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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.
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:27 am
I have a gateway laptop that slowly stop powering. I replaced the battery. The replacement worked but the power connection had a short. I followed your awesome directions. I am in the process of fixing the power connection. I need to know where to get a replacement part or do I need to replace it? Where to find parts? Thanks for an awesome attention to detail.
August 30th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
My NX 570 recently started freezing and displaying a screen full of vertical lines. Eventually the screen went blank and the only way I could even boot it up at all was using an external monitor and in Safe Mode. I ended up reformatting and reinstalling Vista and thought it was going to work, but soon after it started doing the same thing again.
I suspect it is the video card, but I am unsure if it can be replaced, fixed or if the entire mother board must be replaced. The video in my laptop is the ATI Mobility RADEON x1400 graphic, which sounds like it should be a separate video card. Does anyone know if it a dedicated video card or have any solutions for me?
August 27th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Joe Martin,
Is it completely blank or you still can see a very faint image?
Can you get video on the external monitor if you connect it to the VGA port?
August 27th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
I have a blank screen. I have replaced the screen and the converter and still a blank screen. Is there something else I am missing?
August 5th, 2009 at 4:52 am
I have a Gateway Laptop, purchased new in 2006, has worked flawlessly until NOW. The CD/DVD RW drive reads intermittently.
The drive IS recognized by the computer, and the device checks out as “Device is working properly” when I check the properties. I put a disk in, it spins, and searches and finds nothing. No matter what type of disk and what type of info is on the disk, it is not reading the disk.
I am not sure if this is germane, however a few weeks before all this happened I installed Roxio. I have the same program on my standalone PC. I NEVER had any problems on the PC., therefore am reluctant to blame the program for the issue of the DVD drive failing to read/record disks.
I use the laptop daily and carry it to/from work; often it’s in my car for extended periods (NEVER in direct sunlight).
Any thoughts on what is causing the problem would be appreciated. What plan of action should I take?
Replace the drive?
Remove it and re-seat the contacts?
Are there contacts that may have loosened?
I am NOT the worlds best tinkerer and have limited tools, thus am reluctant to taking apart the laptop.
July 28th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Great instructions – thank you so much for taking the time to publish this… you are a rock star!!!
July 28th, 2009 at 7:12 am
I have a E475M Gateway that shows no signs of life. I tested the a/c power and battery and both are ok but no lights, fans, nothing. I am thinking that maybe my problem is the connection to the motherboard- is there any way to check before I tackle this.
Thanks,
Wayne
July 25th, 2009 at 8:14 am
Thanks a million for posting such detailed instructions and pictures. It saves me a lot of time.
BTW, an resistor near my DC jack was burnt. Anywhere to buy (economically, of course, otherwise with today’s laptop price it doesn’t make sense to spend more than 50 bucks on this 3 years old laptop) used motherboard? Googled a little but could find only expensive ones.
July 8th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Awesome guide. Worked for my Gateway MT6840 (MA7) laptop!!! Thanks for taking the time to make this guide!
Note, I had no problems after the copper sleeve popped out with the rear pin. I’m a hack when it comes to electronics soldering…but all I did was make sure I put adequate solder on that pin before inserting it into the mortherboard. to mak sure I had a solid connection on both sides of the board. I did scrape the green coating a little bit on the one side to make sure the solder adequately contacted this area. That seems to have worked just fine. If you have the skills to fortify the rear pin then by all means do it. I don’t have all the tools and took the risk not doing it!!!
July 8th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Thanks this was helpful however my mx6429, the lcd just turned all black for no reason, I tried reattaching the cable but no luck, any ideas what it could be?