In this guide I will remove and replace defective keyboard in a Gateway M-Series notebook. In my case the notebook model is: M-6846 but this guide will work for all other Gateway M-Series notebooks. If my guide works for you, please mention the notebook model number in comments below.

STEP 1.

Turn off the notebook, remove the battery.
Remove one keyboard securing screw on the bottom.

STEP 2.

Carefully lift up one side of the speaker cover with a small flat head screwdriver.

STEP 3.

Continue removing the speaker cover with your fingers.
Be careful, there will be a cable connecting the LED board and motherboard under the cover.

STEP 4.

Remove two screws securing the keyboard.

STEP 5.

Lift up the keyboard and remove it from the laptop base.

STEP 6.

Now you can access the keyboard cable connector on the motherboard.
You’ll have to unlock the connector before disconnecting the cable and removing the keyboard.

In order to unlock the keyboard connector carefully move the locking clip about 2 millimeters to the direction shown by two arrows.

On the picture below you can see connector in the unlocked state.

STEP 7.

Now you can pull the cable from the connector and remove the keyboard.
Replace keyboard with a new one.

You can find a new keyboard for your Gateway M-Series notebook using the keyboard part number from the sticker.
In my case the part number is: AESA6U00020. Search for a new keyboard here.

In the previous guide I explain how to replace the broken screen in the same Gateway M-Series notebook.

In this guide I explain how to remove and replace the broken LCD screen in a Gateway M7 series laptop. I’m fixing a Gateway M-6846 laptop. It also says Model No.: SA1 on the bottom. Most likely my guide will works for some other Gateway laptops. If it works for you, please mention the laptop model number in the comments below.

Need spare parts for a Gateway M-series laptop? Search for spare parts here.

Turn off the laptop, unplug the power adapter and remove the battery.

STEP 1.

There are three hinge covers on the bottom of the display panel. We’ll have to remove these covers first.

Insert a sharp object under the hinge cover and lift it up. Continue removing the cover with your fingers.

The hinge cover has been removed.

Remove two other hinge covers.

STEP 2.

There are six screw covers on the screen bezel.

Remove screw covers with a sharp object.

Remove all six screws found under the covers.

STEP 3.

Start separating the screen bezel from the display cover.

Continue removing the screen bezel.

The screen bezel has been removed.

STEP 4.

The screen inverter board mounted below the LCD screen.

Remove one screw securing the inverter board.

Unplug the LCD screen backlight cable from the right side of the inverter board.

I’m not replacing the inverter board, so I’m not disconnecting the cable on the left side.

STEP 5.

Remove six screws securing the LCD screen hinges and mounting bracket.

Before you can separate the LCD screen assembly from the display cover, you’ll have to unplug cable from the webcam board.

Now you can separate the screen assembly from the display cover and access the video cable connection on the back of the screen.

Unplug video cable from the LCD screen connector.

STEP 6.

Remove two screws securing LCD screen to the mounting  bracket.

Remove two more screws on the other side of the screen.

Now you can remove the broken LCD screen and replace it with a new screen.

I found a new LCD screen for my Gateway M-6846 laptop here. If you have a different Gateway laptop, just search by the model number.

In the next guide I explain how to remove and replaced defective keyboard in Gateway M-Series laptop.

In this guide I will remove a broken LCD screen from a Gateway MT6704 (Model MA7) laptop and replace it with a new screen. As I mentioned in my previous article, where I was replacing the laptop keyboard, this guide will work for many other Gateway laptops in MT6700 line.

Before you start, turn off the laptop, unplug the power adapter and remove the battery.

You’ll find six rubber screw seals on the display bezel. Remove all seals with a sharp object (picture above) and also remove all six screws found under the seals.

Start separating the display bezel from the screen cover with your fingers. A piece of soft plastic (I’m using a guitar pick) will help you to separate two parts without breaking the bezel.

Continue removing the bezel on the top of the display assembly.

The display bezel has been removed.

As you see on the picture below, a part of the screen inverter is covered by the LCD support bracket. If you are removing the LCD screen or inverter, you’ll have to remove the support bracket first.

Remove two screws securing the support bracket and after that remove the bracket.

Now you can access the inverter board which is glued to the screen cover. Be very careful while separating the inverter board from the cover, do not break it.

I will not be removing the inverter in this guide, it’s not necessary for replacing the screen. But I have to unplug one cable on the right side of the inverter. This cable is permanently attached to the LCD screen, actually it’s attached to the backlight lamp inside the screen.

Carefully separate the screen from the cover and place it face down on the keyboard.

The laptop screen is connected to the motherboard by the video cable. The video cable has to be unplugged from the screen before you can remove it.

The video cable connector is secured by a clear (sticky) tape. Remove the tape and unplug the video cable from the LCD screen.

Now you can remove the screen. As you see, the mounting brackets are still attached to both sides of the screen.

Remove two screws securing the mounting bracket to the screen.

Remove brackets from both sides of the screen.

