In the following guide I’ll be taking apart a Gateway P-series laptop.

In my case I’m taking apart a Gateway P-6825 but the guide should work for the entire P-series line.

If it fits any other Gateway model, please mention the model number in comments after this post.

First of all, turn off the laptop, disconnect AC adapter and remove battery.

Many major laptop components can be accessed if you remove two covers from the bottom.

There are five screws securing the fan/RAM cover and four screws securing the hard drive cover.

Under the fan/RAM cover you’ll find both memory (RAM) modules, wireless card, cooling fan and processor (mounted under the heat sink).

Removing this cover will not allow you to replace the cooling fan, but you’ll be able to clean it. I suggest using compressed air for cleaning the cooling fan and heat sink.

Also, removing this cover gives you access to both memory modules and makes it very easy to replace/upgrade memory.

Under the hard drive cover you’ll find two hard drive bays.

In my case I had only one hard drive installed.

In order to remove the hard drive, slide the entire hard drive assembly in the direction shown by the yellow arrow.

In my case I had to use some force because the hard drive was fitted very tightly.

When the hard drive assembly removed, you can remove four screws securing the hard drive to the caddy.

After that separate the hard drive from the caddy. Now you can replace the hard drive with a new one.

Using a sharp object remove the rubber cover located on the right side of the hard drive bay.

This cover hides a screw securing the DVD drive. Remove the screw.

Now you can slide the DVD drive from the laptop and remove it.

The DVD drive has been removed.

In the following 10 steps I explain how to remove the keyboard.

It’s not necessary to follow all previous steps in order to remove the keyboard.

Remove two screws securing the power button cover in the battery bay.

Carefully lift up the right side of the power button cover.

Continue removing the power button cover.

Be very careful. There are two cables connecting power/media boards to the motherboard. Do not lift up the cover too high.

On the following picture you can see two cables.

Try not to disconnect them from the motherboard or power/media board.

Ideally, these cables remain connected after you remove the cover.

Remove five screws securing the keyboard.

Lift up the top side of the keyboard.

Now you can access the keyboard cable connector.

Before you remove the keyboard, you have to unlock the connector and release the cable.

In order to unlock the connector, flip the right side of the brown clip up so it opens at a 90 degree angle.

After the connector is unlocked, you can release the cable.

Finally, remove the keyboard and replace it with a new one if needed.

Looking for a new keyboard for your Gateway P-series laptop? You’ll find it here.

In this guide I explain how to replace the cooling fan assembly in an IBM  ThinkPad T43 laptop. This laptop was starting up with a “Fan error” message indicating the cooling fan failure. The fan is a part of the heat sink assembly and when the fan fails, the whole cooling assembly has to be replaced.

Also you can use this guide for removing and replacing the keyboard and hidden memory module.

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

STEP 1.

Remove three screws securing the keyboard on the bottom of the laptop.

The first memory module can be accessed through the door on the bottom.

It’ not necessary to remove the memory module in order to replace the cooling fan.

STEP 2.

Insert a sharp object between the bottom of the keyboard and palm rest and carefully lift up the keyboard.

Place the keyboard upside down on the palm rest.

STEP 3.

Disconnect the keyboard cable from the motherboard.

STEP 4.

Remove the keyboard.

If you are looking for a new keyboard for an IBM ThinkPad T43, you can find it here.

STEP 5.

The cooling fan assembly is hidden under the palm rest and cannot be removed until the palm rest is removed.

The second memory module is located under the keyboard.

STEP 6.

Now we are going to remove the palm rest.

Remove all marked screws from the bottom of the laptop.

STEP 7.

Disconnect the touchpad cable from the motherboard.

STEP 8.

Start separating the palm rest assembly from the laptop base.

STEP 9.

Remove the palm rest assembly.

STEP 10.

Remove three screws securing the cooling fan assembly.

Disconnect the cooling fan cable from the motherboard.

The cooling fan assembly part number is printed on the label.

STEP 11.

Lift up the right side of the cooling fan assembly.

STEP 12.

