About this manual
Chapter 1. Safety information
Chapter 2. Important service information
- Strategy for replacing FRUs
- Strategy for replacing FRUs for CTO, special bid model, and standard models
  - Product definition
  - FRU identification
Chapter 3. General checkout
Chapter 4. Related service information
Chapter 5. Special keys
Chapter 6. Locations
Chapter 7. FRU replacement notices
Chapter 8. Removing or replacing a FRU
Appendix A. Notices
Appendix B. Abbreviation and acronym table

Lenovo E15 User Manual

Displayed below is the user manual for E15 by Lenovo which is a product in the Notebooks category. This manual has pages.

Related Manuals

Lenovo E15 Manual

Lenovo E15 Gen 2 Manual

Lenovo E15 Manual

Lenovo E15 Gen 2 Manual

E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3

Hardware Maintenance Manual

Note: Before using this information and the product it supports, be sure to read the general information

under Appendix A “Notices” on page 105.

Second Edition (May 2021)

LIMITED AND RESTRICTED RIGHTS NOTICE: If data or software is delivered pursuant to a General Services

Administration “GSA” contract, use, reproduction, or disclosure is subject to restrictions set forth in Contract No. GS-

35F-05925.

Contents

About this manual . . . . . . . . . . . . iii

Chapter 1. Safety information . . . . . . 1

General safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Electrical safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Safety inspection guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Handling devices that are sensitive to electrostatic

discharge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Grounding requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Safety notices (multilingual translations) . . . . . . 4

Chapter 2. Important service

information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Strategy for replacing FRUs . . . . . . . . . . 21

Strategy for replacing a solid-state drive . . . 21

Important notice for replacing a system

board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

How to use error message . . . . . . . . . 22

Strategy for replacing FRUs for CTO, special bid

model, and standard models. . . . . . . . . . 22

Product definition . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

FRU identification . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Chapter 3. General checkout . . . . . 25

What to do first . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Checkout guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Diagnosing problems . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Quick test programs . . . . . . . . . . . 27

UEFI diagnostic program . . . . . . . . . 27

Bootable diagnostic programs . . . . . . . 27

Power system checkout . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Checking the ac power adapter . . . . . . . 28

Checking the built-in battery and operational

charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Checking the coin-cell battery . . . . . . . 29

Chapter 4. Related service

information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Reset or restore Windows . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Passwords. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Power-on password . . . . . . . . . . . 31

NVMe password. . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Supervisor password . . . . . . . . . . . 32

System management password. . . . . . . 32

How to remove the power-on password . . . 33

How to remove the NVMe password . . . . . 33

How to remove the system management

password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Power management . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Sleep mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Hibernation mode . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Symptom-to-FRU index . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Numeric error codes . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Error messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Beep errors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

No-beep symptoms . . . . . . . . . . . 39

LCD-related symptoms . . . . . . . . . . 39

Intermittent problems . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Undetermined problems . . . . . . . . . 40

Chapter 5. Special keys . . . . . . . . 41

Chapter 6. Locations . . . . . . . . . 43

Locating computer controls, connectors, and

indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Front view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Side view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Locating FRUs and CRUs . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Major FRUs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

LCD FRUs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Miscellaneous parts . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Connector and cable guide . . . . . . . . 54

Looking up FRU information . . . . . . . . . . 57

Chapter 7. FRU replacement

notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Service tool kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Screw notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Retaining serial numbers . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Restoring the serial number of the system

unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Retaining the UUID. . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Chapter 8. Removing or replacing a

FRU. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

General guidelines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Before servicing the computer . . . . . . . . . 64

Disabling the built-in battery . . . . . . . . . . 64

1010 Base cover assembly . . . . . . . . . . 64

1020 Built-in battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

1030 Memory module and memory module

bracket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

1040 M.2 solid-state drive . . . . . . . . . . . 68

1050 Speaker assembly . . . . . . . . . . . 70

1060 Wireless LAN card . . . . . . . . . . . 71

1070 Thermal fan assembly . . . . . . . . . . 72

1080 I/O board and I/O board cable . . . . . . . 73

1090 Power button (with fingerprint reader*) and

power button (with fingerprint reader*) cable . . . 77

1100 Coin-cell battery . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

1110 Trackpad cable and trackpad . . . . . . . 78

1120 Earbuds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

1130 Earbud cable and earbud USB-C board . . . 80

1140 Earbud tray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

1150 Earbud bracket . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

1160 Earbud tray front bezel . . . . . . . . . . 81

1170 System board . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

1180 LCD unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

1190 Keyboard assembly . . . . . . . . . . . 89

2010 LCD bezel assembly . . . . . . . . . . . 89

2020 LCD panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

2030 Hinge kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

2040 Camera and microphone combo card . . . . 96

2050 eDP cable assembly . . . . . . . . . . . 98

2060 Wireless LAN antenna assembly . . . . . . 100

2070 LCD cover assembly. . . . . . . . . . . 103

Appendix A. Notices. . . . . . . . . . 105

Appendix B. Abbreviation and

acronym table . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

ii E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

About this manual

This manual contains service and reference information for the following ThinkPad® products.

ThinkPad E14 Gen 3 Machine types (MT)

20Y7, 20YD, 20YE, and 20YF

ThinkPad E15 Gen 3 Machine types (MT)

20YG, 20YH, 20YJ, and 20YK

Use this manual along with the advanced diagnostic tests to troubleshoot problems.

Important: This manual is intended only for trained service technicians who are familiar with ThinkPad

products. Use this manual along with the advanced diagnostic tests to troubleshoot problems effectively.

Before servicing a ThinkPad product, be sure to read all the information under Chapter 1 “Safety information”

on page 1 and Chapter 2 “Important service information” on page 21.

iv E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Chapter 1. Safety information

This chapter presents following safety information that you need to be familiar with before you service a

ThinkPad notebook computer.

• “General safety” on page 1

• “Electrical safety” on page 1

• “Safety inspection guide” on page 2

• “Handling devices that are sensitive to electrostatic discharge” on page 3

• “Grounding requirements” on page 4

• “Safety notices (multilingual translations)” on page 4

General safety

Follow these rules to ensure general safety:

• Observe good housekeeping in the area of the machines during and after maintenance.

• When lifting any heavy object:

1. Make sure that you can stand safely without slipping.

2. Distribute the weight of the object equally between your feet.

3. Use a slow lifting force. Never move suddenly or twist when you attempt to lift.

4. Lift by standing or by pushing up with your leg muscles; this action removes the strain from the

muscles in your back. Do not attempt to lift any object that weighs more than 16 kg (35 lb) or that you

think is too heavy for you.

• Do not perform any action that causes hazards to the customer, or that makes the equipment unsafe.

• Before you start the machine, make sure that other service technicians and the customer's personnel are

not in a hazardous position.

• Place removed covers and other parts in a safe place, away from all personnel, while you are servicing the

machine.

• Keep your toolcase away from walk areas so that other people will not trip over it.

• Do not wear loose clothing that can be trapped in the moving parts of a machine. Make sure that your

sleeves are fastened or rolled up above your elbows. If your hair is long, fasten it.

• Insert the ends of your necktie or scarf inside clothing or fasten it with a nonconductive clip, about 8

centimeters (3 inches) from the end.

• Do not wear jewelry, chains, metal-frame eyeglasses, or metal fasteners for your clothing.

Attention: Metal objects are good electrical conductors.

• Wear safety glasses when you are hammering, drilling, soldering, cutting wire, attaching springs, using

solvents, or working in any other conditions that might be hazardous to your eyes.

• After service, reinstall all safety shields, guards, labels, and ground wires. Replace any safety device that

is worn or defective.

• Reinstall all covers correctly before returning the machine to the customer.

• Fan louvers on the machine help to prevent overheating of internal components. Do not obstruct fan

louvers or cover them with labels or stickers.

Electrical safety

Observe the following rules when working on electrical equipment.

Important: Use only approved tools and test equipment. Some hand tools have handles covered with a soft

material that does not insulate you when working with live electrical currents.Many customers have, near

their equipment, rubber floor mats that contain small conductive fibers to decrease electrostatic discharges.

Do not use this type of mat to protect yourself from electrical shock.

• Find the room emergency power-off (EPO) switch, disconnecting switch, or electrical outlet. If an electrical

accident occurs, you can then operate the switch or unplug the power cord quickly.

• Do not work alone under hazardous conditions or near equipment that has hazardous voltages.

• Disconnect all power before:

– Performing a mechanical inspection

– Working near power supplies

– Removing or installing main units

• Before you start to work on the machine, unplug the power cord. If you cannot unplug it, ask the customer

to power-off the wall box that supplies power to the machine, and to lock the wall box in the off position.

• If you need to work on a machine that has exposed electrical circuits, observe the following precautions:

– Ensure that another person, familiar with the power-off controls, is near you.

Attention: Another person must be there to switch off the power, if necessary.

– Use only one hand when working with powered-on electrical equipment; keep the other hand in your

pocket or behind your back.

Attention: An electrical shock can occur only when there is a complete circuit. By observing the above

rule, you may prevent a current from passing through your body.

– When using testers, set the controls correctly and use the approved probe leads and accessories for

that tester.

– Stand on suitable rubber mats (obtained locally, if necessary) to insulate you from grounds such as

metal floor strips and machine frames.

Observe the special safety precautions when you work with very high voltages; Instructions for these

precautions are in the safety sections of maintenance information. Use extreme care when measuring high

voltages.

• Regularly inspect and maintain your electrical hand tools for safe operational condition.

• Do not use worn or broken tools and testers.

• Never assume that power has been disconnected from a circuit. First, check that it has been powered off.

• Always look carefully for possible hazards in your work area. Examples of these hazards are moist floors,

ungrounded power extension cables, power surges, and missing safety grounds.

• Do not touch live electrical circuits with the reflective surface of a plastic dental mirror. The surface is

conductive; such touching can cause personal injury and machine damage.

• Do not service the following parts with the power on when they are removed from their normal operating

places in a machine:

– Power supply units

– Pumps

– Blowers and fans

– Motor generators

– Parts similar to those listed above

This practice ensures correct grounding of the units.

• If an electrical accident occurs:

– Use caution; do not become a victim yourself.

– Switch off power.

– Send another person to get medical aid.

Safety inspection guide

The purpose of this inspection guide is to assist you in identifying potentially unsafe conditions. As each

machine was designed and built, required safety items were installed to protect users and service

technicians from injury. This guide addresses only those items. You should use good judgment to identify

potential safety hazards due to attachment of non-ThinkPad features or options not covered by this

inspection guide.

If any unsafe conditions are present, you must determine how serious the apparent hazard could be and

whether you can continue without first correcting the problem.

2E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Consider these conditions and the safety hazards they present:

• Electrical hazards, especially primary power (primary voltage on the frame can cause serious or fatal

electrical shock)

• Explosive hazards, such as a damaged CRT face or a bulging capacitor

• Mechanical hazards, such as loose or missing hardware

To determine whether there are any potentially unsafe conditions, use the following checklist at the

beginning of every service task. Begin the checks with the power off, and the power cord disconnected.

Checklist:

1. Check exterior covers for damage (loose, broken, or sharp edges).

2. Power off the computer. Disconnect the power cord.

3. Check the power cord for:

a. A third-wire ground connector in good condition. Use a meter to measure third-wire ground

continuity for 0.1 ohm or less between the external ground pin and the frame ground.

b. The power cord should be the authorized type specified for your computer. Go to: https://

www.lenovo.com/serviceparts-lookup

c. Insulation must not be frayed or worn.

4. Check for cracked or bulging batteries.

5. Remove the cover.

6. Check for any obvious non-ThinkPad alterations. Use good judgment as to the safety of any non-

ThinkPad alterations.

