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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.
May 1st, 2012 at 7:19 pm
Thank you for this post. I needed to access the motherboard to repair the heat sink. I found the directions easy enough to follow however I had one mishap. When I removed the LCD there was the display set of wires and another very very thin pair of black and red wire wrapped in black tube. These were also on the left side of the LCD display. These ripped when I tried to remove the plug from the holder. Any idea what these are for? Thanks, Scott
April 23rd, 2012 at 2:54 pm
I have a F730US with Win 7 Professional X86 installed. I have uploaded every driver that I could find (no thanks to HP) and all the Win 7 updates from Microsoft. My problem is ‘NO WIFI’ from this unit. The light by the switch on the front edge is always amber no matter where the switch is set. The device manager shows nothing wifi. It works perfectly with an Ethernet connection, but NOT as wireless. I have removed the wireless board and cleaned all the contacts with alcohol with no result. I wonder: Could the switch be ‘open’ and defective and would a simple jumper across the contacts solve that problem and keep the wifi enabled at all times? My next step is to disassemble the F730 and check out the switch and any connections to the Motherboard. However, it appears that many, many people on the web have had this problem and found the only solution beside a new motherboard is to use a USB wifi adapter. Are you familiar with this problem and can you offer any suggestions? Please respond to my email: barry AT writerpro.biz. I haven’t done it yet, but I appreciate your providing these disassembly instructions online. Thank you. Barry B. 04-23-12 @ 3:55 PM PDT.
April 1st, 2012 at 4:21 pm
The laptop screen has started flickering. It remains stable if opened at a certain angle, but will jump and flash when opening and closing, and if it’s not at it’s ‘perfect’ place. Someone told me that there might just be a loose connection…? If that might be so, what would I be looking for when I disassembled it? Many thanks for any helpful tips you could give!
March 14th, 2012 at 11:48 am
@ Ed,
Just to confirm, by processor you mean the CPU, correct?
There is no easier way. The processor attached to the bottom part of the motherboard.
You’ll have to go though all disassembly steps and remove the motherboard as it shown on the last picture.
After that you do the following:
1. Disconnect cooling fan from the motherboard and remove screws securing the heatsink.
2. Lift up the heatsink and separate it from the processor.
3. Unlock the socket (there is a screw). Lift up and replace the processor.
When you assemble it back together do not forget to lock the processor socket and apply some fresh thermal grease on the CPU.
March 12th, 2012 at 4:45 pm
I’ve got a Presario F700 with a broken processor. I just go ta new one from ebay and I’m confused as to how to replace it. Do I need to remove the screen and everything, or is there an easier way to get to it. thanks
March 12th, 2012 at 12:57 pm
@ sid,
Probably your HP G6000 laptop can support only 2GB RAM.
What happens if you try only one 2GB RAM stick at a time? Try different slots.
March 10th, 2012 at 6:51 am
hi everyone
ive got 2 2gb modules (4gb, hynix ddr2 pc2-6400 sodimm) after i installed them on my HP G6000 it turns on but i get a blank screen and nothing happens. When i put the old ones back in it boots up like normal. Do i have to do something else to make it work or are the modules not compatible.
March 4th, 2012 at 1:17 pm
i would like to upgrade 4GB but would’nt effect other parts?
February 28th, 2012 at 2:09 pm
@ DC,
Thank you. Yes, I do. The PayPal button located after each post.
February 26th, 2012 at 8:18 am
Well presented, good production! Thanks for the guide. Do you do PayPal?