I found a sticker on the back side of the screen. Apparently, the number above the barcode is the part number used by Gateway. I was able to find a new screen using this part number.

The broken LCD screen has been removed and I’m ready to install a new one. Are you looking for a new screen for your Gateway MT6700 laptop? Try here.

For complete laptop disassembly instructions please take a look at this guide. It’s a different Gateway model but the body is very similar.

In the following guide I will be removing the keyboard from a Gateway MT6704 (Model MA7) laptop. I believe this guide will work for many other Gateway laptops. Take a look at the sticker on the bottom of your laptop. If you can see Model MA7 under the Gateway logo, most likely you can use this guide.
First of all, turn off the laptop, unplug the AC power adapter and remove the battery.

Now remove covers from the wireless card and memory. I mentioned the hard drive cover, but I’m not going to remove it.

There are two screws securing the keyboard. Remove both screws.

Now remove two screws securing the hinge cover.

Lift up one side of the hinge cover with a sharp object as it shown on the picture below. Continue removing the cover with your fingers.

On the picture below you see the hinge cover removed.

Lift up the keyboard and place it upside down on the palm rest. Be careful, the keyboard is still attached to the motherboard with a cable.

On the picture below I circled the keyboard connector. In order to disconnect the keyboard, you’ll have to unlock the connector first.

On the picture below you see the keyboard connector in the locked position.

On the next picture, the keyboard connector is shown in the unlocked position. Now you can pull the cable and remove the keyboard.

The keyboard is remove and you can replace it with a new one. You can buy a new keyboard for your Gateway MT6700 series laptop here for less than $20.

Would you like to know how to remove the motherboard and replace broken power jack? Take a look at the Gateway NX570X disassembly guide. This laptop has the same body (Model No MA7).

Also, in the next post I explain how to remove the LCD screen from the same Gateway laptop.

If you have a different Gateway laptop and my guide works for you, please mention the laptop model in comments.

In the following guide I’ll be taking apart a Gateway NX570X laptop. I think my disassembly instructions will work for other Gateway laptops in the NX570 line too. Please let me know if you have a different Gateway laptop and this guide works for you, you can mention your model in the comments below.

The laptop I’m fixing stopped charging the battery even though the AC adapter works properly and outputs correct voltage. I tested the adapter with a voltmeter. Actually, it’s charging the battery but only intermittently, when the AC adapter pushed in firmly. In order to charge the battery I have to adjust the AC adapter plug inside the power socket on the back of the laptop. Apparently, there is a problem with the power socket (aka power jack) and it has to be replaced or resoldered. OK, let’s take this lappy apart. I’ll be removing the system board so I can access and repair the power jack.

Are you looking for spare parts for your Gateway NX570 laptop? You’ll find them here.

STEP 1.

Turn off the laptop, unplug the AC adapter and remove the battery.

Remove seven screws (yellow circles) securing the memory cover.

Remove one screw (yellow circle) securing the keyboard. There are two more keyboard screws under the memory cover. You can see them in the step 5.

Remove one screw (orange circle) securing the Wi-Fi card cover.

Remove two screws (red circle) securing the hard drive. In order to disconnect the hard drive from the motherboard, you’ll have to slide the hard drive assembly to the left. Remove the hard drive assembly from the laptop.

STEP 2.

Disconnect two antenna cables from the wireless card, simply unsnap them from the card using your fingers. Remove one screw securing the wireless card and remove the card.

Remove both memory modules.

Loosen four screws securing the heat sink assembly (red circles).

STEP 3.

Carefully lift up the heat sink assembly from the laptop. The cooling fan is attached to the motherboard. Unplug this cable from the motherboard.

STEP 4.

Remove one screw securing the CD/DVD drive. Push the drive to the left and remove it from the laptop.

STEP 5.

Remove all screws from the bottom of the laptop. Two screws marked with green circles are securing the keyboard.

If you are replacing the keyboard, you simply remove one green screw in the step 1 and two green screws in the step 5 and then proceed to steps 7,8,9,10.

STEP 6.

Remove two screws from the hinge cover.

STEP 7.

Start removing the hinge cover with a small flathead screwdriver and continue removing it with your fingers.

STEP 8.

Remove the hinge cover.

STEP 9.

Lift up the keyboard as it shown on the picture below and place it upside down on the palm rest.

STEP 10.

Unlock connector on the system board. Release the cable and remove the keyboard.

STEP 11.

Release the wireless card antenna cables.

Unplug LCD cable from the system board.

Remove two screws from each display hinge.

STEP 12.

Carefully lift up and remove the LCD assembly.

STEP 13.

Remove four screws securing the top cover.

Unplug the touch pad cable from the system board.

STEP 14.

Lift up and remove the top cover assembly.

STEP 15.

Remove five screws securing the motherboard.

Unplug the speaker cable (left) and the Bluetooth card cable (right) from the system board.

STEP 16.

Start removing the system board from the left side.