Remove the cooling fan assembly.

In order to find a new cooling fan assembly, I would suggest searching by the IBM FRU part number. In my case the part number is 26R7950.

You can buy a new cooling fan assembly here.

STEP 13.

Clean up the CPU and GPU chips with an alcohol swab.

Do not forget to apply fresh thermal grease on the CPU. You don’t have to apply thermal grease on the GPU because it will be covered with thermal pad located on the heat sink.

A new cooling fan assembly should come with thermal grease pre-applied on the heat sink. Also, it comes with thermal pad for the GPU.

In this post I explain how to replace a noisy or failed cooling fan in a Lenovo ThinkPad T61 laptop.

This guide might work for some other Lenovo ThinkPad models. If it works for you, please mention the laptop model number in the comments after the post.

The cooling fan is a part of the heat sink assembly. If the cooling fan fails, the whole heat sink assembly has to be replaced.

It’s possible that you can separate the fan from the heat sink and replace it separately, but in this guide I’m replacing the whole assembly.

Let’s remove the cooling fan assembly and replace it with a new one.

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

STEP 1.

Remove four (red) screws securing the palm rest.

Remove one screw (yellow) securing the keyboard.

STEP 2.

Lift up the palm rest.

STEP 3.

Place the palm rest upside down so you can access the touch pad cable underneath.

STEP 4.

Disconnect the touch pad cable from the motherboard.

By the way, both memory modules are located under the palm rest. If you are replacing or upgrading memory modules, you don’t have to follow the guide any further.

A Lenovo ThinkPad T61 laptop can take up to 4GB RAM total. You can install up to 2GB memory module into each slot. You should use DDR2 PC2-5300 or PC2-6400 memory modules.

STEP 5.

Lift up the keyboard and place it upside down.

STEP 6.

Disconnect the keyboard cable from the motherboard.

In order to disconnect the cable simply lift up the the connector, same way you disconnected the touch pad cable.

If you are replacing the keyboard, you don’t have to follow this guide any further.

You can find a new replacement keyboard by the Lenovo FRU part number printed on the label. In my case the keyboard part number is 42T3209.

Need a new keyboard for your Lenovo ThinkPad?  Search here.

STEP 7.

Remove three screws securing the speaker cover.

By the way, the CMOS battery is located under the keyboard.

STEP 8.

Remove two screws securing the speaker cover on the bottom of the laptop.

STEP 9.

Remove the speaker cover.

STEP 10.

Remove four screws securing the cooling fan assembly brackets. Remove both brackets.

I would recommend taking a close up picture of the lower bracket, so you know how the wires are routed. The picture will help you to rout wires correctly when you assemble the laptop back together.

STEP 11.

Remove two screws securing the left speaker.

Disconnect connectors shown by two arrows.

Move the left speaker with cables to the right side, so you can get to the cooling fan assembly.

STEP 12.

Disconnect the cooling fan cable from the motherboard.

Remove four screws securing the cooling fan assembly.

STEP 13.

Lift up the cooling fan assembly as it shown on the picture below.

STEP 14.

Remove the cooling fan assembly from the laptop.

If you are replacing the failed cooling fan assembly with a new one, most likely the heat sink already has thermal grease pre-applied.

On the other hand, if you are installing a refubished cooling fan assembly, you’ll have to apply thermal grease on both chips shown below.

You can search for a replacement cooling fan assembly by the Lenovo FRU number from the failed fan.

The FRU number is printed on the label. In my case, the FRU part number is 42W2460.

You can find a new or used cooling fan assembly here.

.

In this guide I explain how to disassemble a Gateway MX (Model #MA2A) series laptop. To be precise, I’m taking apart a Gateway MX6650 laptop. If this guide works for your Gateway laptop, please mention the model number in the comment below.

The main purpose of this repair is replacing the laptop base cover. A piece of the base assembly where the right hinge connected broke off and the whole base assembly has to be replaced.

If yo need spare parts for your Gateway laptop, you can search by the model number here.

Let’s go through the laptop disassembly process step by step. Before you start, turn off the laptop, disconnect the AC adapter and remove the battery.

