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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.
September 23rd, 2009 at 1:30 pm
IM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS A LOT OF YOU ARE… my dvd drive won’t recognize any type of disks… It was working fine until a couple weeks ago… ????? (i havent dropped it)
HAVE ANY OF YOU FIGURED IT OUT??? plz help..
-zero
September 10th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
Gerard,
If the DVD drive is connected directly to the motherboard, most likely you have a problem with the motherboard. Apparently fired IDE channel.
There is not much you can do besides replacing the motherboard or using an external USB DVD drive.
September 10th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
Tami,
I think you can replace the LCD screen without removing the keyboard. Try removing the screen bezel without separating the display panel. Take a look at the service and maintenance guide for Presario CQ-50.
To to “Removal and replacement procedures” – “Component replacement procedures” – “Display assembly”. The screen bezel removal instructions are on the page 59.
September 10th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
I have a Compaq Presario CQ50-139 WM. It has a similar set up to this laptop. I am replacing the LCD screen, but I am having trouble removing the keyboard from the laptop. I don’t want to take the whole laptop apart. What do you suggest, and how do I do it?
September 8th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
I’m having a big issue with this laptop, my dvdrw unit suddenly disappeared from the bios, and the dvdrw is working just fine, i tested with another laptop and i was able to burn discs so… many people told me in hp forums that probably the dvdrw connector has a problem, but when i turn on the laptop, the unit turns on but its not recognized by the bios.
Any of you has this issue please help!!!!!
September 5th, 2009 at 11:16 am
okay, my laptops video card, temp will not go below 68c, while playing GTA San Andreas, it gets up to 94c. i need to know the location of it, so i can buy a cooling pad with a fan that will blow right where it is located.
Thanks
August 16th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
Oh yeah, my email is jesusangeles01 @ yahoo . com if someone can help me with my CD/DVD drive issue.
August 16th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
My CD/DVD drive doesn’t work. I have the Compaq f700. I did a system restore thinking that was it and that a virus messed it up but when I go to my computer it doesn’t show my CD/DVD drive. When I go to burn a CD it says, “Connect Burner And Try Again.” I didn’t drop it or anything so why is it saying that I don’t have a CD/DVD drive? Can someone help me? This also didn’t tell me how to just get to the CD/DVD drive. I don’t want to take the whole thing apart, just the CD driver part to see if the cable came lose or something.
August 14th, 2009 at 9:46 am
Hi, my compaq presario F700 has some trouble with powering up, When I press the power button, the blue light comes on. And you can hear the ‘breathy fanny’ noise it usually makes when it turns on. But the blue light just stays on, the screen doesn’t go to the compaq logo an the boot up screen. It just stays where it is -just a black screen-. Even if i turn it off and turn it back on its the same way. Or if i wait for even half an hour it doesn nothing. Did the screen burn out? or it overheated or what?
August 13th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Burhanudin Suhaimin,
1. Test the AC power adapter. Make sure the adapter outputs correct voltage. It’s possible that your adapter is dead and the battery doesn’t have enough charge to start the laptop. Replace the adapter if needed.
2. Could be memory related problem. Try reconnecting memory modules. Remove them one by one if you have two modules installed. Test the laptop with each memory module separately.
If it’s not AC adapter or memory, most likely you have a problem with the motherboard.