Comments on: Removing the top cover assembly on a Toshiba Satellite M115 laptop

By: Ed

Ed — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 22:39:01 +0000

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.

By: Andy

Andy — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:16:07 +0000

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?

By: cj2600

cj2600 — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 17:46:56 +0000

John Pinion,

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?

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.

By: John Pinion

John Pinion — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:33:47 +0000

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!

By: cj2600

cj2600 — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:33:18 +0000

Konrad,

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?

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.

By: konrad

konrad — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:02:54 +0000

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?

By: Dh

Dh — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 07:39:56 +0000

Hey i was wondering if there was a step by step to fixing the dc jack on my computer. Thanks.

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:07:05 +0000

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.

By: DJMill

DJMill — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 03:31:46 +0000

Cannot find a screwdriver small enough to remove screw on DVD/CD drive. Can someone please help? It is not torx.

By: Luana

Luana — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:32:30 +0000

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.