Removing the top cover assembly on a Toshiba Satellite M115 laptop
This disassembly guide explains how to remove the top cover assembly on a Toshiba Satellite M115 laptop.
It is necessary to remove the top cover if you need to replace the laptop touch pad, witch is attached to the top cover, or replace the motherboard.
Steps 1-2 shows how you can access laptop memory, hard drive, wireless card and modem.
Steps 5 explains how to remove the DVD drive.
Steps 7-10 will be useful for removing and replacing the keyboard.
The motherboard removal instructions will be very similar to instructions for a Toshiba Satellite M105.
October 10th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Can the M115 screen be used in to replace the M105 screen. If so when I swapped them the backlight does not work. Everything is good to go byut you can hardly see the windows log in screen. Any help would be great
Scott
October 15th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Scott,
Most likely yes. It’s hard to tell without knowing laptop models.
Did the backlight work with the M105 screen? Why are you replacing the M105 screen?
If you have the same problem with both screens, it’s possible that you have bad inverter board.
October 29th, 2008 at 1:04 am
DEAR SİRS,
I HV TO REPLACE TOUCH PAD CLİCK SECTİON(ONE SİDE MALFUNCTİON)DUE TO MECHANİCAL PROBLEM(A BİT SİNKS DUE TO LONG USAGE).TOSHİBA L300-110 SATELLİTE.PLS.ADVİSE REMOVAL-REPLACEMENT STEPS.
THANKS İN ADVANCE N KİND REGARDS
AHMET KARA
October 29th, 2008 at 10:59 am
dear sirs,
thank you very much indeed for your kind and prompt reply.but unfortunately though your sample 35x resembles to my p.c in fact mine is a bit different than that one (L300-110 satellite toshiba.)
ahmet kara
kidest regards
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Thanks for the guide. Though something you might want to add to warn people. Taking apart my laptop I noticed the cover for the wifi card was held in with a T7 Security Torx screw. As, most people are not going to have this bit, this gets in the way of a lot of home repair. Is this unique to my model?
November 24th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
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Joseph Sadusk Says:
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Thanks for the guide. Though something you might want to add to warn people. Taking apart my laptop I noticed the cover for the wifi card was held in with a T7 Security Torx screw. As, most people are not going to have this bit, this gets in the way of a lot of home repair. Is this unique to my model?
Joseph did you have this laptop from new or did it ever go in for a repair ?
The only way it will have a torx bit is that either all are torx or none or in repair that’s what the mechanic had around because the wifi is not a security issue as much as the memory. Wifi is not important, the memory is because without the memory the computer will not run. I would check out were that laptop has been.
In the old days desktop from big manufacturers came with all torx for that purpose but now they don’t cause it’s costlier and everyone can get around it.
I could be wrong,but doubt it.
December 7th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
I am pretty sure that the switch for enabling wireless is broken. How do I get a replacement switch? The info for taking the M115 apart is brilliant. Also, I had mine in for repair under warranty and it also has the torx screw over the wifi card.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
This is a wonderful guide. I am currently replacing my top cover assembly because of a broken left “mouse” button and found these comments interesting.
I too have a T7 Security Torx screw holding down my wi-fi cover. The laptop has never been in for repair and it is the only Torx screw I have encountered. I almost got to the point of removing the top cover assembly without having to remove the wi-fi cover, but there seems to be no other way to disconnect the wi-fi antenna cables.
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Yagis Says:
November 24th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
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5
Joseph Sadusk Says:
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Thanks for the guide. Though something you might want to add to warn people. Taking apart my laptop I noticed the cover for the wifi card was held in with a T7 Security Torx screw. As, most people are not going to have this bit, this gets in the way of a lot of home repair. Is this unique to my model?
Joseph did you have this laptop from new or did it ever go in for a repair ?
The only way it will have a torx bit is that either all are torx or none or in repair that’s what the mechanic had around because the wifi is not a security issue as much as the memory. Wifi is not important, the memory is because without the memory the computer will not run. I would check out were that laptop has been.
In the old days desktop from big manufacturers came with all torx for that purpose but now they don’t cause it’s costlier and everyone can get around it.
I could be wrong,but doubt it.
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:24 pm
ok i have a m115 and the door for the wireless card has a button type screw keeping it in place the torx screw has a nipple in the middle that will not allow a regular torx screw driver in. has anyone run across this type screw and what driver is needed to remove it\?
June 14th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Thank you for this awesome repair site. On the Toshiba M115 laptop I am replacing the Power Jack. Do I need to go through all of the steps to remove the cover?
Please let me know if you can. Thank you.
