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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.
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November 27th, 2009 at 11:57 pm
Danny,
This could be memory related failure. Try removing memory modules one by one and test the laptop with each module separately. If one of the modules is bad (it’s very unlikely that both modules went bad at the same time), the laptop will start when the bad module is removed.
If playing with memory modules doesn’t help, most likely this is the motherboard failure and it has to be replaced.
November 27th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
AD,
I guess you’ll have to replace the CD/DVD drive with a new one. I really doubt that you can fix the drive itself.
November 27th, 2009 at 11:35 pm
Tyler,
If it’s not bad memory module then it must be bad memory slot on the motherboard. If that’s the case,, you’ll have to use the laptop as is with only one working memory slot OR replace the motherboard. You cannot fix the failed memory slot at home unless you have some special soldering equipment and skills.
November 27th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
Antonio,
Did you have a chance to check connection between the video cable and motherboard? Maybe this connection is loose? Try reconnecting the video cable first.
November 25th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
Scott Park,
Do you have any sound related entry in the device manager?
You can back up all personal data and reimage the hard drive back to factory defaults using the recovery disc. If you still have no sound even after reinstalling factory software, there could be a problem with the sound board.
November 25th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
I have a presario f700(f756nr) and there is no sound signal and the sound driver does not show up under the device manager.
Could you please teach me how to make sound work? Thanks
November 24th, 2009 at 1:42 am
I have a Compaq F700 with no image in the screen.
I already have changed the inversor and nothing happen, so I changed the Backlight (It was not easy) and when I power it on I can see the light is working but the screen is nos showing anything, the screen is in black. When I power it on I note a change in the screen color because is black and when I power it on the screen changes to a black but closer to gray.
What is your oppinion? the cable? or I need a new screen?
By the way, If I use the computer with an external monitor it works but not with the screen.
Thank you
November 22nd, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Hey, Glad I found this! I’m probably taking my F500 apart to clean tomorrow, but I have a major problem here,
I can only use one Stick of RAM in it, One day it wouldn’t restart, does the thing where it shuts itself off, turns back on, repeats, I found out that taking the stick of RAM closest to the mobo “fixes” the problem and it starts up, but what could be causing it?
(I tried other RAM)
I looked at it real good and see no spots where it may have fried.
Could this be an easy fix or no? Thanks
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:32 pm
I have Compaq f700 I have it now about 1 year and 5 months. But now the DVD/CD it’s now working. When I insert DVD or CD it makes very loud sound like kir kirrrrrr, I think when the DVD is spininig it reach something. so what can you suggest me to fix this Problem?
I believe your suggesting will help me to fix the problem
many thanks
Abe
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:09 pm
I have the presario f700, and am ready to shoot-drop from a high building-burn it. When I try to turn it on somtimes it will come on for a few seconds then shut off for a few then come on for a few…it will do this sometimes for a minute or two, once it happened for about a half an hour. When I do get it to come on, it will either stay on the black screen that says COMPAC, or it will go to the windows repair screen and stay there for a really long time scanning. It all started off with my cd/dvd drive not working, then the card readers not working. Oh yea it will get really hot then shut off in under an hour even though the fan is running. I had to get one of those tower fans and lay it down behind the laptop to cool it. I am a college student, and I have a lot of stuff that I don’t want to lose. Is there anything that I can do to save it, is it worth saving, or do I just shoot-drop-burn it?
November 21st, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Alien, make sure when you are downloading the correct driver.. the model numbers can vary from F700 – F790 or whatever.. mine is a F730US.. had to type in this exact model number to get the correct drivers. Plus, I’ve had some issues updating the BIOS to 1.F.. might want to try and find an older version (1.D , 1.C, 1.B, or 1.A) …
These directions are very helpful ! I am having an issue with my S-video .. I think I need to replace this part.. Something I may suggest is making the hex screws a little more obvious (i know they are circled in red but I don’t even have the right tool for those)
November 19th, 2009 at 8:57 am
laura,
Yes, there is a chance that you have a problem with the motherboard, but also it could be software related problem.
Back up all personal files and reinstall Windows from scratch using the recovery disc (or recovery partition on the hard drive if you have any).
If you still experience the same problem with newly installed Windows, this is the motherboard problem.
Let me know if reinstalling Windows fixes your problem please.
