Home
In the following guide I will be removing the keyboard from a Gateway MT6704 (Model MA7) laptop. I believe this guide will work for many other Gateway laptops. Take a look at the sticker on the bottom of your laptop. If you can see Model MA7 under the Gateway logo, most likely you can use this guide.
First of all, turn off the laptop, unplug the AC power adapter and remove the battery.
Now remove covers from the wireless card and memory. I mentioned the hard drive cover, but I’m not going to remove it.
There are two screws securing the keyboard. Remove both screws.
Now remove two screws securing the hinge cover.
Lift up one side of the hinge cover with a sharp object as it shown on the picture below. Continue removing the cover with your fingers.
On the picture below you see the hinge cover removed.
Lift up the keyboard and place it upside down on the palm rest. Be careful, the keyboard is still attached to the motherboard with a cable.
On the picture below I circled the keyboard connector. In order to disconnect the keyboard, you’ll have to unlock the connector first.
On the picture below you see the keyboard connector in the locked position.
On the next picture, the keyboard connector is shown in the unlocked position. Now you can pull the cable and remove the keyboard.
The keyboard is remove and you can replace it with a new one. You can buy a new keyboard for your Gateway MT6700 series laptop here for less than $20.
Would you like to know how to remove the motherboard and replace broken power jack? Take a look at the Gateway NX570X disassembly guide. This laptop has the same body (Model No MA7).
Also, in the next post I explain how to remove the LCD screen from the same Gateway laptop.
If you have a different Gateway laptop and my guide works for you, please mention the laptop model in comments.
September 24th, 2012 at 12:40 pm
I got a couple of laptops from a friend who was downsizing before a move. One of them was a Gateway MT6848. I messed with it a bit but had to set it aside for some real life interferences. I recently got back to it, intending to restore it. When I started it up this time, everything worked fine but it wouldn’t take keyboard input. I tried a USB keyboard and everything worked fine and I was able to restore it to factory new condition.
I was advised that, since the USB keyboard worked, it probably wasn’t a motherboard problem, just a bad keyboard. So, using the guide here, I removed the existing keyboard. I couldn’t tell if the ribbon cable was already unplugged or not but there were spots on the cable that seemed rubbed off, so I ordered a replacement.
Now, here’s my issue… the connector on the motherboard doesn’t have the black locking mechanism that is shown in the guide above. And, the end of my ribbon cable doesn’t have the plastic piece stuck to it. (I wish the guide had continued with info on how to get the new ribbon cable properly installed.)
Am I out of luck? Is there a way to re-add the locking mechanism? If I get the ribbon cable inserted, can I tape it in place and be OK?
Thanks in advance for any help.
September 14th, 2012 at 1:18 pm
hello! good day! Sorry, I’m looking for drivers to run my SD card reader, I search the Gateway support, but did not find them or rather did not know which to download, can you help me please?
June 13th, 2012 at 10:50 am
Great information thank you! Just what I needed to complete my repair.
October 22nd, 2011 at 12:28 pm
thanks for all the info… worked out very well.
September 21st, 2011 at 2:18 pm
@ ellen_yvr,
I guess you’ll have to replace the entire top cover assembly. The touchpad and both buttons are part of the top cover.
You can find a replacement top cover assembly for your Gateway MX8734 laptop here.
September 20th, 2011 at 5:31 pm
Thanks for this site! I just replaced the screen in my MX8734 and the instructions for that worked very well. Now I need to replace the palmrest/touchpad for a broken left mouse button (have to press it REALLY hard for it to work). I’m no longer afraid to take things apart but do you have any suggestions of things I should look out for?
April 24th, 2011 at 1:03 pm
I had a my power button break, and i’ve been wondering if there is supposed to be any metal underneath the button that is missing. do you have any upclose pictures of underneath the power button and hinge bezel?
January 23rd, 2011 at 9:09 pm
Nick,
I guess you have a different type of connector in your laptop.
I wouldn’t use a screwdriver. Use your fingernails instead, it this case you’ll get a better feel of the connector.
Move the locking tab about 1-2 millimeters up. Do not apply too much force. The locking tab must stay attached to the connector base.
After that you should be able to pull the cable from the connector.
Something like it shown on the following picture, the only difference your connector is vertical.
January 22nd, 2011 at 10:23 am
Great Information!!!! Have a gateway ml-6720 laptop and followed the instructions without issue up to the point of removing the ribbon cable from the connector. Can someone explain exactly how to do this….don’t want to break the connector. It appears the black part does not flip up ( like a hinge) but is pulled up vertically….but how is that done? Do you put a small screwdriver and pry it up vertical. Is there some sort of release? Put a flat head screwdriver on each side and prior upwards?
Also I need to replace the wifi internal antenna….any thoughts….one of the connectors broke. thanks
January 20th, 2011 at 5:44 am
I find the webside so interesting,please help me send. ( How to removed keyboard from HP dv5 1153ei). Thanks.