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This guide explains how to replace the motherboard in a Lenovo ThinkPad T430s. Replacing the motherboard requires thorough disassembly of the bottom of the ThinkPad and will take around two hours to complete.
The motherboard connects the components of the ThinkPad and allows them to communicate. If the motherboard breaks, it can cause your ThinkPad to shut off suddenly, fail to boot, or display the blue screen of death.
If you experience these symptoms, click this link to access the troubleshooting guide for the ThinkPad T430s. This will help you determine if the motherboard is at fault.
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Flip your ThinkPad on its back.
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In the bottom left corner of your ThinkPad, slide the lever to the left. Hold the lever there.
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Use your other hand to lift the battery up by prying the notch to the left of the lever.
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Tilt the battery up and remove it from the ThinkPad.
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With the Phillips #0 screwdriver, loosen the two 30 mm screws holding down the RAM stick plate.
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Pry up the plate and set it aside.
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Use the pointy end of the spudger to bend the bars holding the RAM stick in place.
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Lift the RAM stick up and out of the stick holder.
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Unscrew the 40 mm screw with the Phillips head #1 screwdriver.
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Pull the hard drive out with the black ribbon attached to it.
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Flip your ThinkPad over so the back faces up.
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With the Phillips #0 screwdriver, remove the seven 5 mm screws on the outer edge of the case.
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Remove the two 7 mm screws in the upper corners of the case.
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Remove the five 5 mm screws in the battery compartment.
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In the RAM compartment, pry the black, white, and grey wires up from the Wi-Fi card with the pointy end of the spudger.
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Remove the 3 mm screw holding down the Wi-Fi card with the Phillips #0 screwdriver.
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Pull out the Wi-Fi card.
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Remove the 6 mm and 3 mm screws in the RAM stick compartment.
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Remove the 5 mm and 3 mm screws in the hard drive compartment.
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Flip the ThinkPad right side up and open the lid.
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Wedge the flat end of the spudger between the keyboard and the palm rest. Push the keyboard away from you until it pops out.
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Lift the keyboard from the palm rest to expose the ribbon connecting the keyboard to the motherboard.
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Pry the keyboard ribbon up from the motherboard with the flat end of the spudger.
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Set the keyboard aside.
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Remove the two 5 mm screws from the case covering the disk drive.
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Thread the wires that come from the RAM compartment up through the hole in the motherboard. Unwind them from the computer case.
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Wedge the flat end of the spudger in between the palm rest and the bottom case. Unsnap the edges of the palm rest and case until they disconnect.
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Lift the palm rest up from the motherboard.
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Pull the red, blue, and white wires in the left corner away from the motherboard.
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Peel the snap securing the ribbon with the pointy end of the spudger.
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Pull the ribbon back towards you.
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Rotate the ThinkPad so the back side faces you.
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With the Phillips #1 screwdriver, unscrew the two 7 mm screws from the corners.
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Lift the screen and pull it out of the hinges. Set the screen down behind the rest of the ThinkPad.
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With the pointy end of the spudger, lift the plastic snap holding down the SN4 LVDS cable. Pull the cable out of the clasp towards you.
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Pry the SN4 LED cable out of where it connects to the motherboard.
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Set the display aside.
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With the pointy end of the spudger, lift the plastic snap securing the ribbon at the front of the ThinkPad.
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Pull the ribbon out of the clasp towards you.
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Unscrew the 9 mm screw, five 5 mm screws, and four 3 mm screws on the motherboard using a Phillips #0 screwdriver.
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When you remove the screws, the small motherboard stick in the top right corner will pop out of the case. Pull it out.
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Lift the motherboard out of the case.
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Flip the motherboard over so the back faces up.
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Loosen the four screws securing the heat sink to the motherboard. The silver metal rectangle on the front of the motherboard will fall off. Set it aside.
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Lift the fan and heat sink away from the motherboard.
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To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
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