Home
In the following guide I’ll be taking apart a Gateway NX570X laptop. I think my disassembly instructions will work for other Gateway laptops in the NX570 line too. Please let me know if you have a different Gateway laptop and this guide works for you, you can mention your model in the comments below.
The laptop I’m fixing stopped charging the battery even though the AC adapter works properly and outputs correct voltage. I tested the adapter with a voltmeter. Actually, it’s charging the battery but only intermittently, when the AC adapter pushed in firmly. In order to charge the battery I have to adjust the AC adapter plug inside the power socket on the back of the laptop. Apparently, there is a problem with the power socket (aka power jack) and it has to be replaced or resoldered. OK, let’s take this lappy apart. I’ll be removing the system board so I can access and repair the power jack.
Are you looking for spare parts for your Gateway NX570 laptop? You’ll find them here.
STEP 1.
Turn off the laptop, unplug the AC adapter and remove the battery.
Remove seven screws (yellow circles) securing the memory cover.
Remove one screw (yellow circle) securing the keyboard. There are two more keyboard screws under the memory cover. You can see them in the step 5.
Remove one screw (orange circle) securing the Wi-Fi card cover.
Remove two screws (red circle) securing the hard drive. In order to disconnect the hard drive from the motherboard, you’ll have to slide the hard drive assembly to the left. Remove the hard drive assembly from the laptop.
STEP 2.
Disconnect two antenna cables from the wireless card, simply unsnap them from the card using your fingers. Remove one screw securing the wireless card and remove the card.
Remove both memory modules.
Loosen four screws securing the heat sink assembly (red circles).
STEP 3.
Carefully lift up the heat sink assembly from the laptop. The cooling fan is attached to the motherboard. Unplug this cable from the motherboard.
STEP 4.
Remove one screw securing the CD/DVD drive. Push the drive to the left and remove it from the laptop.
STEP 5.
Remove all screws from the bottom of the laptop. Two screws marked with green circles are securing the keyboard.
If you are replacing the keyboard, you simply remove one green screw in the step 1 and two green screws in the step 5 and then proceed to steps 7,8,9,10.
STEP 6.
Remove two screws from the hinge cover.
STEP 7.
Start removing the hinge cover with a small flathead screwdriver and continue removing it with your fingers.
STEP 8.
Remove the hinge cover.
STEP 9.
Lift up the keyboard as it shown on the picture below and place it upside down on the palm rest.
STEP 10.
Unlock connector on the system board. Release the cable and remove the keyboard.
STEP 11.
Release the wireless card antenna cables.
Unplug LCD cable from the system board.
Remove two screws from each display hinge.
STEP 12.
Carefully lift up and remove the LCD assembly.
STEP 13.
Remove four screws securing the top cover.
Unplug the touch pad cable from the system board.
STEP 14.
Lift up and remove the top cover assembly.
STEP 15.
Remove five screws securing the motherboard.
Unplug the speaker cable (left) and the Bluetooth card cable (right) from the system board.
STEP 16.
Start removing the system board from the left side.
You’ll have to disconnect one more cable shown on the picture below.
Finally, the system board has been removed.
Now you can access and repair the power jack. You can use these power jack replacement instructions.
When I was removing the power jack from the system board, it came out with the internal sleeve attached to the “+” connector. This sleeve connects traces on both sides of the system board and normally, when you unsolder the power jack, it stays inside the hole.
Now I’ll have to make a modification so traces on both sides of the system board are connected. I’ll have to connect traces with a cable.
Static electricity can kill your laptop. I recommend wearing an anti-static wrist strap while working with internal parts of your laptop.
If you find this article useful, please consider making a donation to the author. Thank you!
November 14th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
Thank you very much for the excellent tutorial! I was looking for information on a Gateway MX6650 and it was nearly an identical procedure. I was unable to remove my DC-jack because it had 5 pins and I couldn’t keep more than one heated at the same time, so I removed as much solder as possible, cleaned up, and resoldered nice and neat in place and it works like a charm. Even if it only lasts 5 or 6 months like some people have said, it’s worth it for now! Thanks again and awesome work!
November 5th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Lawrence,
Check out the “Gateway laptops” category on the right side of the website. Maybe you’ll find something similar in there.
November 5th, 2009 at 8:40 am
I have the same problem with the Gateway model 6520GZ. Do you or anyone here have disassembly instructions for this laptop?
Thanks,
Lawrence
October 30th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Hi … I just want to know how to connect traces with cable Cause same thing happent to me when i was replacing my jack and now laptop only work with battery power .. would you please explain or show some photo on how to connect traces with cable
thanks
October 27th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
karla,
In the post above I explain how to remove the motherboard in order to replace the power jack. You simply swap the motherboard with a new one and install it back into the laptop.
How much for a new motherboard? I don’t know, search on eBay or google it.
October 27th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Thank you this is exactly what i was looking for!
question though.
i just recently got my computer checked by a professional
and he told me my motherboard is damnaged.
i need to know how to replace this
and what is the cheapest i can buy a motherboard for.
i am not an expert but i caught on quick!
im sure anyone one figure this out but it took me
about 5 minutes to learn how to get my data out of my hard drive
and i only spend $15 on on the hard drive enclosure.
anything will help!
thank you!
October 14th, 2009 at 7:33 am
Hello,
First off, awesome site! Excellent work friend.
I have a MT6840 that will not power up at all. I removed the mainboard and examined the DC power connector and found it intact and secure. I also examined the entire mainboard and did not find any obvious signs of overheating/abuse etc.
Battery and Power adapter tests good.
Any suggestions?
Thanks again!
September 23rd, 2009 at 7:52 am
Michael Mil,
First of all thank you for the donation.
I cannot tell if the power jack in your laptop has to be replaced without looking at the laptop. If the laptop switches from AC power to battery power when you wiggle the adapter plug inside the connector, most likely the power connector has to be resoldered or replaced.
You can follow this guide: Fixing DC power jack in a laptop.
It’s not for beginners. Proceed on your own risk.