November 19th, 2009 at 8:53 am
Clay,
If ALL USB ports stopped working at the same time, it’s either corrupted software or motherboard problem. You said new software didn’t fix it, so, it looks like the motherboard problem.
I believe only one USB port is located on that board. There are two more ports on the left side of the notebook, correct. If those ports stopped working too, replacing the USB board will not help.
The circuit controlling USB ports is integrated into the motherboard.
I guess you can use a PCMCIA USB card now. You plug this card into the PC slot and get 2 or 4 USB ports instead. It’s better than replacing the motherboard.
November 19th, 2009 at 8:17 am
i have a presario f730us and the wireless light is amber, there is no wireless signal and the wireless driver does not show up under the device manager in networks.
so i wire to my router and get a signal. i downloaded the driver from the hp site and installed it.
it still didn’t show up in the device manager. then out of the blue a few days ago it started installling the wlan software and it started working again and the blue light was on.
the next morning i started the pc and back to the same problem. so i ordered a wireless card and replaced it. it is still not working. do you think it’s the motherboard? thank you and hope you have some suggestion(s).
November 19th, 2009 at 7:50 am
I have a compac presario F700 lap top. The USB ports have stopped working after my girl unplugged her Ipod without logging it out! Is there a board or chip or something that I can buy and replace? I’ve tried new bios and new software with no luck. USB is not found! Printer not found! etc.! I was woundering about this USB power board that is shown in your lesson on taking my lap top apart!
November 9th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Thanks a lot for the reply. It is a mechanical switch, and it must be attached to the motherboard as I don’t remember disconnecting it when I had the motherboard out to replace the fan. I was hoping I could just disable it through the wireless settings in the control panel, but the computer doesn’t even realize that it has any wireless capability at all with the switch turned off. I’ve never had more problems with a computer than I’ve had with this Compaq. Oh well, at least it’s probably easier to take apart the second time! Thanks again, Mark
November 9th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Mark,
I don’t remember this model off the top of my head, but basing on your description I assume it’s a physical switch.
Is it an easy repair? Most likely not. The wireless switch is soldered to the motherboard and I think the plastic knob on the switch is broken and stays in off position.
Here’s what you can try to do. Disassemble the laptop and access the wireless switch. Move the knob on the wireless switch (actually whatever left from it) into the on position with a needle. This will enable wireless connection and it will be on all the time.
You can always turn it off through software.
November 9th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Your site helped me replace the cooling fan in my F700 a few months ago. I’m having another problem with it now that I’d appreciate your opinion on: The WiFi switch on the front of the laptop has broken (switch just slides easily as if it’s not connected to anything), naturally in the “off” position and I can no longer use the WiFi. I think I can probably find a new switch and replace it without too much trouble, but wondered if there might be a “work-around” or some other way to just bypass the thing. I don’t need that switch and would be happier without it, anyway. Thanks so much for your great site and the help! Mark
November 8th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
For F700 series ( I have the F730US):
When it crashes and the screen won’t come on, unplug, remove all memory, remove hard drive, remove battery, hit the start button for a few seconds, plug lapttop to electricity, 3 beeps will sound, unplug, press start button, installl memory, plug to electricity, start laptop, screen comes on with message no hard drive, shut down, unplug , press start button for a few seconds, install hard drive, plug to power, start computer, all should be normal, maybe for a few minutes, maybe for hours or days…
November 4th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Zig90tsi,
New AC adapter, new battery and still same issue? Man, sounds like a problem with the motherboard. Apparently the battery charging circuit is not working properly anymore. That would be my best guess. Of course, I assume your new power adapter and battery are good.
Check the BIOS update. I know that on some Toshiba laptops had a similar problem and Toshiba fixed it with the BIOS update.
Here’s something else you can try. Remove the battery, start the laptop from AC and then insert the battery while the laptop is on. It might shock the motherboard and the battery will start charging.
I’m typing on a laptop with a similar problem right now (Satellite X205). I know it needs a new motherboard, but works absolutely fine from AC with the battery removed. There is no way I’m replacing the motherboard in this thing.
I really doubt that replacing the power board will make any difference. I think it’s just a board where the DC jack is mounted.
You shouldn’t. Without any test equipment I would do exactly the same. But when I’m not sure what the problem is, I always mention all possible needed parts upfront.
