toshiba laptop motherboard replacement

[mydangpleeze]

my sister's toshiba satellite laptop needs to have the mb replaced. it's a p3 700 so about 2 years old or so. the mb runs almost 500 to replace. i was going to try and pickup a used or pulled mb and do the job myself. i'm savvy with desktops but i've never messed around with a laptop before. how difficult would it be to replace the mb? anyone have any links to guides or maybe instructions? any help would be greatly appreciated. btw, anyone know any cheap places to purchase replacement mbs?

 

[AndrewKu]

I don't know any specific vendors that focus on replacement motherboards for notebooks. I would recommend asking Toshiba the part number of the motherboard for the specific model you have. Pop that number into a search engine, or get the part from Toshiba or a Toshiba certified dealer (ask Toshiba for the closest dealer located near you). It is still best to get a dealer to do the replacement.

If you want to do it yourself, you need to realize that the warranty (if it is still active) is most likely going to be voided once you do the replacement. As for taking apart the notebook, it is not too hard, but you will need to be more cautious than what you may normally be accustomed, in regards to desktops. First and foremost, a good rule of thumb is to unscrew everything that you can before you go about your merry way. Since it is a laptop, your best bet is to start on the bottom and work from there. Once you unscrew the bottom, check and see if the keyboard can be detached. After that you will need to disconnect all wires underneath the keyboard (make a note of them so you can put it back together). Then, resume taking it apart from the bottom.

If you are looking for a general sense of a notebook's layout, I would suggest you read the most recent mobile review from us.

Note: It is possible (since the system is about 2 years old) that the replacement part is going to come clost to costing what an entire unit might...

 

[mydangpleeze]

thanks for the helpful advice andrew. the dealer estimate to replace the mb was roughly 600....almost the value of the laptop itself. i know there are some "used" parts salvagers that may have the mb, but even then, that would be a big IF. i just dont feel comfortable forking over the that much money when it could be put towards a newer, faster laptop. still, if i could ever run across a mb for about 200....that would be well worth my time to try to do it myself.

 

[jschuk]

What Toshiba is it?