STEP 1.

Remove two screws (yellow) securing the hard drive assembly.
Remove one screw (red) securing the wireless card cover.
Remove seven screws (green) securing the memory cover.

There is one screw on the bottom (pink) securing the keyboard. You can remove this screw now or in the step 8.

STEP 2.

In order to remove the hard drive assembly, slide the whole assembly to the left to disconnect the hard drive from the motherboard.

Lift up and remove the hard drive assembly.

STEP 3.

Loosen three screws securing the heat sink assembly.

STEP 4.

Carefully lift up the heat sink assembly and disconnect the cooling fan cable from the motherboard.

STEP 5.

Remove both memory modules.

Disconnect two antenna cable from the wireless card.

STEP 6.

You remove the wireless card same way as the memory module.

Spread metal latches on both sides and when the wireless card pops up at a 30 degree angle, pull the wireless card from the slot.

STEP 7.

Remove one screw securing the CD/DVD optical driver.

Pull the CD/DVD drive from the laptop and remove it.

STEP 8.

Remove all screws from the bottom of the laptop. Do not forget two screws (yellow) located in the CD/DVD drive compartment.

STEP 9.

Remove two screws from the back side of the power switch cover.

STEP 10.

Carefully lift up the power switch cover with a screwdriver.

Continue removing the cover with your fingers.

STEP 11.

The power switch cover has been removed.

STEP 12.

Lift up the keyboard and place it upside down on the palm rest.

STEP 13.

Now you can unlock the keyboard cable connector.

After the connector is unlocked, you can pull the cable and remove the keyboard.

STEP 14.

Disconnect the LCD cable connector from the motherboard.

Pull the wireless card antenna cables through the opening in the top cover.

Remove four screws securing the display assembly hinges.

STEP 15.

Remove the display panel assembly.

You can remove and replace the LCD screen using this guide. It’s not necessary to separate the display assembly from the laptop base in order to replace the LCD screen.

STEP 15.

Remove four screws securing the top cover assembly.

Disconnect the touch pad cable from the motherboard.

The CMOS battery can be accessed and replaced in this step.

STEP 16.

Carefully lift up and remove the top cover assembly.

STEP 17.

Disconnect the speaker cable from the motherboard.

Remove four screws securing the motherboard.

STEP 18.

Carefully lift up the motherboard and disconnect the VGA board cable from the other side.

STEP 19.

There is nothing on this side of the motherboard except the CMOS battery.

STEP 20.

The processor (CPU) is located on the other side.

In order to remove the processor you have to unlock the socket.

STEP 21.

Remove two screws securing the VGA board.

STEP 22.

Remove two hex studs securing the VGA board on the back side of the base.

STEP 23.

Remove the VGA board.

STEP 24.

Finally, remove one screw securing the speaker cover assembly.

Remove the speaker cover assembly.

Now you can replace the damaged base cover with a new cover.

In this guide I explain how to disassemble a Compaq Presario v6000 series laptop.

Most likely this guide will work for some other Compaq Presario models. If it works for you, please mention the laptop model number in the comments after the article.

By the way, some Compaq Presario v6000 laptops might have a know problem with the motherboard. Check out this article about HP/Compaq Limited Warranty Service Enhancement program.

Let’s disassemble this laptop step-by-step.

STEP 1.

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

Remove three (yellow) screws securing the power switch cover.

Remove three more (green) screws securing the keyboard.

STEP 2.

Start removing the power switch cover as it shown on the picture below.

Be careful, there is a cable under the cover connecting the LED board to the motherboard. Do not lift up the power switch cover too much.

That’s the cable I was talking about.

STEP 3.

Now you can lift up the keyboard and access the cable connector underneath.

The cable connector has to be unlocked before you pull the cable and remove the keyboard.

STEP 4.

In order to unlock the keyboard cable connector, you’ll have to move the brown clip about 2 millimeters into the direction shown by two arrows. The brown clip must stay attached to the white connector base.

On the picture below the connector is shown in the unlocked position.

