How to Replace Camera/Microphone Cable of your Lenovo ThinkPad T460

Introduction

Step 1:

Follow this guide to replace the camera/microphone module cable in your Lenovo ThinkPad T460.

If you're having problems with the built-in webcam and microphone, and you've already checked that the camera/microphone module itself isn’t the issue, you might need to replace the module cable.

Before you start, ensure you disable the internal battery, power down your device, and disconnect it from any external power sources.

Step 1: Preparing the Laptop

Before you start, make sure to disable the internal battery, turn off your laptop, and unplug it from any external power sources.

Place the laptop with the bottom facing up. Slide the latch on the left side of the battery to the left until it clicks into place.

Step 2: Removing the Battery

Slide the latch on the right side of the battery to the right and hold it with your thumb. With your other hand, slide the battery towards the back of the laptop. Then, lift the battery up and away from the laptop.

Step 3: Removing the Bottom Cover

Use a screwdriver to loosen the eight captive screws on the bottom cover.

Step 4: Detaching the Bottom Cover

Start by inserting the flat end of a spudger between the bottom cover and the laptop, beginning at the lower left corner. Gently pry up the lower left corner of the bottom cover by a few millimeters. Then, slide the spudger along the bottom edge to release the clips, moving towards the lower right corner. You might hear some snapping sounds as the clips come loose.

Step 5: Releasing the Clips

Slide the spudger along the right and top sides of the bottom cover to release the clips. You might hear some snapping sounds as they come free.

Be careful: If the clips don’t release easily, make sure the captive screws are fully loosened. Forcing the clips can crack the bottom cover.

Step 6: Lifting the Upper Left Corner

Use the spudger to gently pry up the upper left corner of the bottom cover by a few millimeters. Carefully lift the sections of the cover that have printed logos of the ports.

Be cautious: Avoid prying around the ports themselves as it could damage your laptop. Only lift the parts of the cover that extend beyond the ports.

Step 7: Lifting the Bottom Cover in the Battery Compartment

Use the spudger to gently pry up the bottom cover in the lower part of the external battery compartment by a few millimeters.

Step 8: Removing the Bottom Cover

Using both hands, lift the bottom cover up and away from the laptop.

Step 9: Working on the LCD Assembly

Use a screwdriver to remove the two 3.7 mm screws from the LCD cable bracket.

Step 10: Removing the LCD Cable Bracket

Use a pair of tweezers to carefully lift the LCD cable bracket off the motherboard.

Step 11: Disconnecting the LCD Cable

Use the flat end of a spudger to gently disconnect the flat-topped LCD cable connector.

Step 12: Removing the Cable

Use your fingers to carefully take the cable out of its slots.

Step 13: Lifting the Metal Clip

Use the pointed end of a spudger to gently lift up the metal clip on the camera/microphone cable.

Step 14: Detaching the Camera/Microphone Cable

Use the flat end of a spudger to carefully detach the camera/microphone cable connector from its socket.

Step 15: Disconnecting the Coaxial Cables

Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the black and gray coaxial cables from the Wi-Fi card. When putting everything back together, make sure to attach the gray wire on top and the black wire on the bottom.

Step 16: Handling the Coaxial Cables

If your laptop has a WWAN card, use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the red and blue coaxial cables. If there’s no WWAN card, simply remove the tape that’s securing the red and blue coaxial cables.

Step 17: Removing the Coaxial Cables

Use your fingers to carefully take the gray and red coaxial cables out of their slots on the motherboard.

Step 18: Removing the Top Coaxial Cables

Use your fingers to gently lift the blue and black coaxial cables out of their slots along the top of the motherboard.

Step 19: Unscrewing the Hinges

Use a screwdriver to remove the four 4.7 mm screws from the hinges.

Step 20: Adjusting the Hinges

Lift the bottom of the laptop a few inches to rotate the two upper hinges. Then, gently place the bottom of the laptop back down.

Step 21: Lifting the Laptop Bottom

Use both hands to carefully lift the bottom of the laptop away from the LCD assembly.

Step 22: Removing the LCD Bezel

Start by using your hands to peel up the thin LCD bezel sheet from the display, beginning between the hinges. Continue peeling the bezel sheet away from the left side of the laptop.

Step 23: Peeling Off the LCD Bezel

Continue peeling the bezel sheet away from the bottom and right sides of the laptop using your hands. Once it’s loose, lift the LCD bezel sheet up and away from the laptop with both hands. When putting everything back together, you might need to reapply adhesive underneath the LCD bezel sheet.

Step 24: Unscrewing the LCD Bezel

Use a screwdriver to remove the four 3.3 mm screws from the LCD bezel.

Step 25: Detaching the Bezel

Start by using the flat end of a spudger to create a gap between the bezel and the display, beginning at the upper left corner. Work the spudger around the left, bottom, and right sides of the laptop to release the clips holding the bezel in place. It’s normal to hear some loud snaps as the clips come free.

Step 26: Removing the Bezel

Use both hands to lift the bezel up and away from the display assembly.

Step 27: Flipping the LCD Panel

Use both hands to lift the bottom corners of the display panel and carefully flip it over. Be cautious: The display cable is still attached, so handle the panel gently to avoid any damage.

Step 28: Lifting the Metal Bar

Use the pointed end of a spudger to carefully flip up the metal bar that’s holding the connector in place.

Step 29: Disconnecting the Display Cable

Use the flat end of a spudger to gently disconnect the display cable from its socket.

Step 30: Taking Out the Display Panel

Use your hands to carefully remove the display panel from the rest of the display assembly.

Step 31: Removing the Hinges

Use a screwdriver to remove the four 3.2 mm screws from the hinges.

Step 32: Lifting the Upper Left Hinge

Use your fingers to lift the hinge in the upper left corner up and away from the laptop.

Step 33: Lifting the Upper Right Hinge

Use your fingers to lift the hinge in the upper right corner up and away from the laptop.

Step 34: Removing the Copper Tape

Use your fingers to peel off the large copper tape from the bottom left-hand corner of the display assembly.

Step 35: Removing the Small Copper Tape

Use your fingers to peel off the small copper tape from the bottom left-hand corner of the display assembly.

Step 36: Disconnecting the Camera/Microphone Cable

Use the flat end of a spudger to carefully disconnect the cable from the camera/microphone module.

Step 37: Removing the Orange Cable

Use your fingers to peel the orange cable away from the laptop.

Step 38: Removing the Gray Cable

With one hand, lift the gray cable up from the laptop. Use your other hand to carefully take the gray wire out of its slots along the left side of the display assembly.