All main laptop and notebook parts explained
On this website you will find information about all main parts inside a typical laptop or notebook computer. You can identify parts by the description or image below. In order to get more information about a particular part, you can follow the link in the description or simply click on the image.
The system board is the main logic board in any laptop. All internal components are connected to the system board. This is one of the most expensive parts in a laptop.
More memory you have installed – better the performance of the laptop.
Learn about different types of memory, compatibility issues and how you can replace or upgrade memory yourself. The memory is a user replaceable part.
The hard drive is the main storage of information in a laptop. All system files, personal files are stored inside the hard drive. Find the difference between SATA and IDE hard drives. Faster hard drive you have installed – faster data access you get. You can upgrade the hard drive yourself.
The processor is the brain of your laptop. Faster CPU means faster data processing.
The keyboard is the main input device. Find out how the keyboard is connected to the motherboard and how it can be removed or replaced.
The CD/DVD drive allows you to read/write data from/to a CD or DVD disc. Lear about the difference between drives with regular and SATA connectors.
The cooling fan is a part of the cooling module in a laptop. The fan helps to cool down the processor when the laptop is turned on.
In most modern laptops the video card is integrated into the system board. If the video card fails you have to replace the whole motherboard.
In some laptops the video card is a discrete module and can be removed or replaced separately from the motherboard.
In most laptops the audio board is a part of the motherboard. If that’s the case, all audio board input/output components such as volume control, microphone jack and headphone jack are soldered directory to the motherboard.
The internal wireless card helps you to connect to the Internet without running a cable. Learn about different types of internal wireless cards and how they are connected to the motherboard.
The CMOS battery provides power to the CMOS chip when the laptop is turned off or disconnected form the wall outlet.
The LCD screen is one of the most expensive parts in a laptop computer. The LCD screen mounts inside the display panel.
If you accidentally cracked the screen, it has to be replaced. You cannot repair a cracked screen.
SCREEN INVERTER BOARD aka FL INVERTER
The inverter board is a power supply for the backlight lamp inside the LCD screen. When inverter fails, the LCD screen goes very very dark and you barely can see any image on the screen. In most laptops the inverter board is mounted inside the display panel below the LCD screen.
SCREEN BACKLIGHT LAMP aka CCFL TUBE
The backlight lamp is the main source of light in the LCD screen. The backlight lamp is mouted inside the screen. When the backlight lamp fails, you have to replace the whole LCD screen. It’s possible to replace just the lamp inside the screen but it’s very hard and has to be performed by an experienced technician.
The video cable connectes the Laptop screen to motherboard. The video cable carries data signal for the LCD screen and power for the ivnerter board.
Many modern laptops come with a web camera built into the display panel. The web camera is not a part of the LCD screen. The web camers is located on a separate board and can be replaced separately from the LCD.
DISPLAY HINGES aka SCREEN HINGES
The dispaly hinges connect two main parts of any laptop – the display panel and base assembly.
The AC/DC power adapter converts high voltage AC power from the mains to low voltage DC power required by the laptop.
The battery is a secondary source of power for a laptop. The battery gets charged while the laptop is plugged into the mains and keeps the laptop running when it’s unplugged from the mains.
Laptop parts | Repair Man | 
May 2, 2009 10:48 am
140 Responses to “All main laptop and notebook parts explained”
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Pages: « 6 5 4 [3] 2 1 » Show All
February 10th, 2010 at 10:54 pm
Laurie,
Are you talking about the plastic power button?
Here’s how you fix the broken power button: http://www.insidemylaptop.com/broken-power-button-toshiba-satellite-a70-a75-p30-p35-laptops/
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:11 am
Hi
Have a problem with a Toshiba A70 lid switch…(Broken)…Is it possible to do away with this switch all together and remove it from the motherboard..(Its a smd)..
Can’t really tell how it works as all the insides are broken/missing…..?????
I think it’s a DPDT switch and when the lid closes it makes contact…So the screen will be turned off when the lid is closed.
Is this correct or does it have some other function…???
Cheers
Laurie
January 27th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
Steamer,
Never tried that. Not sure if this analyzer any good.
January 27th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
Steamer,
It’s possible that one of the memory modules is going bad or not making good connection with the motherboard.
1. Try reseating memory modules.
2. Try removing memory modules one by one and test the laptop with each one separately.
January 24th, 2010 at 7:42 pm
Also, I’ve worked with Desktop machines before & I’ve used the PC Analyzer. http://www.ukinfoserver.com/infoserver/pics/PC_Analyzer_Cards_LP50A/PC_Analyzer_Cards_LP50A_g.jpg
I’ve seen that there are similar Devices for Laptop. Would you recommend them? are they any good?
Again. Thanks in Advance.
January 24th, 2010 at 7:38 pm
Hi. I’m having a problem with an HP machine. It’s a Pavilion dv2000.
When I press the power botton, the lights on the laptop turn on (all of them) but the machine won’t boot up. Nothing comes up in the Screen.
However this doesn’t happen all of the times I do this. Sometimes it does boot up without a problem.
What could it be?
Thanks in Advance.
January 21st, 2010 at 4:01 pm
kim,
Make sure the hard drive is connected properly. All pins on the hard drive has to be lined up with wholes on the motherboard connector.
Is the hard drive is not aligned correctly, only one row of pins gets connected to the motherboard and of course, it’s not working properly. I think that could be your problem.
January 21st, 2010 at 3:55 pm
I fully charged by CMOS Battery on my Toshiba Satellite Pro 6100 and when I power on I get “Disk Read Error” “Press Ctl + Alt + Del”
When I do this the computer just beeps and then restarts. Please help. Thanks in advance.
December 6th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
New problem now,when I push the power on button,it tries to power up and then powers off immediantly. Could this be a fan problem?
