-specific service manual will show the disassembly order, and a local repair shop can remove the assembly without damage. As and hinted, these units hide some tricky retention methods, so proceed slowly, test the board on the bench before full reassembly, and label everything.

Recommended Answers

All 3 Replies

Member Avatar for danzona

I don't have the same model you do (I have the PCG-TR3AP), but I recently took mine apart and I thought that three of the screws were pretty tricky. Hopefully they used the same tricks on your model.

There are screws under each of the back rubber feet. I just peeled the feet off and when I was done they had enough sticky stuff on them to stick back on ok.

There is a screw in the compartment with the RAM. Take the RAM cover off to expose it.

Lastly, on my model there is a bit of a trick in lifting the keypad piece off once all the screws are removed. I had to raise/lower the monitor portion until I got the angle just right and the hinges slipped out.

Hope this helps. And good luck!

Member Avatar for jbennet

im pretty sure you can only use VAIO motherboards and cases on other VAIOs as they are a custom size

Member Avatar for aikers99

Got all the screws, but still not coming apart............I have tried the angle of the monitor but dont think that is it,,,,,,,,,,,,thks for try, but still looking for help.

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.