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Surface Laptop Go: Component Disassembly and Reassembly

  • Applies to: Windows 10, Windows 11

Warning

Review the General Safety Precautions and Battery Safety guidelines in their entirety before proceeding with any repair steps.

Important

Read this Guide in its entirety before starting any repairs. If at any point you're unsure or uncomfortable about performing the repairs, as detailed in this Guide, DO NOT proceed. Contact Microsoft for more support options.

Warning

Failure to follow the instructions in this Guide, use of non-Microsoft (nongenuine), incompatible, or modified replacement parts, and/or failure to use proper tools could result in serious injury, death, and/or damage to the product or other property.

Prerequisite Steps

Steps outlined in this section should be conducted before starting any repair on a Surface device.

  • Power off device Ensure the device is powered off completely and the battery has been fully discharged. Refer to the Repair-specific precautions and warnings section for guidelines. Once discharged, the device should be disconnected from all power sources.

  • ESD Prevention – Ensure ESD prevention steps and general guidelines are followed before opening the device. Refer to the ESD Prevention section for guidelines.

  • Position Device – To prevent damage to the device, ensure the device is placed on a clean surface free of debris.

SSD Removal and Reassembly Procedures

Prior to Device Disassembly

  • Before opening the device, always ensure device is powered off and disconnected from a power supply.
  • Always ensure that the work surface is covered with an ESD-safe, soft, nonmarring material.
  • Work surfaces should be cleaned regularly to ensure debris/abrasive particles aren't present.
  • Check to make sure that general guidelines and ESD compliance steps are followed before opening device.

Warning

It's recommended that an ESD-safe battery cover be placed across the device to protect the battery from any physical contact or accidental damage whenever C-cover is removed. Ensure corners of cover are always aligned with the corners of the device while battery is exposed. If battery cover is misaligned during activities in any way, realign before continuing work.

Caution

Check C-cover and device enclosure for any loose articles that might be present inadvertently on the C-cover or within the device enclosure.

Important

Ensure battery FPC remains disconnected from the PCBA whenever C-cover is removed from device for safety purposes. Refer to Procedure-Removal (C-Cover) for further details.

Current Battery Warning

Warning

Note that the battery bears the following warning label. Heed the information provided on the label.

Battery can't be easily replaced by user

  • Risk of fire or burning – contact Microsoft for assistance
  • Don't separate or remove battery from backplate cover
  • Don't modify battery, its wiring, or connectors
  • Don't replace, short circuit, bend, crush, or puncture battery
  • Don't dispose of battery in fire or expose to high temperatures (+140ºF/60ºC)
  • For more information: https://aka.ms/surface-security

SSD Removal Process

Preliminary Requirements

Important

Be sure to follow all special (bolded) notes of caution within each process section.

Important

SSD reinstallation shouldn't be carried out. SSD replacement or swap shouldn't be attempted. It might damage the device or pose safety concerns for users. Damage to the device caused during the process won't be covered under warranty.

Required Tools and Components

  • Tools:
    • Software Tool – SDT
    • Plastic tweezers
    • Plastic Opening Pick
    • Plastic Opening tool
    • Isopropyl Alcohol Dispenser (use only 70% IPA)
    • Screwdriver (PH0 driver bit for C-cover)
    • Screwdriver (PH00 driver bit for all internal screws)
    • Anti-static wrist strap (1M Ohm resistance)
    • ESD-safe battery cover

Prerequisite Steps

  • Power off device – Ensure device is powered off and disconnected from a power supply.

  • General Safety – Check to make sure that general guidelines and ESD compliance steps are followed before opening the device. Refer to Prior to Device Disassembly for details.

  • Position device – To prevent scratches, flip device over onto a clean surface free of debris with the device bottom facing up for access to the feet for removal.

Process Steps

  1. Feet removal – Use plastic tweezers / spudger to lift one edge of each foot. Grasp the loose end and pull the foot from the D-bucket. Ensure all adhesive tape remnants and glue residue are removed. Clean the D-bucket foot recesses with 70% Isopropyl Alcohol.

  2. Remove C-cover screws – Using a PH0 screwdriver uninstall the three screws from the rear, and four screws from the front D-bucket foot recesses. Prior to unscrewing, ensure the driver head is seated correctly in the screw recess by lightly turning the driver clockwise until it can be felt engaging fully with the screw.

Diagram that shows the seven C-cover screw locations in the D-bucket foot recesses before removal with a PH0 driver.

Caution

Ensure all (7) screws are removed from the enclosure before starting C-cover removal, otherwise there's a high risk of irreversibly damaging the C-cover and D-bucket.

Caution

Ensure the plastic pick depth into the C-Cover is kept shallow to avoid damaging internal features.

Caution

Remove C-Cover exactly as described in this step to avoid damaging the Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC) connected between the C-Cover and the Main Board. Don't pull the C-cover apart beyond 45 degrees otherwise damage to C-cover FPC could occur.

