Lenovo ThinkPad W520 Disassembly, Fan Cleaning and Thermal Paste Replacement
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- This step-by-step video guide shows how to fix laptop overheating: disassembling Lenovo ThinkPad W520, cleaning fan from dust, and replacing thermal paste.
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ThinkPad W520 Reassembly: • Lenovo ThinkPad W520 L...
How to fix laptop overheating: • How to fix laptop over...
The best thermal paste for laptop: • The Best Thermal Paste...
Laptop Cooling Pad Efficiency: • Laptop Cooling Pad Eff...
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DESCRIPTION
Welcome to HowFixit! In this video, I'll take you through a step-by-step guide on how to disassemble Lenovo ThinkPad W520 laptop, clean its fans, and replace the thermal paste. Our comprehensive tutorial will equip you with the knowledge of fixing laptop overheating issues. From disassembling your laptop to cleaning the fan and heatsink from dust and applying thermal paste, we've got you covered. Say goodbye to overheating and hello to improved performance!
Laptop Disassembly Guide:
Disassembling your laptop may seem daunting, but I'll break it down into easy-to-follow steps. You'll learn how to remove the laptop's casing, locate and clean the heatsink and fans, and access to CPU for thermal paste replacement. By following this guide, you'll gain a deeper understanding of your laptop's internals and how to keep it running smoothly.
Fan Cleaning Techniques:
Dust and debris can accumulate in your laptop's fans and heatsink over time, leading to reduced airflow and increased temperatures. I'll show you effective methods to clean your laptop using an antistatic brush and proper handling techniques. By keeping your cooling system clean, you'll prevent overheating and extend the lifespan of your laptop.
Thermal Paste Replacement:
Thermal paste plays a crucial role in transferring heat from the laptop's CPU and GPU to the heatsink. However, over time, a thermal paste can dry out and lose its effectiveness. I'll guide you through the process of removing the old thermal paste and applying a fresh, high-quality one. This step is vital for optimal heat dissipation and temperature management. Don't let an overheating laptop slow you down! Watch this comprehensive guide and take control of your laptop's temperature. By performing regular fan cleaning and thermal paste replacement, you'll ensure smooth operation, prevent hardware damage, and extend the life of your laptop. Hit the play button now and let's get started!
DISCLAIMER
This video intended for general information only. We will not accept any liability for damage or injury caused while following this guide. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
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***ENG: Links to screwdrivers and parts in the description under the video*
***RUS: Ссылки на отвертки и заменяемые детали в описании под видео*
Thanks, just got home from work and took my w520 apart. I couldnt have done it safely without you! I managed to take everything apart as you did... I was a bit dissappointed with the lack of dust around the fan, but there was some cleaning required and replacing the thermal paste must have helped on such an old device. Now my temps are about 10 degrees lower, both idle and under load, which I'm pleased with. Good work! Let's hope it continues to work now :)
This helped a lot. After a good cleaning and new thermal paste, the fan runs a lot less, and not as fast, and it doesn't feel like I have a frying pan on my lap anymore! Woot!
Great stuff, thanks. My W520 had started crashing a lot, it got to the point where it would boot into Win10 and whatever you chose would result in a BSOD. HWMonitor was clocking temps at 70C+ (158F) on a regular basis, more if one of the kids tried to play Minecraft. I followed all the instructions, got the heatsync/fan out, it was covered in dust. Cleaned it all up, removed the old thermal paste, and applied silicone grease. Got it all back together, HWMonitor is now showing 39C at idle, 45-50 under load. It hasn't crashed since the operation was completed. There are only 2 difficult parts, both involve getting the ribbon cables reseated properly. The one connecting the touchpad was very frustrating, it is as thin as paper and was very difficult to get back in place. The keyboard ribbon connector is also challenging as it is difficult to see if you have it properly centered. My first attempt was off, some keys (like the B key) did not work. Second attempt worked.
This just fixed my laptop! It was incredibly dirty and kept freezing. Then it would not boot up. I almost gave up TODAY! My fan was dusty and there was so much dirt on the board. You're a lifesaver! THANK YOU!
Good clean video, was stuck getting my heatsink out and just had to watch your video and realize it was just a matter of jockeying it out of the tight spot. Thank you!
Fixing my buddy's W520. Thank you for this excellent no-nonsense video.
I still use a w520 every day. It's from 2012 and it's still a good laptop. Do you happen to remember what broke your friends laptop?
@@noahpaulette1490 Doritos dust and wine.
@@poldergeest0297 that sounds like it was a nightmare to clean. Thankfully the keyboard is waterproof so it should all have been in the parts that are easy to clean.
@@noahpaulette1490 there was no rescuing the keyboard so I replaced it, which was so easy to do. The rest of the machine still worked of course. It still does.
Thanks! Super helpful. Just cleaned the fan of my W530. So much dust was inside can't believe it. Much appreciated !!!