7. Check inside the unit for any obvious unsafe conditions, such as metal filings, contamination, water or

other liquids, or signs of fire or smoke damage.

8. Check for worn, frayed, or pinched cables.

9. Check that the power-supply cover fasteners (screws or rivets) have not been removed or tampered

with.

Handling devices that are sensitive to electrostatic discharge

Any computer part containing transistors or integrated circuits (ICs) should be considered sensitive to

electrostatic discharge (ESD). ESD damage can occur when there is a difference in charge between objects.

Protect against ESD damage by equalizing the charge so that the machine, the part, the work mat, and the

person handling the part are all at the same charge.

Notes:

1. Use product-specific ESD procedures when they exceed the requirements noted here.

2. Make sure that the ESD protective devices you use have been certified (ISO 9000) as fully effective.

When handling ESD-sensitive parts:

• Keep the parts in protective packages until they are inserted into the product.

• Avoid contact with other people.

• Wear a grounded wrist strap against your skin to eliminate static on your body.

• Prevent the part from touching your clothing. Most clothing is insulative and retains a charge even when

you are wearing a wrist strap.

• Use a grounded work mat to provide a static-free work surface. The mat is especially useful when

handling ESD-sensitive devices.

• Select a grounding system, such as those listed below, to provide protection that meets the specific

service requirement.

Note: The use of a grounding system to guard against ESD damage is desirable but not necessary.

– Attach the ESD ground clip to any frame ground, ground braid, or green-wire ground.

Chapter 1.Safety information 3

– When working on a double-insulated or battery-operated system, use an ESD common ground or

reference point. You can use coax or connector-outside shells on these systems.

– Use the round ground prong of the ac plug on ac-operated computers.

Grounding requirements

Electrical grounding of the computer is required for operator safety and correct system function. Proper

grounding of the electrical outlet can be verified by a certified electrician.

Safety notices (multilingual translations)

The safety notices in this section are provided in the following languages:

• English

• Arabic

• Brazilian Portuguese

• French

• German

• Hebrew

• Japanese

• Korean

• Spanish

• Traditional Chinese

DANGER

4E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

DANGER

Chapter 1.Safety information 5

6E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

PERIGO

Chapter 1.Safety information 7

PERIGO

8E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

PERIGO

DANGER

Chapter 1.Safety information 9

DANGER

VORSICHT

10 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

VORSICHT

Chapter 1.Safety information 11

VORSICHT

12 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Chapter 1.Safety information 13

14 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Chapter 1.Safety information 15

16 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Chapter 1.Safety information 17

18 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Chapter 1.Safety information 19

20 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Chapter 2. Important service information

This chapter introduces following important service information that applies to all machine types supported

by this manual:

• “Strategy for replacing FRUs” on page 21

– “Strategy for replacing a solid-state drive” on page 21

– “Important notice for replacing a system board” on page 22

– “How to use error message” on page 22

• “Strategy for replacing FRUs for CTO, special bid model, and standard models” on page 22

– “Product definition” on page 22

– “FRU identification” on page 22

Important:

• If the computer is equipped with both a hard disk drive and an mSATA solid-state drive, do not use the

mSATA solid-state drive as a bootable device. The mSATA solid-state drive is designed and developed for

“cache” function purpose only.

• Advise customers to contact the Lenovo® Customer Support Center if they need any assistance in

obtaining or installing any software fixes, drivers, and UEFI BIOS downloads. Telephone numbers for

Lenovo Support are available at: https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/supportphonelist

• System Disassembly/Reassembly videos that show the FRU removals or replacements for the Lenovo

authorized service technicians are available in the following support site:

https://www.lenovoservicetraining.com/ion/

Strategy for replacing FRUs

Before replacing parts:

Ensure that all software fixes, drivers, and UEFI BIOS downloads are installed before replacing any FRUs

listed in this manual.

After a system board is replaced, ensure that the latest UEFI BIOS is loaded to the system board before

completing the service action.

To download software fixes, drivers, and UEFI BIOS, go tohttps://support.lenovo.com and follow the

instructions on the screen.

Use the following strategy to prevent unnecessary expense for replacing and servicing FRUs:

• If you are instructed to replace a FRU but the replacement does not correct the problem, reinstall the

original FRU before you continue.

• Some computers have both a processor board and a system board. If you are instructed to replace either

the processor board or the system board, and replacing one of them does not correct the problem,

reinstall that board, and then replace the other one.

• If an adapter or a device consists of more than one FRU, any of the FRUs may be the cause of the error.

Before replacing the adapter or device, remove the FRUs, one by one, to see if the symptoms change.

Replace only the FRU that changed the symptoms.

Strategy for replacing a solid-state drive

Always try to run a low-level format before replacing a solid-state drive. This will cause all customer data on

the drive to be lost. Be sure that the customer has a current backup of the data before doing this task.

Attention: The drive startup sequence in the computer you are servicing may have been changed. Be

extremely careful during write operations such as copying, saving, or formatting. If you select an incorrect

drive, data or programs can be overwritten.

Important notice for replacing a system board

Some components mounted on a system board are very sensitive. Improper handling of a system board can

cause damage to those components, and may cause a system malfunction.

Attention: When handling a system board:

• Do not drop a system board or apply any excessive force to it.

• Avoid rough handling of any kind.

• Avoid bending a system board and hard pushing to prevent cracking at each BGA (Ball Grid Array)

chipset.

How to use error message

Use the error codes displayed on the screen to diagnose failures. If more than one error code is displayed,

begin the diagnosis with the first error code. Whatever causes the first error code may also cause false error

codes. If no error code is displayed, see whether the error symptom is listed in the Symptom-to-FRU Index

for the computer you are servicing.

Strategy for replacing FRUs for CTO, special bid model, and standard

models

This topic provides information about the model types and FRU identification.

Product definition

This topic introduces different model types and how to identify each type.

Dynamic Configure To Order (CTO)

This model provides the ability for a customer to configure a Lenovo solution from a web site, and have this

configuration sent to fulfillment, where it is built and shipped directly to the customer. The machine label and

eSupport will load these products as the 4-character MT, 4-character model and 2-character country code.

The model is “CTO1” and the default country code is “WW” (example: 20AACTO1WW).

Special bid model

This model is a unique configuration that has been negotiated between Lenovo and the customer. A unique

MTM consists of a 4-character MT, a 4-character model, and a numeric 2-character country code is provided

to the customer to place orders (example: 20AA000955). The country code assigned is numeric and does not

designate a specific country or region. The custom model factsheet for the MTM indicates which country the

special bid MTM is set up for. Special bid offering is not generally announced.

Standard model

Standard models (fixed configuration) are announced and offered to all customers. The MTM portion of the

machine label consists of a 4-character MT, a 4-character model, and an alphabetic 2-character country

code. The country code assigned is alphabetic and represents a designated country or region (example:

20AA0009UK).

FRU identification

To identify FRUs for a product, do the following:

1. Go to https://support.lenovo.com/partslookup.

22 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

2. Type the Machine Type in the corresponding field to get a general FRU list. Or type the Serial Number for

more detailed FRU information.

Chapter 2.Important service information 23

24 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Chapter 3. General checkout

This chapter introduces following information:

• “What to do first” on page 25

• “Checkout guide” on page 26

– “Diagnosing problems” on page 26

– “Quick test programs” on page 27

– “UEFI diagnostic program” on page 27

– “Bootable diagnostic programs” on page 27

• “Power system checkout” on page 28

Before you go to the checkout guide, be sure to read the following important notes.

Important notes:

• Only certified trained personnel should service the computer.

• Before replacing any FRU, read the entire page on removing and replacing FRUs.

• When you replace FRUs, it is recommended use new nylon-coated screws.

• Be extremely careful during such write operations as copying, saving, or formatting. The sequence

of the drives in the computer that you are servicing might have been altered. If you select an incorrect

drive, data or programs might be overwritten.

• Replace a FRU only with another FRU of the correct model. When you replace a FRU, ensure that the

model of the machine and the FRU part number are correct by referring to the web site: https://

support.lenovo.com/partslookup

• A FRU should not be replaced because of a single, unreproducible failure. Single failures can occur

for a variety of reasons that have nothing to do with a hardware defect, such as cosmic radiation,

electrostatic discharge, or software errors. Consider replacing a FRU only when a problem recurs. If you

suspect that a FRU is defective, clear the error log and run the test again. If the error does not recur, do

not replace the FRU.

• Be careful not to replace a nondefective FRU.

What to do first

When you return a FRU, you must include the following information in the parts exchange form or parts return

form that you attach to it:

1. Name and phone number of service technician

2. Date of service

3. Date on which the machine failed

4. Date of purchase

5. Failure symptoms, error codes appearing on the display, and beep symptoms

6. Procedure index and page number in which the failing FRU was detected

7. Failing FRU name and part number

8. Machine type, model number, and serial number

9. Customer's name and address

Note: During the warranty period, the customer may be responsible for repair costs if the computer damage

was caused by misuse, accident, modification, unsuitable physical or operating environment, or improper

maintenance by the customer. Following is a list of some common items that are not covered under warranty

and some symptoms that might indicate that the system was subjected to stress beyond normal use.

Before checking problems with the computer, determine whether the damage is covered under the warranty

by referring to the following list:

The following are not covered under warranty:

• LCD panel cracked from the application of excessive force or from being dropped

• Scratched (cosmetic) parts

• Distortion, deformation, or discoloration of the cosmetic parts

• Plastic parts, latches, pins, or connectors that have been cracked or broken by excessive force

• Damage caused by liquid spilled into the system

• Damage caused by the improper insertion of a PC card or the installation of an incompatible card

• Fuses blown by attachment of a nonsupported device

• Forgotten computer password (making the computer unusable)

• Sticky keys caused by spilling a liquid onto the keyboard

• Use of an incorrect ac power adapter on laptop products

The following symptoms might indicate damage caused by nonwarranted activities:

• Missing parts might be a symptom of unauthorized service or modification.

• Check for obvious damage to a hard disk drive. If the spindle of a hard disk drive becomes noisy, the hard

disk drive might have been dropped or subject to excessive force.

Checkout guide

Use the following procedures as a guide in identifying and correcting problems with the ThinkPad notebook

computers.

Note: The diagnostic tests are intended to test only ThinkPad products. The use of non-ThinkPad products,

prototype cards, or modified options can lead to false indications of errors and invalid system responses.

1. Identify the failing symptoms in as much detail as possible.

2. Verify the symptoms. Try to re-create the failure by running the diagnostic test or by repeating the

operation.

Diagnosing problems

Many computer problems can be solved without outside assistance. If you experience a problem with your

computer, the first place to start is the troubleshooting information in your computer documentation. If you

suspect a software problem, see the documentation, including readme files and help information systems,

that come with the operating system or program.

Lenovo Vantage is preinstalled on your computer. It supports the hardware scan function. It combines

diagnostic tests, system information collection, security status, and support information, along with hints and

tips for optimal system performance.

Note: If you are unable to isolate and repair the problem yourself after running the program, save and print

the log files created by the program. You need the log files when you speak to a Lenovo technical support

representative.

The troubleshooting information or the diagnostic programs might tell you that you need additional or

updated device drivers or other software. You can get the latest technical information and download device

drivers and updates from the Lenovo Support Web site at:

https://support.lenovo.com

For additional information, see the help system of the program.

26 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Quick test programs

Run quick test programs to troubleshoot and resolve computer problems, especially when the computer

does not have the Lenovo Vantage installed.

To download and install a quick test program, go to https://www.lenovo.com/diags, and follow the instructions

on the Web site.

