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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.
July 26th, 2009 at 8:08 am
Were can I get the mother board for the lowest price?
Nick
July 22nd, 2009 at 10:29 pm
this worked great on a F750us. had to take it apart for a power plug replacement. found the 2 screws i wasnt noticing before becuase of this. thansk alot for posting such a great blog
July 22nd, 2009 at 5:35 pm
I’d like to know where the graphics chip and the cpu are, and maybe some details on possibly upgrading. I know laptops aren’t normally meant to be upgraded but I’d still like to take a whack at it.
July 21st, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Works on F572US Thanks!!
July 20th, 2009 at 3:13 am
I have a F500 (just out of warranty). When the AC adapter cable is plugged in the lights are on as they should be. However, when you press the power button, the blue light on the power button comes on for 2 seconds and then goes out. Nothing else happens -no fans spinning no disc spinning -nothing. ANy ideas on what might be causing this? I’m thinking of replacing the fanto see if that does anything. Should it start even if the fan is faulty/stuck? I’ll post here if I get it working!
July 13th, 2009 at 11:02 am
rc, I’ve got this f730us laptop, same problem you describe and as I’ve found numerous other places on the web. It’s been collecting dust for months and I’ve tried all sorts of attempts to solve it and wondering if I should replace the motherboard.
I don’t suspect the power board is the culprit (HP is the dirty culprit, really) but please post any findings here; I’ll do likewise.
July 13th, 2009 at 9:01 am
This tutorial is brilliant. However, I am not.
I am having the identical problem with the Compaq presario F700 as described by Josh and Jamal. Did either one of you figure out how to fix it? I had a friend suggest it might be a fuse on the motherboard? Like you, I don’t want to dump a ton of cash at geek squad as they will tell you the motherboard is deceased. However, I want to fix rather than buy a new one given the current economy and the relative newness of the machine. Any and all help will be appreciated. Thanks a million!
July 6th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
rc,
Yes, if your problem is related to the power jack failure. You disassemble the laptop, remove the failed USB/power connector board and replace it with a new one.
Before you do that, make sure it’s not the power adapter failure. You can test adapter with a multimeter.
July 5th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
I have this laptop & a month after my warranty expired, it started having trouble recognizing that it was plugged in (2 days ago. LOVELY!). I have to fiddle around with the connection for it to start charging. I’ve found the usb/power connector board online for $50. is it as simple as tearing it down per your directions, unplugging the old one & plugging in the new one? geeksquad told me it’s not worth the repair because the motherboard would need replacing, but the part I found & your pics make it appear to be a simple unplug-replug….no soldering.
THANKS!
July 3rd, 2009 at 5:12 am
I was wondering if you knew a little about the problem Josh commented on. I’ve got the same model as the computer in your picture and it just won’t load. I’ll press the power button and the lights will turn on, the screen will flicker, and the fan will start turning, but after 5 seconds or so, it’ll just shut off. Then it’ll try to turn on by itself, but the same thing happens. Is there something I can do to fix this?