How to repair and disassemble a tablet PC Acer Iconia Tab A500/501

This article contains general information about the notebook, a list of tools needed to perform the required maintenance and step by step procedures on how to remove and install components from the notebook computer.

Recommended equipment

The following tools are required to perform maintenance on the notebook:

• Wrist grounding strap and conductive mat
• Flat screwdriver
• Philips screwdriver

Maintenance Flowchart

The flowchart in Figure 3-1 provides a graphic representation of the module removal and installation sequences. It provides information on what components need to be removed and installed during servicing.

Figure 1. Maintenance flow

Getting started

The flowchart (Figure 1) identifies sections illustrating the entire removal and install sequence. Observe the order of the sequence to avoid damage to any of the hardware components.

Perform the following prior to performing any maintenance procedures:

1. Place system on a flat work surface.

2. Disconnect AC Adapter and remove all cables from system and peripherals.

3. Make sure system is completely powered down.

4. To make sure system is completely powered down, press and hold power button (A) for 4 seconds. (Figure 2).

  a. If the device is in powered down mode, allow device to complete boot process (approx. 10 sec.). Then power down normally.

  b. If device is in sleep mode, wait for Home Screen to clear. Then power down normally.

Figure 2. Device overview with power button

5. Press and hold Power button for 4 seconds to show Tablet Options dialog.

6. Select Power Off to power down device.

7. From Power Off dialog, select OK.

SIM/Micro-SD Card Removal

1. Open SIM/Micro-SD card cover. (Figure 3)

Figure 3. Opening SIM/Micro-SD card cover

2. Remove SIM card from spring locking mechanism. (Figure 4)

Figure 4. Removing SIM card

3. Remove Micro-SD card from spring locking mechanism. (Figure 5)

Figure 5. Removing Micro-SD card

4. Secure SIM/Micro-SD card cover. (Figure 6)

Figure 6. Securing SIM/Micro-SD card cover

SIM/Micro-SD card installation

1. Open SIM/Micro-SD card cover. (Figure 3)
2. Install and secure SIM card. (Figure 4)
3. Install and secure Micro-SD card. (Figure 5)
4. Close and secure SIM/Micro-SD card cover. (Figure 6)

Lower case removal

Prerequisite: SIM/Micro-SD card removal

1. Open SIM/Micro-SD card cover (A). (Figure 7)

Figure 7. Opening SIM/Micro-SD card cover

2. Insert plastic pry into slot below Micro-SD card cover as shown in Figure 8 to unlock latch. (Figure 8)

Figure 8. Unlocking locking latches (1 of 5)

3. Starting from edge as shown in Figure 9, unlock locking latches on rear cover from bezel.

Figure 9. Unlocking locking latches (2 of 5)

Figure 10. Unlocking locking latches (3 of 5)

Figure 11. Unlocking locking latches (4 of 5)

Figure 12. Unlocking locking latches (5 of 5)

4. Remove lower case from bezel. (Figure 13)

Figure 13. Removing lower case

Lower case installation

1. Open SIM/Micro-SD card cover. (Figure 14)

Figure 14. Opening SIM/Micro-SD card cover

2. Align Micro-SD port with slot on bezel. (Figure 15)

Figure 15. Aligning lower case with bezel

3. Install lower case on bezel. (Figure 16)

Figure 16. Installing lower case on bezel

4. Starting at volume button, secure locking latches to rear cover on all sides of bezel.
(Figure 3-17 through Figure 20)

Figure 17. Securing locking latches (1 of 4)

Figure 18. Securing locking latches (2 of 4)

Figure 19. Securing locking latches (3 of 4)

Figure 20. Securing locking latches (4 of 4)