Now you can pull the cable and remove the keyboard.

STEP 5.

Disconnect the LED board cable from the motherboard.

STEP 6.

Remove the power switch cover.

STEP 7.

Remove one screw securing the CD/DVD drive.

Push the CD/DVD drive from the laptop with a screwdriver and remove the drive.

STEP 8.

Remove screws securing the hard drive and memory covers.

Remove both covers.

STEP 9.

Lift up the right side of the hard drive to disconnect it from the motherboard.

Remove the hard drive assembly from the laptop.

STEP 10.

Remove the memory module.

Disconnect two antenna cables form the wireless card (green arrows). Remove two screws securing the wireless card. Remove the wireless card from the laptop.

Also, you can access and remove the CMOS (RTC) battery here.

STEP 11.

Remove all screws from the bottom of the laptop. Do not forget three screws in the CD/DVD drive compartment (red circles) and one screw in the hard drive compartment (green circle).

Remove two hex studs found on the left side from the Wi-Fi card slot.

STEP 12.

Pull the wireless card antenna cable through the opening in the top cover.

Disconnect the power switch board cable from the motherboard.

Remove four screws securing display hinges.

STEP 13.

Disconnect the LCD cable. You’ll find this connector close to the left hinge.

STEP 14.

After I disconnected the LCD cable, I found that there is one more cable running from the display panel to the power switch board.

It’s easier to disconnect the cable from the power switch board if you remove the board first.

STEP 15.

Remove one screw securing the power switch board, lift up the board and turn it over.

Now you can unplug the cable.

Put the power switch board back in place.

STEP 16.

Remove the display panel assembly from the laptop.

STEP 17.

Remove four screws securing the top cover assembly.

Disconnect the touch pad cable from the motherboard.

STEP 18.

Start separating the top cover assembly from the laptop base.

Continue removing the top cover assembly.

As a case cracker I’m using a guitar pick.

Insert the guitar pick between the top cover assembly and base and move slowing along the side. This will help to release hidden latches.

STEP 19.

The top cover assembly removed.

STEP 20.

Remove six screws securing the motherboard assembly.

STEP 21.

Lift up the right side of the motherboard and disconnect the PC card slot.

STEP 22.

Remove the motherboard from the laptop base. Do not forget to disconnect the audio board cable on the front.

STEP 23.

Turn the motherboard upside down and disconnect two more cables underneath.

Those are the power cable and USB cable.

STEP 24.

Remove the motherboard from the base.

Laptop base without motherboard.

STEP 25.

Loosen four screws securing the heat sink assembly.

Disconnect the cooling fan cable from the motherboard.

STEP 26.

Lift up the cooling module assembly.

Now you can access the processor (CPU).

If you need spare parts for your Compaq Presario v6000 laptop, you can find them on eBay.

In this guide I explain how to disassemble an HP Pavilion dv7 notebook.

To be precise, I’m taking apart an HP Pavilion dv7t-1000 notebook but you should be able to use these instructions for all models in the Pavilion dv7 line.

The guide will show how to access both memory modules and hard drives if you are upgrading the notebook, remove most internal components, access and clean the cooling fan.

Before you start, turn off the notebook and remove the battery.

If you need spare part for your HP Pavilion dv7 notebook, you can search here.

STEP 1.

Remove (loosen) four screws securing the hard drive and memory cover. Remove the cover.

STEP 2.

Remove four screws securing hard drives (two screws per hard drive).

Slide the hard drive 1 to the left until it’s disconnected from the motherboard. Remove the hard drive 1.

Slide the hard drive 2 to the right until it’s disconnected from the motherboard. Remove the hard drive 2.

STEP 3.

Remove both memory (RAM) modules.

Disconnect two antenna cables from the wireless card. These laptop has three antenna cables but only two are used.

One of the antenna cables connected to the main contact on the wireless card and the second one is connected to the auxiliary contact. All three antenna cables are labeled.

Remove two screws securing the wireless card. Remove the card.

STEP 4.

Remove one screw securing the CD/DVD drive.

