Home
In this guide I explain how to disassemble a Compaq Presario F700 notebook. The guide might work for some other Compaq and HP models. I think the disassembly steps will be very similar for Compaq Presario F500 and HP G6000 notebook PC. If this guide works for your notebook, please mention the model name in the comments below.
You’ll find tons of spare parts for Compaq Presario F700, F500 notebooks here.
In this particular guide I’m taking apart a Presario F730US notebook.
By the way, if you have a bad/dead motherboard, check out these motherboard repair offers.
Before you start, turn off the laptop, unplug the power adapter and remove the battery.
COMPAQ PRESARIO F700 DISASSEMBLY GUIDE.
STEP 1.
Remove three screws securing the memory cover and two screws securing the hard drive cover. Remove both covers.
STEP 2.
Lift up the right side of the hard drive by the plastic tab to disconnect it from the motherboard. Remove the hard drive.
STEP 3.
Remove both memory modules.
STEP 4.
Disconnect both antenna cables from the wireless card. Remove two screws securing the wireless card in the top left and right corners. Pull the wireless card from the slot and remove it.
STEP 5.
Remove one screw securing the CD/DVD drive and pull the drive from the notebook. Remove the drive.
STEP 6.
Remove all marked screws from the bottom of the notebook.
Yellow screws securing the switch cover (keyboard cover).
Green screws securing the keyboard.
STEP 7.
Start lifting up the switch cover as it shown on the picture below. You’ll have to work with your fingers to disengage small plastic latches holding the switch cover.
Be careful, there is a thin ribbon cable running from the switch cover to the motherboard.
STEP 8.
Now you can lift up the top side of the keyboard and access the connector underneath the keyboard.
The keyboard cable connector is located above the touch pad. Before you pull the cable and remove the keyboard you have to unlock the connector.
Move both sides of the locking tab about 1-2 millimeter up and release the keyboard cable. Now you can pull the cable and remove the keyboard.
STEP 9.
Disconnect the switch cover cable from the motherboard.
Remove the cover.
STEP 10.
Unplug the LCD cable from the motherboard.
Release the wireless card antenna cables. Pull them through a hole in the motherboard.
Remove four screws securing the display panel.
STEP 11.
Lift up and remove the display panel assembly.
In the next guide I will explain how to access and remove the LCD screen with inverter board.
STEP 12.
Remove four screws securing the top cover assembly.
Disconnect the power button board cable.
Disconnect the touch pad cable.
STEP 13.
Remove all screws securing the top cover assembly from the bottom of the notebook. Do not forget three (green) screws in the CD/DVD drive bay.
Remove two hex studs located close to the memory slots.
By the way, the RTC (CMOS) battery can be accessed when you remove the memory cover.
STEP 14.
Start separating the top cover assembly from the bottom assembly. You’ll have to work with your fingers to disengage plastic latches securing the top cover.
Carefully lift up and remove the top cover assembly.
STEP 15.
Now I’m going to remove the motherboard.
Remove one screw securing the motherboard. In other Compaq/HP models there could be more then one screw securing the motherboard.
STEP 16.
Lift up the right side of the motherboard as it shown on the picture below.
Before you remove the motherboard from the base assembly you have to disconnect the audio board cable.
STEP 17.
Remove the motherboard and turn it upside down. There are two more cables to disconnect.
These cables connect the motherboard to the USB/Power connector board.
Finally, the motherboard is removed. As you see on the picture below, the audio board and USB/power connector board are secured to the base assembly.
The motherboard has been removed. Now you can access and replace the cooling fan if you have to.
You can access and replace the processor if you remove the heat sink.
If you find this article useful, please consider making a donation to the author. Thank you!
August 27th, 2010 at 5:31 pm
Tyrone Barnes Says:
August 22nd, 2010 at 6:19 pm
-you probably have to get an new motherboard. im am having same issue with my laptop. it turns on for few second than starts again, and the screen stays black the whole time. i tried to reflow it onces but few days later same thing happend again. so im looking forward to buying new motherboard. if you any good website that sells this mother for $50 or less, please let me know. i think this model was the worst that compaq ever made, everyone is having issues with it.
August 22nd, 2010 at 6:19 pm
I have one of these montrosities and have been going through the same issues everyone else has. First the sound went. I got an external sound card. The left USB port that’s farther from you won’t recognize any devices. I came to the point where, at times, when ever I turned it on, it would turn on and off automatically every two seconds unless I pressed the ALT button. Now I’m at the point when even if I push the ALT button, the power button will stay on, but the fan stops spinning after a few seconds, and it won’t boot. It won’t even come to the start up screen. What am I to do? I don’t have any money for a new one, so I have to stick with this. What manual procedures do you suggest I try? Should I reseat something?
