Sony Support

Article ID : S700023630 / Last Modified : 12/07/2018Print

How to replace the FW Series keyboard
    difficulty rating Difficulty rating:
    Difficult    		 time needed Time needed:
    20 minutes activity

    WARNING
    !! These instructions are presented in a general way. Sony VAIO of Europe hereby informs you that the self-replacement of keyboards should be performed with care. If any damage is caused to components of your VAIO while replacing the keyboard, their repair or replacement will be considered as out of warranty and therefore chargeable. !!


    1. Shut down the computer and disconnect all peripheral devices.
    2. Unplug the computer from the AC-Adapter and remove the battery pack.
    3. Touch a grounded metal object to discharge static electricity, for example a radiator or a tap.

    4. Remove 6 screws (marked in red in Figure 1).

      Figure 1 - Removing 6 screws from the bottom


    5. Turn the unit around and open it to working position. Tilt the display back as far as it goes without applying any force.

    6. Caution:
      • The keyboard hood is attached with a number of hooks. These hooks can easily be broken, especially if force is applied in the wrong direction.
      Put your fingers between the display and the keyboard hood and pull the hood's edge upwards. As soon as the front edge is lifted up a bit, push it upwards and towards the display with your thumbs and wiggle the remaining hooks free (see Figure 2). 

      Figure 2 - Removing the keyboard hood


    7. The keyboard is fixed in the palmrest with five hooks. The hook at the F6 key is hard to release, the hooks on the sides are very easy to release.

      Figure 3 - Preparing to release the keyboard


    8. To release the hooks, grasp the top right of the keyboard and gently bend the keyboard's top and center upwards and slightly towards the display as shown in figure 4.

      Figure 4 - Releasing the hooks of the keyboard


    9. After you released the hooks, move the keyboard a few millimeters towards the display and then fold it down to the touchpad.

      Figure 5 - Preparing to detach the keyboard from the mainboard


    10. If any tape secures the keyboard flat plastic connector to the connector, carefully peel it off.

    11. Caution:
      • If the keyboard connector is broken, the mainboard needs to be replaced. The cost of a mainboard replacement may exceed the value of a used VAIO.
      The mainboard’s keyboard connector is composed out of two parts: a fixed part (beige) and a bracket (brown), which holds the keyboard's flat cable in place. Carefully unlock the bracket from the connector by pushing gently at it's corners as shown in figure 6.

      Figure 6 - Detaching the
      flat cable

      The flat cable should then be free and will slip out of the connector without effort.

    12. To install the new keyboard, reverse the procedure while taking note of the following:
      • To avoid unnecessary work, test if the keyboard's flat cable is well connected before continuing with the reassembly. To do so, connect the AC-Adapter to the VAIO, press first the power button and then F2 as soon as the VAIO logo is displayed to enter the BIOS. If that works, switch the VAIO off again, detach the AC-Adapter and proceed with the reassembly.