Slide the CD/DVD drive to the left to disconnect it from the motherboard.

Remove the CD/DVD drive.

STEP 5.

Remove all marked screws from the bottom of the notebook.

The green circled screw secures the keyboard.

Don’t forget to remove two screws hidden in the CD/DVD drive bay.

STEP 6.

Start separating the speaker cover from the notebook base.

You can use a guitar pick as a case cracker. Insert the guitar pick between the speaker cover and case and slowly move along the side.

STEP 7.

Lift up the speaker cover. Be careful, it’s still connected to the motherboard.

In order to remove the cable, you’ll have to unlock the connector first.

Move the brown clip about 2 millimeters in the direction shown by two arrows. The clip must stay attached to the connector base.

On the picture below the connector is shown in the unlocked position.

STEP 8.

Now you can remove the speaker cover.

STEP 9.

Remove four screw securing the keyboard.

STEP 10.

Lift up the keyboard from the base and access the cable connector underneath.

STEP 11.

Carefully unlock the keyboard cable connector.

Move the brown clip about 2 millimeters in the direction shown by two arrows. The brown clip must stay attached to the connector base.

If you damage the connector, the keyboard will not work when you assemble the notebook back together.

Well… I broke the connector. I removed thousands of laptop keyboards before but I broke this connector!

As you see, the left pin on the brown clip is missing.

No panic! I still can use this clip to lock the connector.

You’ll find more info here: Fixing damaged keyboard connector on a laptop motherboard.

STEP 12.

Pull Wi-Fi antenna cables though the opening in the cover.

Remove three screws securing the speaker assembly.

Disconnect the speaker cable (green arrow) from the motherboard.

STEP 13.

Remove the speaker assembly.

STEP 14.

Disconnect the video cable from the connector on the motherboard.

Remove six screws securing display hinges (three screws per hinge).

STEP 15.

Separate the display assembly from the notebook base.

In the next post I will explain how to take apart the display panel assembly and remove the LCD screen with inverter board.

By the way, it’s not necessary to separate the display panel assemble from the base in order to take it apart.

STEP 16.

Disconnect and remove the CMOS battery.

Remove all marked screws from the bottom. The green circled screw is hidden in the CD/DVD drive bay.

STEP 17.

Remove all screws securing the top cover assembly.

Disconnect the touch pad cable from the motherboard.

STEP 18.

Start separating the top cover assemble from the notebook base.

You can use same trick with the guitar pick shown in the step 6.

STEP 19.

Remove the top cover assembly.

Here’s the back side of the top cover assembly.

STEP 20.

Disconnect the USB and audio board cables from the motherboard (green arrows).

Disconnect the cooling fan cable from the motherboard (yellow arrow).

Remove four screws securing the motherboard.

STEP 21.

Lift up the right side of the motherboard as it shown on the picture below and disconnect the DC-IN jack cable.

STEP 22.

Remove the motherboard from the notebook base.

On the opposite side of the motherboard you can access the processor (CPU) when the heat sink is removed.

The motherboard is dead? Check out these motherboard repair offers.

By the way, the best way to find a replacement motherboard is searching by the HP part number. The part number should be located on a sticker in the memory compartment. The HP part number looks like XXXXXX-001.

Here’s the notebook base without motherboard.

The USB board, audio board, cooling fan and DC-IN jack are mounted on the base.

In order to remove the cooling fan, simply remove two screws securing the fan.

As you see, the cooling fan is dusty and has to be cleaned.

UPDATE:

There are only two fans listed in the service manual for HP Pavilion dv7 series notebook. They are listed on the page 27.

488885-001 for laptops equipped with AMD processor.
480481-001 for laptops equipped with Intel processors.

One of the DIY-ers had trouble searching for a new replacement fan for her AMD notebook. After the notebook was disassembled, she found that it had an Intel fan installed.

Here’s her comment:

Forget the question I just asked…We opened up our laptop and found the fan for the Intel processor installed instead of the fan for the AMD…apparently these ARE interchangeable…FYI

Check out comments 29 and 30. Thanks to Liz for this information.

