EB series Partial Disassembly instructions

Hi,

Below I have detailed the process required to replace the wireless card in the Sony EB series. The card I chose to fit was an Intel 6300 (available on ebay for next to nothing). If you follow this same process you can also access the CPU if you want to upgrade that.

FYI - I initially upgraded the ram to 8Gb and then put a 256Gb C300 SSD in. The SSD has by far the biggest difference to perceived performance. However the one thing holding back the unit was the wireless performance. No support for 5Ghz (A or N) networks and no 40Mhz link on 2.4Ghz.


Process

1. First, we need to remove the Ram chips cover on the back. One screw holds this in and then slip a thin flat head screw driver in and slowly help the cover off.

2. Second, we need to remove the harddisk. The larger 'panel' on the back of the laptop has two screws, remove these and again use a fingernail or flat head screw driver to prize off the cover.

Undo the two screws holding the hard disc in place.

Push the hard disc 'away' from the SATA / power connector. The metal tray that holds the HD will slide and can then be pulled out using the plastic tab near the SATA/power connector.

3. Remove Optical drive - there are two screws on the back, near the optical drive, that have a dot or three dots next to them. Remove these. The optical drive then pulls out.

4. Remove ALL other screws from the back panel. Once done, gently start prying the back plastic panel off the laptop. Its good quality plastic, so as long as you dont use a lump hammer or try to see if a bit of plastic will bend by 180o - should come off AOK


OK - you now have the motherboard in front of you. The heat sink and CPU can be seen as well as the RAM and top LH corner of the motherboard, the wireless card.

5. Removal of the wireless card. This was not easy, the screw holding mine in was a sod to loosen. I ended up using a small flat head screw driver as the philips I had all tended to want to pop out as I turned them.

6. Pop your new wireless card in, reassemble.

NOTE: If you replace with a 3 aerial card (Intel 5300 or 6300) then you will want to fit a third aerial. I have done this but you then need to decide whether you want the hassle of taking the screen apart (only 4 screws) and routing it in there or routing it in to the Hard Disc space.

It took me about 25 mins to fit the additional aerial. Up to you which option you take.


Reassemble in reverse. Remember, slip the hard drive back in with the two sticking out tabs going in to the laptop case gaps first, then push down at the sata/power end, before sliding the tray to 'mate' the HD with the connectors.


Hope the above helps

Regards Tim

 

Thank you for the inspiration! I bought one of the Intel 6300-N cards for a weekend project...I got all of the screws off except I can't get the one just to the right of the memory chips. Unfortunately it's pretty recessed so I can't see it clearly...it's probably stripped or something. Anybody have any tips?

Thanks!
- Eckless

 

If it helps, use a small flat head rather than star/philips head screw driver.

I find with difficult screws the following helps: using a small watch makers flat head screw driver, I use one hand to pressure it against the screw head, with the second I use a pair of pliers to hold and turn the shaft of the screw driver (very slowly).

You would have to go some to strip the screw!

Good luck

 

Woo-hoo! Success...finally got the final screw out, and my Sony EB now has a Intel 6300 wireless card, so I can now use the 5.0 bands...woohoo! No third aerial, but seems to be working quite acceptable with 2.

Thank you for the inspiration!

- Eckless

 

thanks. any picture available?

 

Well done Eckless.

Trie, next time I take it apart, no problem, but with a 4 week old needing my attention, it will have to wait until then. Its really not hard. Wear an anti static wristband, take it slow, should be AOK.

Regards Tim

 

Hey thank you for this.
Could you please help resetting the bios password for EB series-VPCEB16FG.
Please reply as early as possible...I am badly in need of it. :cry:

 

Hey thank you for this.
Could you please help resetting the bios password for EB series-VPCEB16FG.
Please reply as early as possible...I am badly in need of it.