29 janvier 2008
Cleaning dust from overheating vaio (VGN FS315E)
Like many Vaios, mine overheated rapidly, often cutting out when it got too hot. These are the steps I took to clean the fans, steps discovered through much trial, error, and fear that I was going to break something important. Sony certainly tells you nothing. I hope they're useful.
First, remove the board above the keyboard. There are no screws, just push in the four spring clips hidden above the top row of keys. A slim screwdriver works fine. (Simple when you know, enrageing when you're trying to find out)
Second, remove the keyboard, dead easy, just one screw. Fold back.
Third, remove the protective plate. A lot of screws but no electronics. At the end, it just lifts off.
Fourth, unscrew the four screws holding down the fan unit. These screws don't come out completely.
Now the tricky part : very gently ease the fan unit up and out. It's being held in place by the pins of the processor (had I known this before attempting it I would never have tried !) so don't do this in a rush, just carefully and gently lift.
This is what it looks like when the fan unit has been turned back. The processor (orange arrow) is stuck to it. When I first did this, I assumed this was normal, cleaned the fans and remounted the lot. This does not work !! The processor is not properly in place and the computer is dead when you turn it back on (heart-stopping !).
So, this is the frightening bit. You must in fact remove the processor from the fan unit. It's only glued on and separates quite easily. The tip of a screwdriver inserted underneath and given a twist works very well !
In this image, the processor has been removed from the fan unit and replaced in its white plastic housing. There's a screw on this plastic housing (orange arrow) which needs to be turned into the "unlock" position first (half a turn - there's an icon which shows you). Next put the processor into place. Then turn the screw back to the "lock" position. The whole unit moves back a couple of millimeters to the left. And that's the end of the frightening bit.
(Basically, when the machine was assembled, they dabbed glue on the top of the processor just before adding the fan unit. So the first time you open it, the Lock/Unlock screw is inaccessible and the processor comes away with the fan. The next time you clean the unit, the processor will be independent of the fan so you won't have to do this again)
So now at last you can start cleaning ! Remove the three screws on each fan, and lift out the fans without disconnecting any cables. The dust is hidden between the fan and the heat diffuser (position shown here in purple), and can be removed with tweezers. There will probably be a surprising amount.
Dust removed from my fans ! There's clearly a problem with Vaio's design, they need some sort of filter over the fan openings underneath the machine to stop this happening again. I haven't tried it yet, but a square of porous paper taped over the opening should do the job.
Note : These tips are not official recommendations and the author cannot be held responsable in any way for any consequences which might arise from following them. Use them at your own risk.
For info on other Vaio models, try http://repair4laptop.org
Commentaires
thank you for your guide, it is very useful. I wanted to point out the "glue" you mention is actually thermal paste and the processor should have some of it applied.
Thanks
Thanks for your guide, very helpful. Would have had to pay someone to do this. Worked on my Sony Vaio PCG-FR285M, exact same layout as the laptop in the guide. Thanks!
no
Thanks - Gracias
Hi good afternoon, guay I belive you save my life and my VAIO one.
If you don't I will translate to Spanish, my languaje to help others.
Good job.
Thanks
Thank you, it save my girlfriend's computer. I've tried to do this during 2 hours.
With this article, it takes me.. 15 minutes. Thank yuo very much !
THERMAL PASTE
DO NOT remove the processor from the heatsink!
its is not connected by glue but thermal paste.
that white thermal paste is necessary for proper heat conductivity from the processor to the heatsink/fan. if you do break the bond you MUST clean both surfaces and re apply thermal paste! (can be found at any store that sells computer equipment.)
do not just put the heatsink and processor back without paste applied. your processor will overheat.
READ CAREFULLY!!!
Good article, but some misinformation here!! Like some of the other commenters have said, that is NOT glue, but rather thermal paste. If you separate the CPU from the fan assembly/heat sink, you WILL need more of that paste and you'll need to put just the right amount on.
Here is the important part: It is crucial that you put the paste back very thinly and get a good contact otherwise your CPU will overheat and your newly clean fan will not do ANY good. I nearly killed my machine a year ago when I upgraded the CPU on my desktop computer and put too much thermal paste on the the CPU. The machine began shutdown every five minutes before I figured it was a thermal issue and not the new CPU.
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