Disassembly for SSD and RAM upgrades

Slots for system memory and mass storage are generally accessible via unscrewing the laptop's bottom case. Case screws are always placed in such a way that the user can immediately recognize them and remove and reinsert them as often as desired. Screws are neither hidden behind rubber feet nor behind warranty labels. Please mind the exception for the laptops with support for XMG OASIS in the following paragraph.

If done properly, removing the bottom shell of XMG laptops does not void the warranty. Corresponding instructions are linked in PDF format in our download portal or available as video instructions on our YouTube channel.

Disassembling the keyboard is not necessary for removing the bottom shell. There are usually no pluggable components underneath the keyboard. Exceptions:

• XMG ULTRA 17 (until 2021), where 2 out of 4 RAM slots are located underneath the keyboard
• SCHENKER WORK 15 (2021/22/23), where you need to remove the keyboard before you can disassemble the bottom shell because this model has a very tight screw layout.

For all other models, simply dismantling the bottom shell allows convenient access to all installed components.

Please take care not to cause any mechanical damage to your XMG laptop during maintenance procedures. Mechanical damage is usually not covered by warranty or guarantee.

Caution: laptops with support for XMG OASIS have 3 extra screws in the back

Usually you will see all chassis screws by just flat-out looking at the bottom case from the top (with the laptop flipped on its head before you). However, those XMG laptop models that support the XMG OASIS liquid cooling system have three additional screws that are not immediately obvious. These screws are located right next to the water ports on the rear. You have to remove these screws before you can remove the bottom shell. See this example picture from XMG NEO 17 (M22).

This applies to the following models:

• XMG CORE 15 - M22
• XMG NEO 15 - E22
• XMG NEO 15 - M22
• XMG NEO 16 - E23
• XMG NEO 17 - M22
• XMG NEO 17 - E23

When reassembling the bottom shell on these models, make sure to carefully align the shell with the water ports first. The water ports are sealed by rubber "O rings" that can become squished or damaged when the bottom shell is improperly aligned during assembly. We therefor ask for extra caution when reassembling these models.

Appropriate tools

A full set of repair and maintenance tools can be found here:

• iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit - Tool-Kit at bestware

The by far most important tool for maintaining your own laptop is an appropriate screwdriver. With unsuitable screwdrivers, you risk increasingly damaging the screw heads. Once they are damaged, it can be very difficult or impossible to remove the screws non-destructively from the chassis.

Since the screws in the laptop are relatively small, the screwdriver must have a correspondingly precise blade. Large screwdrivers from the DIY home improvement sector are not suitable. Even those screwdrivers that might be convenient to use on desktop PCs are usually not suited for typical laptop screws.

Fits perfectly: "PH 0" screwdriver

The "PH" here stands for "Phillips" - a common name for cross-shaped screws in the English-speaking world. The "0" and "1" stand for different sizes. These sizes are usually engraved or printed on the side of the screwdriver. The designation "Phillips" goes back to the original distributor: Henry F. Phillips (written with two L). He has no relation to the commonly known electronics brand Philipsu00a0(written with only one L).

Rule of thumb for our laptops:

• "PH 0" is irreplaceable. It really does fit all the chassis screws in our laptops. If you only want to buy one screwdriver, this is the one.
• "PH 1" is optional. This size can give an even better grip on some screws. However, the slightly wider shaft of "PH 1" screwdrivers might not reach those screws that are sunk quite deeply into the chassis of some laptop models. "PH 0", on the other hand, can really reach any screw.

If possible, you should be in possession of both versions and then use the size that fits best for the respective screw. We sell these two sizes individually on bestware:

• Wera 2050 PH 0 - screwdriver
• Wera 2050 PH 1 - screwdriver

The use of other, non-compatible screwdrivers is strongly discouraged.

Correct use of the screwdriver

Even with the right screwdriver, you need a certain awareness of how the force of the screwdriver acts on the screw in order to handle it safely.

First of all, apply the screwdriver perfectly perpendicular to the screw - i.e. not at an angle.

At the beginning, when the screw is still very tight, apply vertical pressure from above to improve the grip. In other words, press down on the screw before you start to unscrew it!

This may sound counter-intuitive, but it is true: firm pressure from above is what allows the screwdriver to find sufficient grip. That firm grip is necessary to overcome the initial material resistance when rotating the screw.

Once the screw has loosened a little, you can release the pressure and continue screwing with reduced pressure (but still vertically!).

Reminder: turn left to remove screw

All screws in our laptops are right-handed, just like virtually every other screw in the world. This means:

• Turn left to remove the screw
• Turn right to fasten it

Additional safety instructions

Please observe the following safety instructions:

• Keep sources of danger like candles and open drinks away from your working environment.
• Avoid static discharge by grounding yourself before performing maintenance. To do this, touch a radiator, heating pipe or bathroom fixture, for example. Theoretically, you can also ground yourself at the protective contact of an earthed socket (as long as this contact is actually connected to the protective conductor and does not carry any voltage), but for safety reasons we expressly do not recommend this.
• Make sure you have a good grip on the screws with the screwdriver before you start turning. If you slip several times while turning, you will damage the screw head and worsen the grip even more - a vicious circle.
• Once you have removed the bottom shell of the laptop, make sure that no foreign objects get into the laptop. If you have a laptop with a built-in battery (this now applies to almost all XMG models), it is recommended that you disconnect the battery cable from the mainboard to cut off the power to the mainboard.
• Make sure that you don't slip with the screwdriver when removing other screws inside the laptop (e.g. the screw of the M.2 SSD slot). Avoid any contact of the mainboard with the screwdriver and other hard objects.
• We strongly advise against disassembling the cooling system. Improper disassembly of the cooling system carries a high risk of voiding the warranty. You can find more information about this in the following FAQ sections about "Cleaning the cooling system" and "Reapplying the thermal paste".

If you need help, please ask us!

If you are unsure about how to apply these tips or would prefer to have the cleaning and maintenance performed by our technical staff, please see the instructions below under the heading "RMA return for a voluntary device check-up" and contact us.