How to disassemble a Toshiba Satellite M45 laptop
Following these instructions you can disassemble a Toshiba Satellite M45 laptop.
Some main components can be accessed and removed from the bottom of the laptop.
1. You can easily access the CPU with the heatsink through the door on the bottom of the laptop, as it shown on the steps 4 and 5.
2. Memory, wireless card and DVD drive also can be removed without taking the whole thing apart. In order to remove the DVD drive, follow steps 6-7.
3. If you are replacing the keyboard, you don’t have to remove any screws from the bottom, simply follow steps 9-12.
If you want to replace the cooling fan, then you’ll have to remove the top cover and the motherboard, there is no easy access to the cooling fan.
For the display panel disassembly instructions, please proceed to these instructions.
April 30th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Leo,
On some laptops it’s not easy to remove the keyboard bezel. Make sure the display is open as much as possible. Can you lift up one side of the bezel at all? If you can, put your fingers underneath of the bezel and try to disengage the latches by wiggling the bezel. Man, it’s hard to explain. You have to feel it.
April 30th, 2009 at 3:52 am
Same as Scott, Bob, Steve and John CM
keyboard removal, I can’t get past the cover with the grill! Hate to break it!
M45-S2692
For the Love of God, Please help us!
Good Days,
Leo
April 23rd, 2009 at 7:54 pm
Rich Gosselin,
I was getting some strange problems with the keyboard. Some keys didn’t work and replacing the motherboard and keyboard didn’t fix it. Only after I replaced the 7 button board the problem was gone.
Can you hear the fan working at all?
A lot of pink thermal paste all over the CPU? That’s normal for some Toshiba laptops. I’ve seen that many times before.
It’s possible that one of the devices is defective and it’s causing the problem. Disassemble the laptop as much as you can. Remove DVD drive, wireless card, modem, unplug the internal LCD screen (you can run the laptop with an external monitor) and test it this way. If the laptop is not freezing anymore start adding parts one by one and test it after each step. This technique will help you to find a faulty part.
By the way, try running the laptop in VGA mode (when Windows loads all drivers except the video card driver). Maybe the laptop freezes because of a problem with the video card?
April 19th, 2009 at 8:49 am
Sorry…above machine is a Tecra A4, full model number is:
PTA40U-1D701F.
Also, strange I could run the machine fine with BartPE but not from a newly restored HD. Ran 5 hours of “BartStuff” Hd test with no read/write issues reported…also ran 2 cycles of memtest 2.01 without issue. Issues occur with internal or external HID’s. Only actual “damage” would be the afore-mentioned hard drive covered torqued to … 180ftlbs ! K/B is quite clean & no evidence of sticky keys (err…from spillage…not the handicapped kind….8-) The power button as mentioned had two of it’s outer fabric moorings broken, but that’s easy to fix if you understand plastic glues (hint…Loctite product # 01-07011…usually found at Home Despots is the best all around plastic glue product I’ve found for ANY plastic! Follow instructions with primer & glue. Generally, it’s stronger than the plastic it bonds!!!)
April 19th, 2009 at 8:33 am
Your last comment on the 14th of this month…you mention the weird stuff with the “seven button board”. I’m working on an A40, so it’s a bit different…I only have 3 buttons. However, the attachment points on two of the three sides of the “button cover” where broken…and I was able to glue them back to the cover.
While looking at that board (7 butt board) it seems quite simple, and I’m wondering what issues could come up from that. I’m trying to solve a system freeze problem. My next step will be to test and replace the fan if required, thinking fan many not be working & overheating. Like you said…no easy access & must remove mother board.
Also, some bozo cranked the HDD bottom cover so tight it cracked & broke the bottoms from the screw retaining well in the cover…so I’ll have to fabricate something to glue to (what’s left of) the screw “tube” to give the screw head something to grip and hold the cover down. Don’t know if anyone else has working on this one before…but there sure was a lot of thermal paste glumpped on the processor. Is that the norm for these…real thick globs of actual paste, or it that an indication the same clod who cranked the screws down also didn’t understand thermal paste application?
April 14th, 2009 at 8:34 am
Wm. Grothendick,
Could be a bad keyboard but I’m not sure 100%.
Here’s what you can try. Remove the keyboard from the laptop but keep it connected to the motherboard. Now start the laptop and find out how you can “fix” the problem. Try pressing on the keyboard and on the cover under the keyboard. Which one is “fixing” the problem.
If the Cap Lock key goes back to normal when you press on the laptop cover (not keyboard) there could be a problem with the motherboard.
Also, on some Satellite M45 laptops, I’ve seen the power button board (also known as seven button board) causing really weird problems. This power button board is located on the left side of the laptop and attached to the top cover.
