Home
In the following guide I explain how to disassemble a Gateway NV series laptop. To be accurate, I’m working on a Gateway NV53 laptop (NV5302u). It also says model: MS2285 on the bottom.
I’m taking it apart in order to fix broken DC jack. The DC jack is soldered to the motherboard, so the whole laptop has to be disassembled and motherboard removed. With the following guide you should be able to remove and replace (if needed) all main laptop parts.
Before you start make sure the laptop is turned off and battery removed.
STEP 1.
Remove five screws securing the hard drive and memory cover.
Remove the cover.
STEP 2.
Remove one screw securing the hard drive. In order to remove the hard drive, slide it away from the battery compartment and lift up.
Gateway NV53 laptop uses a regular 2.5″ SATA hard drive. If you are not satisfied with the hard drive capacity, you can replace it with any larger 2.5″ SATA hard drive. It should work just fine.
Both memory modules can be accessed through the bottom cover. It’s not necessary to remove memory modules for the purpose of this guide.
Gateway NV series maximum RAM capacity is 4GB. It means you can install up to 2GB memory module into each slot.
You should use DDR2 800MHz, PC2-6400 SODIMM modules.
STEP 3.
Remove one screws securing the DVD drive.
Pull DVD drive from the laptop and remove it.
STEP 4.
Carefully disconnect two antenna cables from the wireless card. Simply grab the gold connector with your fingers and lift it up.
In order to remove the wireless card you’ll have to remove one screw and after that pull the card from the slot.
It’s not necessary to remove the wireless card for the purpose of my guide. You can leave it connected to the motherboard.
STEP 5.
Remove three screws securing the media button board cover.
STEP 6.
Lift up the media button board cover as it shown on the picture below. Continue separating it from the laptop base with your fingers.
STEP 7.
Do not lift up the media button board cover too much, it’s still connected to the motherboard.
At this point we are not removing the cover, we just move it a little bit away in order to get access to the keyboard.
STEP 8.
Lift up the keyboard and place it upside down on the palmrest.
STEP 9.
Before removing the keyboard, it’s necessary to unlock the connector on the motherboard and release the cable.
On the following picture the keyboard connector shown in the locked state.
To unlock the connector, you’ll have to lift up the left side of the locking tab (brown) so it opens up at a 90 degree angle.
Be very careful, do not break this connector or your keyboard will never work again. Do not apply too much force to the locking tab.
On the following picture the connector shown in the unlocked state.
Now you can pull the keyboard cable from the connector.
STEP 10.
After the keyboard cable released, you can remove the keyboard.
If you would like to replace the keyboard, new keyboards for Gateway NV series laptops available here.
STEP 11.
Disconnect the media button board cable.
STEP 12.
Remove the media button board cover.
STEP 13.
Remove two screws securing display hinges on the bottom of the laptop.
STEP 14.
Disconnect LCD cable connectors from the motherboard.
Pull wireless card antenna cables thought the opening in the top cover.
In some Gateway NV series laptops you’ll have to disconnect one more cable. I pointed to the connector with a white arrow.
STEP 15.
Remove two screws securing display hinges.
STEP 16.
Now you can lift up and remove the entire display assembly.
STEP 17.
Remove all remaining screws from the bottom of the laptop.
STEP 18.
Remove three screws securing the top cover.
Disconnect three cables from the motherboard.
STEP 19.
Start separating the top cover assembly from the laptop base.
I’m using a guitar pick in order to crack the case.
STEP 20.
Remove the top cover assembly.
STEP 21.
Remove one screw securing the motherboard.
Disconnect the USB board cable from the motherboard (top arrow).
Disconnect the modem cable (bottom arrow). You can leave the modem board connected to the motherboard.
Also, when the top cover assembly removed, you can get access to the CMOS battery.
STEP 22.
Carefully lift up the right side of the motherboard.
STEP 23.
Remove the motherboard.
STEP 24.
When the motherboard removed you can access the cooling fan assembly (heatsink and fan).
In order to remove the cooling assembly you’ll have to loosen four screws and disconnect fan cable from the motherboard. After that you should be able to lift up and remove the assembly.
New cooling fans for Gateway NV series laptops available here.
Here’s why I was disassembling the laptop. The DC jack is broken and has to be replaced.
The DC jack soldered to the motherboard and if you would like to fix broken DC jack yourself, you have to have soldering skills. It’s not an easy job for a novice.
April 3rd, 2013 at 1:45 pm
@ JHPArizona,
Unfortunately, I don’t have this picture. If the optical drive doesn’t have any bracket attached to the back, most likely your loose metal bracket has to be attached to the drive. Normally all laptop optical drives have this bracket. It helps to secure the drive to the laptop case.
