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Every section of ExcitingSpas.com. Individual board pages are reached through their brand, series, model, code family or file type.
Catalog
Guides
- All guides
- Reading Schematics
- How to Use a Schematic and a Boardview Together
- Unpopulated Components (NC, DNI, @) in Laptop Schematics
- Test Points in Laptop Schematics and How to Use Them
- Schematic Revisions: Why Rev 0.3 vs Rev 1.0 Matters
- Reference Designators on Laptop Boards: PU, PQ, PR, PC, PL and More
- Reading Voltage Regulator Pages in Laptop Schematics
- Reading the USB-C Section of a Laptop Schematic
- How to Read the Memory (DDR) Pages of a Laptop Schematic
- Reading the Display (eDP and LVDS) Section of a Laptop Schematic
- Pull-Up and Pull-Down Resistors in Laptop Schematics
- Power Sequence Pages in Laptop Schematics Explained
- Understanding Net Names and Signal Labels in Laptop Schematics
- Laptop Schematic Symbols Explained
- Compal, Quanta, Wistron, Pegatron, Inventec: Who Made Your Laptop Motherboard
- Laptop Board Codes Explained: LA-, NM-, DA0, 6050A and 448 Numbers
- How to Trace a Signal Across Multiple Schematic Pages
- How to Read a Laptop Schematic: A Beginner's Guide
- How to Identify Your Laptop Motherboard Model
- How to Find the Right Schematic for Your Laptop Motherboard
- Feedback Resistors: Working Out a Rail Voltage from the Schematic
- Block Diagrams in Laptop Schematics: Where to Start
- Boardview
- No Boardview for Your Board? How to Work Without One
- What Is a Boardview File and Why You Need One
- Using Diode Mode Values from Boardview Files
- Tracing a Power Rail with Boardview Net Highlighting
- OpenBoardView: Installation and First Steps
- How to Open .TVW Boardview Files
- How to Open .PCB and .CAD Boardview Files
- How to Open .FZ Boardview Files
- How to Open .BRD Boardview Files (and Which BRD You Have)
- How to Open .BDV Boardview Files
- How to Open .ASC and .BVR Boardview Files
- How to Match a Boardview to Your Board Revision
- FlexBV vs OpenBoardView vs Other Viewers: Which to Use
- Finding Component Locations Fast with Boardview Search
- Using Boardview Software on Mac and Linux
- Boardview File Won't Open: Common Errors and Fixes
- Boardview File Formats Compared: BRD, BDV, FZ, CAD, TVW, ASC
- BIOS
- Keeping the Windows Product Key (MSDM) When Reflashing a BIOS
- What Is a Laptop BIOS Chip and Where to Find It
- BIOS Recovery Without a Programmer: Vendor Recovery Methods
- Laptops with Two BIOS Chips: When the Dump Is Split
- SPI Flash Write Protection and Status Register Bits
- Reading SPI Flash Part Numbers: Winbond, Macronix, GigaDevice
- SPI Flash Chips Explained: The 25-Series BIOS Memory
- SOIC8 Clip vs Desoldering: Safe BIOS Chip Programming
- WSON8 BIOS Chips: How to Read and Program Them
- Serial Number, UUID and MAC Address in BIOS: How to Preserve Them
- Laptop Dead After a BIOS Update: Recovery Methods
- Laptop BIOS Passwords: What Repair Shops Can and Can't Do
- The Intel ME Region Explained for Laptop Repair
- The Intel Flash Descriptor: Regions, Locks and Why It Matters
- How to Verify a BIOS File Before Flashing
- How to Prepare a Clean ME Region in a BIOS Dump
- How to Back Up the Original BIOS Before Flashing
- Using flashrom on Linux to Read a Laptop BIOS Chip
- EC/KBC Firmware: The Second BIOS in Your Laptop
- How to Read and Write a BIOS Chip with a CH341A Programmer
- CH341A Cannot Detect the Chip: Causes and Fixes
- CH341A 1.8V Adapter: When You Need It
- BIOS File Formats: .bin, .rom, .cap and .fd Explained
- BIOS Dump vs Clean BIOS: What's the Difference
- 8 MB, 16 MB or 32 MB: Matching the BIOS Dump to the Chip
- Diagnostics
- Beep and Blink Codes: How to Use Them in Board Diagnosis
- USB-C Laptop Not Charging: PD Controller Diagnosis
- Reading Current Draw on a Bench Supply: What the Numbers Tell You
- No Backlight on a Laptop Screen: Diagnosis Guide
- Laptop Works Only with the Charger Connected