To run a test using quick test program, do the following:

1. Go to the C:\SWTOOLS\ldiag directory.

2. Double-click the lsc_lite.exe file.

3. When the User Account Control window opens, click Yes.

4. Select the device class to be tested.

5. Select the devices to be tested.

6. Select the test to be performed.

7. Follow the instructions on the screen to start the test. When a problem is detected, information

messages are displayed. Refer to the messages to troubleshoot the problem.

UEFI diagnostic program

A UEFI diagnostic program is preinstalled on the computer. It enables you to test memory modules and

internal storage devices, view system information, and check and recover bad sectors on internal storage

devices.

To run the UEFI diagnostic program, do the following:

1. Turn on the computer. If the computer cannot be turned on, go to “Power system checkout” on page 28,

and check the power sources. If an error code is displayed, go to “Symptom-to-FRU index” on page 35

for error code descriptions and troubleshooting hints.

2. When the logo screen is displayed, repeatedly press and release the F10 key. The main screen of the

UEFI diagnostic program is displayed.

3. Follow the instructions on the screen to use the diagnostic program.

The options on the main screen are as follows:

Table 1. Items on the main screen of the UEFI diagnostic program

Tests Tools

• Quick Memory Test

• Quick Storage Device Test

• Exit Application

• Extended Memory Test

• LCD test

• Memory Bit Fade Test (180 min)

• Motherboard Buses Test

• PCI-e test

• System information

• Generate configuration file

• Execute from configuration file

• Recover bad sectors tool

Note: The recover bad sectors tool is only available on computers that have hard disk drives installed.

Bootable diagnostic programs

If the computer you are servicing is not installed with the UEFI diagnostic program, you can download a

bootable diagnostic program from the Lenovo Support Web site. The bootable diagnostic programs enable

Chapter 3.General checkout 27

you to test computer memory and internal storage devices, view system information, and check and recover

the internal storage devices. To use the bootable diagnostic programs, you can create a bootable diagnostic

medium on a USB device or CD.

To create a bootable diagnostic medium, do the following:

1. Go to https://www.lenovo.com/diags.

2. Click Lenovo Bootable Diagnostics.

3. Follow the instructions on the Web site to create a bootable diagnostic medium on a USB device or CD.

To use the diagnostic medium you have created, do one of the following:

• If you have created the bootable diagnostic medium on a USB device, do the following:

1. Attach the USB device to the computer.

2. Turn on the computer. If the computer cannot be turned on, go to “Power system checkout” on page

28, and check the power sources. If an error code is displayed, go to “Symptom-to-FRU index” on

page 35 for error code descriptions and troubleshooting hints.

3. When the ThinkPad logo is displayed, repeatedly press and release the F12 key. When the Boot Menu

window opens, release the F12 key.

4. Use the arrow keys to select USB HDD and then press Enter. The diagnostic program will be

launched automatically.

5. Follow the instructions on the screen to use the diagnostic program.

Power system checkout

To verify a power symptom, do the following:

1. Turn off the computer.

2. Remove the built-in battery.

3. Connect the ac power adapter. If the computer can be turned on, it means the ac power adapter is

functional.

4. Turn off the computer.

5. Disconnect the ac power adapter and install the charged built-in battery.

6. Turn on the computer. If the computer can be turned on, it means that the built-in battery is functional.

If you suspect a power problem, see the appropriate one of the following power supply checkouts:

• “Checking the ac power adapter” on page 28

• “Checking the built-in battery and operational charging” on page 29

• “Checking the coin-cell battery” on page 29

Checking the ac power adapter

You are here because the computer fails only when the ac power adapter is used.

• If the power problem occurs only when the docking station or the port replicator is used, replace the

docking station or the port replicator.

• If the system status indicator does not blink three times when an ac power source is connected, check the

power cord of the ac power adapter for correct continuity and installation.

• If the computer does not charge during operation, go to “Checking the built-in battery and operational

charging” on page 29.

Note: Noise from the ac power adapter does not always indicate a defect.

Checking the USB-C type ac power adapter

To check the USB-C type ac power adapter, do the following:

1. Connect the computer to a power outlet and turn on the computer.

28 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

2. Start Lenovo Vantage program, and then click Hardware Settings ➙ Power. The ac power adapter

information is displayed.

Ensure that you use the USB-C type ac power adapter that is shipped with the computer to provide enough

power to the computer. Otherwise, a message will be displayed, prompting you that the computer will not be

charged or will be charged slowly.

Checking the built-in battery and operational charging

This computer supports only batteries specially designed for this specific system and manufactured by

Lenovo or an authorized builder. The system does not support unauthorized batteries or batteries designed

for other systems. If an unauthorized battery or a battery designed for another systems is installed, the

system will not charge.

Attention: Lenovo has no responsibility for the performance or safety of unauthorized batteries, and

provides no warranties for failures or damage arising out of their use.

The battery status icon in the Windows notification area displays the percentage of the remaining battery

power.

Move your pointer to the battery-status icon in the Windows notification area to check the battery status. The

battery-status icon displays the percentage of battery power remaining and how long you can use your

computer before you must charge the battery.

To check whether the battery charges properly during operation, do the following:

1. Discharge the battery until the remained battery power is less than 50%.

2. Connect the computer to ac power to charge the battery. If the battery status icon in the Windows

notification area indicates that the battery is not charging, remove the battery and let it return to room

temperature.

3. Reinstall the battery. If the battery is still not charging, replace the built-in battery.

4. Check the battery status icon again. If the same error still exists, replace the system board.

Checking the coin-cell battery

To check the coin-cell battery, do the following:

1. Remove the coin-cell battery. See “1100 Coin-cell battery” on page 77.

2. Measure the voltage of the coin-cell battery. See the following illustration.

Wire Voltage (V dc)

Red +2.5 to +3.2

Black Ground

• If the voltage is correct, replace the system board.

• If the voltage is not correct, replace the coin-cell battery.

• If the coin-cell battery discharges quickly after replacement, replace the system board.

Chapter 3.General checkout 29

30 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Chapter 4. Related service information

This chapter presents following information:

• “Reset or restore Windows” on page 31

• “Passwords” on page 31

• “Power management” on page 34

• “Symptom-to-FRU index” on page 35

Service Web site: When the latest maintenance diskette and the system program service diskette become

available, they will be posted on https://support.lenovo.com

Reset or restore Windows

To reset or restore Windows, refer to the information below：

• Use Lenovo recovery options.

1. Go to https://support.lenovo.com/HowToCreateLenovoRecovery.

2. Follow the on-screen instructions.

• Use Window recovery options.

1. Go to https://pcsupport.lenovo.com.

2. Detect your computer or manually select your computer model.

3. Click Diagnostics ➙ Operating system Diagnostics and then follow the on-screen instructions.

Passwords

As many as four passwords might be needed for a ThinkPad notebook computer: the power-on password,

the NVMe password, the supervisor password, and the system management password.

If any of these passwords has been set, a prompt for it will be displayed on the screen whenever the

computer is turned on. The computer does not start until the password is entered.

Note: If only a supervisor password is set, the password prompt will not be displayed when the operating

system is started.

Power-on password

A power-on password protects the system from being powered on by an unauthorized person. The

password must be entered before an operating system can be started. For instructions on how to remove the

power-on password, see “How to remove the power-on password” on page 33.

NVMe password

The NVMe password prevents unauthorized access to the data on the storage drive. When an NVMe

password is set, you are prompted to type a correct password each time you try to access the storage drive.

• Single Password

When a Single NVMe password is set, the user must enter the user NVMe password to access files and

applications on the storage drive.

• Dual Password (User + Admin)

The admin NVMe password is set and used by a system administrator. It enables the administrator to

access any storage drive in a system or any computer connected in the same network. The administrator

can also assign a user NVMe password for each computer in the network. The user of the computer can

change the user NVMe password as desired, but only the administrator can remove the user NVMe

password.

When prompted to enter an NVMe password, press F1 to switch between the admin NVMe password and

user NVMe password.

Notes: The NVMe password is not available in the following situations:

• A Trusted Computing Group (TCG) Opal-compliant storage drive and a TCG Opal management software

program are installed in the computer, and the TCG Opal management software program is activated.

• For Intel models, when an eDrive storage drive is installed in the computer preinstalled with the Windows

10 operating system.

For instructions on how to remove the NVMe password, see “How to remove the NVMe password” on page

33.

Supervisor password

The supervisor password protects the system information stored in the ThinkPad Setup program. It provides

the following security features:

• If only a supervisor password is set, a password prompt is displayed when you try to start the ThinkPad

Setup program. Unauthorized users cannot change most of the system configuration options in the

ThinkPad Setup program without the password.

• The system administrator can use the supervisor password to access a computer even if the user of that

computer has set a power-on password. The supervisor password overrides the power-on password.

• The system administrator can set the same supervisor password on many ThinkPad notebook computers

to make administration easier.

Attention: If the supervisor password has been forgotten and cannot be made available to the service

technician, there is no service procedure to reset the password. The system board must be replaced for a

scheduled fee.

System management password

The system management password can also protect the system information stored in UEFI BIOS like a

supervisor password, but it has lower authority by default. The system management password can be set

through the UEFI BIOS menu or through Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) with the Lenovo

client-management interface.

You can enable the system management password to have the same authority as the supervisor password

to control security related features. To customize the authority of the system management password through

the UEFI BIOS menu:

1. Enter the UEFI BIOS menu.

Note: When prompted to enter the password, enter the correct supervisor password if a supervisor

password has been set, or enter the correct system management password if no supervisor password

has been set. Otherwise, you cannot change the configurations in the following steps.

2. Select Security ➙ Password ➙ System Management Password Access Control.

3. Follow the on-screen instructions.

32 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

If you have set both the supervisor password and the system management password, the supervisor

password overrides the system management password. If you have set both the system management

password and the power-on password, the system management password overrides the power-on

password.

How to remove the power-on password

To remove a power-on password, do the following:

If no supervisor password has been set, do the following to remove the power-on password:

1. Turn off the computer.

2. Remove the built-in battery. For instructions on how to remove the built-in battery, see “1020 Built-in

battery” on page 67.

3. Remove the coin-cell battery. For instructions on how to remove the coin-cell battery, see “1100 Coin-

cell battery” on page 77. Wait for a few seconds.

4. Reinstall the coin-cell battery. For instructions on how to install the coin-cell battery, see “1100 Coin-cell

battery” on page 77.

5. Reinstall the built-in battery. For instructions on how to install the built-in battery, see “1020 Built-in

battery” on page 67.

6. Turn on the computer and wait until the POST ends. After the POST ends, the password prompt does

not appear. The power-on password has been removed.

If a supervisor password has been set and is known to the service technician, do the following to remove the

power-on password:

1. Turn on the computer.

2. When the ThinkPad logo comes up, immediately press F1.

3. Type the supervisor password to enter the ThinkPad Setup program.

4. Select Security.

5. Select Password.

6. Select Power-On Password.

7. Type the current supervisor password in the Enter Current Password field. Then leave the Enter New

Password field blank, and press Enter twice.

8. In the Changes have been saved window, press Enter.

9. Press F10 to save changes and exit the ThinkPad Setup program.

How to remove the NVMe password

If you forget your NVMe password (Single password) or both user and admin NVMe passwords (Dual

password), Lenovo cannot reset your passwords or recover data from the storage drive. You can contact a

Lenovo authorized service provider to have the storage drive replaced. A fee will be charged for parts and

service. If the storage drive is a CRU (Customer Replaceable Unit), you can also contact Lenovo to purchase

a new storage drive to replace the old one by yourself. To check whether the storage drive is a CRU and the

relevant replacement procedure, see “Major FRUs” on page 47.