In the following guide I explain how to disassemble HP Pavilion dv6500, dv6600, dv6700, dv6800 notebooks. In this particular case I’m taking apart an HP Pavilion dv6700 notebook.

I believe this guide will work for some other models in the Pavilion dv6000 line.

You can use these instructions for removing and replacing all main notebook components.

If you need spare parts for HP Pavilion dv6500/dv6600/dv6700/dv6800 notebooks, you can search here.

Turn off the notebook and unplug the AC adapter.

STEP 1.

Remove the battery.

Remove four screws securing the hard drive and memory (RAM) covers. Remove both covers.

STEP 2.

Lift up the right side of the hard drive assembly to disconnect it from the motherboard.

Remove the hard drive assembly.

STEP 3.

Remove both memory (RAM) modules.

Disconnect two antenna cables (black and gray) from the wireless card. Remove two screws securing the wireless card to the motherboard. Remove the wireless card.

By the way, in this step you can access the CMOS (RTC) battery.

STEP 4.

Remove one screw securing the CD/DVD drive to the laptop base.

Pull the CD/DVD drive from the notebook and remove it.

STEP 5.

Remove all screws from the bottom of the notebook.

Do not forget:
- three screws in the CD/DVD drive bay (yellow).
- one screw in the hard drive bay (green).
- two hex studs under memory slots (orange).

Mark all removed screws somehow so you don’t forget their location when assemble the notebook back together.

STEP 6.

Carefully lift up the right side of the power button board cover.

There are two cables connected to the motherboard. We’ll disconnect these cables after removing the keyboard in the STEP 8.

STEP 7.

Now, when the power button board cover separated from the laptop case, you can remove the keyboard as it shown on the picture below.

STEP 8.

Carefully disconnect the keyboard cable from the motherboard.

For more detailed keyboard removal instructions please follow this guide for HP Pavilion dv6000 laptop.

These instructions should be identical for HP Pavilion dv6500, dv6600, dv6700, dv6800 notebooks.

STEP 9.

Disconnect two cables running from the power button boar cover.

There are no locks on these connectors. Simply pull both cables from connectors.

STEP 10.

Turn the cover upside down and disconnect one cable from the power button board.

STEP 11.

Remove the cover.

STEP 12.

Disconnect the video cable connector from the motherboard.

This connector is located close to the left display hinge.

STEP 13.

Pull both wireless card antenna cables through the opening in the top cover. Unroute both antenna cables.

Remove two screws securing the display assembly hinges.

STEP 14.

Lift up and separate the display assembly from the notebook base.

In one of the previous posts I explain how to disassemble the display assemble and remove the LCD screen from an HP Pavilion dv6000.

These instructions should be identical for HP Pavilion dv6500, dv6600, dv6700, dv6800 notebooks.

STEP 15.

Remove five screws securing the top cover assembly.

Disconnect the touch pad cable from the motherboard.

STEP 16.

Start separating the plastic cover from the notebook base. You can use a piece of soft plastic (I’m using a guitar pick) to separate the cover from the base.

The cover has been removed.

STEP 17.

Separate the top cover assembly from the notebook base.

Again, as a case cracker I’m using the same guitar pick.

STEP 18.

Remove the top cover assembly.

The top cover assembly has been removed.

STEP 19.

Disconnect the Bluetooth module cable from the motherboard.

Remove two screws securing the Bluetooth module.

Remove the module.

STEP 20.

Remove four screws securing the express card slot.

Slide the slot board to the right and disconnect it from the motherboard.

STEP 21.

There is only one screws securing the motherboard to the notebook base.

Remove these screw.

STEP 22.

Start removing the motherboard as it shown on the picture below.

When the motherboard is lifted up, disconnect one cable from the audio board.

There are two more cables connected to the motherboard and we’ll remove them in the next step.

STEP 23.

Turn the motherboard upside down and disconnect two more cables.

STEP 24.

The motherboard has been removed.

The audio board and power connector board are still connected to the notebook base.