Just talk to the customer, explain what’s going on. If he’s going to approve a new motherboard, make sure to include the power board price into your quote for a new motherboard. I would.
November 4th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
I’ve been working on a Compaq f700 that also has a power issue, but this one is different. The laptop has not been charging the battery, but it would run off the AC adapter. The owner stated that it would “shut down” on him while he was using it. I have not been able to reinact that symptom(I don’t think he understands that it hibernates, because if you let it sit, it shuts the screen off), but I have discovered another symptom. First thing that happened was the plug on the AC adapter came apart, the wire was weak and worn out and the plug was pretty much dangling. After I unplugged it a few times trying to diagnose it, the plug just came apart. I thought I had figured it out, but replacing the AC adapter doesn’t seem to help. The laptop will run, but the battery never charged. According to Vista, the battery was charging, but the percentage would never go above zero. My first instinct now was that the battery must be dead, but I was wrong again. A new battery changed nothing. At this point, having the battery in it is almost worse than not having it. With the battery in, the laptop will never shut down, it only goes to hibernate because its trying to charge the battery, which never happens. I noticed that the HP battery checker was not working either, so I reinstalled that from the utility and now Battery Checker will open, but lists an “invalid battery” for both the batteries I have for it. As soon as I take the battery out, the laptop works like it should. If it were my laptop, I wouldn’t care because I never take mine anywhere. I feel terrible that I already ordered a battery that didn’t fix the problem, and now its still not fixed. Is it possible that the power board needs to be replaced? The laptop still works, so I figured if that was the case, the laptop would not work at all. Any ideas?
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Bill,
SPS:441696 is the part number.
Google 441696 or look up the same number on eBay.
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Per your response to my comment #65
I removed the memory from the mother board of my Compaq Presario C502US looking for the “Motherboard” part number and I found a lot of barcodes and numbers on one sticker.
The bigger sticker had these numbers.
2064704701066
1 of 2
1BL30LA2 [in bold letters]
46145932L02
CT:OU003F21UU6YMH [also in bold]
The smaller sticker had these numbers
SPS441696
Date code 7J0724
Are any of these the motherboard part numbers or should I look somewhere else?
Thanks
Bill
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:21 pm
Alien, good luck with that fix. Sounds like it’s do or die.
November 2nd, 2009 at 9:11 am
Really appreciate ur efforts.
All these manuals really assist me in my training and repairs.
more grace to ur elbows.
October 29th, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Bill,
Find the motherboard part number (probably on a sticker in the memory compartment) and google it.
Find the seller with good return and exchange policy.
October 29th, 2009 at 6:34 am
I was just about ready to tell my daughter that we probably ought to purchase a new motherboard for her Compaq Presario C502US when I read comment 61 from the “Alien” , so now I am not so sure? I have purchased a few things from Tiger Direct and they were fine and were reasonably priced, but I have not checked to see if they sell motherboards for this laptop. Any suggestions where I might get a good deal on a motherboard that would work right out of the box would be appreciated.
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Cameron,
This is not related to the battery or hard drive, that’s for sure.
1. It’s not likely but possible that one of the memory modules is bad. Try removing memory one by one and test the laptop with each module separately. This way you can find which one is causing the problem.
2. Most likely (I would say 95%) you have the motherboard failure. You’ll have to replace the motherboard.
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:41 am
These instructions worked for my Compaq Presario V6000 model.
October 21st, 2009 at 1:03 am
Great, I ordered a new mainboard. I didn’t realize that it was coming from china when I ordered. I mean it’s okay, it was shipped to my door in less than 7 days and it was pretty cheap. I installed it and it seems to work (windows runs) . But it has the wrong Bios on it. It doesn’t recognize my CPU, WiFi module and some keys are not working. So I belive that this mainboard has a ‘chineese’ or whatever version of the Bios on it. (it is exactly the same mainboard as the original (same product, serial and HP replacement number)). So I downloaded the bios from the compaq website. But not matter what I try, it wont flash because the stupid flash program thinks it is the wrong bios file for the wrong PC (recognizes the wrong bios on the board and wants to flash the same crap only on it). But it’s not.
I don’t know how to use the swinflash.exe in vista to force it to flash. ANOYING ! And I cannot find a dos flasher that runs of from an USB stick…
I am so close to get this notebook running again…