How to remove the system management password

To remove a system management password, do the following:

If no supervisor password has been set, do the following to remove the system management password:

1. Turn off the computer and disconnect ac power.

2. Disable the built-in battery. See “Disabling the built-in battery” on page 64.

Chapter 4.Related service information 33

3. Remove the base cover assembly. See “1010 Base cover assembly” on page 64.

4. Remove the built-in battery. See “1020 Built-in battery” on page 67.

5. Remove the coin-cell battery. See “1100 Coin-cell battery” on page 77.

6. Reinstall the coin-cell battery.

7. Reinstall the built-in battery.

8. Reinstall the base cover assembly.

9. Reconnect ac power.

10. Turn on the computer and wait until the POST ends. After the POST ends, the password prompt does

not appear. The system management password has been removed.

If a supervisor password has been set and is known to the service technician, do the following to remove the

system management password:

1. Turn on the computer.

2. When the ThinkPad logo is displayed, immediately press F1.

3. Type the supervisor password to enter the ThinkPad Setup program.

4. Select Security.

5. Select Password.

6. Select System Management Password.

7. Type the current supervisor password in the Enter Current Password field. Then leave the Enter New

Password field blank, and press Enter twice.

8. In the Changes have been saved window, press Enter.

9. Press F10 to save changes and exit the ThinkPad Setup program. The system management password

has been removed.

Power management

To reduce power consumption, the computer has two power management modes: sleep and hibernation.

Sleep mode

When the computer enters sleep mode, the following events occur:

• The LCD is powered off.

• The hard disk drive or solid-state drive is powered off.

• The microprocessor stops.

To put your computer into sleep mode, do the following:

• Open the Start menu, click Power, and then click Sleep.

In certain circumstances, the computer goes into sleep mode automatically:

• After a period of inactivity specified in power plan settings

• When the battery power is low

To cause the computer to return from sleep mode and resume operation, do one of the following:

• Press any key.

• Open the LCD cover.

• Turn on the power button.

Also, in either of the following events, the computer automatically returns from sleep mode and resumes

operation:

34 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

• The ring indicator (RI) is signaled by a serial device or a PC Card device.

• The time set on the resume timer elapses.

Note: The computer does not accept any input immediately after it enters sleep mode. Wait a few

seconds before taking any action to reenter operation mode.

Hibernation mode

In hibernation mode, the following occurs:

• The system status, RAM, VRAM, and setup data are stored on the hard disk drive, hybrid drive, or solid-

state drive.

• The system is powered off.

Note: If the computer enters the hibernation mode while it is docked to the docking station or the port

replicator, do not undock it before resuming normal operation. If you do undock it and then try to resume

normal operation, you will get an error message, and you will have to restart the system.

If you have defined one of the following actions as the event that causes the system to go into hibernation

mode, perform that action.

• Closing the lid.

• Pressing the power button.

Also, the computer goes into hibernation mode automatically after a period of inactivity specified in power

plan settings.

When the power is turned on, the computer returns from hibernation mode and resumes operation. The

hibernation file in the boot record on the hard disk drive, hybrid drive, or solid-state drive is read, and system

status is restored from the hard disk drive, hybrid drive, or solid-state drive.

Symptom-to-FRU index

This section contains following information:

• “Numeric error codes” on page 36

• “Error messages” on page 37

• “Beep errors” on page 37

• “No-beep symptoms” on page 39

• “LCD-related symptoms” on page 39

• “Intermittent problems” on page 40

• “Undetermined problems” on page 40

The symptom-to-FRU index in this section lists symptoms and errors and their possible causes. The most

likely cause is listed first, in boldface type.

Note: Do the FRU replacement or other actions in the sequence shown in the column headed “FRU or

action, in sequence.” If replacing a FRU does not solve the problem, put the original part back in the

computer. Do not replace a nondefective FRU.

This index can also help you determine, during regular servicing, what FRUs are likely to need to be replaced

next.

A numeric error is displayed for each error detected in POST or system operation. In the displays, n can be

any number.

Chapter 4.Related service information 35

If no numeric code is displayed, check the narrative descriptions of symptoms. If the symptom is not

described there, go to “Intermittent problems” on page 40.

Note: For a device not supported by diagnostic codes in the ThinkPad notebook computers, see the manual

for that device.

Numeric error codes

Table 2. Numeric error codes

Symptom or error FRU or action, in sequence

0177

Bad SVP data, stop POST task— Checksum of the

supervisor password in the EEPROM is not correct.

Replace the system board.

0183

Bad CRC of Security Settings in EFI Variable. Enter the

ThinkPad Setup program. – The checksum of the Security

settings in the EFI Variable is not correct.

1. Run the ThinkPad Setup program. The settings

will be corrected automatically. Then save the

current settings by pressing F10.

2. Replace the system board.

0187

EAIA data access error

Replace the system board.

0188

Invalid RFID Serialization Information Area.

Replace the system board.

0189

Invalid RFID Configuration Information Area.

Replace the system board.

0190

Critical low-battery error

1. Charge the built-in battery.

2. Replace the built-in battery.

0191

System Security—Invalid Remote Change requested.

1. Run the ThinkPad Setup program, and then save

current setting by pressing F10.

2. Replace the system board.

0199

System Security— Security password retry count

exceeded.

1. Run the ThinkPad Setup program. The retry count

will be reset. Then save the current settings by

pressing F10.

2. Replace the system board.

0251

System CMOS checksum bad - Default configuration

used.

1. Charge the coin-cell battery for more than 8 hours

by connecting the ac adapter.

2. Replace the coin-cell battery and run ThinkPad Setup

to reset the time and date.

0271

Check Date and Time settings.

1. Run ThinkPad Setup to reset the time and date

2. Replace the coin-cell battery and run ThinkPad Setup

to reset the time and date.

1802

Unauthorized network card is plugged in—Power off and

remove the network card.

1. Remove network card.

2. Replace the system board.

1820

More than one external fingerprint reader are attached.

Power off and remove all but the reader that you set up

within your main operating system.

Remove all but the reader that you set up for the

authentication.

2000

ThinkVantage Active Protection sensor diagnostics failed.

Have the computer serviced.

2100

Detection error on M.2 main Slot (SSD0)

1. Reseat the M.2 solid-state drive.

2. Replace the M.2 solid-state drive.

3. Replace the system board.

36 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Table 2. Numeric error codes (continued)

Symptom or error FRU or action, in sequence

2101

Detection error on M.2 Main Slot (Storage Device0)

1. Reseat the M.2 solid-state drive.

2. Replace the M.2 solid-state drive.

3. Replace the system board.

2110

Read error on M.2 Main Slot (SSD0)

1. Reseat the M.2 solid-state drive.

2. Replace the M.2 solid-state drive.

3. Replace the system board.

2111

Read error on M.2 Main Slot (Storage Device0)

1. Reseat the M.2 solid-state drive.

2. Replace the M.2 solid-state drive.

3. Replace the system board.

2200

Machine Type and Serial Number are invalid.

Replace the system board.

2201

Machine UUID is invalid

Replace the system board.

Error messages

Table 3. Error messages

Symptom or error FRU or action, in sequence

Fan error. 1. Replace the fan.

2. Apply thermal grease.

3. Replace the system board.

Thermal sensing error. Replace the system board.

This system does not support batteries that are not

genuine Lenovo-made or authorized. The system will

continue to boot, but may not charge unauthorized

batteries.

Attention: Lenovo has no responsibility for the

performance or safety of unauthorized batteries, and

provides no warranties for failures or damage arising out

of their use.

Replace the battery.

Beep errors

Lenovo SmartBeep technology enables you to decode beep errors with your smartphone when a black

screen occurs with beeps from your computer. To decode the beep error with Lenovo SmartBeep

technology, do the following:

1. Go to https://support.lenovo.com/smartbeep or scan the following QR Code.

2. Download the proper diagnostic app and install it on your smartphone.

Chapter 4.Related service information 37

3. Run the diagnostic app and place the smartphone near the computer.

4. Press the Fn key on your computer to emit the beep again. The diagnostic app decodes the beep error

and shows possible solutions on the smartphone.

The following section describes some beep errors and the corresponding solutions.

Note: Do not attempt to service a product yourself unless instructed to do so by the Customer Support

Center or product documentation. Only use a Lenovo-authorized service provider to repair your product.

Error codes Solutions

0001: Reset error (platform reset not de-asserted) 1. Remove the ac power adapter and the removable

battery if your computer has one. Reset the

computer by doing one of the following:

• For models with the emergency-reset hole,

insert a straightened paper clip into the

emergency-reset hole. Wait for one minute.

Then, reconnect all power resources and restart

the computer.

• For models without the emergency-reset hole,

press and hold the power button for about

seven seconds. Then, reconnect to all power

resources and restart the computer.

2. Replace the system board (service provider only).

0002: Internal bus error Replace the system board (service provider only).

0281: General embedded controller error Replace the system board (service provider only).

0282: Memory module error Reinstall or replace the memory module.

If the above solution does not work, replace the system

board (service provider only).

0283: PCI resource error Remove PCIe devices (the M.2 card, PCIe card, and so

on) (service provider only).

If the above solution does not work, replace the system

board (service provider only).

0284: TCG-compliant functionality-related error (might be

the BIOS code validation failure)

Replace the system board (service provider only).

0285: TCG-compliant functionality-related error (might be

the TPM initialization failure)

Replace the system board (service provider only).

0286: Integrated graphics error Replace the system board (service provider only).

0287: Discrete graphics error Reinstall or replace the discrete graphics card (service

provider only).

If the above solution does not work, replace the system

board (service provider only).

0288: Computer display error Reconnect the display cable on both the system board

side and the computer display side (service provider

only).

If the above solution does not work, replace the system

board (service provider only).

38 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

No-beep symptoms

Table 4. No-beep symptoms

Symptom or error FRU or action, in sequence

No beep, power-on indicator on, LCD blank, and no

POST.

1. Run LCD Self Test.

2. Ensure that every connector is connected tightly and

correctly.

3. Reseat memory module.

4. Replace the system board.

No beep, power-on indicator on, and LCD blank during

POST. 1. Run LCD Self Test.

2. Reseat memory module.

3. Replace the system board.

The power-on password prompt appears. A power-on password or a supervisor password is set.

Type the password and press Enter.

The NVMe password prompt appears. A NVMe password is set. Type the password and press

Enter.

LCD-related symptoms

Important: The TFT LCD for the notebook computer contains many thin-film transistors (TFTs). The

presence of a small number of dots that are missing, discolored, or always lighted is characteristic of TFT

LCD technology, but excessive pixel problems can cause viewing concerns.If the LCD you are servicing has

two or less visible defective pixels, it should not be considered faulty. However, if the LCD has three or more

visible defective pixels, it will be deemed as defective by Lenovo and it should be replaced.

Notes:

• This policy applies to all ThinkPad notebooks purchased on 1 January, 2008 or later.

• Lenovo will not provide warranty replacement if the LCD is within specifications because we cannot

guarantee that any replacement LCD will have zero pixel defects.

• One pixel consists of R, G, B sub-pixels.

LCD Self Test

When you turn on the computer and the LCD goes black, run LCD Self Test to help you determine whether

the LCD functions normally.

To run LCD Self Test:

1. Ensure that the computer is connected to ac power. Then, press the power button for about seven

seconds to turn off the computer.

2. Press Fn, left Ctrl, and the power button at the same time. If the computer displays five solid colors in

sequence across the entire screen, it indicates that the LCD functions normally.

3. The test lasts for about 20 seconds and then exits automatically. You also can press the power button to

exit the test.

Chapter 4.Related service information 39

Table 5. LCD-related symptoms

Symptom or error FRU or action, in sequence

No beep, power-on indicator on, and a blank LCD during

POST.