August 18th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
hey,
i need help with my compaq presario F730us. i fixed the motherboard. The touchpad is not working. i installed all the drivers, from compaq and synaptics website still no luck. when go to mouse settings I DO NOT see the touchpad. i checked all the cables already they are connected properly. External usb mouse works fine. But laptops touchpad doesnt. What should i do? any recommendations. Also i have seen used parts on ebay, is it worth buying or not? please let me know thank you..
August 14th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
Michael IT Guy,
I believe main sound processing chip is located on the motherboard. The audio board only has audio jacks and volume control.
If the laptop stopped detecting the sound card, most likely this is motherboard problem, not just audio board failure. I doubt that reconnecting the cable will fix the problem.
Yes, it’s necessary to go though all disassembly steps in order to get access to the audio board.
August 14th, 2010 at 10:01 am
saj,
I saw this penny trick on youtube. I had a similar problem with Compaq Presario V6000 notebook. Same problem with the GPU chip.
Here’s how I fixed it: http://www.laptoprepair101.com/laptop/2010/04/06/fixing-compaq-presario-v6000-motherboard-no-video-issue/
August 13th, 2010 at 9:05 am
hey i got compaq presario F700 from a friend. he was having same issue. The laptop turns on and restarts after few second but the screen stay black. i followed some of your suggestions. I used the heating gun for 3.5 minutes and heated up the Graphic chip that is on the motherboard. and pressed it down down little with towel and let it cool down. i put a penny on the graphic card along with some Thermal grease so it stays cool. i connected everything back. wow! there is goes i got the screen working. Not sure how long this going to last.
August 9th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
Also my computer has startup problems similar to a car. I push the “ON button and then it turns on and a few seconds later it shuts off and repeats this process until I hold the power button or “Crank it up” by continuously tapping the ESC key. I dont know why this works, but when you continuously tap ESC it fully comes on…. I dont think I like this laptop anymore.
August 9th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
My computer has been slowly but surely going to hell little by little. I take good care of my computer as well. First it was one of my USB ports, then it was my cd drive not even reading anymore. Now the ultimate with my sound reading “No Sound Device Installed”. I believe it is just a loose connection and i plan to open up the laptop just to check the audio connection (which is at the end of the disassembly process). Is it absolutely necessary for me to go through the entire process of disassembly just to reach the audio connections? And how is it that you access the bios on this machine? is it ?
August 8th, 2010 at 6:08 pm
I love you!
I actually found this article because I foolishly set the video frame buffer to “disabled”. I didn’t realize that would kill this machine. I thought it was referencing shared memory.
I had to clear and reset bios. HP in all of its wisdom doesn’t seem to address how to do this on their site. At least not how to pull the CMOS battery. That’s where your article came in so handy!
You told me where the CMOS was and now I have joy again!
I love you.
Thanks!
August 8th, 2010 at 4:27 pm
@ deanna you need a mother board to fix your sound according to hp. im having the same problem with mine & they said its costs $398 to fix or $224 for the part…so you can get somebody to fix it cheaper or get a new one…im getting a new one
August 3rd, 2010 at 9:49 pm
I also have one of these..
But my problem is that i had dropped it..
And the screen no longer turns on..
There is sound and i know my harddrive wasnt damaged since i removed and tried it..
About the screen..
Should i buy a new one or have somebody look at it?
Any help is apreciated!
Thanks..
July 24th, 2010 at 7:42 pm
i think my computer is retarded…a couple months ago the sound stopped working all of a sudden, one day it would work, the next it wouldn’t..then it’ll work for a week and now its completely gone..it says no audio output device is installed and there’s a red x next to the speaker icon..now i have a new problem; every time i turn it on, it stays on for a few seconds, then just cuts off and keeps doing that..until i press alt + f4 or take out the battery and press alt f4..i have no idea know why that works..my sister has the same computer and there’s nothing wrong with hers and i swear i take better care of mine than she does
please tell me what to do
do u think i should get a new computer? or is this fixable?! i have no sound, and it takes forever for me to get it to start up
July 24th, 2010 at 12:48 pm
i just want to change my keyboard i dont think i need to remove all those parts do i?
July 22nd, 2010 at 11:28 am
Thank you for these wonderfully detailed instructions. Now I can finally clean my fan ^_^
And I’d just like to add that sometimes, when a computer doesn’t last that long, it’s not always the computer’s fault. I think that sometimes, the people using the computers are also partly to blame. Or maybe it’s just luck. Anyway, I’ve had my Compaq for nearly 3 years and haven’t had a single problem since I bought it. The only reason I want to dissemble it is to get to the fan and the heat sync; it’s starting to run a little hot. I have a friend who has a Sony Vaio (for less time then I’ve had my Compaq) and it runs incredible slow and has had a lot of issues. She also paid twice as much I did for my laptop. So in my case, the Compaq was a much better buy.
