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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.
April 20th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
I wanted to say thank you for posting this, it saved a lot of trial and error. I would like to add one thing and I hope you put it in your description.
The clips that hold the mouse and keyboard ribbon cables – they just FLIP UP – do not remove them by pulling them backwards (toward the cable). If you DO remove them completely, pay attention to the little holes – they sit on the pins then fold down to lock the cable in place. If you break the tabs off (like I did….) hot glue works great to hold them in place. Be sure to test the keyboard and mousepad are working before you put the cover on (where the power switch is) as it will save you MUCH trouble.
April 20th, 2009 at 12:05 am
Mike,
Before you go any further, check the AC adapter. I really don’t trust all this universal adapter with multiple heads.
April 19th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Tom,
Thank you for mentioning the laptop model. I’m sure my instructions will work for many different Gateway models.
April 17th, 2009 at 7:13 am
I’m having problems with my wife’s MX7118. The PSU light stays on intermittently & the system powers up but shuts down after a few minutes. On the front panel when it is charging should both the blue & amber lights be lit up (when the unit is off)? The A/C cord light is lit as well. I attempted to take it apart but apparently am missing a hidden screw (or 2?). I’m also suspecting that the A/C cord itself is bad, it is an aftermarket unit w/ several end connectors & it feels very loose. Does anyone have any experience with this particular model? Thanks!
April 13th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Thanks for the great site, was able to repair my gateway mx6447, the only difference was the cpu cooling attachment points, other than that everything was the same.
April 9th, 2009 at 11:38 am
Thanks for these great tips. I am a technical engineer who has done several laptop repairs/field replacements, and NEVER have I seen one as convoluted as this. The keyboard ribbon cable posed some trouble (hot glue took care of this), and the solder was a bit messy, but other than that, this guide was accurate, informative, and an excellent resource. Thanks for putting it together!
April 1st, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Beverly,
I cannot answer your question. It’s necessary to see the motherboard.
April 1st, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Hello and thanks for the instructions. These instructions are on point for the Gateway MX6447 as well. I followed the directions to replace the power jack, but it’s still not working. I scorched the motherboard just a bit while soldering the jack. Could this be the problem? Any assistance is greatly appreciated.
March 29th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
Excelent Job , congratulations , very clear instructions
March 29th, 2009 at 9:41 am
Guy Brunelle,
Recently I posted a disassembly guide for MT6740, it explains hot to take apart the display panel.
How to remove LCD screen from Gateway MT6704 (Model MA7)
Can you use this guide for replacing broken hinges?