Microsoft Surface Rear Cover Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          10 - 25 minutes

Sections

Back Cover
6 steps

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Back Cover

Prior to any repairs make sure that the device is orientated correctly, and you are familiar with all ports and buttons. The screen should be facing up with the Windows logo located on the bottom.
Turn off device prior to continuing

Prior to any repairs make sure that the device is orientated correctly, and you are familiar with all ports and buttons. The screen should be facing up with the Windows logo located on the bottom.

Turn off device prior to continuing

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Step 2

Carefully turn the tablet over so the screen is facing down.
Pull up on the bottom corners to open the stand.
Refer to the images.

Carefully turn the tablet over so the screen is facing down.

Pull up on the bottom corners to open the stand.

Refer to the images.

Step 3

Locate the two 5.08mm T5 Torx screws. The two screws will be located on the left and right sides in the kickstand.
Make sure when removing the screws to be careful to prevent stripping of the head.
With all the screws removed gently wiggle the stand side to side until the lever in the middle is free, releasing the stand.

Locate the two 5.08mm T5 Torx screws. The two screws will be located on the left and right sides in the kickstand.

Make sure when removing the screws to be careful to prevent stripping of the head.

With all the screws removed gently wiggle the stand side to side until the lever in the middle is free, releasing the stand.

Step 4

Use a spudger or similar flat headed tool to release the small bezels out lined in the image. Remove the plastic trim covering the camera with the soft flat headed tool.
Be patient; you will have to work around the casing because there are several small bezels along the edges.

Use a spudger or similar flat headed tool to release the small bezels out lined in the image. Remove the plastic trim covering the camera with the soft flat headed tool.

Be patient; you will have to work around the casing because there are several small bezels along the edges.

Step 5

Next, remove the ten 5.92mm T5 torx screws located underneath the kickstand.
Remove the seven 5.87mm T5 torx screws located under the camera casing. There is a sticker covering the second screw from the left.
Disconnect the rear cover from the main shell of the system by loosening it with a spudger where the gaps exist.
There is an electrical ribbon connecting the rear cover to the motherboard. Do not pull apart the rear cover from the motherboard once you have loosened the rear cover from the main system.
Continue working your way around to each corner and loosen the snap-ons on each side until the rear cover comes off.

Next, remove the ten 5.92mm T5 torx screws located underneath the kickstand.

Remove the seven 5.87mm T5 torx screws located under the camera casing. There is a sticker covering the second screw from the left.

Disconnect the rear cover from the main shell of the system by loosening it with a spudger where the gaps exist.

There is an electrical ribbon connecting the rear cover to the motherboard. Do not pull apart the rear cover from the motherboard once you have loosened the rear cover from the main system.

Continue working your way around to each corner and loosen the snap-ons on each side until the rear cover comes off.

Step 6

Rotate the device 180 degrees so that the bottom of the device is facing you.
A ribbon connects the battery on the rear cover, to the motherboard. Slowly lift the bottom of the rear cover up until you can see the ribbon.
Use a spudger to push the ribbon away from the motherboard and parallel to the motherboard in order to remove the ribbon.
Separate the rear cover by lifting it up away from the main system.
When reassembling the rear cover to the motherboard, reinserting the ribbon cable with a spudger may prove difficult. In this case, gently use your hands to slide the cable end into the slot until they click into place.

Rotate the device 180 degrees so that the bottom of the device is facing you.

A ribbon connects the battery on the rear cover, to the motherboard. Slowly lift the bottom of the rear cover up until you can see the ribbon.

Use a spudger to push the ribbon away from the motherboard and parallel to the motherboard in order to remove the ribbon.

Separate the rear cover by lifting it up away from the main system.

When reassembling the rear cover to the motherboard, reinserting the ribbon cable with a spudger may prove difficult. In this case, gently use your hands to slide the cable end into the slot until they click into place.

To reassemble your device, follow the instructions in reverse order. Make sure to not over tighten screws to prevent stripping. Also, make sure that all panels are firmly seated back in place.

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                    Erin Beane

Member since: 01/11/2013

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Team

                       Cal Poly, Team 17-23, Forte Winter 2013                        

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                                            15 Guides authored

maikelboerebach - Oct 21, 2014

Can anyone tell me where to order the back cover? :-(

Chue Xiong - May 19, 2016

I ended up using a T6 Torx screwdriver, as my T5 was too small. I will note that I do NOT own the iFixit screwdriver - perhaps that one works just fine.

Introduction#

What you need#

Team#

Introduction

What you need

Team