Watch this video on YouTube.

Here you will find step-by-step instructions on how to open a Western Digital My Book Essential USB 3.0 1.5TB version of the external hard drive. We opened this hard drive for purposes of data recovery at our office and ultimately ended up replacing the board in order to get the data out, successfully.

Things needed:

• Flathead screw driver
• Phillips screw driver
• Anti-static protection (We use ESD mat with heel grounders and wrist strap plugged into the wall outlet)
• A desk that’s cleaner than the one in video

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Steps:

• Pry a flathead screw driver into the top right hand corner, then pull it outwards slightly. Don’t jab the eclosure too deep or you can damage the electronics inside.
• Insert a tweezer or anything that will keep the case from snapping back in.
• Repeat process on all 4 corners until you hear clicking sound on each side.
• Grab the enclosure from the top front edge and gently pull backwards. Drive will slide out without much effort, if you need force then you skipped something or your model is different than this guide.
• Three screws to be removed, two are simple but third one is underneath the LED channel.
• Remove the LED channel tube and gently pulling it out of the black insulating foam. Then remove the third screw.
• Turn the drive around, remove the top right rubber bumper by pulling it outwards. This is the hardest bumper to pull, the rest is easy. Take care not to break the enclosure.
• Take the bottom right bumper out, by the time you’re done with the two bumpers, other two will just fall down.
• Remove the fourth screw which is now exposed. This screw is on the left hand side holding the board in place.
• Slide the board and metal sheet away from the drive.

Now you have a regular SATA 1.5TB hard drive, put it in an actively cooled enclosure or straight into an standard ATX compatible case.

Ultrabooks are the new thing, these computers are extremely thin and pack a lot of power. This particular Sony Vaio VPCZ1 computer was loaded with a 128BG SSD hard drive, Core 15 CPU and a hybrid dedicated video card. The computer is blazing fast, the lack of hard drive noise is just breathtaking. The sleek LED screen is bright and crisp but all this bling comes with a cost. Replacing the LED screen costs anywhere from $400 upwards. Not to mention the level of difficulty of comptuer service may be beyond home repair enthusiast’s skill level. Here we have a video of every step on how to open the computer, replace the screen and put it back together without breaking anything. There are some cautions, you’ll need to read them listed below the video. Enjoy!

Watch this video on YouTube.

Things you will need:

• A clean bench or table.
• Anti-static protection. We use anti-static heels, wrist band and ESD mat on the ground.
• Phillips screwdriver.
• Replacement LED screen. Read warning about the screen below.
• A pair to tweezers.
• A lot of attention to screw sizes.

Cautions:
- The LED screen in VPCZ1 is extremely thin. Be gentle with the new screen as well as your cracked or broken screen. This screen is so thin that it can’t take it’s own weight if you hold it from one edge, it will bend and likely get damaged – remember you paid a lot for this screen.

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- Don’t take on this project if you don’t have adequate static protection.
- Avoid using power tools. Watching the video you will realize I switched from power tool to regular screw driver.
- Keep all screws labeled. Use extra care for the lower cover screws. There are two sizes that go underneath, look at the picture below and see that I have marked them with masking tape.

- Use an ice cube tray to avoid mistakes with screws on this computer. You’ve been warned.
- Keep components like hard drive, optical drive, memory, battery etc in a safe place.
- Use care when pulling the screen out of top cover. It’s a fragile screen, avoid twisting and just be patient. You may find some double-sided tape in back of the screen. Don’t fight it.
- Wi-Fi wires are very thin and easy to slice or cut. Use caution when handling.

Now that all the cautions and warnings are out of the way, feel free to contact us if you get stuck. Only do this if you are confident, Toronto PC Service can’t be held responsible for damaged equipment. If you are concerned, call us at 416-223-2525 and we can professionally clean out your computer.

HP is one of the top computer manufacturers so we see many computers and laptops made by the company. One of the most common problems our clients ask about is computer overheating and shutting down. Here you can see and follow the entire process of disassembling, cleaning the vents, replacing thermal paste and safely assembling the computer back together.

Watch the video below; feel free to pause when you need to. However, make sure to go through the list of cautions below as well.

Watch this video on YouTube.

