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Article ID : S700023674 / Last Modified : 22/07/2019Print

How to replace the YA and YB 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. Place the unit upside down on a table. Use a piece of cloth to protect it against scratches.

    5. Remove 3 screws (marked red in Figure 1) and remove the access door.


      Figure 1 - Removing 3 screws from the bottom


    6. Remove 2 screws (marked red in Figure 2), then grasp the plastic latch (marked in blue in Figure 2) and pull it away from the VAIO to disengage the connector vertically, lift the assembly out of the bay and set it aside.


      Figure 2 - Remove the hard disk drive


    7. Remove 1 screw (marked red in Figure 3).


      Figure 3 - Removing 1 screw from the bottom

    8. The keyboard is fixed with hooks on three sides and with dents towards the display (see Figure 4).


      Figure 4 - Hook (red circles) and Dent (yellow squares) positions


    9. Inside the hard disk bay, there is an opening towards the keyboard. This opening is used to release the hooks that hold the keyboards bottom right corner fixed to the palm rest (see Figure 5).


      Figure 5 - Location of the access opening


    10. Place the VAIO on a table in working position. Use the opening illustrated in Figure 5 above to push against the keyboard's back and release it's right side.


      Figure 6 - Releasing the keyboard's right side

    11. After releasing the right side, carefully release the hooks along the front edge and then the hooks on the left side.


      Figure 7 - Releasing the keyboard's remaining hooks

    12. Once all the hooks are released, move the keyboard slightly towards the touchpad to release the dents that hold it in place towards the display. Once the dents are released, place the keyboard upside down on the touchpad area as shown in Figure 8.


      Figure 8 - Preparing to release the keyboard's flat cable


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

    14. Caution:
      • If the keyboard connector is broken, the mainboard needs to be replaced. The cost of replacing the mainboard 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 (black), which holds the keyboard's flat cable in place. Carefully unlock the bracket (marked with a red square in figure 9) by lifting it's center with your finger nail.


      Figure 9 - Detaching the keyboard's flat cable


      After the bracket has been disengaged, the keyboard's flat cable will slip out of the mainboard's connector in the direction indicated by the red arrow in figure 9.

    15. 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.