- Laptop Wi-Fi Card Not Detected: Board-Level Causes
- Laptop Webcam Not Detected: Board-Level Diagnosis
- Laptop USB Ports Not Working: Board-Level Checks
- Laptop Turns On Then Off Immediately: Causes and Fixes
- Laptop Touchpad Not Working: Board-Level Checks
- Laptop SSD or NVMe Drive Not Detected: Board-Level Causes
- Laptop Running Hot at Idle: Motherboard Causes
- Laptop Random Shutdowns Under Load: Board-Level Causes
- Laptop Powers On but No Display: Where to Start
- Laptop Power Button Does Nothing: Testing the Switch Circuit
- Laptop Not Turning On: Step-by-Step Motherboard Diagnosis
- Laptop Not Detecting the Battery
- Laptop Not Charging: Charging Circuit Diagnosis
- Laptop Memory Errors and Beep Codes: Board-Level Causes
- Laptop Liquid Damage Repair: What to Check First
- Laptop Keyboard Not Working: Board-Level Causes
- Laptop Fan Not Spinning: Circuit Diagnosis
- Laptop Dead After a Power Surge: What Usually Fails
- Laptop Charges Only When Turned Off
- Laptop Stuck in a Boot Loop: Hardware Causes
- Laptop Audio Not Working: Codec and Amplifier Checks
- How to Find a Short Circuit on a Laptop Motherboard
- Finding Shorts with Freeze Spray, Thermal Camera and Rosin
- External Monitor Works but the Laptop Screen Is Black
- Charger LED Goes Off When Plugged In: Finding the Short on DCIN
- Power Circuits
- VCore Phases, Inductors and Output Capacitors
- The USB-C Power Path on Laptops: From Port to Charger IC
- The RTC Circuit and CMOS Battery in Laptops
- Power Good Signals and Why They Matter
- Load Switches and Rail Gating on Laptop Motherboards
- LDO Regulators on Laptop Boards
- Laptop RAM Power Rails: VDDQ, VTT and VPP
- Laptop Power Rails Explained: DCIN, B+, 3V/5V and VCore
- Laptop GPU Power Circuit Basics
- The Laptop CPU VCore Circuit Explained
- The Laptop Charging IC: How It Works
- MOSFETs on Laptop Motherboards: How to Test Them
- How to Measure Voltages on a Laptop Board Safely
- Enable Signals in Laptop Power Sequencing
- The Embedded Controller (EC): What It Does
- Buck Converters on Laptop Boards: How a Rail Is Made
- The Laptop Battery Connector and SMBus Explained
- Always-On Rails (3VALW, 5VALW): What They Do
- Multimeter
- Multimeter Modes and Symbols Explained
- Multimeter Mistakes That Damage Laptop Boards (and How to Avoid Them)
- Laptop Motherboard Components: How to Recognise Each One and What to Measure
- How to Use a Multimeter on a Laptop Motherboard: A Beginner's Guide
- How to Test Inductors and Ferrite Beads with a Multimeter
- How to Test a Transistor with a Multimeter: BJT and MOSFET
- How to Test a Thermistor with a Multimeter
- How to Test a Resistor with a Multimeter (In and Out of Circuit)
- How to Test a Laptop Charger with a Multimeter
- How to Test a Laptop Battery with a Multimeter Safely
- How to Test a Fuse on a Laptop Board with a Multimeter
- How to Test a Diode with a Multimeter: Schottky, Zener, TVS and LED
- How to Test a Capacitor with a Multimeter
- How to Measure Current with a Multimeter (and When Not To)
- Continuity Testing: Finding Breaks in Traces, Cables and Connectors
- Tools
- Using a USB-C Power Meter for Laptop Diagnosis
- Thermal Cameras for Short Detection: Are They Worth It
- Preheaters for Laptop Board Work: When You Need One
- Oscilloscope Basics for Laptop Board Repair
- Building a Laptop Repair Workbench on a Budget
- How to Choose a Multimeter for Board Repair
- How to Choose a Microscope for Board Repair
- Hot Air Station Basics for Laptop Repair
- Heat Shielding: Kapton Tape, Aluminium Tape and Other Tricks
- Flux, Solder and Wick: Consumables for Board Repair
- Essential Tools for Laptop Motherboard Repair
- Diode Mode Measurements Explained
- Cleaning Laptop Boards: Isopropyl Alcohol and Ultrasonic Cleaners
- Choosing a Soldering Iron for Board Repair
- Bench Power Supply for Laptop Repair: How to Inject Voltage
- Brands
- Toshiba and Dynabook Motherboard Identification
- Samsung Laptop Motherboard Codes Explained