You can search on eBay site for “Gateway NV DVD bracket”. There is one bracket listed at this time. You can compare if it’s similar to yours.
April 3rd, 2013 at 11:10 am
I did not see a reply to your question Bob and hope I get a reply. I will make a stab at an answer to your question but … I would have to disassemble my case again to be sure. I also suspect that since your post was two months ago, that you have solved the issue one way or the other and my solution is for future readers…I would suspect the answer to your question depends on what you are trying to accomplish. If you are replacing the DC jack, most likely not. If you are just looking to clean the system or replace one of the ancillary boards, probably yes if you are VERY careful. I believe that the need to remove the connector is due to the fact that the wires are routed through holes in the top case and you will not be able to remove the top case completely, i.e. held captive by wires. This will make all remaining steps difficult and greatly increase the chance of breaking the wires or connector. I had problems with a few connectors too. My suggestion is to try using an awl or very tiny screw driver such as eye glass screw driver. Very carefully apply pressure to each side edge of the connector while supplying firm but not heavy tug on the wires. Make sure you do not slip with the tool and scratch the motherboard. If you do slip and rip any land on the MB you will have much bigger problems and most likely need a new MB. I have used this technique successfully several times.
Best of luck,
Jim
April 3rd, 2013 at 10:51 am
Hi,
To repeat others, GREAT tutorial. I have a problem though and could not see the part in the pictures. While I was disassembling, I was turning the case over to get the screws out, one at a time. I do this from having loosened all the screws on laptops and turning over to get the screws out and having to chase them all over the place. So… I do it one at a time now. This has worked well up till now. One time when turning over the case, a metal bracket fell out of the case and I could not determine from where. In writing this I think I just found out where the bracket came from. I was originally going to ask if you had any idea where it might have come from but now want to ask if you have picture of the CD drive. I now think the bracket was attached to the back of the CD drive. I probably stayed in place for a while and as the rest of the screws were removed it finally slipped out of place. And yes, at some point I did hear a rattle in the case but did worry since I was taking it apart. Thought it was a loose screw or some other foreign object but now… think it was the bracket.
Thanks, Jim
February 22nd, 2013 at 1:33 pm
Great site photos and instructions are clear’
For the most part I don’t like to work on laptops but this is for the daughter so what are my choices?
the Problem:
computer: gateway ms2285 and is probably a nv as it has the extra plug.
the problem: things went great until I got to step 18 the small pug in the top left (three wires one blue one white 1 sleeve) refuses to unplug. I have put as much pressure on it as I dare but it refuses to budge. I noted that the wired side on the plug has some factory installed adhesive on the wires with about the same rubbery properties as automotive weather stripping and I suspect that some of this material is under the plug and it is effectively glued in place.
the Question:
Can you think of a work around for this. I have no idea where these wires go or what they do.
I will look forward to your input thanks,.Bob
http://www.insidemylaptop.com/images/Gateway-NV-disassembly/fix-gateway-power-jack-21.jpg
screen 18
February 9th, 2013 at 10:25 am
@ Morgan,
The DC jack is soldered to the motherboard, correct? You’ll have to replace the jack as explained in this tutorial.http://www.laptoprepair101.com/laptop/2007/12/06/dc-power-jack-repair-guide/
In order to replace the bottom case you’ll have to go though all steps in this tutorial and remove the motherboard. After that transfer all other parts from the damaged cover to the new one and assemble the laptop back together.
February 7th, 2013 at 7:36 pm
I have a Gateway NV53a and its bottom case is broken between the fan grill and the DC jack. The DC jack must have been held in place by the bottom case because the DC jack slid back. The bottom case needs replaced and DC jack needs put back in place. I was wondering how to go about that.
February 5th, 2013 at 2:13 pm
@ Ptet Borini,
You can do the following.
Find an air compressor (or buy compressed air) and blow into the fan grill on the bottom until all dust is gone. After that blow air into the grill on the side.
OR
You’ll have to disassemble the laptop completely and access the fan as it shown in the step 24. For that you’ll have to go though all steps in the guide.
February 5th, 2013 at 12:45 pm
How much of the disassembly pictured here will I need to do to get at the fan in my Gateway NV79? It’s been shutting down unexpectedly a lot and I think it’s because I’ve never properly cleaned the fan.
February 1st, 2013 at 10:26 am
If I am a novice how would I replace the jack since it is soldered on there.
Would it be best for me just to buy a new motherboard since I am trying to stay easy on the pockets.
January 27th, 2013 at 6:20 am
hi, any time i switch on my gateway nv53 laptop it gives a beeping sound for about 5 to 20 seconds what do you think might be the problem?