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Video run speed is at 1.8x

Things you will need:

• A clean bench or table.
• Anti-static protection. We use anti-static heels, wrist band and ESD mat on the ground.
• Phillips screwdriver.
• Thermal Paste. We use Arctic Silver 5.
• Cleaning Alcohol. It should completely evaporate and not leave residue.
• Shop Towel. Household paper towel will work too.
• Electronics spray air can or a vacuum cleaner.

Cautions:

• If you don’t have Anti-static protection you should not undertake this project. Opening a laptop exposes circuit board and a single shock of static electricity will render your computer useless, likely forever.
• Always remove the battery; in this case you have to remove the battery to begin working on the computer.
• Avoid using power tools. Unless you have a lot of experience and your gun has electric brakes, don’t bother – you will crack the case. If you have a lot of experience then you shouldn’t need to watch this video.
• Keep all screws labeled. We use an Ice cube tray pre-labeled for different parts of the computer. If you install wrong screw you can not only crack your case but you can also go through your motherboard completely disabling the computer.
• Keep the detached hard drive in a safe place where it will not get exposed to any kind of magnetic sources or shock.
• Be very patient when pulling the motherboard out of the case. If it won’t come out easily, you have left a screw somewhere. Do not use force or your computer will take damage.
• Use extreme caution when using vacuum cleaner or can air as you can lose screws in the process.
• Use extreme caution when pulling wires from the motherboard. They are made of very cheap plastic but if you break it, they are very expensive to replace. Again, don’t use any force.
• Using tweezers is ok but keep very good grip on it. One slip and you can damage the motherboard. It’s safer to use your fingernails to remove small wires.
• Wi-Fi wires are very easy to strip. You can even strip them with your fingers. Use care when pulling these wires because if you slice it your Wi-Fi won’t work correctly. Electric tape to mend the wire might help a little but ideally will need replacement.
• CPU fan fins will break if you’re using high pressure air. For example, don’t touch the fins with anything while forcing air to clean it. It will spin very fast and any contact with screwdriver, tip of the vacuum cleaner or air can’s nozzle will instantly break off the fan and it will be rendered useless.
• Heatsink screws are numbered and they are numbered for a reason. Follow the numbers from 1 to 6 – unscrew number 1 first, then move on. Same for assembling the heatsink, start with number 1 and move to number 6. Always hand-tighten these screws and go over once again from 1 to 6.
• Make sure thermal pads are intact and you replace the heatsink, if the pads are dried up, you will need to replace them. If they are soft and moist, mostly they work fine.
• Use rubbing alcohol gently; don’t make any scratches on heatsink surface as those scratches will create a bubble causing horrible overheating issues. Remember, we’re trying to fix overheating laptop.
• Take extra few minutes and be sure all connectors are plugged in. No one wants to find that out later just to re-open an entire computer.
• Replace all screws accordingly; don’t swap any longer screw for a shorter one or vice versa.
• Channel all wires and cables as they were. Pinched, stripped or cut wires are no good. Touchpad cover in most computers is made of some kind of metal and has sharp edges and will cut wires with no problem.

Now that all the cautions and warnings are out of the way, feel free to contact us if you get stuck. Only do this if you are confident, Toronto PC Service can’t be held responsible for damaged equipment. If you are concerned, call us at 416-223-2525 and we can professionally clean out your computer.

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Computer: Samsung R480
Work Order: No power, DC jack short circuit. Jack repair or replacement.

Warning: At 2:25 in this Laptop DC Jack Repair video where keyboard/cover is being removed. We chose to not remove the keyboard but unplug the cables from underneath. Take extra care when prying upper cover not to pull on it as it can break the touchpad and keyboard ribbon cables.

• This video only shows opening / disassembly of laptop. Part 2 coming soon.
• At 4:40 mark in video. Please take extra care with connector on the bottom left side of motherboard. It is very snug yet fragile. Don’t rush.
• This computer came with several screws missing, video will be slightly different from your computer due to that.
• Battery and other power sources should always be disconnected to avoid a shock to the technician and damage to components.
• Don’t use a power gun as shown in the video. Power gun will damage your computer and requires a lot of control. Even lowest level of torque will drive screw right through.