That’s funny! I posted a link to the step-by-step disassembly guide in the post. Did you follow the link?
April 14th, 2009 at 8:23 am
renee,
I don’t have that chart. Are you looking for a particular screw? Let me know which one and I might be able to look up the part number for you.
March 19th, 2009 at 2:45 am
I have a Toshiba laptop M45 that has a control key that stays on. Also cap lock light stays on. I have replaced the key board. Sometimes by pressing hard close to the control key it will return to normal.
Any thoughts on what is going on?
Also, where can I get detailed instruction on how to open the case to get to the power jack?
Any help most welcomed.
Wm. Grotendick
March 1st, 2009 at 8:18 pm
was wondering if there was any kind of chart available for all the screws that go in the underside of the case
thanks,
renee
February 1st, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Same thing happend to me with the keyboard removal, i cant get past the cover with the grill its very hard to remove does someone know how to do this???
January 27th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Going back to Bob’s question:
I never could find directions on your website to remove keyboard. I can’t get the cover with the speaker grills in it off.
The left bracket attached from the LCD to base broke on my M45-s331, in your instructions the stip comes right out in my laptop strip is attached to LCD from the hinges I have to bent it away to remove however I can’t get it to seaparate, I think Bob and this one other guy were having the same problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
January 9th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
bert beasley,
Do you have a Satellite M45 laptop? Take a look at the disassembly guide (step 3). You’ll see that there are two memory slots on the bottom and you can install two memory modules in there.
January 9th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
it says there are 2 memory slots,i took the cover off and there was only 1 slot w/1 ram stick in it(512) i got 2 512′s for it so i can make it 1gi of ram……..is there another slot somewhere,or do i have to buy a 1 gig stick? sign,confused
January 7th, 2009 at 8:12 am
Bob,
Really? I thought I linked to the guide in the first sentence and it says these instructions.
For the keyboard removal follow steps 9-12. There is more than one page in the guide.
January 7th, 2009 at 7:00 am
I never could find directions on your website to remove keyboard. I can’t get the cover with the speaker grills in it off.
December 8th, 2008 at 9:04 am
In a couple of places on the M45 thin black tape is used to hold wires in place. What is a good replacement for this tape? 3M # if possible
November 2nd, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Please help
I can’t figure out step #9 & #10, removing the securing strip when trying to replace my keyboard… specifically the two parts that appear to be latched onto the lcd screen…
any tips?
(M45-s331 replacing keyboard)
August 26th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
I have a M45 – S169. I need a motherboard and was wondering if there might be a place that will list all boards that would fit. Looking at disassembly photos they look close but is there a significant difference. Mine has a 80GB hard drive and I see that particular drive fits about 50 Toshiba models. Also have a 1.6 celeron M CPU and it has 2MG ram slots.
Appreciate any help.
Tom
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Hello,
I have a Toshiba M45 laptop computer which will not turn on, or even recognize when a power cord is plugged into it. I have tested the power cord, and it is working properly. I also do not think it is the power switch. I installed a new battery into it, and it fixed the problem for about 3 days, but now the problem is back. Does anyone know what is wrong???
July 9th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
my power button broke on me this weekend on my M45-S2653. does anyone know if i need to replace the top cover (v000917700) and switchboard (v000050380) or just the top cover to turn on my laptop? how do i know if i need to replace the switchboard? a certified repair place quoted the parts would cost $80 but i found online the top cover’s cost is a lot cheaper than that.
July 8th, 2008 at 9:08 am
I disassembled my laptop and the bad news for me is that the CMOS battery is soldered to the MB. it has no number written on it. I will seek professional help.
June 30th, 2008 at 3:32 am
cj2600,
thankyou very much for the answer.
So if the CMOS battery is dying I cant do a thing about it? A have to change the whole MB for a battery, I guess only the pro can “glue it” back the damn battery. I watched the 26 picture, I zoomit but I didnt saw clearly the battery and how it is attached to the MB. I guess, after all, I have to disassemble the laptop.
June 29th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
delu,
Unfortunately, I don’t know the part number for the CMOS battery. The CMOS battery comes attached to the motherboard and Toshiba doesn’t supply the battery separately from the board. You can see the battery on the step 26, it’s on the bottom of the picture on the left side from the Intel chip but I don’t know the part number.
June 27th, 2008 at 7:44 am
I have a M45-S165 toshiba laptop, and my RTC battery is dying. I want cu chnage it, So if you know what kind of battery, the SN of the battery please tell me. I dont want to stay a week with my laptop disassembled searching for a battery
June 23rd, 2008 at 8:25 pm
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