Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

10

Time Required

                          10 minutes

Sections

2

  • Keyboard and Trackpad Panel
  • 7 steps
  • WiFi Card
  • 3 steps

Flags

0

  • BackLenovo N21 Chromebook

  • Full Screen

  • Options

  • History

  • Save to Favorites

  • Download PDF

  • Edit

  • Translate

  • Get Shareable Link

  • Embed This Guide

  • Notify Me of Changes

  • Stop Notifications

Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Keyboard and Trackpad Panel
  • Power down the Chromebook before starting any repair.
  • Opening up your Chromebook voids the manufacturer warranty.
  • Use a screwdriver to remove the six 5.0mm Phillips screws from the bottom housing of the Chromebook.

Power down the Chromebook before starting any repair.

Opening up your Chromebook voids the manufacturer warranty.

Use a screwdriver to remove the six 5.0mm Phillips screws from the bottom housing of the Chromebook.

1024

Step 2

  • Use a plastic opening tool to pry off the four rubber pegs from the bottom housing.

Use a plastic opening tool to pry off the four rubber pegs from the bottom housing.

Step 3

  • Use a screwdriver to remove the four 5.0mm Phillips screws located under the rubber soles.

Use a screwdriver to remove the four 5.0mm Phillips screws located under the rubber soles.

Step 4

  • Flip the laptop over and open the screen.
  • Gently pry the keyboard and trackpad panel away from the bottom housing using a plastic opening tool.
  • Once completely separated, do not immediately pull the panel completely away from the bottom housing. There are wires that are still connecting the panel to the rest of the internals of the Chromebook.

Flip the laptop over and open the screen.

Gently pry the keyboard and trackpad panel away from the bottom housing using a plastic opening tool.

Once completely separated, do not immediately pull the panel completely away from the bottom housing. There are wires that are still connecting the panel to the rest of the internals of the Chromebook.

Step 5

  • Disconnect the keyboard ribbon cable by lifting the ZIF connector lock with a plastic opening tool or fingernail and gently pulling the ribbon cable straight out of its socket.

Disconnect the keyboard ribbon cable by lifting the ZIF connector lock with a plastic opening tool or fingernail and gently pulling the ribbon cable straight out of its socket.

Step 6

  • Disconnect the trackpad ribbon cable by lifting the ZIF connector lock with a small prying tool or fingernail and gently pulling the ribbon cable straight out of its socket.

Disconnect the trackpad ribbon cable by lifting the ZIF connector lock with a small prying tool or fingernail and gently pulling the ribbon cable straight out of its socket.

Step 7

  • Remove the keyboard and trackpad panel away from the device.

Remove the keyboard and trackpad panel away from the device.

Step 8

              WiFi Card
  • Use a screwdriver to remove the single 3mm Phillips screw that is holding the WiFi card in place.

Use a screwdriver to remove the single 3mm Phillips screw that is holding the WiFi card in place.

Step 9

  • Remove the black and white wires attached to WiFi card by gently lifting them upwards.
  • When re-attaching the wires, make sure they are in the correct placement. You do not want to switch the black and white wires.

Remove the black and white wires attached to WiFi card by gently lifting them upwards.

When re-attaching the wires, make sure they are in the correct placement. You do not want to switch the black and white wires.

Step 10

  • Remove the WiFi card by pulling it straight out of its connector.
  • Keep the WiFi card horizontal and pull straight back to avoid causing the part harm.

Remove the WiFi card by pulling it straight out of its connector.

Keep the WiFi card horizontal and pull straight back to avoid causing the part harm.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Cancel: I did not complete this guide.

                                                                                      7 other people completed this guide.

Author

                                      with 4 other contributors 


                    Alex Cass

Member since: 04/26/2017

285 Reputation

                                      2 Guides authored                  



                       Badges:
                       8







                                                        +5 more badges

Team

                       Cal Poly, Team S21-G2, Livingston Spring 2017                        

                                                  Member of Cal Poly, Team S21-G2, Livingston Spring 2017 



                    CPSU-LIVINGSTON-S17S21G2                     


                                            4 Members                     


                                            12 Guides authored

Adil M. - Aug 23, 2018

Reply

Very nicely written. Pictures are helpful too.

Evergreen - Apr 10, 2020

Reply

Thank you for this!

I had a Lenovo N21 Chromebook and the wifi card seemed to be faulty, but all it needed was a wipe off and It works perfectly now!

Kerry Dalton - Apr 10, 2020

Reply

My Lenovo N21 was dropping the wifi connection. It did it a year ago and then improved, but the past month started doing it again very bad to the point I started looking for a replacement. It would maintain the connection for 5 minutes to 1 hour. I searched the problem, found this advise, and in 10 minutes it is fixed and has not dropped in 2 days. I assume it is fixed for good. Thanks for the tip and excellent instructions. Saved me $300 also.

Skip Stringham - May 11, 2020

Reply

Kerry Dalton - what did you do to fix your problem? Replace? B & W wires crossed?

Im getting ready to take this device apart.

ssdrtelcom@gmail.com

Eric R. Klingsten - Oct 30, 2020

Reply

I’ve replaced network cards in laptops before, so I’m not totally new at this, but from your diagram, my Lenovo 100e looks TOTALLY different. Has anyone had this issue? I can’t seem to find my network card. Or, is it integrated??