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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 21st, 2009 at 1:03 am
Great, I ordered a new mainboard. I didn’t realize that it was coming from china when I ordered. I mean it’s okay, it was shipped to my door in less than 7 days and it was pretty cheap. I installed it and it seems to work (windows runs) . But it has the wrong Bios on it. It doesn’t recognize my CPU, WiFi module and some keys are not working. So I belive that this mainboard has a ‘chineese’ or whatever version of the Bios on it. (it is exactly the same mainboard as the original (same product, serial and HP replacement number)). So I downloaded the bios from the compaq website. But not matter what I try, it wont flash because the stupid flash program thinks it is the wrong bios file for the wrong PC (recognizes the wrong bios on the board and wants to flash the same crap only on it). But it’s not.
I don’t know how to use the swinflash.exe in vista to force it to flash. ANOYING ! And I cannot find a dos flasher that runs of from an USB stick…
I am so close to get this notebook running again…
October 20th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
o and apparently the same problem as Josh, Jamal, and Mrs.L!!!!!!!!! Help us tech dude!!!!
October 20th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
I think im having the same or similar problem as Terris. When i attempt to power on my laptop the blue power light comes on, i can hear the fan and hard drive attempt to start up. Then it goes quiet, remains that way with the blue light still on for about 10 seconds, then powers down on its own. It then attempts to power on again and repeats this process over and over again if left alone. Ive tried manually restarting it many times but it has no affect. My online research thus far has been completly unhelpful with possible causes ranging from the mother board, to the hard drive, to the battery. (I tried pluggin it in and starting it without the battery but still same result, so i dont think its the battery).
October 15th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Just an update on my previous post regarding problems with my daughters Compaq Presario c502us, I finally was able to fully remove the back, [2 screws under the keyboard] I still was unable to determine why it will not start up with a working power supply? The only indication I get when I plug in the power supply is a little flashing light on the left front of the case [right below the lid] and when I pust the power button a little flashing light right in the middle of the button for a few seconds but nothing else? I found that the cooling fan was full of lint and etc. Does the power supply go straight to the battery/computer, or does it go thru the mother board or? and it controls the charge of the battery and etc? Again, thanks in advance for any info.
October 15th, 2009 at 7:07 am
My daughters Compaq Presario c502us has the same problem as post # 35. Her husband had ordered a replacement battery and also a power supply and still the same problem. [they did say that when they inserted the new battery the computer started up for about 30 min but was not operating properly and then shut down again.This would make you think that the new battery had some charge in it and eventually ran down which would make you think that there is a problem in the cir that allows the power supply to furnish power to the computer and also charge the battery. I have checked the voltage output of power supply and it is 18.7 vdc right up to the terminal block behind the battery? I would like to check the battery voltage but I am not sure which of the 6 little knife blade connections is which? I have tried to remove the case on the bottom and I have removed the wireless card, the hard drive, the battery and everything I can find, but there is still something holding it together in the area of the fan? I have looked at the F-700 diss/ass guide and even though some things are the same it is not exactly. The whole back is loose except for the area around one corner of the fan which seems to be held with a screw from above possibly under the key board? I was an et in the navy and have worked on “stuff” my whole life but this has about stumped me. Any suggestions sure would be appreciated.
October 8th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
The wifi on my notebook quit working (hardware) and a couple weeks later it doesn’t turn on anymore.
Powersupply is providing power (tested with a voltmeter). The blue power button LED turns on for about 2 sec when pushed, and then it turns off again. Switched RAM, took out HDD, DVD, WIFI module, resetted bios (took out the battery) no change.
October 7th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
nate,
Take a look inside the heat sink assembly. It’s possible that the heat sink is clogged with dust and the laptop overheats because of that. You can blow off dust with compressed air. Clean the heat sink and test the laptop again.
Why? Did you drop the laptop? If not, most likely the heat sink is seated as it should be.
It’s called thermal grease or thermal compound. Your laptop is not too old and most likely thermal grease is still in good shape.
By the way, listen for the cooling fan. Does it spin at all? Maybe the fan is dead?
October 7th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
I have the f700 and noticed that bottom was hot when I used laptop and power cable was attached. Slowly the battery began to die and now its dead so I have to use the cable always. Now it is beginning to lock up. Sometimes it boots and works for awhile but eventually locks up. I suspect the heat is involved. Is it worthwhile to check processor to see if heatsink is seated properly? Perhaps add some silver stuff (can’t remember what its called) between processor and heat sink? Then a new battery. Thoughts? Ideas?
October 3rd, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Thanks, man, worked like a charm!
September 24th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
zero,
Can you see DVD drive icon in My Computer?
Can you see DVD drive in the device manager?
Can you boot from a bootable CD/DVD (recovery disc, Windows installation CD, live Linux CD, etc…)?