1. Run LCD Self Test.

2. Replace the system board.

• LCD backlight not working.

• LCD too dark.

• LCD brightness cannot be adjusted.

• LCD contrast cannot be adjusted.

1. Reseat the LCD connectors.

2. Replace the LCD assembly.

3. Replace the system board.

• LCD screen unreadable.

• Characters missing pixels.

• Screen abnormal.

• Wrong color displayed.

1. See important note for “LCD-related symptoms.”

2. Reseat all LCD connectors.

3. Replace the LCD assembly.

4. Replace the system board.

Horizontal or vertical lines displayed on LCD. Replace the LCD assembly.

Intermittent problems

Intermittent system hang problems can be due to a variety of causes that have nothing to do with a hardware

defect, such as cosmic radiation, electrostatic discharge, or software errors. FRU replacement should be

considered only when a problem recurs.

When analyzing an intermittent problem, do the following:

1. Run the diagnostic test for the system board in loop mode at least 10 times.

2. If no error is detected, do not replace any FRUs.

3. If any error is detected, replace the FRU shown by the FRU code. Rerun the test to verify that no more

errors exist.

Undetermined problems

If the diagnostic tests did not identify the adapter or device that has failed, if wrong devices are installed, or if

the system simply is not operating, follow these procedures to isolate the failing FRU (do not isolate FRUs

that have no defects).

Verify that all attached devices are supported by the computer.

Verify that the power supply being used at the time of the failure is operating correctly. See “Power system

checkout” on page 28.

1. Turn off the computer.

2. Visually check each FRU for damage. Replace any damaged FRU.

3. Remove or disconnect all of the following devices:

a. Non-ThinkPad devices

b. Devices attached to the docking station or the port replicator

c. Printer, mouse, and other external devices

d. Built-in battery

e. Hard disk drive, hybrid drive, or solid-state drive

f. External diskette drive

g. Memory module

h. PC cards

4. Turn on the computer.

5. Determine whether the problem has been solved.

6. If the problem does not recur, reconnect the removed devices one at a time until you find the failing FRU.

7. If the problem remains, replace the following FRUs one at a time (do not replace a nondefective FRU):

a. System board

b. LCD assembly

40 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Chapter 5. Special keys

The following table describes the functions of function keys and key combinations.

Invoke the special function printed as an icon on each key or standard function of

F1–F12 function keys.

FnLock indicator on: standard function

FnLock indicator off: special function

Enable / disable speakers

Decrease volume

Increase volume

Enable / disable microphones

Darken display

Brighten display

Manage external displays

Enable / disable wireless

Open / collapse notification center

Answer incoming calls on Microsoft Teams

Decline incoming calls on Microsoft Teams

Open the Vantage app. You can customize the function of this key on the Vantage

app.

+ (for E15 Gen 3

only)

Open calculator

+ (for E15 Gen 3

only)

Enter sleep mode

Open Snipping Tool

Toggle keyboard backlight

Break operation

Pause operation

Scroll contents

Send system request

Enter sleep mode

To wake up the computer, press Fn or the power button.

Go to beginning

Go to end

42 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Chapter 6. Locations

This chapter helps you locate the hardware components on your computer.

Locating computer controls, connectors, and indicators

This topic helps you locate the controls, connectors, and indicators on your computer.

Front view

E14 Gen 3

Infrared camera* / Camera* Webcam privacy shutter

Microphone Power button / Power button with

fingerprint reader function*

TrackPoint® pointing stick Speaker

Trackpad TrackPoint buttons

* for selected models

E15 Gen 3

Infrared camera* / Camera* Webcam privacy shutter

Microphone Power button / Power button with

fingerprint reader function*

44 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

TrackPoint® pointing stick Speaker

Trackpad TrackPoint buttons

* for selected models

Chapter 6.Locations 45

Side view

USB-C® (3.2 Gen 1) connector Always on USB 3.2 connector Gen 1

HDMI connector Audio connector

ThinkPad Integrated Earbuds (for

selected models of E15 Gen 3 only)* USB 2.0 connector

Ethernet connector (for selected models) Security-lock slot

Locating FRUs and CRUs

This topic introduces the following service parts:

• “Major FRUs” on page 47

• “LCD FRUs” on page 52

46 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Notes:

• FRUs refer to parts that must be installed or replaced only by trained service technicians. If customers choose to

replace the FRUs by themselves, the product warranty might be affected.

• Each FRU is available for all types or models, unless otherwise specified.

• CRU statement for customers:

You can resolve some problems with your product with a replacement part you can install yourself, called a

“Customer Replaceable Unit” or “CRU.” Some CRUs are designated as self-service CRUs and others are

designated as optional-service CRUs. Installation of self-service CRUs is your responsibility. For optional-service

CRUs, you can either install the CRU yourself or you can request that a Service Provider install the CRU according to

the warranty service for your product. If you intend on installing the CRU, Lenovo will ship the CRU to you. CRU

information and replacement instructions are shipped with your product and are available from Lenovo at any time

upon request. You can find a list of CRUs for your product in this Hardware Maintenance Manual. An electronic

version of this manual can be found at https://support.lenovo.com. Follow the on-screen instructions to find the

manual for your product. You might be required to return the defective part that is replaced by the CRU. When

return is required: (1) return instructions, a prepaid shipping label, and a container will be included with the

replacement CRU; and (2) you might be charged for the replacement CRU if Lenovo does not receive the defective

CRU within thirty (30) days of your receipt of the replacement CRU. See your Lenovo Limited Warranty

documentation for full details.

ThinkPad computers contain the following types of CRUs:

– Self-service CRUs: Refer to parts that can be installed or replaced easily by customer themselves or by trained

service technicians at an additional cost.

– Optional-service CRUs: Refer to parts that can be installed or replaced by customers with a greater skill level.

Trained service technicians can also provide service to install or replace the parts under the type of warranty

designated for the customer’s machine.

Major FRUs

Chapter 6.Locations 47

E14 Gen 3

48 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Table 6. Major FRUs

No. FRU descriptions Self-service

CRU

Optional service

CRU

1LCD unit No No

2Keyboard assembly No No

3Power button (with fingerprint reader*) No No

4Power button (with fingerprint reader*) cable No No

5Thermal fan assembly No No

6Speaker assembly No No

7M.2 solid-state drive (2242) No Yes

8Wireless LAN card No No

9I/O board No No

10 I/O board cable No No

11 Coin-cell battery No No

12 Base cover assembly No Yes

13 Built-in battery No No

14 Memory module* No Yes

15 System board No No

16 Memory module bracket No Yes

17 M.2 solid-state drive (2280) No Yes

18 Trackpad cable No No

19 Trackpad No No

aLenovo factory recovery USB key* Yes No

bMiscellaneous parts kits No No

cPower cord Yes No

dac power adapter Yes No

* for selected models

Chapter 6.Locations 49

E15 Gen 3

50 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Table 7. Major FRUs

No. FRU descriptions Self-service

CRU

Optional service

CRU

1LCD unit No No

2Keyboard assembly No No

3Power button (with fingerprint reader*) No No

4Power button (with fingerprint reader*) cable No No

5Thermal fan assembly No No

6Speaker assembly No No

7M.2 solid-state drive (2242) No Yes

8Wireless LAN card No No

9I/O board No No

10 I/O board cable No No

11 Coin-cell battery No No

12 Base cover assembly No Yes

13 Built-in battery No No

14 Memory module* No Yes

15 System board No No

16 Memory module bracket No Yes

17 M.2 solid-state drive (2280) No Yes

18 Trackpad cable No No

19 Trackpad No No

20 ThinkPad Integrated Earbuds* Yes No

21 Earbud tray front bezel* No No

22 Earbud tray* No No

23 Earbud bracket* No No

24 Earbud USB-C board* No No

25 Earbud cable* No No

aLenovo factory recovery USB key* Yes No

bMiscellaneous parts kits No No

cPower cord Yes No

dac power adapter Yes No

* for selected models

Notes:

• Depending on the computer model, your computer might look different from the illustration above.

Chapter 6.Locations 51

• The Lenovo factory recovery USB key a is used to restore the Microsoft Windows operating system. It

might not come with the computer, and a user might order it from https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/

lenovorecovery, though additional shipping and handling fees might apply.

LCD FRUs

Table 8. LCD FRUs

No. FRU descriptions Self-service

CRU

Optional service

CRU

1LCD bezel assembly No No

2LCD panel No No

3Microphone rubbers No No

4Camera and microphone combo card No No

5eDP cable No No

6Wireless LAN antenna assembly No No

52 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Table 8. LCD FRUs (continued)

No. FRU descriptions Self-service

CRU

Optional service

CRU

7Hinge kit No No

8LCD cover assembly No No

* for selected models

Note: Depending on the computer model, your computer might look different from the illustration above.

Miscellaneous parts

Table 9. Miscellaneous part

FRU descriptions Self-service

CRU

Optional-service

CRU

For E14 Gen 3:

• Screw kit

– M2.5 x L2.2, silver(6)

– M2 x L2, black(4)

– M2 x L2.8, silver(4)

– M2 x L3, black(2)

– M2 x L5, black(10)

– M2.5 x L6, black(4)

– M2 x L6, silver/black(5)

– M2 x L4, silver/black(2)

• Microphone rubbers

• Adhesive tape

• Battery conductive tape

For E15 Gen 3:

• Screw kit

– M2.5 x L2.5, black(6)

– M2 x L5, black(8)

– M2.5 x L6, black(5)

– M2 x L2.8, silver(6)

– M2 x L3, black(2)

– M2 x L2, black(4)

– M2 x L8, black(4)

– M2 x L5, black(4)

– M2 x L2, black(3)

• A cover adhesive tape

No No

Label kit:

• GEO label

No No

Chapter 6.Locations 53

Connector and cable guide

This topic provides information to help Lenovo authorized service technicians identify connectors and cables

for replacement purpose. To view each FRU and the exploded illustration of the computer, see “Major FRUs”

on page 47 and “LCD FRUs” on page 52.

Note: Depending on your computer model, some connectors or cables might not be available.

System board connectors and cables

Table 10. System board

Item Connector (location) Internal cable required Cable connection

1IR camera connecor

(internal)

eDP cable Connect one end to the IR camera connector and the

other end to this connector.

2LCD connector

(internal)

LCD cable Connect one end to the LCD panel and the other end

to this connector.

3M.2 solid-state drive

connector (internal)

No Connect the M.2 solid-state drives to this connector.

4USB-C connector (USB

3.2 Gen 1) (external)

No Connect a USB-C compatible device to this

connector.

5Always On USB 3.2

connector Gen 1

(external)

No Connect USB-compatible devices to this connector.

6HDMI connector

(external)

No Connect a HDMI cable to this connector.

54 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Table 10. System board (continued)

Item Connector (location) Internal cable required Cable connection

7Audio connector

(external)

No Connect headphones or a headset with 3.5-mm

(0.14-inch) 4-pole plug to this connector.

8Speaker assembly

connector (internal)

Speaker assembly cable The speaker assembly comes with cable. Connect

the cable to this connector.

9Coin-cell battery

connector (internal)

Coin-cell battery cable The coin-cell battery comes with cable. Connect the

cable to this connector.

10 Built-in battery

connector (internal)

Built-in battery cable The built-in battery cable comes with the cable.

Connect the cable to this connector.

11 Memory module slot

(internal)

No Insert the memory module into this slot.

12 Trackpad connector

(internal)

Trackpad cable Connect one end to the trackpad and the other end

to this connector.

13 I/O card cable

connector (internal)

I/O card cable Connect the I/O card cable to this connector.

