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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.
October 6th, 2011 at 7:04 pm
i need the wire sequence in step 17 for he 4 wire clip next to cpu. i pullled the wires out of clip on disassembley.. please help.
September 10th, 2011 at 12:23 pm
hello guys… can you help me about my problem with my compaq presario F700 i don’t know what to do guys my DVD rom won’t work but i try my DVD rom at the other laptop same model its working. and second when i upgrade the operating system to windows 7 after 2 to 3 hours my laptop automatically turn off and when i try to open again it won’t continue, what do you think is the problem with my laptop… please help me out.. thank you very much…
August 22nd, 2011 at 2:09 pm
8/21/2011 I was able to add 2 2GB (4GB Total) DDR2 PC2 -5300 RAM cards to my Compaq f730us Windows 7 64bit without issue. The laptop recognized and is using all the RAM. I verified this in the BIOS & System info. Wanted to share that it will work even though HP says that the Max RAM for this PC is 2GB or 2 1GB cards.
August 19th, 2011 at 11:59 am
Magnificent write-up. THANKS very much.
On a Presario F500, in Step 13, there’s another screw that also needs to be removed… in the middle of where the hard drive used to be.
August 2nd, 2011 at 9:10 pm
my lcd screen turns to graphics after 20 – 30 minutes operation, can you help me on what solution to take? thanks so much…
July 28th, 2011 at 5:25 pm
Ive done everything and my laptop is apart and now i want to know how to access the fan to clean it. Help would be appreciated.
July 28th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
For Step 10 I cant see what the LCD Cable is and how to remove it from the motherboard. Please Help.
July 28th, 2011 at 10:46 am
@ Bruce,
Here’s something to try if you are getting an error after cloning:
1. Boot from the Vista installation CD.
2. Select repair OS.
3. Let the repair process finish and try booting from the hard drive again.
July 27th, 2011 at 11:05 pm
Joe I replaced the DC jack in my presario F700 it was not to bad to do if you have a steady hand for sodering.
Laptop Tech I have made several clone attempts of Vista with several packages and all the same result. Operating system not found
July 22nd, 2011 at 9:28 am
Hello , i had a compaq pressario f700 and my motherboard was off. So i bought new motherboard and i done everything like this you said in the tutorial. I transfered the cpu and the fan and the wireless card to the new motherboard. I puted thermal grease between cpu and the fan. I done everything again at the computer was as it was. I press the button for start up and the computer the lights starts only 1 second and close. What is going on now?