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This Samsung R480 notebook came in for unusually losing power and would not power back on. Someone had already opened the computer and machine was missing several screws. System specs are Intel Core i5, 8GB DDR3 Memory and 640GB Sata hard drive. We will post video of DC Jack repair and assembly as soon as it’s available. Stay tuned on this page.

Update: Here’s the part 2/2, assembly of the computer in proper manner.

Watch this video on YouTube.

Difficulty level on this laptop is medium so if you get stuck or have any questions please feel free to call us at 416-223-2525 and we will gladly give tips. Better yet, bring the computer to us and we will repair it while you watch and learn.

Disclaimer: Perform service at your own risk. Read the entire page for warnings and cautions before commencing work.

Watch this video on YouTube.

Caution: At 2:43 in the video, please take extra care when removing cables. Also the upper cover comes off abruptly, make sure not to pull it too hard to avoid any cables getting tangled along and cause damage. Watch out for Wi-Fi cable.

At 3:40 in the video please be careful when removing the motherboard. There is a power cable underneath and if care is not taken it can easily break. In some cases that can cause damage to the motherboard leading to expensive repairs. When motherboard is removed laptop weight will shift and it can fall backwards, be sure to secure the screen.

Call us at 416-223-2525 and we will gladly service this laptop while you watch and learn.

At 4:40 in the video make sure small heatsink screws are moved away from the work area and in a safe container. If you use a vacuum cleaner to remove dirt these screws can easily get sucked in and lost forever.

Common steps and precautions when servicing a laptop:

• Always have anti-static protection. Avoid this project if you don’t have static protection. At minimum touch something metal and grounded every minute with both hands. Single static shock to the motherboard has 80% chance of rendering your computer useless leading to costly motherboard replacement or repair.
• Always remove battery and other power sources. Never use force, if something does not want to come out easily then there is likely a screw holding it down – check your work.
• Be careful with delicate plastic parts, some can snap very easily.
• Take extra care and make notes of where screws go. Replacing longer screw where it doesn’t belong can potentially be deadly for the computer, especially if you use power tools.
• Don’t use power tools unless you are experienced and have a lot of control on the tool, in that case you likely won’t be reading this anyway.
• Before assembling entire laptop make sure you test it by powering it up. Check to make sure the fan works and you get display on the screen.

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This Toshiba Satellite L745D came in to our Toronto office because it was overheating beyond usage. It would shut down after a few minutes of usage. Our test revealed that the temperature was rising too high too fast and we took it up to 89 degrees celsius before deciding to shut it down preventing any damage.

NOTE: Video does not show replacement of thermal paste because the camera shut off during that time. It is strongly recommended that thermal paste be repalced. Use alcohol to clean CPU and heatsink and replace with high quality paste. We use Arctic Silver 5 and it works amazing on all applications.

If you run into issues while servicing the computer a technician at PCNix Toronto can give suggestions free of cost – however, we suggest that if you are not comfortable performing the repairs then bring it in for service. With appointment we can service this laptop while you watch and learn. Call 416-223-2525 today.

Watch this video on YouTube.

Computer: Dell XPS L401X
Where: 3428 Sheppard Ave. E. Suite 205. Toronto, ON M1T3K4
Problem: Short circuit on the button board going to motherboard.
Touchpad not working.

Caution: Always use proper grounding equipment like heel grounder and anti-static mat. If ESD protection is not available, then use a wrist band.

• Remove all screws from the bottom of laptop and store them is tagged and sorted container like an ice-cube tray.
• Use caution when replacing these screws, longer screw will go through the plastic on the other side and ruin your notebook.
• Always remove battery and power adapter, ensure no power source is used during opening and closing of the computer.
• As a precaution, use power adapter (no battery) when computer is put back together and before driving all screws in. This ensures nothing was missed and avoids need to re-open computer saving time and frustration.
• Don’t use a power gun as shown in the video. Power gun will damage your computer and requires a lot of control. Even lowest level of torque will drive screw right through.
• Don’t repeat the short circuit, once found, simply eliminate it. Repeating shorts can cause motherboard to take damage, potentially blowing a fuse – they are expensive to replace.
• Touchpad cable was loose, simply re-enforcing the connectors fixed it in our scenario. Your situation may be different.