- MSI Gaming Laptop Motherboard Repair Basics
- Microsoft Surface Motherboard Repair: The Challenges
- MacBook Logic Board Numbers (820-xxxxx) Explained
- Lenovo ThinkPad Motherboard Repair: What Makes It Different
- Lenovo IdeaPad and Legion Boards: Reading NM- Codes
- HP ProBook and EliteBook Board Repair Notes
- HP Laptop Motherboard Part Numbers Explained
- Desktop Motherboard Repair for Laptop Technicians
- Dell Laptop Motherboard Identification Guide
- Asus Laptop Motherboard Naming and Revisions
- Acer Laptop Motherboards: Common Faults
- Components
- Inductors on Laptop Boards: How to Test Them
- SMD Component Marking Codes: How to Identify Unknown Parts
- Signs of PCH (Chipset) Failure in Laptops
- Polymer and Tantalum Capacitors: Failure Modes on Laptop Boards
- Laptop Motherboard Repair vs Replacement: When It's Worth It
- Laptop Motherboard Fuses: Finding and Testing Them
- Shorted Capacitors on Laptop Boards: How to Find Them
- Diodes and TVS Diodes on Laptop Boards
- Current Sense Resistors in Laptop Charging Circuits
- Crystals and Clock Problems on Laptop Boards
- Common Laptop Motherboard ICs and What They Do
Calculators and tools
- All tools
- Ohm's Law Calculator
- Voltage Divider Calculator
- Capacitor Discharge Calculator
- Capacitors in Series and Parallel Calculator
- LED Series Resistor Calculator
- RC Time Constant Calculator
- Resistor Power and Package Rating Calculator
- Resistors in Series and Parallel Calculator
- SMD Resistor Code Calculator
- Capacitor Code Calculator
- NTC Thermistor Calculator (B Value)
- Resistor Colour Code Calculator (4, 5 and 6 Band)
- SMD Package Size Converter (Imperial ↔ Metric)
- Standard Resistor Value Calculator (E6–E96)
- Regulator Feedback Resistor Calculator
- Buck Converter Calculator (Duty Cycle and Inductor Ripple)
- Current Sense Resistor Calculator
- LDO Power Dissipation Calculator
- Laptop Charger Compatibility and Wattage Calculator
- PWM Duty Cycle and Average Voltage Calculator
- USB-C Power Delivery Calculator
- mAh to Wh Converter for Laptop Batteries
- Battery Pack Voltage Calculator (Cells in Series and Parallel)
- Laptop Battery Runtime Calculator
- Laptop Charging Time Calculator
- SPI Flash Size Calculator (BIOS Chip Mbit to MB)
- File Checksum Calculator (SHA-256, SHA-1, CRC32)
- BIOS Dump Compare Tool
- Hex, Decimal and Binary Converter
- MAC Address Converter and Checker
- Laptop Board Code Decoder
- Jumper Wire AWG Calculator
- PCB Trace Width Calculator (IPC-2221)
About this site
Brands
- Acer 865
- Apple 187
- ASRock 420
- Asus 2,331
- BenQ 24
- Biostar 126
- Casper 50
- Chuwi 1
- Clevo 63
- Dell 1,062
- ECS 202
- Foxconn 91
- Fujitsu 145
- Gigabyte 755
- Google 1
- Grundig 9
- Haier 14
- HP 1,420
- Huananzhi 1
- Huawei 57
- Intel 123
- Lenovo 1,254
- LG 137
- Medion 14
- Microsoft 28
- Monster 6
- MSI 802
- Panasonic 24
- Positivo 43
- Razer 9
- Samsung 460
- Sony 205
- Toshiba 482
- Xiaomi 18
Board manufacturers
Series
- Acer Aspire
- Acer Extensa
- Acer Nitro
- Acer Predator
- Acer Spin
- Acer Swift
- Acer TravelMate
- Acer Veriton
- Apple MacBook
- Apple MacBook Air
- Apple MacBook Pro
- Apple iMac
- Asus Eee PC
- Asus ExpertBook
- Asus ROG
- Asus ROG Strix
- Asus ROG Zephyrus
- Asus TUF
- Asus TUF Gaming
- Asus Transformer
- Asus VivoBook
- Asus ZenBook
- BenQ Joybook
- Casper Nirvana
- Dell Inspiron
- Dell Latitude
- Dell OptiPlex
- Dell Precision
- Dell Vostro
- Dell XPS
- Fujitsu Amilo
- Fujitsu Esprimo
- Fujitsu LifeBook
- HP EliteBook
- HP EliteDesk
- HP Envy
- HP Omen
- HP Pavilion
- HP Presario
- HP ProBook
- HP ProDesk
- HP Spectre
- HP TouchSmart
- HP Victus
- HP ZBook
- Huawei MateBook
- Lenovo Flex
- Lenovo IdeaCentre
- Lenovo IdeaPad
- Lenovo Legion
- Lenovo Miix
- Lenovo ThinkBook
- Lenovo ThinkCentre
- Lenovo ThinkPad
- Lenovo ThinkStation
- Lenovo Yoga
- MSI Cyborg
- Medion Akoya
- Microsoft Surface
- Microsoft Surface Pro
- Razer Blade
- Sony VAIO
- Toshiba Portege
- Toshiba Qosmio
- Toshiba Satellite
- Toshiba Tecra