5. Secure SIM/Micro-SD card cover. (Figure 21)

Figure 21. Securing SIM/Micro-SD card cover

6. Install SIM/Micro-SD card.

DC-In cable removal

Prerequisite: Lower Case Removal

1. Remove tape (A) covering DC-In and antenna cables. (Figure 22)

Figure 22. Removing protective tape

2. Disconnect DC-In cable (B) from mainboard connector (b). (Figure 23)

Figure 23. Disconnecting DC-In cable

3. Remove DC-In cable from the LCD support plate (C) and bezel (D) guides. (Figure 24)

Figure 24. Removing DC-In cable

4. Remove DC-In jack from bezel. (Figure 25)

Figure 25. Removing DC-In jack

DC-In cable installation

1. Install and secure DC-In jack on bezel. (Figure 25)
2. Connect DC-In cable (B) to mainboard connector (b). (Figure 23)
3. Install and secure DC-In cable to bezel (D) and LCD support plate (C) guides.(Figure 24)
4. Install and secure tape (A) covering DC-In and antenna cables. (Figure 22)
5. Install lower case.

Battery Removal

Prerequisite: DC-In cable removal

1. Remove four (4) screws (A) from LCD support plate. (Figure 26)

Figure 26. Removing battery screws

2. Disconnect battery cable (B) from mainboard connector (b). (Figure 27)

Figure 27. Disconnecting battery cable

3. Remove battery (C). (Figure 28)

Figure 28. Removing battery

Battery installation

1. Install battery (C) on LCD support plate. (Figure 28)
2. Connect battery cable (B) to mainboard connector (b). (Figure 27)
3. Install and secure four (4) screws (A) to LCD support plate. (Figure 26)
4. Install DC-In cable.

3G module removal

Prerequisite: Battery removal

1. Locate 3G module (A) on LCD support plate. (Figure 29)

Figure 29. 3G module on LCD support plate

2. Disconnect auxiliary (blue) and main (black) cables from 3G module connectors.(Figure 30)

Figure 30. Disconnecting 3G cables

3. Remove two (2) screws (B) from LCD support plate. (Figure 31)

Figure 31. Removing 3G module screws

4. Remove 3G module (C) from mainboard connector (c). (Figure 32)

Figure 32. Removing 3G module

3G module installation

1. Install and connect 3G module (C) to mainboard connector (c). (Figure 32)
2. Install and secure two (2) screws (B) to LCD support plate. (Figure 31)
3. Connect main 3G antenna cable (black) to 3G module connector labeled M. (Figure 30)
4. Connect auxiliary 3G antenna cable (blue) to 3G module connector labeled A.
5. Install battery.

Docking board removal

Prerequisite: Battery removal

1. Locate Docking Board (A). (Figure 33)

Figure 33. Docking board overview

2. Disconnect docking board FFC (B) from docking board connector (b). (Figure 34)

Figure 34. Disconnecting docking board FFC from docking board

3. Disconnect docking board FFC (C), labeled MB, from mainboard connector (c). (Figure 35)

Figure 35. Disconnecting docking board FFC from mainboard

4. Remove three (3) screws (C) from bezel. (Figure 36)

Figure 36. Removing docking board screws

5. Remove docking board from bezel. (Figure 37)

Figure 37. Removing docking board

Docking board installation

1. Align docking board with bezel guides (E). (Figure 38)

Figure 38. Aligning docking board bezel guides

2. Install board on bezel. (Figure 37)

3. Install and secure three (3) screws (D) to bezel. (Figure 36)

4. Install and connect docking board FFC (C), labeled MB, to mainboard connector (c).(Figure 35)

5. Install and connect docking board FFC (B) to docking board connector (b). (Figure 34)

6. Install battery.

GPS antenna removal

Prerequisite: Battery removal

1. Disconnect GPS antenna (A) from mainboard connector. (Figure 39)

Figure 39. Disconnecting GPS antenna

2. Remove GPS module. (Figure 40)

Figure 40. Removing GPS module

GPS antenna installation

1. Install GPS module on bezel. (Figure 40)
2. Connect GPS antenna (A) to mainboard connector. (Figure 39)
3. Install battery.

