Kindle Paperwhite 1st Generation Motherboard Replacement

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Written By: Isabelle Burgess (and 10 other contributors)

Comments: 12
Favorites: 10
Completions: 5

Kindle Paperwhite 1st Generation Motherboard Replacement

Featured Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

20 - 35 minutes

Introduction

Replace your Kindle's old motherboard with a new one.

Tools

Parts

No parts specified.

Step 1 Case

Using a spudger or plastic opening tool, gently pry the bezel from the screen. It is easier to start in the corners and work your way around the bezel.

Do not insert the spudger too far under the bezel; it could easily damage the screen.

Using a spudger or plastic opening tool, gently pry the bezel from the screen. It is easier to start in the corners and work your way around the bezel.
Do not insert the spudger too far under the bezel; it could easily damage the screen.

Edit

I found it easier to start this step off with one of the Opening Picks found in the iOpener pack.

NathanF - 27 дек 2017 г. Ответить

The glue on bezel started to peel the sticky back protective layer off the screen for me - managed to smooth it back down, although now have an unsightly crease. I would try to hold the screen down when you pull the bezel off to stop damaging the screen.

Callum Rogers - 27 авг 2021 г. Ответить

This step is most time consuming. Take you time and try not to scratch the bezel :)

Oleksii - 1 сен 2021 г. Ответить

Step 2

Remove the eleven 3.0 mm Phillips screws surrounding the midframe.

At the top of the display, a strip of black tape covers one screw.

Remove the eleven 3.0 mm Phillips screws surrounding the midframe.
At the top of the display, a strip of black tape covers one screw.

Edit

On 3G version you will not have the top middle screw.

BJones - 21 мая 2016 г. Ответить

Hello, the original battery is 1420m Ah and 3.7VDC, but the buttery you offer to sell is 1600mAh, is it right? there is no problem with different mAh? mi kindle is the amazon kindle 1est generation

Paula Ponce de Leon - 9 ноя 2020 г. Ответить

Step 3

Lift the midframe out of the case.
If the midframe is stuck, slide it to the left first, and then lift it out.

Edit

There are clips in the bottom of the case helping hold the midframe in. Lift the top of the midframe up enough to clear the black back piece and then slide up and out.

BJones - 21 мая 2016 г. Ответить

Step 4 Battery

Turn over the midframe to locate the battery.

Remove the three Phillips 3.0 mm screws securing the battery to the midframe.

Turn over the midframe to locate the battery.
Remove the three Phillips 3.0 mm screws securing the battery to the midframe.

Edit

Step 5

Gently lift the battery from the bottom, and slide it out of the midframe.

Gently lift the battery from the bottom, and slide it out of the midframe.

Edit

Thanks for providing this guide, I would have been lost without it. My old kindle, however, had very stiff and hard rubber/plastic. There was no way I could have slid the glass to the side or gotten the plastic spud under the edge of the glass or the plastic.

What I did was to remove a piece of the plastic next to the glass , about 1/8” square, then insert a putty knife in between the two sides towards the edges. It all popped apart without breaking anything. Perhaps I could have done this without cutting out the little piece.

Joseph L Woollett - 7 фев 2021 г. Ответить

Thank you for this very user friendly guide.My kindle is now working as new.The screws are small and fiddly and the correct tools are essential. I took roughly about 45 minutes from start to finish and the most difficult part was taking the casing apart without damaging the screen .. A 5 star service.

jonesmrse - 28 янв 2022 г. Ответить

Step 6 Motherboard

With the case and battery removed from the midframe, begin removing all cables attached to the motherboard.

Place the device so the midframe's backside faces up. Start with the cable on the bottom left corner.

Use a spudger to lift up the white locking cable tensioner and slide the flex cable out.

With the case and battery removed from the midframe, begin removing all cables attached to the motherboard.
Place the device so the midframe's backside faces up. Start with the cable on the bottom left corner.
Use a spudger to lift up the white locking cable tensioner and slide the flex cable out.
Proceed counterclockwise to the next cable and repeat. Small flex cable on the bottom won't need cable tensioner lifted, just carefully pull out.

Edit

The second connector is not exactly a "repeat". The lock to be lifted is on the cable side, whereas the first connector's lock is away from the cable.

Yishai Sered - 22 мар 2015 г. Ответить

Does anyone know the part number or for that matter where i can purchase the original LED assembly?

Thanks

naz zan - 22 мар 2015 г. Ответить

Step 7

Remove the white flex cable by gently lifting the yellow plastic connector.

Remove the white flex cable by gently lifting the yellow plastic connector.

Edit

Step 8

Remove the yellow anti-static tape from the display ribbon cable connector.

Use a spudger to lift up and disconnect the cable tensioner.

Remove the yellow anti-static tape from the display ribbon cable connector.
Use a spudger to lift up and disconnect the cable tensioner.

Edit

Step 9

Use a Philips screwdriver to remove the seven 3.0 mm Phillips screws securing the motherboard:

Use a Philips screwdriver to remove the seven 3.0 mm Phillips screws securing the motherboard:
Three silver screws with silver washers
Two silver screws with no washers
One black screw with a golden washer
One black screw with a square washer