14 Thermal fan connector

(internal)

Thermal fan cable The thermal fan assembly comes with cable.

Connect the cable to this connector.

15 M.2 solid-state drive

connector (internal)

No Connect the M.2 solid-state drives to this connector.

16 ThinkPad Integrated

Earbuds connector

(internal)

Earbud connector Connect one end to the earbud tray and the other

end to this connector.

17 Wireless LAN card slot

(internal)

No Insert the wireless LAN card into this slot.

18 Keyboard connectors

(internal)

Keyboard assembly

cable

The keyboard assembly comes with the keyboard

assembly cable. Connect one end of the cable to this

connector.

19 TrackPoint conenctor

(internal)

TrackPoint cable The keyboard assembly comes with the TrackPoint

cable. Connect one end of the cable to this

connector.

I/O board connectors

Chapter 6.Locations 55

Table 11. I/O board

Item Connector (location) Internal cable required Cable connection

1Ethernet connector

(external)

No Connect an Ethernet cable to this connector.

2USB 2.0 connector

(external)

No Connect a USB-C compatible device to this

connector.

56 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Looking up FRU information

For detailed FRU information, including part numbers, descriptions, and substitution part numbers, go to:

https://support.lenovo.com/partslookup

Chapter 6.Locations 57

58 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Chapter 7. FRU replacement notices

This chapter presents notices related to removing and replacing parts. Read this chapter carefully before

replacing any FRU.

CRU statement for customers:

You can resolve some problems with your product with a replacement part you can install yourself, called a

“Customer Replaceable Unit” or “CRU.” Some CRUs are designated as self-service CRUs and others are

designated as optional-service CRUs. Installation of self-service CRUs is your responsibility. For optional-

service CRUs, you can either install the CRU yourself or you can request that a Service Provider install the

CRU according to the warranty service for your product. If you intend on installing the CRU, Lenovo will ship

the CRU to you. CRU information and replacement instructions are shipped with your product and are

available from Lenovo at any time upon request. You can find a list of CRUs for your product in this Hardware

Maintenance Manual. An electronic version of this manual can be found at https://support.lenovo.com. Click

Documentation and then follow the on-screen instructions to find the manual for your product. You might be

required to return the defective part that is replaced by the CRU. When return is required: (1) return

instructions, a prepaid shipping label, and a container will be included with the replacement CRU; and (2) you

might be charged for the replacement CRU if Lenovo does not receive the defective CRU within thirty (30)

days of your receipt of the replacement CRU. See your Lenovo Limited Warranty documentation for full

details.

Service tool kit

Ensure that the following service tool kit is prepared before you service a ThinkPad notebook computer.

No. Tool name Tool type

1 Phillips-head screwdriver Common tool

2 Torx-head screwdriver Common tool

3Conductive tweezers Common tool

4 Hexagonal socket Common tool

5Silicone grease Consumable tool

6 Polyamide tape Consumable tool

7 Mylar tape Consumable tool

8 Eraser Consumable tool

9 Electrical tape Consumable tool

10 Double-sided tape Consumable tool

11 Conductive tape Consumable tool

Note: The silicone grease can be applied to the surfaces of the microprocessor and heatsink to eliminate air

gaps. The hexagonal socket is used to pick up the antenna connectors.

Screw notices

Loose screws can cause a reliability problem. In the ThinkPad notebook computer, this problem is

addressed with special nylon-coated screws that have the following characteristics:

• They maintain tight connections.

• They do not easily come loose, even with shock or vibration.

• They are harder to tighten.

Do the following when you service this machine:

• Keep the screw kit in your tool bag. For the part number of the screw kit, go to https://support.lenovo.com/

partslookup.

• It is recommended to use new screws.

• It is recommended to use each screw only once.

Tighten screws as follows:

• Plastic to plastic

Turn an additional 90 degrees after the screw head touches the surface of the plastic part.

• Logic card to plastic

Turn an additional 180 degrees after the screw head touches the surface of the logic card.

Notes:

• Ensure that you use the correct screw. It is recommended to use new screws for replacements. If you

have a torque screwdriver, tighten all screws firmly to the torque specified in the screw information table

for each step.

• Ensure that torque screwdrivers are calibrated correctly following country specifications.

Retaining serial numbers

This topic provides instructions on the following:

• “Restoring the serial number of the system unit” on page 60

• “Retaining the UUID” on page 61

Restoring the serial number of the system unit

When the computer was manufactured, the EEPROM on the system board was loaded with the serial

numbers of the system and all major components. These numbers need to remain the same throughout the

life of the computer.

If you replace the system board, you must restore the serial number of the system unit to its original value.

60 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

The serial number of the system unit is written on the label attached to the bottom of the computer.

If you can not find the serial number of the system unit on the bottom of the computer, try the following

method to get the number:

1. Connect a USB memory key to the computer.

2. Go to https://www.lenovo.com/maintenanceutilities and follow the instructions on the screen to create a

Maintenance key.

Note: Only an authorized Lenovo service technician can access the above Web site.

3. Restart the computer.

4. When the logo is displayed, press Esc. The ThinkPad Config Information Update Utility interface is

displayed.

5. Type 1 under Enter the action desired, then press Enter. The ThinkPad Serial Number Update Utility for

Asset ID screen is displayed.

6. Type 2 under Enter the action desired, then press Enter. The serial number of each device in your

computer is displayed; the serial number of the system unit is listed as follow:

20- Serial number

7. Record the serial number of the system unit.

After you replace the system board, do the following to restore the serial number of the system unit:

1. Connect the Maintenance key to the computer.

2. When the logo is displayed, press Esc. The ThinkPad Config Information Update Utility interface is

displayed.

3. Type 1 under Enter the action desired, then press Enter. The ThinkPad Serial Number Update Utility for

Asset ID screen is displayed.

4. Type 1 under Enter the action desired, then press Enter. Then follow the instructions on the screen to

restore the serial number of the system unit.

Retaining the UUID

The Universally Unique Identifier (UUID) is a 128-bit number uniquely assigned to your computer at

production and stored in the EEPROM of your system board.

The algorithm that generates the number is designed to provide unique IDs until the year A.D. 3400. No two

computers in the world have the same number.

When you replace the system board, perform the following steps to create a new UUID for the system board

if the system board does not have a UUID:

1. Connect a USB memory key to the computer.

2. Go to https://www.lenovo.com/maintenanceutilities and follow the instructions on the screen to create a

Maintenance key.

Note: Only an authorized Lenovo service technician can access the above Web site.

3. Restart the computer.

4. When the logo screen is displayed, press Esc. The ThinkPad Config Information Update Utility interface

is displayed.

5. Type 2 under Enter the action desired, then press Enter. The Auto UUID generation utility interface is

displayed.

6. Type y under Change UUID. OK? [Y/N], then press Enter. A new UUID is created and written. If a valid

UUID already exists, it is not overwritten.

Chapter 7.FRU replacement notices 61

62 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Chapter 8. Removing or replacing a FRU

This chapter provides instructions on how to remove or replace a FRU.

CRU statement for customers:

You can resolve some problems with your product with a replacement part you can install yourself, called a

“Customer Replaceable Unit” or “CRU.” Some CRUs are designated as self-service CRUs and others are

designated as optional-service CRUs. Installation of self-service CRUs is your responsibility. For optional-

service CRUs, you can either install the CRU yourself or you can request that a Service Provider install the

CRU according to the warranty service for your product. If you intend on installing the CRU, Lenovo will ship

the CRU to you. CRU information and replacement instructions are shipped with your product and are

available from Lenovo at any time upon request. You can find a list of CRUs for your product in this Hardware

Maintenance Manual. An electronic version of this manual is available for downloading at https://

support.lenovo.com. You might be required to return the defective CRU. When return is required: (1) return

instructions, a prepaid shipping label, and a container will be included with the replacement CRU; and (2) you

might be charged for the replacement CRU if Lenovo does not receive the defective part within thirty (30)

days of your receipt of the replacement CRU. See your Lenovo Limited Warranty documentation for full

details.

General guidelines

When removing or replacing a FRU, be sure to observe the following general guidelines:

1. Do not try to service any computer unless you have been trained and certified. An untrained person runs

the risk of damaging parts.

2. Before replacing any FRU, review Chapter 7 “FRU replacement notices” on page 59.

3. Begin by removing any FRUs that have to be removed before replacing the failing FRU. Any such FRUs

are listed at the beginning of each FRU replacement section. Remove them in the order in which they are

listed.

4. Follow the correct sequence in the steps for removing a FRU, as given in the illustrations by the numbers

in square callouts.

5. When turning a screw, turn it in the direction as given by the arrow in the illustration.

6. When removing a FRU, move it in the direction as given by the arrow in the illustration.

7. To put the new FRU in place, reverse the removal procedure and follow any notes that pertain to

replacement.

8. When replacing a FRU, use the correct screws as shown in the replacement procedures.

DANGER

Before removing any FRU, turn off the computer, unplug all power cords from electrical outlets,

disable the built-in battery, and then disconnect any interconnecting cables.

Attention: After replacing a FRU, do not turn on the computer until you have made sure that all screws,

springs, and other small parts are in place and none are loose inside the computer. Verify this by shaking the

computer gently and listening for rattling sounds. Metallic parts or metal flakes can cause electrical short

circuits.

Attention: The system board is sensitive to, and can be damaged by, electrostatic discharge (ESD). Before

touching it, establish personal grounding by touching a ground point with one hand or by using an

electrostatic discharge strap.

Before servicing the computer

Carefully read this topic before servicing the computer.

Disabling the built-in battery

Before replacing any FRU, ensure that you disable Fast Startup first and then disable the built-in battery.

To disable Fast Startup, do the following:

1. Go to Control Panel, and then change the view of Control Panel from Category to Large icons or Small

icons.

2. Click Power Options, and then click Choose what the power buttons do on the left pane.

3. Click Change settings that are currently unavailable at the top.

4. If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click Yes.

5. Clear the Turn on fast startup check box, and then click Save changes.

To disable the built-in battery, do the following:

1. Restart your computer. When the logo screen is displayed, immediately press F1 to enter ThinkPad

Setup.

2. Select Config ➙ Power. The Power submenu is displayed.

3. Select Disable built-in battery and press Enter.

4. Select Yes in the Setup Confirmation window. The built-in battery is disabled and the computer turns off

automatically. Wait three to five minutes to let the computer cool.

1010 Base cover assembly

E14 Gen 3

64 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Applying labels to the bottom cover

Note: Depending on the country or region of delivery, the labels might be slightly different from the ones in

the following illustration.

The new bottom cover FRU is shipped with a kit containing labels of several kinds. Apply those labels when

you replace the bottom cover. For the labels that are not shipped with the new bottom cover, peel them off

from the old bottom cover, and adhere them to the new one.

For plastic cover

For aluminum cover

1 System label 2 GEO label

3 Israel Homologation/Indonesia Rating/Argentina CNC

label

4 Genuine Microsoft label

Chapter 8.Removing or replacing a FRU 65

5 SN label 6 Asset tag label

7 SVT label 8 Brazil Anatel label

9 CECP label 10 Argentina Electrical Safety Label

E15 Gen 3

Note: If your computer comes with ThinkPad Integrated Earbuds with Versa Bay, the base cover assembly

might look different from the illustration.

Applying labels to the bottom cover

Note: Depending on the country or region of delivery, the labels might be slightly different from the ones in

the following illustration.

The new bottom cover FRU is shipped with a kit containing labels of several kinds. Apply those labels when

you replace the bottom cover. For the labels that are not shipped with the new bottom cover, peel them off

from the old bottom cover, and adhere them to the new one.