Caution

Remove C-cover and hold in a hover position as described to avoid damaging the display glass. Never rest the rear edge of the C-cover on the device at the display hinge point or allow the C-cover to impact or touch the display during this step.

  1. Separate C-cover from device – Using a plastic opening tool, slowly pry C-cover upwards to unsnap the hook and snap features.

    1. Disassemble hooks from the front of the device first by prying upwards with the plastic tool.

    Diagram that shows a plastic opening tool lifting the front hooks of the C-cover first.

    1. Pry up on the hooks on the left and right sides of the device, working from the front of the device to the back.

    Diagram that shows prying the left and right side hooks progressing from front toward the rear of the device.

    1. Open the device to its maximum angle and tilt it backwards. Press the C-cover towards the display as shown to unsnap the remaining hooks.

    Diagram that shows tilting the opened device backward while pressing the C-cover toward the display to unsnap remaining hooks.

  2. Position C-cover for FPC removal – After lifting the C-cover completely from the D-bucket, angle and hover the C-cover so that the far side is facing down towards the device and C-cover FPC is accessible.

Diagram that shows the C-cover hovered and angled exposing the FPC for disconnection.

  1. Disconnect FPCs – While hovering the C-cover, disconnect the battery and then the C-Cover FPC from the main board. Using a Spudger in your other hand pull-up on the FPC connector’s locking tabs and slide the FPCs from the connectors.

Diagram that shows a spudger lifting locking tabs to disconnect battery and C-cover FPC connectors while hovering the C-cover.

Warning

It's recommended that an ESD-safe battery cover be placed across the device to protect the battery from any physical contact or accidental damage whenever C-cover is removed. Ensure corners of cover are always aligned with the corners of the device while battery is exposed. If battery cover is misaligned during activities in any way, realign before continuing work.

Diagram that shows the exposed internal chassis covered by an ESD-safe battery cover after C-cover removal.

Caution

When removed from the device, place the C-cover in a safe place with key and trackpad side down and FPC facing up to avoid bending/creasing the FPC. Be sure the key and trackpad side of the C-cover is protected from cosmetic damage during storage.

Important

Ensure battery FPC remains disconnected from the PCBA whenever C-cover is removed from device for safety purposes.

  1. Remove SSD Shielding cover and Screw – Use the plastic opening tool to pry up shielding cover. Slide the tool under the lip on the top side of the shield. Use a PH00 screwdriver to remove the screw securing the SSD.

Diagram that shows prying up the SSD shielding cover and the PH00 screw securing the SSD highlighted.

  1. Clean TIM Residue – Inspect SSD for TIM residue. Carefully wipe away any residue with 70% IPA solution.

  2. Remove SSD – Carefully grab sides of SSD case and pull out of the mainboard socket at ~15-degree angle.

Diagram that shows the SSD being lifted out of the mainboard socket at roughly a 15-degree angle.

Reinstall C-cover Keyboard Process

  1. Check for unexpected items within device – Check C-cover (both sides) and device enclosure for any loose articles that might be present inadvertently on the C-cover or within the device enclosure areas.
    1. Carefully inspect the battery surface and area around battery specifically for any foreign objects before removing battery cover.
    2. Check and remove any foreign objects that the magnets might have attracted or that might have been accidentally introduced into the device while open.

Diagram that shows inspection of battery area and enclosure for foreign objects before reassembly.

  1. Connect C-cover FPC – Remove battery cover. Hover the C-cover over the device while assembling the C-cover FPC to the main board. Slide the FPC into the connector and then press down on the locking tab.

Diagram that shows hovering the C-cover while sliding its FPC into the main board connector and pressing the locking tab.

Caution

Be sure that FPC bends fall in place properly as prebent and no folds or creases are created during reassembly of C-cover.

  1. Connect Battery FPC – Connect the Battery FPC to the main board. Slide the FPC into the connector and then press down on the locking tab.

Diagram that shows inserting the battery FPC into the connector and pressing down the locking tab.

  1. Align the C-cover – Properly align the cover to the unit using the front edge alignment posts. Carefully place the C-cover back onto the D-bucket and shift the C-cover snaps into place. Press gently on the C-cover to engage the snaps correctly. Follow the direction of progress as shown in the picture below. Verify there are no visible gaps between the C-cover and D-bucket.

Diagram that shows aligning front edge posts and pressing along the progression path to snap the C-cover back into the D-bucket.

Caution

Ensure that the C-cover is correctly aligned and seated before closing the device. There's the risk of breaking the display if the device lid is closed before C-cover is aligned.

  1. Install C-cover Screws – Close the top cover and turn the unit over. Use a PH0 screwdriver to install the previously removed C-cover screws. Two of the seven screws are longer in length. Refer to the below photo for their location. All screws should be installed until snug and seated, and then turned another 90 degrees (1/4 turn).

Diagram that shows reinstalling the seven C-cover screws with two longer corner screws highlighted.

Caution

Ensure the longer screws are installed in the two corner locations under the rear foot pad.

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