Hi group,
I have found and figured out most of what I need for visually impaired maintenance on the framework 16 and have written a guide describing the information I’ve gathered so far.
I’m still utterly stuck on the finger print reader though.
Here is the information from two different guides on the web:
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Mainboard - Framework Guides Mainboard - Framework Guides
Step 20 Disconnect Finger Print Reader
Using the spudger side of your Framework Screwdriver, flip open the latch securing the Fingerprint Reader cable in place.
Using the pull tab, gently pull the Fingerprint Reader cable out of the socket on the Mainboard.
Framework Laptop 16" Mainboard Replacement - iFixit Repair Guide Framework Laptop 16" Mainboard Replacement - iFixit Repair Guide
Step 29 Disconnect the fingerprint sensor
Use the flat end of a spudger, or a clean fingernail, to lift up the locking tab on the fingerprint sensor ZIF connector.
The flat plastic ribbon connector runs downward from the power button and does a turn to the left close to the rear right expansion card slot.
This turn is secured to the mainboard, whether glued or using some kind of latch?
Then it continues running left and downward at a 30 degree angle to the horizontal until it hits a very small rectangle, oriented 30 degrees anti-clockwise from the vertical.
I believe this is the socket based on other replies on this site but there’s no tab as described in the web guide.
If it’s the socket then I don’t know what the described latch is that has to be flipped open or where the pull tab is.
Perhaps this rectangle is the latch that has to be opened and the socket is further down?
Immediately below and touching this 30 degree oriented section of the ribbon is a prominent slightly curved raised plastic line running parallel to the cable which is next to the rear right expansion card. I don’t know if that’s relevant. It’s covered by a tab but that is simply part of the large surrounding plastic covers that covers the whole of this area and doesn’t feel like it was intended to be used as a pull tab for a cable.
There are no other tabs around this area.
I have the location of the speaker connector further down at the corner of the battery and also the long vertical connector for the Mid plate.
I would much appreciate any more guidance on this one please.
Thank you.
The small, 30 degree rotated rectangle you have identified is indeed the socket for the fingerprint cable.
The latch that needs to flipped open comprises nearly the entirety of the left half of that rectangle. It hinges along the middle of the rectangular socket. If you use the edge of the spudger or your fingernail on the left side, you should be able to flip open the socket, so the left side is 90 degrees from flat or pointing straight up.
The flat ribbon cable can then be pulled from the right side of the socket. Pull the cable straight out as it lies; do not pull it up or at angle.
The video in the FW16 Mainboard tutorial does show the ribbon cable being pulled out of the unlatched socket with more effort than I would have expected. I suspect this is due to a fairly tight tolerance between the edge of the ribbon and the internal sides of the socket.
Thank you. That’s brilliant.
I’ve managed to remove the cable and reinsert it. The laptop still works.
There’s Not much left to sort out.
The wifi card removal is the next thing I need to understand. I’ve loossened the retaining screw but can’t see how the card or it’s bracket would be removed.
Any suggestions from anyone please?
Thank you!
The WiFi card is really really tricky to reinstall. There are two tiny tiny MHF4 right angle connectors on the antenna wires. These are coaxial - there’s an outer shell which forms the ground (it’s OK that these touch each other) but there’s a split center pin which expands sideways to click onto the tiny center pin on the card. All this for a connector that’s maybe 3mm across!
But, based on the amazing things I’ve seen you do on the forums, you probably have the dexterity advantage. These connectors are so small that sighted people have problems seeing what’s going on. You really have to do it by feel.
Just be careful not to crush the connector. That split pin can be mashed out of shape and will no longer lock in. You want it to just lightly pop in place. The wires are stiff enough that they may push the other connector out of alignment though. Getting that curve just right is tricky. But again, you have the dexterity advantage and they are so small, seeing them doesn’t help much and you have to go by feel.
My wifi module doesn’t want to pop up at all at the moment. It certainly hasn’t popped up at a nice 20 degree angle, or whatever it was supposed to do.
Given the nature of the antenna I don’t want to force the spudger under it.
I’m having fun figuring out the path the antenna wires are running. One clearly runs from the module upward to the laptop display.
Another runs up that way as well but it also seems to run down south of the module and disappears under a heat pipe.
If that’s connected to the module I don’t know how it can run north and south at the same time… but I’ll continue exploring.