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This Dell Laptop came in for repair in our Toronto office, it had been dropped and ultimately caused problems where it would simply turn off with no warning and then would not turn back on. Our client decided to disable the problematic button board instead of replacing it because this board only provides extra buttons that are not mandatory for computer’s operation. Power button is on an individual board leaving us comfortable room to simply disable the rest of buttons.

If you get stuck or have any questions please feel free to call us at 416-223-2525 and we will gladly give tips. Better yet, bring the computer to us and we will repair it while you watch and learn – for a fee.

Yelp.ca community special

PCNix Toronto is offering free, no obligation laptop ventilation and fan service using high pressure non-static air for first 10 yelp.ca users.

This service does not include opening or disassembling a laptop, service is done from outside only to clear the fan and ventilation system off debris and dirt. It will help run the computer much smoother and will prevent overheating.

Conditions:
- Average service time is 30 minutes. You can wait while your computer is being serviced.
- PCNix applies a service sticker on the bottom cover of every computer that is serviced at our location, this special is only applicable if sticker is applied.
- Any additional services requested will be at additional charge based on normal rate sheet.
- PCNix reserves the right to decline service if blowing air will not fix the problem or if problem is something else.
- Fan or any other parts / components are not being replaced in this offer. If needed, a quotation will be provided.
- Offer guarantees servicing of fan only, it may not improve a computer’s performance. Servicing also may not correct overheating issues due to other properties involved in repairing an overheating notebook.
- Dirt and debris from laptop creates dusty environment, please be aware of that if you choose to stay while being serviced.
- Service by appointment only during regular business hours.
- Check-in to unlock this offer on Yelp.ca and call 416-223-2525 to setup an appointment.

Laptop ventilation system serviced from outside

Spyware is a type of malware (malicious software) installed on computers that collects information about users without their knowledge. The presence of spyware is typically hidden from the user and can be difficult to detect. Typically, spyware is secretly installed on the user’s personal computer.

Only good practice can prevent Spyware from entering a computer and as technology progresses, it is becoming more difficult to distinguish malicious software from legitimate one. Users should only download software from trusted sources and often a search in your favorite search engine will clearly tell if other people are complaining about particular software.

More advanced users use a sandbox to try out new applications. A sandbox is a virtual computer running inside your current operating system and any installation or infection resulting from it remains inside the sandbox.

If you tend to try out new applications often, ask us how to install a Virtual Machine on your existing computer.

Send us an e-mail or call us at (416) 223-2525 today.

Caution: Asus G73JH is a very complicated laptop. If you’re not comfortable, take this computer to a professional for service.

Watch this video on YouTube.

This is a lengthy video closing in near 20 minutes. Actual repair will take significantly longer. Patience and steady hands will be required.

History: Owner of this Asus G73JH laptop was replacing memory module that sits under the keyboard and isn’t user replaceable and ultimately broke the connector that goes to keyboard. This connector is extremely small and requires precision ball soldering without guides to hold the solder balls – that’s humanly not possible and if so, would be very expensive to repair. Motherboard was also malfunctioning with one user replaceable memory module creating excessive heat affecting stability of this computer. Owner’s ultimate decision was to replace the motherboard. Once we started taking this machine apart we discovered that heatsinks were choked completely, this video also shows servicing of both left and right heat sink so it can be referenced for service of this laptop as well.

Need your gaming Asus laptop repair in Toronto? Call us at 416-223-2525 and we will gladly help.

- If you don’t have static protection, drop this project and get a professional to handle it.
- Always remove battery and power adapter before disassembling the computer.
- Connectors on this board are fragile, take extra care when removing and replacing those connectors.
- Connector at the bottom center of motherboard will hide underneath and installing the replacement board, make sure you don’t miss it.
- Right heatsink does not want to sit properly and will need some work getting it right.
- Wi-Fi and webcam cables both on left and right hinges tend to get in the way of the hinge, take extra care because they will get pinched requiring replacement of expensive cables and dis-assembly of LCD screen.
- Reinforce video connector with thermal resistant tape. Use only approved tape that can take excess heat.
- Connecting video card requires minor adjustment. Screws will go in place with card slightly misaligned and will malfunction, can also lead to motherboard damage.
- Always mark screws and replace them properly, although this laptop is fairly large longer screws where short ones are needed will likely damage the motherboard or at best, the case.

Stuck? We can help. Call us at 416-223-2525