I have Sony Vaio NB VGN-N250E, with recent coming loose of DVD drive I can't slide in completely or seat right all of a sudden. A slide-hinge came loose I am not positive how to fit it back. I can find no docs or diagrams on step-by-step opening of back cover (many many screws.) I assume if I open cover or correct section, I can see better and seat (re-seat) drive successfully (and see where the slide hinge fits.) SONY is no help, they say "don't open it, send in for repairs". I may eventually. I reseated my CD drive on Dell and HP no biggie. Help please? Links or steps? Thanks!!

Are you talking about the panel under the touchpad? I have a VGN N365E, and is probably similar, the back one is the battery, and left is DVD side. Where are you talking.
You may have to shift sideways when pushing in, then slide over to lock in?

Are you talking about the panel under the touchpad? I have a VGN N365E, and is probably simular, the back one is the battery, and left is DVD side. Where are you talking.
You may have to shift sideways when pushing in, then slide over to lock in?

TY for reply. I tried shifting and pushing many ways, no help. I can't even close it. I can see the rail slots but it gets stuck. So I want a clear (cleaER) view.

Yes I opened hatch behind touch pad, 1 screw, I think HD or ICs are there, so I put panel back. I also removed battery no problem. There are maybe 10-12 screws all over the rear panel elsewhere. I removed 3 nothing new was accessible. I think I want to remove back cover completely to access rails and slots where the DVD drive sits. (I can only access it from the side slot now.) I am trying to find if this is possible. Which screws matter, what pitfalls exist, tips, etc. Thank you!

(EDIT: OH, there IS a separate panel behind touchpad and one for battery, but the rest is one complete laptop backing, no separate seam or section which might just be panel for DVD disk drive.)

Arghh, apparently I am not aLONE and it ain't easy:

Troube opening Sony Vaio Laptop VGN-A250 - Tech Support Guy Forums (http://forums.techguy.org/hardware/483498-troube-opening-sony-vaio-laptop.html)

Sony VAIO Z505 HD Upgrade (with pictures) - Fencepost Software & Consulting (http://www.fencepost.net/projects/vaio/)

Argh x 2!

UPD: need to open Vaio PCG-V505EX - how? (http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/48118/)

If you haven't gotten it yet. Remove visible screws, may be hidden screws under battery, or other removable items, may have to remove keyboard to access some screws. Seems everyone hides screws at the top corners. Under plastic pieces.
Don't get impatient. Verify no pins are bent, or problem with socket.

Hi All,
I came across this question when I was searching myself. Never found a valid answer so had to figure it out. Here's how to get to the guts of a VAIO VGN-N250e.

1. Flip it over and remove the memory access panel and the battery.
2. There are 20 or so screws on the bottom, remove them ALL. They each have an arrow
Engraved in the plastic next to them. There are 3 where the battery was and 2 where
The access panel was.
3. With all screws removed you can now pull out the CD carrier. There are 3 more screws
Along the side where the CD carrier was hiding them.
All screws on bottom should now be out.
4. Flip it back over. They hid one more screw under the keyboard. Get a small flat bladed
Screw driver. Along the bottom of the keyboard you'll find 5 plastic tabs that you can
Push out of the way. This will release the keyboard from the bottom.
5. With the keyboard loose, flip it over and remove the ribbon connector. Do this by
'CAREFULLY' using a fingernail or flatblade to each side of the slide bar and gently
Working it out. It's the black plastic bar that sits across the ribbon. It will come out
About 1mm, it's not much. The ribbon cable will slide out then. The reverse is just
Put the ribbon cable back in and push the bar back onto it. It's a pressure crimp.
6. Ok, now with the keyboard off you can get to the last screw. Remove it.
7. With all screws gone you can use fingers or guitar pick to separate the top cover. Be
Sure to open the laptop all the way to get the hinge covers off.
8. There's still one more ribbon cable attaching the mouse pad to the motherboard. I
Left it on since I could get to the hard drive without removing it. It works the same as
The keyboard ribbon cable only smaller.
9. To get the hard drive off, there are two screws at the top of the connector that are
Holding it in. Remove those two screws and the drive caddy will slide right out.

That's it. Do everything in reverse to put it all back together again. When putting the keyboard in, just press down starting at one edge or the other and snap it back in place.

Luck to All,
Alaska Jammer

Wow thanks for posting all this info, it is a tedious exercise thanks.

I was lucky a year ago the slots gave way and the cd tray slid back in.
I am glad, as the task seems scary and tough!