66 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

1 System label 2 GEO label

3 Israel Homologation/Indonesia Rating/Argentina CNC

label

4 Genuine Microsoft label

5 SN label 6 Asset tag label

7 SVT label 8 Brazil Anatel label

9 CECP label 10 Argentina Electrical Safety Label

1020 Built-in battery

For access, remove this FRU:

• “1010 Base cover assembly” on page 64

Important notices for replacing a built-in battery

Attention: Lenovo has no responsibility for the performance or safety of unauthorized batteries, and

provides no warranties for failures or damage arising out of their use.

The Lenovo Vantage program provides an automatic battery diagnostic test that determines if the built-in

battery is defective. A built-in battery FRU should not be replaced unless this diagnostic test shows that the

battery is defective. The only exception to this is if the built-in battery is physically damaged or a customer is

reporting a possible safety issue.

If the Lenovo Vantage program is not installed on the computer, the customer should download and install

the program to diagnose the built-in battery, before getting a non-physically damaged built-in battery

replaced. Note that the replacement of a physically damaged built-in battery is not covered by the warranty.

Removal steps of the built-in battery

DANGER

Use only the authorized battery specified for your computer. Any other battery could ignite or

explode.

Chapter 8.Removing or replacing a FRU 67

Step Screw (quantity) Color Torque

2M2 × L5 mm, small-head, nylon-coated (5) Black 0.181 Nm

(1.85 kgf-cm)

When installing:

Ensure that the connector is attached firmly.

1030 Memory module and memory module bracket

For access, remove this FRU:

• “1010 Base cover assembly” on page 64

Removal steps of the memory module and memory module bracket

Remove the memory module bracket as shown.

Open the latches on both sides of the memory module slot at the same time 1, and then remove the memory

module 2.

When installing:

Insert the notched end of the memory module into the memory slot. Press the memory module in firmly, and

pivot it downward until it snaps into place. Ensure that the memory module is firmly installed in the slot and

does not move easily.

1040 M.2 solid-state drive

For access, remove this FRU:

• “1010 Base cover assembly” on page 64

Attention: The M.2 solid-state drive is sensitive. Inappropriate handling might cause damage and

permanent loss of data.

68 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

When handling the M.2 solid-state drive, observe the following guidelines:

• Replace the M.2 solid-state drive only for upgrade or repair. The M.2 solid-state drive is not designed for

frequent changes or replacement.

• Before replacing the M.2 solid-state drive, make a backup copy of all the data that you want to keep.

• Do not apply pressure to the M.2 solid-state drive.

• Do not touch the contact edge of the M.2 solid-state drive. Otherwise the M.2 solid-state drive might get

damaged.

• Do not make the M.2 solid-state drive subject to physical shocks or vibration. Put the M.2 solid-state drive

on a soft material, such as cloth, to absorb physical shocks.

Removal steps of M.2 2242 solid-state drive

Note: Before installing a new M.2 2242 solid-state drive, ensure that the thermal pad is installed properly.

Step Screw (quantity) Color Torque

1M2 × L3 mm, flat-head, nylon-coated (1) Black 0.181 Nm

(1.85 kgf-cm)

Chapter 8.Removing or replacing a FRU 69

Removal steps of M.2 2280 solid-state drive

Note: Before installing a new M.2 2280 solid-state drive, ensure that the thermal pad is installed properly.

Step Screw (quantity) Color Torque

1M2 × L3 mm, flat-head, nylon-coated (1) Black 0.181 Nm

(1.85 kgf-cm)

1050 Speaker assembly

For access, remove this FRU:

• “1010 Base cover assembly” on page 64

Removal steps of the speaker assembly

E14 Gen 3

70 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

E15 Gen 3

When installing:

Ensure that the connector is attached firmly and cables are routed properly.

1060 Wireless LAN card

For access, remove this FRU:

• “1010 Base cover assembly” on page 64

Removal steps of the wireless LAN card

Step Screw (quantity) Color Torque

3M2 × L2.8 mm, flat-head, nylon-coated (1) Silver 0.181 Nm

(1.85 kgf-cm)

When installing:

Plug the gray cable into the connector labeled MAIN on the card; and plug the black cable into the connector

labeled AUX on the card.

Chapter 8.Removing or replacing a FRU 71

1070 Thermal fan assembly

For access, remove this FRU:

• “1010 Base cover assembly” on page 64

• Release the I/O board cable, see “1080 I/O board and I/O board cable” on page 73

• Release the wireless LAN card cable, see “1060 Wireless LAN card” on page 71

Removal step of the thermal fan assembly

When you install the thermal fan assembly:

• Ensure that the connector is attached firmly.

• Do not press the top of the fan cover and the fan hub.

• Always wear fingerstalls when handling the thermal fan assembly. Do not touch or hold any part of the

thermal fan assembly with bare fingers.

• Before you attach the thermal fan assembly to the computer, apply thermal grease, at an amount of 0.2

grams, on the part marked a as shown in the following illustrations. Either too much or too less

application of grease can cause a thermal problem due to imperfect contact with a component.

72 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

1080 I/O board and I/O board cable

Removal steps of the I/O board and I/O board cable (E14 Gen 3)

For access, remove these FRUs:

• “1010 Base cover assembly” on page 64

• “1070 Thermal fan assembly” on page 72

Step Screw (quantity) Color Torque

1M2.5 × L6 mm, flat-head, nylon-coated (2) Black 0.294 Nm

(3.0 kgf-cm)

Chapter 8.Removing or replacing a FRU 73

Step Screw (quantity) Color Torque

5M2× L2.8 mm, flat-head, nylon-coated (1) Silver 0.181 Nm

(1.85 kgf-cm)

When installing:

Ensure that the screws are installed firmly.

74 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Removal steps of the I/O board and I/O board cable (E15 Gen 3)

For access, remove these FRUs:

• “1010 Base cover assembly” on page 64

• “1070 Thermal fan assembly” on page 72

Step Screw (quantity) Color Torque

1M2.5 × L6 mm, flat-head, nylon-coated (3) Black 0.294 Nm

(3.0 kgf-cm)

Chapter 8.Removing or replacing a FRU 75

Step Screw (quantity) Color Torque

5M2× L2.8 mm, flat-head, nylon-coated (1) Silver 0.181 Nm

(1.85 kgf-cm)

When installing:

Ensure that the screws are installed firmly.

76 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

1090 Power button (with fingerprint reader*) and power button (with

fingerprint reader*) cable

Removal steps of the power button (with fingerprint reader*) and power button (with fingerprint

reader*) cable

For access, remove these FRUs:

• “1010 Base cover assembly” on page 64

• “1070 Thermal fan assembly” on page 72

• “1080 I/O board and I/O board cable” on page 73

When installing:

Ensure that the connectors are attached firmly.

1100 Coin-cell battery

For access, remove these FRUs:

• “1010 Base cover assembly” on page 64

• “1020 Built-in battery” on page 67

• Release the I/O board cable, see “1080 I/O board and I/O board cable” on page 73

DANGER

Use only the authorized battery specified for your computer. Any other battery could ignite or

explode.

Chapter 8.Removing or replacing a FRU 77

Removal steps of the coin-cell battery

When installing:

Ensure that the connector is attached firmly.

1110 Trackpad cable and trackpad

For access, remove these FRUs:

• “1010 Base cover assembly” on page 64

• “1020 Built-in battery” on page 67

Removal steps of the trackpad cable and trackpad

78 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Table 12. Screw specification

Step Screw (quantity) Color Torque

3M2 × 2 mm, flat-head, nylon-coated (4) Black 0.181 Nm

(1.85 kgf-cm)

1120 Earbuds

Removal steps of the earbuds

Chapter 8.Removing or replacing a FRU 79

1130 Earbud cable and earbud USB-C board

For access, remove these FRUs:

• “1010 Base cover assembly” on page 64

• “1020 Built-in battery” on page 67

Removal steps of the earbud cable

Removal steps of the earbud USB-C board

Table 13. Screw specification

Step Screw (quantity) Color Torque

1M2 × L3mm, flat-head, nylon-coated (2) Black 0.147 Nm

(1.85 kgf-cm)

1140 Earbud tray

For access, remove these FRUs:

• “1010 Base cover assembly” on page 64

• “1020 Built-in battery” on page 67

• “1120 Earbuds” on page 79

• “1130 Earbud cable and earbud USB-C board” on page 80

80 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Removal steps of the earbud tray

1150 Earbud bracket

For access, remove these FRUs:

• “1010 Base cover assembly” on page 64

• “1020 Built-in battery” on page 67

• “1120 Earbuds” on page 79

• “1130 Earbud cable and earbud USB-C board” on page 80

• “1140 Earbud tray” on page 80

Removal steps of the earbud bracket

Table 14. Screw specification

Step Screw (quantity) Color Torque

1M2 × L2 mm, flat-head, nylon-coated (3) Black 0.181 Nm

(1.85 kgf-cm)

1160 Earbud tray front bezel

For access, remove these FRUs:

• “1010 Base cover assembly” on page 64

• “1020 Built-in battery” on page 67

• “1120 Earbuds” on page 79

• “1130 Earbud cable and earbud USB-C board” on page 80

• “1140 Earbud tray” on page 80

• “1150 Earbud bracket” on page 81

Chapter 8.Removing or replacing a FRU 81

Removal steps of the earbud tray front bezel

1170 System board

Important notices for handling the system board:

When handling the system board, read the following:

• The system board has an accelerometer, which can be broken when several thousands of G-forces are applied.

Note: Dropping a system board from a height of as little as 6 inches so that it falls flat on a hard bench can subject

the accelerometer to as much as 6000 G's of shock.

• Be careful not to drop the system board on a bench top that has a hard surface, such as metal, wood, or

composite.

• Avoid rough handling of any kind.

• At every point in the process, be sure not to drop or stack the system board.

• If you put a system board down, be sure to put it only on a padded surface such as an ESD mat or a corrugated

conductive surface.

ThinkPad E14 Gen 3 and ThinkPad E15 Gen 3 share a common system board. After replacing the system

board, you will be prompted to input a brand name to correctly identify the machine type. The following table

contains the brand name required to complete this step.

Note: Input the exact brand name as shown in this table.

Brand name Machine types

ThinkPad E14 Gen 3 20Y7, 20YD, 20YE, and 20YF

ThinkPad E15 Gen 3 20YG, 20YH, 20YJ, and 20YK

For access, remove these FRUs in order:

• “1010 Base cover assembly” on page 64

• “1030 Memory module and memory module bracket” on page 68

• “1040 M.2 solid-state drive” on page 68

• “1020 Built-in battery” on page 67

• “1060 Wireless LAN card” on page 71

• “1070 Thermal fan assembly” on page 72

Attention: The following components soldered on the top side of the system board are extremely sensitive.

When you service the system board, avoid any kind of rough handling.

82 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

a Central Processing Unit (CPU)

Removal steps of the system board

Step Screw (quantity) Color Torque

1M2.5 × L6 mm, flat-head, nylon-coated (2) Black 0.294 Nm

(3.0 kgf-cm)

Chapter 8.Removing or replacing a FRU 83

84 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

E14 Gen 3

Step Screw (quantity) Color Torque

9M2 × L2.8 mm, flat-head, nylon-coated (2) Black 0.181Nm

(1.85 kgf-cm)

10 M2 × L5 mm, flat-head, nylon-coated (3) Black 0.181Nm

(1.85 kgf-cm)

E15 Gen 3

Step Screw (quantity) Color Torque

9M2 × L2.8 mm, flat-head, nylon-coated (4) Silver 0.181Nm

(1.85 kgf-cm)

10 M2 × L5 mm, flat-head, nylon-coated (1) Black 0.181Nm

(1.85 kgf-cm)

Chapter 8.Removing or replacing a FRU 85

When you install the system board:

Ensure that all the connectors are attached firmly to the system board.

