The various hardware components inside your IBM Thinkpad T41 laptop all need a way to connect with each other, which is where the motherboard comes in. The motherboard also provides the various ports that determine how much memory the laptop can use and what kind of processor it can handle. If you want to upgrade your T41 with new parts, or the motherboard has malfunctioned, you can swap out the current motherboard with an aftermarket replacement.
Instructions
1. Shut down the IBM Thinkpad T41 laptop. Unplug the AC power adapter. Rotate the Thinkpad upside down so that the battery is facing towards you.
2. Locate the battery release latch above the battery and the secondary release latch to the left of the battery. Slide both latches to the left and then pull the battery out of the Thinkpad.
3. Remove the single hard drive screw at the lower-right end of the Thinkpad with the Phillips-head screwdriver. Slide the hard drive out of the Thinkpad and set it aside.
4. Remove the screw to the left of the hard drive port that holds down the memory port cover. Lift up the plastic cover and set it aside. Push aside the plastic clip holding the memory module in place.
5. Lift the memory module out of the memory port. Remove the screw at the right side of the case that holds the disk drive in place. Slide the drive out of the Thinkpad T41. Remove the remaining screws on the bottom side of the case.
6. Turn the Thinkpad T41 back over and lift open the LCD screen lid. Lift up the touch pad and palm rest assembly until you see the cable running to the motherboard. Unplug the cable from the motherboard and set the touch pad and palm rest aside.
7. Lift the keyboard towards you until the motherboard cable comes into view. Disconnect the cable from the motherboard and set the keyboard aside. Locate the mini-PCI card at the lower-right end of the motherboard.
8. Disconnect the two cables running from the card to the motherboard. Press down the latches on both sides of the mini-PCI card. Lift the card out of the Thinkpad T41.
9. Disconnect the screws and motherboard cable connected to the processor fan. Lift the fan off the processor. Lift up the plastic clip holding the processor in place. Pull the processor upwards and set it aside.
10. Take out the screws at the top and bottom of the motherboard. Pull out the motherboard and set the replacement unit in its place. Reassemble the IBM Thinkpad T41 and power it back on.
Tags: hard drive, cable from, cable from motherboard, clip holding, drive Thinkpad, from motherboard