Mainboard removal

Prerequisite: 3G Module removal

1. Disconnect the following cables: (Figure 41)

• Front and rear microphone cables (A) from mainboard connectors (a)
• Control board cable (B) from mainboard connector (b)
• Main (black) WLAN cable (C) from mainboard connector (c)
• Front camera FFC (D) from mainboard connector (d)
• LVDS cable (E) from mainboard connector (e)
• Speaker cable (F) from mainboard connector (f)
• USB FFC (G) from mainboard connector (g)

Figure 41. Disconnecting cables from mainboard

2. Remove screw (H) and four (4) screws (J) from bezel. (Figure 42)

Figure 42. Removing mainboard screws

3. Lift and remove mainboard from bezel. (Figure 43)

Figure 43. Removing mainboard

Mainboard installation

CAUTION: The touch screen lock button guides may be damaged when the mainboard screws are secured. Make sure to align the touch screen lock button switch with the lock button guides.

1. Set touch screen lock button (K) to unlock position. (Figure 44)

Figure 44. Setting touch screen lock button

2. Install mainboard on bezel. (Figure 45)

Figure 45. Install mainboard

3. Align with bezel guide pins (L). (Figure 46)

Figure 46. Aligning mainboard with bezel guide pins

4. Align touch screen lock button switch (M) with lock button guides (N). (Figure 47)

Figure 47. Install mainboard to IO ports

5. Install and secure one screw (H) and four (4) screws (J) to bezel. (Figure 42)

6. Connect the following cables: (Figure 41)

• Front and rear microphone cables (A) to mainboard connectors (a)
• Control board cable (B) to mainboard connector (b)
• Main (black) WLAN cable (C) to mainboard connector (c)
• Front camera FFC (D) to mainboard connector (d)
• LVDS cable (E) to mainboard connector (e)
• Speaker cable (F) to mainboard connector (f)
• USB FFC (G) to mainboard connector (g)

7. Install 3G module (3G SKU)/Battery (Non-3G SKU)

Rear CCD removal

Prerequisite: Mainboard removal

1. Place bottom of mainboard on a flat surface.(Figure 48)

Figure 48. Mainboard overview

2. Remove rear camera (A) from mainboard.

3. Remove rear camera holder from mainboard by pressing holder through the board.(Figure 49 through Figure 51)

Figure 49. Removing rear CCD holder (1 of 3)

Figure 50. Removing rear CCD holder (2 of 3)

Figure 51. Removing rear CCD holder (3 of 3)

Rear CCD installation

1. Align rear camera holder guide (B) with mainboard slot (C).(Figure 52)

Figure 52. Align rear CCD holder guide with mainboard slot

2. Install and secure rear camera holder on mainboard by pressing holder into the opening in the mainboard.(Figure 50 through Figure 49)

