Transform the damaged laptop by utilizing the broken motherboard.
Transform the damaged laptop by utilizing the broken motherboard.
Hey there,
I experienced a Chromebook Pixel LS (2015) issue in early 2020. It would suddenly lose power and wouldn’t restart afterward—tried taking it apart, disconnecting the battery, etc. I’m pretty sure a problem with the motherboard exists, requiring advanced electronic troubleshooting that I don’t have access to, and I don’t think anyone outside Google has the relevant schematics.
On the positive side, the metal frame looks intact, the screen and touchscreen are in good condition, the keyboard works fine, and the back LED lights were impressive. The speakers are functional, and the battery bank seems capable of lasting over 75% capacity (or I could swap in another bank).
Repurposing this device would be a great idea instead of discarding all the useful components. It’s tough to find replacement motherboards, so going for newer models or a DIY build might be more practical.
However, I’m struggling to find a guide that explains how to connect parts together for functionality. I’d appreciate any advice or links to resources that could help me assemble and fix it.
I’m looking for a GPIO interface for the back LEDs, a USB-C charging and power board, and a way to manage all the internal cables. I’m comfortable with power tools, soldering, testing continuity, and other modifications.
Thanks in advance for your help!
So, you're thinking about constructing your own MoBo?
🤔
Starting with a Raspberry Pi could be a good idea. But without understanding the pinout of all the (ribbon) cables, it would be extremely difficult to design a custom MoBo for it.
Still, the Raspberry Pi community might have the necessary information or data.
Even if a replacement MoBo is hard to find, a donor device could be useful. Those include MoBo and, if lucky, a working one as well.