July 22nd, 2010 at 11:19 am
I’ve got a Presario f700, and this thing is the bane of my existence. I’ve had countless problems with this heap of junk but I can’t afford another laptop. So the current and most difficult issue is that my Wi-fi card isn’t connecting anymore. This just randomly began, one morning the blue light just stayed orange even when the switch was turned to on. I’ve opened it up and made sure the antenna cables were connected and they are, so I have no idea what the problem could be. Anyone had this problem, or think then can help?
July 10th, 2010 at 10:07 pm
bewilderabeast,
I really doubt that your problem is related to the processor.
1. Try reconnecting memory modules. Try removing memory modules and test the laptop with only one module installed.
2. Remove the hard drive and try turning on without the hard drive. Maybe your drive is bad?
July 9th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
I’m very agree with that lol,but in my case i just preffer stay glued with Sony for better performance and reliability,great value for the money that’s it!!
July 9th, 2010 at 2:52 pm
I’m not so sure that because HP might own or even manufacture the Compaq brand that they are the same machine. I have an HP V7200 I’ve had for at least 4 yrs and it’s tough as nails. I have this Compaq CQ60 that took a little bump and now I think the processor is either shot or unseated as I can’t get past the POST screen, can’t get into sys rec, BIOS, anything. It just stops at that point.
I think Compaq should change their marketing slogan from Built to last…to… Built to last a minute or 2 and then you buy another.
July 9th, 2010 at 8:25 am
Hi everyone;
Well in this situation i can say,HP/Compaq it’s just a waste of money and time.I used to have a presario F700 and it just last less than 2 years at full power everyday.The quality of this kind of PC’s is practicaly none,even i was very carefull hardcore mantainance day after day and for what?? just to die when i needed her more i spended to much money to try to put it back like normal but was useless.I’m very regrett of spend almost $800 on this crappy PC.First was the monitor display ,later the hard drive ,and finally the mother board.I disassemble it completely and i take out the RAM , the prossesor the cooling fan,and the rest to the trash,i never ,NEVER!! in my whole life buy another HP product again!! They have no quality,no performance,and soon no more bussiness if they still building crap like this PC’s.I recommend oviously Sony Vaio,i have 2 Vaio,pc’s the first one for almost 3 and a half years and running like new,the second a new one 64 Bit buyed on July 4th.Just discard HP and time to change to quality ,performance,and a great value for your money guys!
July 9th, 2010 at 7:28 am
You are the man……………………every step went just as you said. super instructions my friend keep up the great work.Have a super day. Thanks again for all your help.
June 16th, 2010 at 1:00 am
My compaq presario F700 died in less than 1.5 years. First the screen went, then power. Can’t figure out if it is the power supply or mother board. Pressing the power button, caused the led on the power button to light on and off, and a faint short sound comes from some component that I can not figure out. The drive is fine, I removed it and attached it to another computer and it works fine. The battery is fine too.
I contacted HP 2 or 3 times since I found so many complaints on this model and there were rumors that HP was offering replacements, free repair, etc. All I could get from HP after writing to the CEO’s office, was an offer to repair the computer for $300. I figured I could buy a new computer for that much money.
Would you have any idea as to how much it would cost to repair this laptop. I took it to best buy and they gave me an estimate of $200 for the display, this was before the computer stopped powering on.
Is the power supply replaceable on a laptop? Do you think it would be possible and worth trying to replace the power supply? Also heard that I can purchase the screen separately,
don’t know how much that would cost either.
If you have any insight you can share I’d appreciate it.
Regards,
Jess
June 15th, 2010 at 7:13 pm
work but it turn on (no appears to screen
) and then restart aoutomatically.what can i do ??
your disassemble laptop guide is great
i followed u but i can’t find the problem
June 9th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
Presario F500
May 17th, 2010 at 7:07 am
Dawn M,
I think it’s likely the hard dive failure.
Usually HP/Compaq laptops have hard drive testing utility in the BIOS. Enter the BIOS setup menu and run test on the hard drive. If it fails, you’ll have to replace the hard drive with a new one and run recovery CDs.
May 17th, 2010 at 7:04 am
calvin,
Take a look at this service manual for Compaq Presario F700 series notebooks.
The service manual has disassembly instructions and shows where screws go.
Read removal and replacement procedures chapter.