STEP 25.

Loosen four screws securing the cooling assembly (heat sink and fan) to the motherboard.

STEP 26.

Lift up and remove the cooling assembly.

Now you can access the processor (CPU).

In this model the power connector (DC power jack) is not soldered directly to the motherboard.

The power connector is mounted on a separate board.

If the power connector fails, you can desolder it from the board and replace with a new one or replace the entire power connector board.

In the following guide I remove the motherboard from a Compaq Presario CQ50 laptop. Also this guide should work for Compaq Presario CQ 60/CQ70 and HP G50/G60/G70 laptops.

If you need replacement parts, you can find them here. Just search by the part name and laptop model.

Start laptop disassembly with removing the battery.

STEP 1.

Remove memory, hard drive and wireless card covers.

STEP 2.

Remove three screws securing the hard drive assembly.

Slide the hard drive assembly to the right, disconnect it from the motherboard and remove from the laptop.

STEP 3.

Remove both memory modules.

Disconnect two antenna cables from the wireless card. Remove two screws and remove the wireless card from the laptop.

STEP 4.

Remove one screw securing the DVD drive.

Pull the DVD drive from the laptop.

STEP 5.

Remove all screws from the bottom of the laptop.

Disconnect the CMOS battery cable from the motherboard.

STEP 6.

Carefully lift up the keyboard as it shown on the picture below.

STEP 7.

Access the keyboard cable connector underneath the keyboard.

Unlock the connector before removing the keyboard.

In order to unlock the connector you’ll have to move the locking clip (white) about 2-3 millimeters towards the LCD screen.

The locking clip must stat attached to the connector base (dark brown) as it shown on the picture below.

Now you can release the cable and remove the keyboard.

STEP 8.

Unlock the power button cable connector.

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

Now you can remove the power button board cable from the connector.

STEP 9.

Remove the plastic cover.

STEP 10.

Disconnect the video cable connector from the motherboard.

Disconnect the webcam cable.

Pull the wireless card antenna cable through the opening in the top cover.

STEP 11.

Remove screws securing the display hinges.

STEP 12.

Remove the display assembly from the laptop.

In the next post I explain how to remove the LCD screen, inverter board and hinges from the display assembly in HP G50/G60/G70 laptops. It’s similar for Compaq Presario CQ50/CQ60/CQ70 laptops.

STEP 13.

Disconnect the touch pad cable from the motherboard.

Remove screws securing the top cover assembly.

STEP 14.

Start separating the top cover assembly from the laptop base.

You can use a guitar pick in order to split the laptop case.

STEP 15.

The top cover assembly has been removed.

STEP 16.

Remove one screw securing the left speaker.

Remove the left speaker from the base.

STEP 17.

Remove four screws securing the motherboard.

Disconnect four cables from the motherboard.

STEP 18.

Remove the motherboard from the laptop base.

The motherboard is dead? Check out these motherboard repair offers.

STEP 19.

Disconnect the cooling fan cable from the motherboard.

STEP 20.

Loosen four screws securing the cooling fan assembly.

STEP 21.

Remove the cooling fan assembly from the laptop.

STEP 22.

In this model the power jack is not soldered to the motherboard.

You can unplug the power jack cable from the motherboard and replace it with a new one if needed.l

In this guide I explain how to clean or replace the cooling fan assembly in a Dell XPS M1530 laptop. The cooling fan can be accessed from the door on the bottom of the laptop and replacing/cleaning procedure takes only about 10 minutes.

I’m taking this XPS M1530 laptop apart because the cooling fan started making noise and laptop shuts off on its own when hot. I will replace the fan, clean the heat sink and apply fresh thermal grease on the CPU and video chip.

If you need a new cooling fan, you can find it here. You can buy just the fan or entire heat sink assembly.

STEP 1.

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

Unscrew five screws securing the memory/fan cover and remove the cover.

STEP 2.

Remove six screws securing the heat sink assembly to the motherboard.

Disconnect the cooling fan cable from the motherboard.

By the way, here’s how you can upgrade memory modules in this laptop.

