How to Dismantle an HP N5425 Laptop

The HP N5425 is a laptop computer designed to meet the needs of the home or student user. In its basic configuration, the N5425 comes equipped with a 900 MHz Athlon processor, 256 MB of SDRAM, 20 GB of hard drive space, a CD-RW/DVD-ROM optical drive and a 14.1-inch TFT active matrix display. If you want to perform maintenance on your HP N5425 laptop or salvage its internal components for use with other computers, be prepared for a lengthy but straightforward procedure to dismantle it.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Phillips screwdriver
• Flat-blade screwdriver

1. Turn off your laptop. Disconnect the power cord and any other attached cables. Turn your over and locate the battery release latch. Slide the battery release latch to the unlocked position and remove the battery.

2. Rotate the laptop until the front edge is facing you. Locate the memory module near the bottom-right corner of the laptop. Unscrew the screws securing the memory module cover in place; remove the memory module cover. Push apart the clips securing the memory module in place; slide the memory module out of its connector.

3. Locate the Mini-PCI cover located near the top-left corner of the laptop. Unscrew the screws securing the cover in place; remove the Mini-PCI cover. Push apart the clips securing the Mini-PCI card in place. Disconnect any cables attached to the Mini-PCI card. Remove the Mini-PCI card.

4. Turn the laptop upright and examine the rear edge. Remove the screws located in the center of each of the display hinges. Open the display and insert the tip of your flat-blade screwdriver under the display hinges. Lift up to loosen the keyboard cover; remove the keyboard cover.

5. Unscrew the four screws located along the top edge of the keyboard assembly. Lift the top edge of the keyboard; flip the keyboard over, such that it is resting on the touch pad. Disconnect the keyboard cable from the motherboard; remove the keyboard.

6. Unscrew the screws securing the hard drive carrier to the motherboard. Disconnect the hard drive carrier from the motherboard. Remove the carrier and unscrew the screws securing the hard drive in place. Remove the hard drive from the hard drive carrier.

7. Examine the switchboard PCA located underneath the display. Remove the screws securing the switchboard in place. Disconnect any cables attached to the switchboard; remove the switchboard. Remove the four screws from the display hinges. Remove the display unit.

8. Turn the laptop base over. Remove any remaining screws located on the underside of the laptop base. Return the laptop base to its upright position. Remove any remaining screws located on top of the laptop base.

9. Locate and disconnect the touch pad and speaker cables from the motherboard. Lift the rear edge of the top cover of the laptop base. Work the top cover loose and set it aside. Remove the two screws securing the CD-player PCA in place; remove the CD-player PCA.

10. Locate and remove any screws securing the display hinge saddle in place; remove the display hinge saddle. Locate the fan cable and disconnect it from the motherboard. Unscrew the screws securing the heat sink in place; remove the heat sink. Use the flat-blade screwdriver to unlock the CPU module; remove the CPU module.

11. Disconnect the floppy drive from the motherboard. Unscrew the screws securing the floppy drive in place; remove the floppy drive. Disconnect the optical drive and slide it out of the laptop base.

12. Disconnect any cables still attached to the motherboard. Unscrew all screws securing the motherboard to the laptop base. Remove the optical drive support base. Lift the motherboard out of the laptop base and set it aside. Remove the CPU support plate. Disassembly is now complete.