Dismantle a Laptop . . .

[leehljp]

or other computer for repairs or upgrades.

On this thread (Click here!), David takes a laptop apart and replaces the system board.

My question for you who takes computer apart for repairs: Do you have a method for doing this and what is it?

I use some double sided carpet tape and place about 3 strips on a A4 (similar to 8 1/2 by 11) sheet of card board and place each screw IN ORDER as it come out of the laptop. Also, Using a step by step instruction guide with picts it helps in the process too. The Step by step guide sure helps in preventing unnecessary steps. The tape that holds the screws placed in order really make the process VERY simple.

I recently replaced the wireless card from a "g" to and "n" in my laptop and the process took over 50 screws and about 4 major parts to accomplish the task. But it went quick and orderly with using the double sided tape to hold the screws in order. This is a MUCH more efficient way than having a small box or bin (as I used to do) to hold all the screws. No screws left over anymore or parts left out!

What is your method? Do you have one?

[TB Roye]

I like adventure. I thow them all in a empty Tuna Fish can that I have use for years. Yes I have run into problems reassembling the computer or what ever it was it took apart. I was very organized when I worked on the race car and tore the engine or qucik change apart. The double sided tape is a good Idea and I will remember to use that next time.

Tom

[Lee4847]

Left overs

I usually group them as to where they came from. Like a group that holds the case together, a group that holds the screen hinges...ect.

However, I always seem to have one or two screws left over!! I think they put extras in there that pop out when you take a laptop apart!

[crokett]

I don't do it often enough any more to really have a method. What I did this time was try to take pictures at every major step. However the pictures don't show what screws went where. This model is designed to be modular so I knew where the parts went in putting it back together. I didn't end up with any extra screws anyway. I've repaired some that were a whole lot tougher.

[poolhound]

I'm a bit like Tom. I just throw all the screws into a pot although I do sometimes have multiple pots to put the screws for different sections if there will be lots of them.

Many moons ago my first degree was in electronic engineering and I had a job as a computer maintenance engineer. Systems were rather bigger than todays laptops and so were the screws

[Hoakie]

LOL... By the time I need to replace something in a laptop, I usually just through all the screws, along with the computer, into the garbage** and buy a new one. I'm a gamer so the tech junkie/addict in me needs new toys early and often


**I actually have it recycled but that didn't seem as fitting as the garbage

[bfrikken]

You put them Back in?????

Well, I guess so for a lappy... For my desktop, I think I have one thumb screw still holding the case together, and seems like everything is component replaced, so any screw removed is just for that specific component.

[dkerfoot]

It depends on the make. I am a big IBM/Lenovo fan, in part because they are not nearly so cryptic - usually only 2 or 3 screw sizes total.

I used to do Toshiba warranty work, but I always had access to step by step processes. I followed them since I was on the clock and hated getting it 95% together only to realize I should have attached part "j" during step 13.

On certain Toshiba models, it takes 1/2 the time to replace the entire motherboard than it does to replace the touch pad. Grrrrr.....!

[KLF]

Not a laptop, but I just tore apart a transmission the other day to rebuild it, now I'm waiting for the rebuild kit to arrive. Lots of fasteners and very small bits to keep track of, and since I started on this project over a year ago there is no way I'll remember what bolt goes where when I eventually put it back together.

What I do for complex stuff like this is take an old muffin pan (egg cartons work well too) and label the "cells" of the pan in a matrix fashion: A1, A2, A3, B1, and so on. Then as I go thru each step of the disassembly, I put all the fasteners from that step into a cell of the pan, then I write the cell address down in the instructions. When I go to put it back together, I transfer the cell addresses forward to that portion of the instructions. If the part I remove doesn't fit in the pan, I put a piece of masking tape on it and write on the tape with a Sharpie what it is and what step it was removed under. I also keep my digital camera handy, if the part is complex and it's position is not apparent, I take a close-up photo before I take it out.

I have 4 old muffin tins I keep just for this type of project. Check the Dollar store or yard sales for them.

I've torn apart many Dell laptops, they are easier than you'd think. If you go to the Support section of the Dell website and enter your "Service Tag" code, you can download detailed instructions that will show you exactly how to tear it completely apart.

[cgallery]

50 screws sounds like an Apple. Man, they are the worst, along with Sony.

What drives me most nuts is hard drives that aren't user-accessible (many Apple and Sony notebooks). People want a free estimate for data recovery but it takes fifteen minutes to get the stupid hard drive out.

I place screws in piles. All the screws that hold the keyboard from the bottom, for example, go in one pile. The screws for the hinges in another pile, etc.