Optimus IV 17" - Replacing network card

Z

Zarlax

Member
Hey

I ordered a new network card a little while ago and still haven't got round to installing it yet.

I was wondering if anyone could give any advice on how to find and replace the current network card (I haven't looked inside yet)

I'm also replacing the SSD but I'm guessing that will be a lot simpler (it's in the 2nd bay)

Thanks
 
ubuysa

ubuysa

The BSOD Doctor
kruppsy said:
Another member did a nice little guide here:

https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?25211-Optimus-IV-removing-the-wireless-card
Click to expand...

Hi Zarlax, I wrote that guide after I'd done it on my 15.6" Optimus IV. The wifi card is under the keyboard (and so is the CMOS battery).

The trickiest part (bar none) is popping the speaker cover. It's really hard to see the little plastic lug in the tiny space you have. In the end I used a very thin plastic spatula I happened to have and used it to gently lever up a corner of the speaker cover (working from the keyboard side). The thin smooth strip all around the perforated speaker cover is part of the cover so you need something very fine and thin (and soft so you don't damage the plastic) to insert into the tiny gap between the edge of the speaker cover and the main case.

Once you have popped a corner up you can use a plastic credit card to gently slide all the way around the speaker cover popping the little plastic lugs that hold it down. It just lifts off when they're all disconnected.

You can then see the 5 or 6 tiny cross-head screws that hold the keyboard down. Be sure to get a good quality screwdriver that properly fits these screws. Mine were quite tight and if you damage the heads with the wrong screwdriver you'll be in trouble. One or two look like they would easily drop down inside (that would be bad) so a small pair of tweezers helps to lift them out safely.

Once all the screws are out (none of them are hidden, what you see is all there is) slide the keyboard a tiny amount towards the screen to free the lugs that hold the touchpad end of the keyboard in place. All that holds the keyboard down now is the ribbon cable - which you don't want to damage. Rotate the whole keyboard towards you and lay it flat and upside down on top of the touchpad. The ribbon cable is long enough and it's not distorted at all in that position.

The wifi card on the 15.6" is in the upper right area under the keyboard. It's tiny only about an inch square. I'm assuming the 17.3" is the same. The two connecting cables pop off, there are connectors on the card and little coaxial plugs on the ends of the thin wires. I used the tiny plastic spatula I have to gently lever each one off. Then there is a single cross-head screw holding the card down. Once that's removed it slides out to the left.

Reassembly is the reverse of removal (honest!). Make sure the tiny coaxial connectors are properly plugged into the new card. I did that before plugging the card back into the slot. You can get a thumb and forefinger each side of the card to ensure the plugs are properly seated.

When you pop the keyboard back in place as well as making sure that all the lugs on the touchpad side of the keyboard (near the spacebar) slide into place in the case also make sure that the two edges click down into place so that the keyboard is flush with the case. Then carefully replace the screws, being even more careful not to drop one into the innards.

The speaker cover just press-fits back into place. Push gently all around to get all the little plastic lugs located.

The SSD will be in one of the bays on the bottom. The primary HDD/SSD is under the smaller of the two removable panels on the bottom. The second HDD/SSD is under the larger panel which you will probably have removed in an attempt to pop the speaker cover off. Be sure again to use a properly fitting screwdriver on these screws, you really don't want to damage the heads.

PM me if you need any more help (or post on here of course).

:)
 
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