December 6th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Repair Man
Thanks for the reply.I only have 1 memory card and I have removed and reseated. I am now getting something different. When I power up it up with the recovery disk inserted it runs and brings up screen and asks do I want to continue with recovery and I answer yes and it runs for a few minutes and then shuts down without completely finishing the first cd. What can be causing this. I have tried this 5 or 6 times and the same thing happens. Please help
Joe
November 26th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Joe Logan,
This problem could be related to the memory failure. Do you have two memory modules installed in the laptop? Try removing them one by one. Test the laptop with only one memory module installed. It’s very unlikely that both modules failed at the same time and the laptop might start properly when the bad module is removed.
November 20th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
I have a sony vaio pcg-grx520 that will not power up. When I push the power button the power light and the battery light comes on but the computer does not boot up . There is no sounds coming out at all. Also when the battery is charging the battery light is not blinking as it usually does.I have checked the ac/adapter and it has correct voltage.Is this a power problem or something else.
Any help will be appreciated
Thanks
November 15th, 2009 at 11:16 am
des,
The notebook installing Windows updates, that’s why it says do not turn off or unplug. You’ll see this message in the future again.
Maybe it’s installing a service pack which might take a long time, but to be honest, 4 hours sounds too much.
Give it more time. If the installation process looks stuck, all you can do is hard power down the notebook. Push on the power button for about 5-10 seconds. The notebook will power off. Most likely on the next restart you’ll get an error message. Select “Start Windows normally” (or something like that).
November 15th, 2009 at 4:58 am
hello there i hope my question will not be out off line..:)
i have a new notebook toshiba NB 205, i left it few hours charging
when i get back to my pc
it say’s Do not turn off or unplug your computer
it will turn off automatically…
then installing 1….1
what should i do? i was waiting to turn off almost 4 hours ago:(
im new to this kind of stuff i just need help.
thank you:)
November 10th, 2009 at 10:22 am
Santony,
1. Yes, it’s just a software that could be installed on desktops and laptops.
2. You buy this software, install the CD into the laptop and run the installation process.
Check out this one: http://www.nuance.com/naturallyspeaking/
By the way, in Vista and Windows 7 (new operating system) the speech recognition software is included and it’s free.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Speech_Recognition
November 10th, 2009 at 12:14 am
Hi,
I am a grade 5 student,our main topic this term is inventions.
I am researching for some questions to be answered. I may be needing your help.
1. Is the voice recognition software connectable to a laptop?
2. If it is connectable, how do you connect it?
So these are my questions, please answer by tommorrow!!
Thank you very much!!!
November 4th, 2009 at 5:55 am
ScottCha,
In the previous message you said the screen goes dark, but in this message it sounds like you can see the screen.
The laptop works with the external monitor, so I assume the motherboard/video card work properly.
It’s possible that you have:
1. Bad connection between the video cable and motherboard or LCD screen. Try reconnecting the video cable first. Make sure that connectors on the video cable are plugged correctly. I fixed one laptop with blank/black screen by reseating the video cable on the motherboard last night.
2. Could be bad video cable. Try replacing the cable.
3. Could be LCD screen failure.
November 3rd, 2009 at 9:51 am
The screen is broken up horizontally with lines running through it. It sort of jumps around. I can see the Windows XP spalsh screen but it is all broken up.
If this isn’t descriptive enough I can try to take a picture and send it to you.
November 3rd, 2009 at 8:56 am
ScottCha,
What do you mean the screen is wavey? Please provide more detailed description.
November 3rd, 2009 at 7:23 am
Hello Repair Man,
I have an HP Pavilion dv5000 with a screen issue. When I first turn on the laptop the entire screen is wavey and then just goes dark. While I’m seeing images on the screen they look bright. When I hook an external monitor to the laptop it works just fine.
Do you think it’s the inverter, lamps, screen, or what?
Thanks,
Scott
October 13th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
leo sar,
Check the memory. It’s possible that one of the memory modules got disconnected from the slot when the laptop was dropped.
Try reconnecting both memory modules.
October 13th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
hi
i’m wondering if you can help me
i have hp pavilion dv2000,it falls on the floor,and now it no works
i mean it is all black,no light in the front,it doesn’t power
i know that the problem could be in any piece
but please could you tell me if you have to check it what the steps you will do one by one(i am able to disassemble it easily)
by the way when i disconnect the bios battery and reconnect it i see the light in front and hdd light flashing like when hdd working but nothing on the screen,the fan is spining,but pushing the power button doesn’t do anything.
thanks
October 10th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Luiz Rakkan,
I answered your question in the main battery section.
October 7th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Hello, may you can help me to figure out what is happening to my laptop battery. Before you lose interest in this message, I hope you read a bit more about my issue. Here is the thing: when I turn off my laptop (trademark DATEN, AMD 64bits dual core athlon x2, 2GB RAM, etc.) and turn it on after, say, some four or five hours, my battery is only 90% to 95% charged. So, I make sure that when I shut it down (not stand by) the battery is 100% full charge. So, to make sure that it isn’t a battery issue/problem, I remove the battery and after some hours (and a week in the vacation) I put it back and… 100% charged! The question is: is any part/piece of a laptop that can be running even when I turn the laptop off? It’s like some part, say, the wireless card still sucking my battery life or another part, I don’t know where more to go to solve it. I’m a coder/programmer and I never saw this behaviour before. If you wish to help me out, I can get more information from my Linux or Win32 OS to send it to you. What I’m sure is that the battery is ok and my Ubuntu says that the battery is ok, all cells ok, and it charge full! Hope my english was enough to you to understand me. Thank you in advance.
October 1st, 2009 at 12:10 pm
adnan,
I don’t fix motherboards on component level and cannot help you with that.
By the way, what is chip controller. I’ve never heard about that.