STEP 3.

Remove the heat sink assembly.

STEP 4.

Remove four screws securing the cooling fan to the heat sink.

STEP 5.

Lift up and remove the cooling fan.

STEP 6.

The heat sink is clogged with dust and has to be cleaned. You can use canned air to blow off dust from the heat sink and fan.

STEP 7.

Before installing the heat sink assembly back into the laptop take a look at thermal grease on the processor and video chip.

If thermal grease dried out, it has to be replaced.

Remove old grease from the heat sink using a piece of paper towel soaked in 99% alcohol.

Do not remove thermal pad. It can be reused.

STEP 8.

Using same paper towel remove old thermal grease from the processor and video chip.

As you see, I cleaned only the top side of the NVIDIA chip. There are many very small chips buried under thermal grease and I was afraid to damage them.

STEP 9.

Apply a small drop of fresh thermal grease on the processor and NVIDIA chip before installing the heat sink assembly.

I’m using Shin-Etsu gray thermal grease.

In the next post I explain how to remove the LCD sceen and inverter board from a Dell XPS M1530 laptop.

In this guide I will be taking apart a Sony Vaio VGN-SZ series laptop. In my case I’m working with a Sony Vaio VGN-SZ330p laptop but the guide should work for the entire VGN-SZ line.

In you need replacement parts, search here.

STEP 1.

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

Remove one screw securing the keyboard.

STEP 2.

There are two latches securing the keyboard. They are located above the F2 and Insert keys.

STEP 3.

Using a small screwdriver press on the locking latch above the Insert key and lift up the right side of the keyboard.

STEP 4.

Do the same with the second latch and lift up the keyboard from the laptop base.

STEP 5.

Place the keyboard upside down on the palm rest so you can access the cable connector underneath.

STEP 5.

In order to unlock the cable connector move the black clip about 2 millimeters towards the touch pad. The clip must stay attached to the connector base.

If you break the connector, you’ll have to remove the motherboard. Work very carefully.

STEP 6.

Release the keyboard cable. Remove the keyboard and replace it with a new one if needed.

STEP 7.

Remove four screw securing the heat sink cover. Remove the cover.
Remove two screws securing the memory cover. Remove the cover.

STEP 8.

Remove two screw securing the CPU heat sink.

STEP 9.

Remove heat sink from the laptop.

Now you can clean the cooling fan and heat sink with compressed air.
Also, you get an access to the CPU.

STEP 10.

Both memory modules could be access through the door on the bottom of the laptop.

STEP 11.

Remove four red screws securing the switch cover.
Remove three yellow screws securing the palm rest.

STEP 12.

Carefully lift up and remove the switch cover.

STEP 13.

Remove three screw securing the palm rest.
Unlock the touch pad cable connector and release the cable.

In order to unlock the connector simply lift up the right side of the locking clip with your finger nail.

On the picture below the connector is shown in the unlocked state.

STEP 14.

Release the touch pad cable and remove the palm rest assembly.

When the palm rest assembly is removed you get an access to the hard drive, DVD drive, wireless card and CMOS battery.

STEP 15.

Remove three screws securing the hard drive assembly.

Disconnect the hard drive cable connector from the motherboard.

STEP 16.

Remove the hard drive assembly from the laptop.

If you are replacing or upgrading the hard drive you’ll have to transfer the mounting bracket and cable from the old drive to a new one.

STEP 17.

Remove one screw securing the DVD drive.

STEP 18.

Slid the DVD drive to the right to disconnect it from the motherboard.

There is an adapter between the DVD drive and motherboard. This adapter has to stay attached to the motherboard.

STEP 19.

Remove DVD drive from the laptop.

STEP 20.

In order to remove the wireless card, disconnect two antenna cable from the card, remove two screws securing the card and pull the card from the slot on the motherboard.

If you would like to replace the CMOS battery, simply unplug it from the motherboard and replace with a new one.

In one of the previous guides I explain how to remove the LCD screen and inverter board from a Sony Vaio VGN-SZ series laptop.