My W520 would boot up and then immediately crash with FAN Error... follow the video, cleaned, put it back and sure enough it is working again. Awesome stuff. Thanks. By the way... the magnet stuck to the screwdriver idea is brilliant.
Thanks to you, now my W520 is free from high heat. appreciate!
Awesome video. Greatly appreciate the time you took to document this.
This is great - nice clear video. As another commenter noted, showing reassembly (including thermal paste) would be a nice improvement.
Thank you. Actually usually I include thermal paste to videos. Assembling you can find in my videos or using abstract.
This is really quiet work.
Amazing video, I had a issue with my lenova w520 and this helped me. After cleaning the fan I am having an issue of my mouse pad not working, I checked the cable, its been connected but try couple of time but no luck. Any suggestion ?
what thermal do u recommend to use new ?
Thank you for this Video. This helped a lot
Im doing this. Where can I find info on CPU upgrades ?. Somebody mentioned we can upgrade the CPU.
This is an excellent video tutorial for a thorough cleaning of the cooling system. BUT! Try a simpler approach first, it may work: Disassemble (following the video) to the point where you lift the keyboard out - but don't disconnect the flexible PC circuitry connecting it to the motherboard, just set the keyboard down. You can see 1/2 of the fan at the upper left of the case. Using a can of compressed air blow on the fan until it spins and throws out dust bunnies like crazy. Keep going until it is spinning freely. Then direct the compressed air in from the side vent until, again, the fan is spinning freely and the dust bunnies are blasted out. Then do the fan from the top again, and then the entire laptop frame to make sure it's clean (don't forget the keyboard). This may be all you need. It's all I needed. P.S. Once you've zipped everything back up use a utility like Open Hardware Monitor to monitor CPU core speeds and temps while doing something extremely CPU intensive, like running WinRAR on a humongous video file (WinRAR uses multiple cores by default). You should hear the fan spinning up (but not too loudly) and the temps going to 85-88C. If you see the core temps going to 90C or above and then the CPUs throttling to a fraction of their typical speed for several minutes: You didn't fix it yet. You probably need to do the whole procedure.
+Kaus Kommentator I am afraid I could damage something, isn't compressed air a little too strong?
+Kaethe Kerosin No - I'm talking about those little cans you get not some kind of industrial compressor :-) Anyway, I've done this for years and no problems. In fact, if we're talking about a W520 or similar Lenovo workstation - they're built like tanks. With the exception of the flexible connector between the keyboard and mainboard, and a couple of things like small antenna wires, I don't think you can hurt anything except by dropping it or dropping something on it. Spraying air (via the little tiny plastic tubes off of the can so you can really direct it) won't hurt the fan or the keyboard (give it a good going over to get the crud out from underneath the keys) or anything else. (You can hurt things by static electricity, though, so use reasonable precautions when inserting/removing parts like the SODIMMs or mSATA drives.)
Yeah, that's the approach I would use. Removing the heat-sink from the processors seems a bit over-kill. I would add though, that you should hold the fan still with your finger while you blow air through it and just rotate it with your finger a bit every second or two to get all of the dust off of it.
The bearings in those small fans frequently cannot handle the RPMs that blowing air onto them will result in.
Please DO NOT rotate the fan with your fingers or with cans of air!
what's wrong with having it rotate through the use of compressed air?
Thank you very much. Worked for me *****
Благодарю. Видео было полезным.
Can i use this guide for W530 & W540?
yes, you can. it works to me (W 530)
download the hardware maintainece a ual
i want to buy new cpu fan onlline for my lenovo w520 pls give me link where to buy ?
mình muốn mua quạt tản nhiệt máy Lenovo W530, bạn có không ?
Nice video ❗❗
Hi guys my Lenovo w520 dont receive charge. What i can do
My w530 also hase some problem with charging
Thanks Man
for me the screws for the heat sink wont come loose there stuck
Pls lenovo w530
heatsink is huge !
Hey, great video but one problem. I followed the entire process, cleaned out the fan, applied the proper amount of thermal paste and reassembled. Problem is, that my laptop doesn't seem to be running. The power comes on with the bluetooth icon and the fan is running but the screen is blank. If you might know where I went wrong, I'd appreciate the insight! Thanks :)
(Never liked messing about with laptops)
Its work on T520??
I think yes
How-FixIT How-FixIT oh i have t520 but im scary to clean it can you upload wideo with disassembly and again install everything pls
I need the video for how to open and clean a lenovo fan for the ALL IN ONE DESKTOP not a laptop. Why can't I find that anywhere?
I can upgrate the cpu?
Yes, it possible on this laptop
Its Sata 3. ( 6gb /s )???
I want to put the ssd
Useful video, but if you're going to wear gloves, then FGS please use a plastic spudger tool to release circuit board connectors - I grated my teeth every time you dug into connectors with a pair of metal needle tweezers!!! Otherwise - thanks for a great little instructional which brings the service manual to life a little.
thanks
Or you could have removed 2 screws for the keyboard - used compressed air and done.
no audio??? why so shy?
I thought i accidentally muted my volume