July 11th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
What I did when I encountered the issue with the torx head fasteners on my Toshiba’s m115′s wireless card was this: I cut both wire leads and re-sodered them after I completed the screen replacement.
August 2nd, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Please help. I already opened the wireless panel using a T7 Torx Tamper Proof like others have mentioned, but now I can’t remove the 2 screws holding the modem in place. I purchased the smallest button head screwdriver I could find (#0000) and it still doesn’t fit. I think I already stripped the screw heads a little. Help?
August 2nd, 2009 at 4:58 pm
Oops, I mean the smallest Phillips screwdriver I could find
September 4th, 2009 at 5:59 am
My laptop also has the wifi card was held in with a T7 Security Torx screw. It is frustrating because I ordered two screwdrivers kits and still do not have the correct bit to remove it. The computer has never been in for repair.
September 5th, 2009 at 9:17 am
nycrican2,
I think you can remove the securing torx screw with a small flat head screwdriver. That’s what I do sometimes. Works well for me.
September 6th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
cj2600, thanks so much for the tip, just tried a small flat head screwdriver and it worked.
September 16th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Hi, I have (or so I believe) a rather unusual problem.
The battery lock (the little plastic thingy, inside the case, which holds the battery in place) of my laptop broke off. Now, I was wondering if you could advise me on what is best to do. From the picture on your guide I can’t be sure the piece is easily replaceable, I suppose it should be since it is a moving part. Another thing is if I can get a spare one.
Do you think it is possible to get a new one and replace it?
Thanks in advance.
September 17th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
Cannot find a screwdriver small enough to remove screw on DVD/CD drive. Can someone please help? It is not torx.
November 18th, 2009 at 9:07 am
Thanks for the instructions! Very helpful! I also had the torx T7 security screw on my wifi card cover. I ran up to the local hardware store and picked up a bit for $1.50.
I didn’t find any info about this anywhere, but the M115-S3094 can indeed support the T7400 processor. Of course I did the latest BIOS update first. I also added a 512MB memory module. The laptop is getting a little dated, but these upgrades should extend its useful life quite a bit.
December 17th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
Hey i was wondering if there was a step by step to fixing the dc jack on my computer. Thanks.
February 8th, 2010 at 8:02 am
hi! thanks for the awesome guide.
quick question – if i only want to clean the fan and heat sink
do i have to remove the bottom covers and wi-fi card, hdd, dvd drive and memory ? or can i just remove the screws, keyboard cover, top cover and lift/unplug the keyboard, to get access to the radiator/fan?
February 25th, 2010 at 10:33 am
Konrad,
In order to access the cooling assembly, you’ll have to remove the display panel and top cover. It means you’ll have to disconnect Wi-Fi antenna cables from the wireless card. It’s not necessary to remove the hard drive, memory and wireless card.
By the way, try cleaning fan from outside. Buy a can of compressed air and spray it into the air intake on the bottom. It should work.
July 2nd, 2010 at 6:33 am
Thanks for the guide! Nice picutres!
I replaced the ccfl lamp (like a strand of thin spaghetti) this winter, successfully, but the screen is not quite as bright, but it’s fine – outside on a cold winter day, since breaking this mercury-containing fragile bulb indoors would be bad… managed to keep it intact! =oD
Now, my main power connector is acting up – sometimes it’s quite difficult to jiggle it and get the laptop to stay powered by AC. To resolder that power connector, would I have to take the memory, modem card, wifi card, etc all the screws out, etc, or could i just go in from the top?
Thank you again!
July 17th, 2010 at 9:46 am
John Pinion,
First of all, test your AC adapter. It’s possible the power cable is damaged and you have to replace the adapter, not the jack.
The power jack is this model not soldered to the motherboard, it’s attached to a power cable. Instead of resoldering the jack, I would suggest replacing the whole DC jack harness.
I think you can do it from the top (still have to remove the top cover assembly).
Carefully lift up the right side of the motherboard, disconnect the old/damaged DC jack harness from the motherboard and plug in a new one.
September 8th, 2010 at 5:16 pm
I’m not clear on this so please straighten me out. For me to remove the top cover and keyboard, I have to remove all of the bottom covers and screws? I was considering upgrading the CPU from the T2050 Centrino Duo to the T5200 Core 2 Duo. Removing the speaker strip and keyboard to get to the motherboard is not sufficient? The screws on the bottom case has to be removed too?
March 5th, 2011 at 2:39 pm
Excellent guide, thanks much. A few quick notes, on my M115 I also have the T7 torx security screw and I also needed to remove another screw to remove the motherboard. In step 16, that screw to remove the motherboard is located just south of the inside lower edge of the CD drive, it’s inside of the tan circle.