How to Replace a Gateway MX3215 Laptop Motherboard

Motherboards are the most important piece of the laptop's internal system. If a motherboard gets damaged or stops functioning, your laptop then becomes a very expensive paper weight. You can choose to buy another laptop, however, this not the best choice. You can save a lot of money by simply buying a new motherboard and placing it in your laptop.

Things You'll Need

• Phillip's head screwdriver
• New Gateway MX3215 laptop motherboard

Instructions

1. Purchase the replacement motherboard. However, because Gateway is a computer wholesaler and their products are not sold in stores, it may be hard to find a compatible motherboard. You may need to buy one directly from Gateway if you can not find one in stores.

2. Unplug the power cord from the wall outlet as well as removing the internal battery pack from your laptop. If you do not do this before working on the inside of your laptop, there is a very good chance you will get shocked.

3. Turn the laptop on its head and underscrew all of the screws that holds the laptop together. You will need a small Phillip's head screwdriver for this process.

4. Locate and remove the hard drive from its housing. This is usually located in the middle of the laptop, directly in front. Remove its plastic casing and remove the screws from each corner. When you slide the hard drive out, make sure to note which side is up and which is down. Putting the hard drive in backwards will not allow your computer to work properly.

5. Remove the screws from the laptop screen and pull up carefully until both pegs that keep the screen upright are removed from its ports. Make sure not to pull up so hard that you disconnect the two wires that lead from the screen to the laptop body. From there, separate two plastic halves of the laptop's body to expose the internal components.

6. Remove the metal plate that covers the motherboard. Once you are looking at the motherboard, unscrew any screws that hold it down. Remove all of the connections that pull into the motherboard, making sure to take note of where they need to be replaced.

7. Install the new motherboard by placing it where the old one went, and connect all of the parts you removed in step 6 back into their proper place. Once the new motherboard is in place, reconnect all of the other things you removed inside and outside of the laptop by going back through the steps in reverse order.