3. Install rear camera (A) on mainboard.(Figure 48)

4. Install mainboard.

Front CCD removal

Prerequisite: Mainboard removal

1. Release bezel locking latches (A).(Figure 53)

Figure 53. Release bezel locking latches

2. Remove front camera from bezel.(Figure 54)

Figure 54. Removing front CCD

Front CCD installation

1. Install and secure front camera in bezel locking latches (A).(Figure 53)

2. Install mainboard.

Two-piece microphone removal

Prerequisite: Mainboard removal

1. Remove two-piece microphone (A) from bezel guides.(Figure 55)

Figure 55. Removing two-piece microphone

Two-piece microphone installation

1. Install and secure microphone (B) in front microphone guide (closest to control board) facing down.(Figure 56)

Figure 56. Installing two-piece microphone to front guide

2. Install and secure microphone (C) in rear microphone guide (furthest away from control board) facing up.(Figure 57)

Figure 57. Installing two-piece microphone to rear guide

3. Install mainboard.

Speakers removal

Prerequisite: Mainboard removal

1. Remove three (3) screws (A) from bezel.(Figure 58)

Figure 58. LCD support plate overview with speakers

2. Remove speakers (B) and speaker cable (C) from bezel.

Speakers installation

1. Install speakers (B) and speaker cable (C) on bezel. (Figure 58)

2. Install and secure three (3) screws (A) to bezel.

3. Install mainboard.

USB module removal

Prerequisite: Speakers removal

1. Disconnect module FFC (A) from module connector (a). (Figure 59)

Figure 59. Disconnecting USB FFC

2. Remove module FFC.

3. Remove two (2) screws (A) from bezel. (Figure 60)

Figure 60. Removing USB module screws

4. Remove module support bracket (B).

5. Remove module (C). (Figure 61)

Figure 61. Removing USB module

USB module installation

1. Align module with bezel guides (B). (Figure 62)

Figure 62. Aligning USB module to bezel guides

2. Install module on bezel.

3. Install module support bracket (B) on bezel. (Figure 60)

4. Install and secure two (2) screws (A) to bezel.

5. Install and connect module FFC (C) to module connector (c). (Figure 59)

6. Install speakers.

LCD support plate removal

Prerequisite: Speakers removal

NOTE: Control board must be shipped with LCD panel for RMA.

1. Remove Mylar tape (A) from LCD support plate. (Figure 63)

Figure 63. Removing mylar tape

2. Remove antenna cables from LCD support plate guides (B). (Figure 64)

Figure 64. Removing antenna cables

3. Remove one screw (C) and one screw (D) from bezel. (Figure 65)

Figure 65. Removing LCD support plate screws

4. Remove LCD support plate. (Figure 66)

Figure 66. Removing LCD support plate

5. Disconnect control board FFC (E) from board connector (e). (Figure 67)

Figure 67. Disconnecting control board FFC

6. Remove adhesive tape (F) covering LVDS cable (G) and LCD panel connector (g).(Figure 68)

Figure 68. Removing LVDS adhesive tape

7. Disconnect and remove LVDS cable.

LCD support plate installation

1. Connect LVDS cable (G) to LCD panel connector (g). (Figure 68)

2. Install and secure adhesive tape (F) covering LVDS cable and LCD panel connector.

3. Connect and secure control board FFC (F) to board connector (f). (Figure 67)

4. Install LCD support plate on bezel. (Figure 66)

5. Install and secure one screw (C) and one screw (D) to bezel. (Figure 65)

6. Install and secure antenna cables to LCD support plate guides (B). (Figure 64)

7. Install and secure Mylar tape (A) to LCD support plate. (Figure 63)

8. Install speakers.

Control board removal

Prerequisite: LCD support plate removal

NOTE: Control board must be shipped with LCD panel for RMA.

1. Remove control board (A) from LCD support plate (B). (Figure 69 and Figure 70)

Figure 69. Removing control board (1 of 2)

Figure 70. Removing control board (2 of 2)

2. Disconnect and remove control board cable (C) from board connector (c). (Figure 71)

Figure 71. Removing control board cable

Control board installation

1. Install and connect control board cable (C) to board connector (c). (Figure 71)

2. Align control board to LCD support plate guides (D). (Figure 72)

Figure 72. Aligning control board to LCD support plate guides

3. Install and secure control board on LCD support plate. (Figure 73)

Figure 73. Installing control board

4. Install LCD support plate.

3G Antenna removal

Prerequisite: LCD support plate removal

1. Remove main (A, black) and auxiliary (B, blue) antennas from bezel. (Figure 74)

Figure 74. Removing 3G antennas

3G Antenna installation

1. Align main (black) antenna to bezel guide (C).(Figure 75)

Figure 75. Aligning main 3G antenna

2. Align auxiliary (blue) antenna to bezel guide (D).(Figure 76)

Figure 76. Aligning auxiliary 3G antenna

3. Install and secure 3G antennas on bezel.

4. Install LCD support plate.

WLAN antenna removal

Prerequisite: LCD support plate removal

1. Remove main (black) WLAN antenna (A) from bezel. (Figure 77)

Figure 77. Removing WLAN antenna

WLAN antenna installation

1. Align main (black) WLAN antenna to bezel guide (B).(Figure 78)

Figure 78. Aligning WLAN antenna

2. Install and secure WLAN antenna on bezel.

3. Install LCD support plate.