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”
Pages: « 6 [5] 4 3 2 1 » Show All
Pages: « 6 [5] 4 3 2 1 » Show All
February 21st, 2011 at 1:32 am
Sir, i have problem with laptop sound system of hp 6735s,the sound drive is install properly even i go to control panel Sound max integrated Digital HD Audio is Working and checked also the property (This device is working properly) what will likely be the problem of the Sound. Help me Sir.
February 19th, 2011 at 7:53 am
David,
I would run memory test first, just to make sure it’s not memory problem. You can run Memtest86+. Also, check the BIOS setup menu. Your BIOS might have built-in memory test. Run hard drive test too.
Also, this could be software related problem. Back up data and try reinstalling the operating system.
Thanks Sir, i Have done as you said and it works correctly. Thanks once again……… more grace and Knowledge from above. God bless. David.
February 17th, 2011 at 11:22 pm
Mr Dee,
First of all, try the following. Unplug the AC adapter, remove the battery, press on the power button and hold it down for a few seconds. Now plug in the AC adapter and try turning it on. This old trick might help.
February 17th, 2011 at 4:40 am
Dear Sir,
I got CQ40 Compaq, and just few days ago my Laptop collapsed bring down the system that cant boot on the BIOS at all.
There are only light blinking indicator near the CAPS LOCK button and SCROLL LOCK button on the laptop keyboard.
In your opinion and based on ur experience, can i possible trigger something or any protocol that can make the laptop alive again???
Please, i need the solution ASAP. Here is my Phone Number +6012-5327479 Mr Dee from Penang. Thanks very much.
February 9th, 2011 at 2:44 pm
David,
I would run memory test first, just to make sure it’s not memory problem. You can run Memtest86+. Also, check the BIOS setup menu. Your BIOS might have built-in memory test. Run hard drive test too.
Also, this could be software related problem. Back up data and try reinstalling the operating system.
February 7th, 2011 at 12:53 am
Can you boot to the desktop in Safe Mode?
No Sir, i can not boot to the desktop in safe mode. when i strike on F8 key on the laptop it will still show nothing on the screen. it will be blank.
February 5th, 2011 at 2:35 pm
David,
Can you boot to the desktop in Safe Mode?
February 4th, 2011 at 2:01 am
i have a laptop dv5 but when i power it on it started booting and it will show me HP investor on the screen, later on it will not show nothing on the screen, but the system is on. I decided to lose the hard disk drive and put it on another laptop and it booting normal. please what will likely be the problem. Thanks.
December 20th, 2010 at 6:01 am
hp lapton doesn’t starts when power button is pressed.is it a problem of video card and/or inverter?
please help guys.
November 15th, 2010 at 8:17 pm
Khairul,
If the problem appears right on startup and the Acer logo not centered, most likely it’s hardware related.
Could be bad LCD screen or motherboard related failure. Cannot tell without testing the laptop with a good known screen.
If you have to guess, try replacing the screen.
On the other hand, if the Acer logo displays properly but after that the image shifted to the left side, this could be software related problem. Make sure you are using the correct video driver.
November 15th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
My laptop is Acer Aspire 5610 running on Linux Mint. The display doesn’t go the full size of the screen, and has a thin greyish stripe at the bottom, and a thick vertical black stripe on the right. The desktop image however is complete. The problem starts right at the beginning (Acer boot splashscreen) and into the OS interface. It appears something like in the following link: http://images.trademe.co.nz/photoserver/30/150537830_full.jpg
I tried other OSs; several Linux distros and Windows 7; but no luck. Which component is likely faulty and needs replacement?
November 3rd, 2010 at 9:52 pm
I have a Toshiba Satellite A105-S2141 This unit is in need of coms (RTC) battery. This battery is soldered to the motherboard.Can you supply this or direct me to someone that would have this battery?
Thanking you in advance for any help.
October 21st, 2010 at 7:57 am
I have a Toshiba Satellite Pro A205. It appears that the network card has been damaged by lightning. Green and amber lights at the LAN outlet are always ON, and the laptop gets very hot right where the LAN and USB outlets are. Everything else is working very well. Can you tell me if the card can be removed in this model without having to replace the motherboard? thanks in advance.
Daniel
October 11th, 2010 at 10:56 pm
keith,
This laptop comes with a 2.5″ IDE hard drive installed.
I think you can safely install a 120GB or 160GB IDE hard drive into this laptop.
October 11th, 2010 at 10:51 pm
Julian,
Most likely you cannot upgrade the video card.
I see only two video card listed for Satellite X205-SLi1 notebook. Both have 256MB onboard RAM.
October 11th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
my hp pavilion zv5000 needs a knew hard drive what type do i put inside it? And also it power on but the screen stays black, what can be the problem?
October 11th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Also I want to ask if it is possible to upgrade my GeForce 8600m GT SLI graphics card????
Because they don’t look like usual one. Those two graphic cards are connected with a really strange SLI between them. They are like connected, but in other notebooks SLI graphic cards are separate.
http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/Toshiba-Satellite-X205/big/Satellite-X205-disassembly-28.jpg
October 11th, 2010 at 11:58 am
My notebook is Toshiba X205-SLI1. At the beginning there was installed Core2Duo T7250 (2.0 GHz). I thought thats not enought, so decided to by a better one. I have upgraded it to Core2Duo T9500 (2.6 GHZ). Works great, with no problems. Temperature is not higher then 65′C when playing the games.
I have also overclocked my videocard. And now 3DMark06 shows 9850 points. And everything works stable.
The only thing is to do, is to by a faster HDD with 7200 speed, and overclock memory or even CPU. In that case this is going to be a “comet”)))
October 11th, 2010 at 9:14 am
Julian,
It’s a subwoofer.
By the way, how was your CPU upgrade? What CPU didn’t install?
I have a Satellite X205 myself with Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T5550.
When I have time, I’ll upgrade it too.
October 11th, 2010 at 8:45 am
Hi!! I was upgrading my notebook processor, and inside i saw an interesting black box)) It is on the right bottom corner. You can see in on this photo.
http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/Toshiba-Satellite-X205/big/Satellite-X205-disassembly-21.jpg
Can you say me what is this and what it is for?
Thanks.
October 1st, 2010 at 10:24 am
what about what each of the wires is supposed to be?
ie. if your antenna gets broken, do you know which one it is to replace it.
September 25th, 2010 at 11:00 pm
Wax fixing a compaq f700 gpu/cpu fan issue when I accidetentally broke the 2 wires that supply electricity to the video cable. The 2 wires are really time (similar to those used in headphones with wax over them to prevent contact). Unfortunately I made things worse by trying to solder them to the adapter that plugs into that black rubbery thing u screw around the left hinge area (same as in step 11 picture of how to disassemble f700 laptop guide).
MY question is what to they call these adapter like thing, can I solder these tiny wires or can I buy a replacement . The inverter is still good and nuthing wrong with the panel other than electricity to it. Appreciate any assistace
August 11th, 2010 at 10:31 am
Makwana Hiren,
Here’s Compaq Presario CQ40 service manual.
The CMOS (RTC) battery removal instructions shown on the page 50 (Chapter 4).
August 11th, 2010 at 10:02 am
Michael S Daniel,
If the AC adapter is OK and battery charge, but the laptop shows no signs of life, most likely this is motherboard failure.
Do you get any LED lights at all when AC adapter plugged in?
Does the power LED flashes if you wiggle the AC adapter plug inside the socket?
August 11th, 2010 at 8:58 am
Provide the step to remove cmos battery in cq40 108tu and its location in motherboard