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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.
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.
UPDATE (January, 2011):
Compaq Presario F700 specification says this laptop can support only 2GB RAM max (1GB per slot).
I just tested a Compaq Presario F700 (running Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit OS) with two 2GB modules. I used Crucial DDR2 PC-6400 memory modules.
After I installed two 2GB modules the laptop started properly. In system properties I can see 3.19GB total RAM reported.
The BIOS shows all 4GB.
I think that 3.19GB is only limitation of a 32-bit OS. Most likely if you install a 64-bit OS, you can use all 4GB.
Were you able to upgrade your Presario F700 to 4GB? Please leave a comment.
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.
February 4th, 2011 at 6:16 pm
I have a Presario F700. When I press the power button, the blue lights become illuminated, the wifi light is orange, and I can hear the fan, but the screen remains completely black. Also, the short musical tone that normally sounds as the computer is warming up when first turned on, does not sound. I also don’t hear any spinning noise from the hard drive. I don’t have a problem with the power turning itself on and off….it will stay “on” but the screen remains black and does not make any sounds. I tried plugging in my old desktop monitor to the laptop to see if a picture would show there, but the monitor screen remained “black” as well. Also, about two months before this problem started I noticed that the disk drive was not working. I put in a music CD and I could hear spinning, but the computer wouldn’t play the CD or recognize that a CD was in the drive when I searched for it under the control panel. I’m not sure if these two issues are related, but now the computer won’t work at all (just lights up, like I described). Any ideas on what to do or what you think the problem could be? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!
February 4th, 2011 at 12:07 pm
I have the presario f700 laptop. The screen begins to dim and then turns dark. I can barely see anything on the screen. I switched the inverter once before thinking that was the problem. Any idea on what the problem is? Loose cable or something? Would the battery cause the dimming in any way? The reason I ask is because the computer is saying to consider changing the battery. When the screen dims and turns dark, all I do to make the light go back on is to close to laptop lid and open is up. Sometimes it will last for a while, but sometimes the problem continues, it dims and the screen light goes dark again.
Any suggestions?
January 23rd, 2011 at 8:56 pm
Edwards,
I would check the AC adapter.
It’s possible your adapter failed and the battery has no charge to start the laptop.
Test your AC adapter with a voltmeter. Make sure it outputs correct voltage. If not, replace the adapter.
January 23rd, 2011 at 8:51 pm
ZeroKool,
Try this fix: http://www.laptoprepair101.com/laptop/2010/10/06/fix-video-problem-hp-laptops/
January 22nd, 2011 at 7:43 pm
GOD!! THAT”S THE SAME PROBLEM WHAT I GOT!!! the wireless light glow in orange, and the others light glow in blue!! and the fan cooler doesnt run !!… all that i know is… the motherboard is f**ed !! well nvidia video chip is f**d so… fix it or do what i going to do bro… buy a new motherboard and instal a new way to turn my nvidia video chip get cooooll of weather ^^
January 22nd, 2011 at 1:40 pm
Hey,
I am not sure what happened on my computer, when I turn it on, the light blinks 3 times fast and the shutdowns, no fan spin, or anything, any idea?
Thanks!
January 19th, 2011 at 7:14 pm
Hi!!!!
I have a Compaq Presario F500 F550LE with the Motherboard damaged… could i upgrade it to 442875-001?
Thanks.
January 13th, 2011 at 9:14 am
Leo,
Probably not but depends on how much you pay for it.
I really doubt that you can find a new motherboard out there. Most motherboard are pulled/refurbished and they are not cheap.
Unfortunately, your laptop doesn’t stay on all the time. Otherwise, I would suggest trying this fix: http://www.laptoprepair101.com/laptop/2010/10/06/fix-video-problem-hp-laptops/
January 11th, 2011 at 6:32 am
Tried all of the above. Even tried removing the harddrive, and a couple of different combinations of battery/memory/harddrive removed.
Is it worth replacing the motherboard? Or are there any fixes that might work?
January 9th, 2011 at 1:21 pm
Leo,
Here’s what you can try.
1. Remove the battery and try turning the laptop just from AC adapter. Maybe the battery is bad and shorting the system.
2. Try turning it on just on battery power (with AC adapter removed). Maybe the AC adapter is bad and shorting the system.
3. Try removing memory modules one by one. Maybe your failure somehow related to memory. Test the laptop with only one memory module installed. Try either one.
If nothing helps, the laptop still turns on and off by itself, most likely this is motherboard related failure.