Configure the keyboard language in UEFI BIOS:

1. Enter the UEFI BIOS menu.

2. Click Config ➙ Keyboard/Mouse ➙ Keyboard Layout, and then select the keyboard language.

1180 LCD unit

For access, remove these FRUs in order:

• “1010 Base cover assembly” on page 64

Removal steps of the LCD unit for E14 Gen 3

Step Screw (quantity) Color Torque

1M2.5 × L6 mm, flat-head, nylon-coated (4) Black 0.294 Nm

(3.0 kgf-cm)

86 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Chapter 8.Removing or replacing a FRU 87

Removal steps of the LCD unit for E15 Gen 3

Step Screw (quantity) Color Torque

1M2.5 × L6 mm, flat-head, nylon-coated (5) Black 0.294 Nm

(3.0 kgf-cm)

88 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

1190 Keyboard assembly

For access, remove these FRUs in order:

• “1010 Base cover assembly” on page 64

• “1020 Built-in battery” on page 67

• “1030 Memory module and memory module bracket” on page 68

• “1040 M.2 solid-state drive” on page 68

• “1050 Speaker assembly” on page 70

• “1060 Wireless LAN card” on page 71

• “1070 Thermal fan assembly” on page 72

• “1080 I/O board and I/O board cable” on page 73

• “1100 Coin-cell battery” on page 77

• “1110 Trackpad cable and trackpad” on page 78

• “1170 System board” on page 82

• “1180 LCD unit” on page 86

2010 LCD bezel assembly

For access, remove this FRU:

• “1180 LCD unit” on page 86

• “1190 Keyboard assembly” on page 89

Chapter 8.Removing or replacing a FRU 89

Removal steps of the LCD bezel assembly

When installing:

Ensure that all the latches are attached firmly.

After the LCD bezel assembly is removed, if it cannot be used anymore, a new LCD bezel assembly is

required for replacement.

2020 LCD panel

E14 Gen 3

Removal steps of the LCD panel

For access, remove this FRU in order:

• “1180 LCD unit” on page 86

• “2010 LCD bezel assembly” on page 89

90 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

1. Grasp the ends of four elastic adhesive tapes with tweezers. Pull out each tape slowly in the direction as

shown until four elastic tapes are all released from LCD unit 1. Then, Turn over the LCD panel 2.

Note: Do not pull the tapes too fast, otherwise, the tapes might snap. New tap should be ordered for

LCD panel replacement.

2. Detach the LCD cable from the LCD panel as shown.

Chapter 8.Removing or replacing a FRU 91

Installation steps of the LCD panel

1. Peel off the release liners from one side of the new elastic adhesive tapes. Apply the new tapes ordered

to the correct locations. Peel off the release liners from the other side of the tapes. Ensure that four

tapes are applied correctly as shown.

2. Attach the LCD cable to the LCD panel as shown. Turn over the LCD panel to secure the LCD panel with

tapes.

92 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

E15 Gen 3

Removal steps of the LCD panel

For access, remove this FRU in order:

• “1180 LCD unit” on page 86

• “2010 LCD bezel assembly” on page 89

1. Grasp the ends of four elastic adhesive tapes with tweezers. Pull out each tape slowly in the direction as

shown until four elastic tapes are all released from LCD unit 1. Then, turn over the LCD panel.

Note: Do not pull the tapes too fast, otherwise, the tapes might snap. New tap should be ordered for

LCD panel replacement.

2. Detach the LCD cable from the LCD panel as shown.

Chapter 8.Removing or replacing a FRU 93

Installation steps of the LCD panel

1. Peel off the release liners from one side of the new elastic adhesive tapes. Apply the new tapes ordered

to the correct locations. Peel off the release liners from the other side of the tapes. Ensure that four

tapes are applied correctly as shown.

2. Attach the LCD cable to the LCD panel as shown. Turn over the LCD panel to secure the LCD panel with

tapes.

94 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

2030 Hinge kit

Removal steps of the hinge kit (E14 Gen 3)

For access, remove these FRUs in order:

• “1180 LCD unit” on page 86

• “2010 LCD bezel assembly” on page 89

Step Screw (quantity) Color Torque

1M2.5 × L2.2 mm, flat-head, nylon-coated (6) Silver 0.294 Nm

(3.0 kgf-cm)

Removal steps of the hinge kit (E15 Gen 3)

For access, remove these FRUs in order:

• “1180 LCD unit” on page 86

• “2010 LCD bezel assembly” on page 89

Chapter 8.Removing or replacing a FRU 95

Step Screw (quantity) Color Torque

1M2.5 × L2.5 mm, flat-head, nylon-coated (6) Black 0.294 Nm

(3.0 kgf-cm)

When you install the hinge kit:

Ensure that all the connectors are attached firmly.

2040 Camera and microphone combo card

For access, remove these FRUs in order:

• “1180 LCD unit” on page 86

• “2010 LCD bezel assembly” on page 89

• “2020 LCD panel” on page 90

96 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Removal steps of the camera and microphone combo card (E14 Gen 3)

When installing:

Ensure that the connector is attached firmly.

Chapter 8.Removing or replacing a FRU 97

Removal steps of the camera and microphone combo card (E15 Gen 3)

When installing:

Ensure that the connector is attached firmly.

2050 eDP cable assembly

Removal steps of eDP cable assembly (E14 Gen 3)

For access, remove these FRUs in order:

• “1180 LCD unit” on page 86

• “2010 LCD bezel assembly” on page 89

• “2020 LCD panel” on page 90

Note: New tap should be ordered for eDP cable replacement.

98 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Chapter 8.Removing or replacing a FRU 99

Removal steps of eDP cable assembly (E15 Gen 3)

For access, remove these FRUs in order:

• “1180 LCD unit” on page 86

• “2010 LCD bezel assembly” on page 89

• “2020 LCD panel” on page 90

Note: New tap should be ordered for eDP cable replacement.

2060 Wireless LAN antenna assembly

For access, remove these FRUs in order:

• “1180 LCD unit” on page 86

• “2010 LCD bezel assembly” on page 89

• “2020 LCD panel” on page 90

100 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Removal steps of the wireless LAN antenna assembly (E14 Gen 3)

Release the wireless LAN antenna assembly from the tabs as shown.

Remove the wireless LAN antenna assembly from the LCD cover assembly.

Antenna locations

a Wireless LAN auxiliary antenna (black)

Chapter 8.Removing or replacing a FRU 101

b Wireless LAN main antenna (gray)

Attention: When you route the cables, ensure that they are not subject to any tension. Tension could cause

the cables to be damaged by the cable guides, or a wire to be broken.

Removal steps of the Wireless LAN antenna assembly (E15 Gen 3)

Release the wireless LAN antenna assembly from the tabs as shown.

102 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Remove the wireless LAN antenna assembly from the LCD cover assembly.

Antenna locations

a Wireless LAN auxiliary antenna (black)

b Wireless LAN main antenna (gray)

Attention: When you route the cables, ensure that they are not subject to any tension. Tension could cause

the cables to be damaged by the cable guides, or a wire to be broken.

2070 LCD cover assembly

For access, remove these FRUs in order:

• “1180 LCD unit” on page 86

• “2010 LCD bezel assembly” on page 89

• “2020 LCD panel” on page 90

• “2030 Hinge kit” on page 95

• “2040 Camera and microphone combo card” on page 96

• “2050 eDP cable assembly” on page 98

• “2060 Wireless LAN antenna assembly” on page 100

Chapter 8.Removing or replacing a FRU 103

104 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Appendix A. Notices

Lenovo may not offer the products, services, or features discussed in this document in all countries. Consult

your local Lenovo representative for information on the products and services currently available in your

area. Any reference to a Lenovo product, program, or service is not intended to state or imply that only that

Lenovo product, program, or service may be used. Any functionally equivalent product, program, or service

that does not infringe any Lenovo intellectual property right may be used instead. However, it is the user’s

responsibility to evaluate and verify the operation of any other product, program, or service.

Lenovo may have patents or pending patent applications covering subject matter described in this

document. The furnishing of this document does not give you any license to these patents. You can send

license inquiries, in writing, to:

Lenovo (United States), Inc.

1009 Think Place - Building One

Morrisville, NC 27560

U.S.A.

Attention: Lenovo Director of Licensing

LENOVO PROVIDES THIS PUBLICATION “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS

OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF NON-INFRINGEMENT,

MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Some jurisdictions do not allow

disclaimer of express or implied warranties in certain transactions, therefore, this statement may not apply to

you.

This information could include technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. Changes are periodically made

to the information herein; these changes will be incorporated in new editions of the publication. Lenovo may

make improvements and/or changes in the product(s) and/or the program(s) described in this publication at

any time without notice.

The products described in this document are not intended for use in implantation or other life support

applications where malfunction may result in injury or death to persons. The information contained in this

document does not affect or change Lenovo product specifications or warranties. Nothing in this document

shall operate as an express or implied license or indemnity under the intellectual property rights of Lenovo or

third parties. All information contained in this document was obtained in specific environments and is

presented as an illustration. The result obtained in other operating environments may vary.

Lenovo may use or distribute any of the information you supply in any way it believes appropriate without

incurring any obligation to you.

Any references in this publication to non-Lenovo Web sites are provided for convenience only and do not in

any manner serve as an endorsement of those Web sites. The materials at those Web sites are not part of the

materials for this Lenovo product, and use of those Web sites is at your own risk.

Any performance data contained herein was determined in a controlled environment. Therefore, the result

obtained in other operating environments may vary significantly. Some measurements may have been made

on development-level systems and there is no guarantee that these measurements will be the same on

generally available systems. Furthermore, some measurements may have been estimated through

extrapolation. Actual results may vary. Users of this document should verify the applicable data for their

specific environment.

Trademarks

LENOVO, LENOVO logo, THINKPAD, THINKPAD logo, and TRACKPOINT are trademarks of Lenovo.

Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. The terms HDMI and HDMI

High-Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC in the

United States and other countries. USB-C is a trademark of USB Implementers Forum. All other trademarks

106 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Appendix B. Abbreviation and acronym table

The following table lists all abbreviations and acronyms that might be used in this manual.

Abbreviation Term

BGA Ball Grid Array

BIOS basic input/output system

CMOS complementary metal-oxide semiconductor

COA Certificate of Authentication

CRC cyclic redundancy check

CRT cathode ray tube

CRU customer-replaceable unit

CTO Configure To Order

EAIA Enhanced Asset Information Area

ECA Engineering Change Announcements

EEPROM Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory

EFI Extensible Firmware Interface

EPO emergency power-off

ESD electrostatic discharge

EU European Union

FCC Federal Communications Commission

FRU Field Replaceable Unit

GAV General Announce Variant

GPU graphics processing unit

HDD hard disk drive

HDMI high-definition multimedia interface

ICs integrated circuits

ICCID integrate circuit card identity

ISO International Standardization Organization

LAN local area network

LCD liquid crystal display

MAC media access control

MT machine type

MTM machine type and model

PC personal computer

PCH Platform Controller Hub

POST power-on self-test

Abbreviation Term

RAM random-access memory

RF radio frequency

RFID radio-frequency identification

RI ring indicator

RJ registered jack

SATA Serial Advanced Technology Attachment

SIM subscriber identity module

SVP supervisor password

TFTs thin-film transistors

UEFI Unified Extensible Firmware Interface

USB Universal Serial Bus

UUID universally unique identifier

VGA video graphics array

VRAM video random-access memory

WAN wide area network

108 E14 Gen 3 / E15 Gen 3 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Table of Contents

Lenovo E15 User Manual

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