You’ll have to disconnect one more cable shown on the picture below.

Finally, the system board has been removed.

Now you can access and repair the power jack. You can use these power jack replacement instructions.

When I was removing the power jack from the system board, it came out with the internal sleeve attached to the “+” connector. This sleeve connects traces on both sides of the system board and normally, when you unsolder the power jack, it stays inside the hole.
Now I’ll have to make a modification so traces on both sides of the system board are connected. I’ll have to connect traces with a cable.

First of all, remove the laptop battery.

The LCD bezel has six rubber plugs covering screws. Remove all rubber plugs with a sharp object.

Remove six screws found under the rubber plugs.

Using a small flathead screwdriver remove the keyboard bezel.

Remove three screws from hinge covers.

Remove both hinge covers.

Now you can start separating the LCD bezel from the cover as it shown on the picture below.

Remove the LCD bezel a.k.a. LCD mask.

You’ll find the inverter board below the LCD screen. The inverter board is glued to the LCD cover with a double sticky tape. Carefully separate the inverter board from the cover.

You can find spare display parts for your Gateway Solo 1400/1450 laptop here.

Unplug cables from both sides of the inverter board and remove it.

Remove one screw securing the LCD cable connector to the motherboard. Carefully disconnect the LCD cable connector from the motherboard.

Remove four screws securing display hinges.

Carefully lift up and remove the display panel assembly.

Remove ten screws securing the LCD assembly to the cover. Remove the LCD assembly.

Now you can access the back side of the LCD screen and remove the cable.

Remove the yellow sticky tape covering the LCD cable connector. Unplug the cable from the LCD screen and replace it with a new one if needed.

This tutorial explains how replace screen inverter in a Gateway AKA eMachines laptop. The display panel disassembly procedure will be the same as for many other models.

If I look really close at the screen I can still see that the LCD is still working – it’s just the backlight that’s dead. Not only that but it comes back on briefly (for about a minute) before dying again. Now, there are basically 2 parts to the backlight, the backlight itself and the Inverter Board that supplies power to the bulb.

My comment: This failure is very typical for may different laptop brands and most likely indicates a problem with the inverter board. Backlight bulbs fail too but not as often as inverter boards.

I unscrewed the LCD screen from the case in an attempt to find the bulb. I couldn’t find it and have concluded that it’s so tightly integrated into the LCD screen itself that I’m not likely to get it out without there being a really good chance of breaking something

My comment: The author’s conclusion is correct. The backlight bulb is located INSIDE the LCD screen. It’s possible to replace the bulb but it’s not easy. You can damage the screen. You’ll find backlight replacement instructions for different laptops in this category.

You’ll find new replacement inverters for Gateway laptops here.

These instructions explain how to access and replace the internal memory module in Gateway 7000 series laptops. The instructions were created for a Gateway 7405 laptop but should work for the 7000 series. Replacing internal memory module in this model can be very tricky. The internal memory slot is located under the keyboard but even after you remove the keyboard you can access only a part of the memory slot.
You’ll have to use a flat object in order to unlock the memory module. The author of this guide was using PCI slot covers from a desktop computer.
The second memory slot can be easily accessed through the door on the bottom, here are instructions.

UDATE (08.30.2008) : The site I was linking to is gone, so I removed the link.

Here’s an illustrated guide for accessing and replacing internal memory on a Gateway 7540 laptop.

Let me say something before starting…It’s not my fault if you break something while doing this!
This should only be attempted if you are familiar with electronics/computers and feel comfortable taking your laptop apart.
This may invalidate whatever warranty you have on your computer so be careful.
So in other words proceed at your own risk.

One of the memory modules is located under the keyboard and can be accessed only if you remove the keyboard.
Unfortunately, even after the keyboard is removed you’ll get only limited access to the internal memory slot. You’ll have to be creative when you are removing and replacing the memory modules installed into the internal slot.
Here’s a link for people who own a different Gateway laptop. Replacing memory, hard drive, keyboard on Gateway laptops

Is it possible to make your Gateway 8550GB laptop run faster? Can you replace stock CPU, graphics card, memory with faster replacements? According to MXM-Upgrade the laptop upgrade is possible. Fortunately, you can easily access all three components (CPU, memory, graphics card) if you remove the memory bay cover from the laptop bottom. You can find disassembly instructions in the Gateway user guide.

Laptop specifications before the upgrade:
CPU: Pentium M740 1.73GHz
Memory: 1GB DDR2 PC4200(533MHz)
Graphics card: ATI Mobility Radeon X700 128MB

Laptop specifications after the upgrade:
CPU: Pentium M780 2.26GHz
Memory: 2GB DDR2 PC4200(533MHz)
Graphics card: ATI Mobility Radeon X1900 256MB

This upgrade will speed up your laptop significantly, but it’s not cheap.
Also, don’t forget about the hard drive-the slowest part in the laptop. A faster 7200RPM hard drive will improve the laptop performance too.