FS CPU/HDD Upgrade Guide (Pics)

Finally an autopsy of a FS-series (FS-70B). Thankfully being a home notebook its not overly complex or compact.

NOTE: I dont take any responsibility for the information contained in this guide. Notebooks are very fragile items, opening it without any experience is not advised as they are very expensive and easy to break. Use this guide as a reference only.

As usual, as with any notebook, you have to be care. General things to take care just:-

1. Never use too much force to open anything - dont press or pull things too hard, if they dont come off easily there might a screw.
2. The build quality of the FS series is pretty worthless.
3. Try to remember where screws fit.

You will need:
Screwdrive, cross (phillips) and flathead.

Lets get started. Turn off your notebook, pull out the battery (UNLOCK IT!), lay your FS on a flat surface (use a cloth to provide a slightly softer surface) with the bottom facing you.

UPGRADE HDD

The compartment which is blank is where the HDD fits. I have already removed it in this photo. If you are just upgrading the HDD, just remove 1 screw to open the cover, then remove 4 screws holding the HDD to the case, pull the HDD left and out but try not to bend the pins. There are 2 screws on each side of the HDD enclosure, remove those and free the drive, switch it with the replacement, rescrew etc. Refer to http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=23546; its similar.



REPLACE KEYBOARD

Remove the screws indicated by the arrows (there might be some I missed to arrow). Just remove them all. Rememeber to unscrew 2 screws in the Memory compartment and 2 screws in the HDD compartment (the ones that dont hold the enclosure).



You need to take the black plastic cover off before you can take out the keyboard. Unlike the S series, the two places to lift up the cover is under the F1 and Delete key. I personally found it easier to get it out by the upper corner of the cover. Dont be too hard on it, its actually quite a flimsy piece of plastic. Unscrew the 4 screw marked. Lift up the keyboard from the top.





To release the ribbon, push the two corners of the black piece to the left. that should release it. To relock it, insert the ribbon on the black piece and push it right.



CPU Upgrade

The FS series opens from the bottom. After removing all the screws from the back, you can remove the metal bottom (Black) cover to expose the components of your notebook.



I have removed the GPU heatsink for reference. The heatsink is not soldered in but the GPU itself is so unless you are a wizard with the solder iron and know engineering, i wouldnt bother.



To open the CPU, unscrew the 4 screws then unplug the fans connector



As you can see the CPU is not soldered in so you can upgrade it up to a centrino 780 if you can afford it (2.26GHz).



Follow the excellent S-series guide to replace the CPU (i dont have the resources yet to upgrade my own)

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=23546

Last but not least.

Testimony to utter rubbish parts quality, 2 screws just snapped when I was trying to reasemble the notebook. Cheers to QUALITY CONTROL Sony!!!!

 

Hello,

it is really strange but I got two insects inside the monitor. My laptop is the VGN- FS215S. They are behind the screen but in front of the display, so we are browsing the pages and read the news altogether.

Do you know how to open the monitor so as to get rid of them????

Kind regards,
Buters

 

there are 4 rubber covers on the side of your screen. use your fingernails to take them out. that will reveal 4 screws which you take out. from there use something extremely thin and gently and careful take the screen bezel off. from there you can access the lcd.

 

ok, I will try it

thank you,
butters

 

dead link,please pictures re-upload

thank you

 

hello again,

I would like my notebook(Sony FS-215E-celeron m,1.5Ghz) with Pentium M upgraden

which Cpu I need?478pin or 479 balls

is my Mainboard socket 479???

please help me

thank you

 

Hi guys, any chance of putting the images in another host? I can't see a thing!

Cheers

 

Ditto. Any chance of an upgrade to that post?

 

give me a shout if you want me to send you the files in a zip

 

Can you upload them to imageshack.us?

 

Much thanks!

 

K--I'm trying to find picture showing powerjack in a Sony Vaio VGN-FJ180P notebook--wd you happen to know if it resembles this vaio at all? These pics are awesome, btw! THANKS.

 

hi, I have a VAIO VGN-FS840/W it's a Pentium M, and I want to know if I can upgrade my CPU?
and also I would like a link to know more information..

tks...

 

I have big problem with my Sony FS640/W. I have just open it to clean some dust yesterday. But screen dead when I reassembled.
I think, it's because of screen cable but I can not open mainboard to check screen cable.

Somebody help me!

Thank you so much!

 

Hi Koiking,

Could you send me the pictures in your message about how to take out keyboard ?
I had Sony VAIO VGN N320E, the power button seems out of function after I dropped water accidently. I tried to take out the front panel with keyboard, but the case seems connected with motherboard around the upper keyboard area.
Do you have any references or expereince to share ?

Thanks

-Gary