How to Make Your Own Notebook Computer or Laptop

While building your own desktop computer system has become commonplace, not nearly as many computer enthusiasts have tried making their own laptop computer. Building a notebook computer is a slightly different procedure than building a desktop as you don't start completely from scratch. To put together a laptop system, you start with a bare-bones setup that already includes the motherboard, battery, and case. You then manually install each of the remaining parts.

Things You'll Need

• Bare bones laptop system
• Screwdriver

Instructions

1. Pick a bare-bones laptop based on the screen size and number of USB ports that you want. Find out the size of RAM modules the laptop's motherboard uses and the type of processor socket that it has.

2. Acquire the other components you will need to build the laptop, such as the operating system installation disc, hard drive, processor, CD or DVD drive, wireless networking card, and RAM modules. Flip the bare-bones system over and check to see if the battery was pre-installed.

3. Push down on the battery release button and slide the battery out if it was pre-installed. Use a screwdriver to take out all of the screws at the center and along the edges of the laptop case. Pull off the small plastic cover at the left side of the case that was held by a single screw.

4. Line up the notches on the back end of the CD or DVD drive with the notches on the port underneath the plastic cover. Slide the drive into the port and then reattach the screw to hold the drive in place.

5. Lift up the plastic cover at the bottom-right edge of the case. Line up the notches on the hard drive with the notches on the port underneath the plastic cover. Push the hard drive into place. Put the cover back onto the case and reattach the screws to hold it down.

6. Remove the plastic cover at the middle of the laptop's case. Compare the notches along the bottom edge of the RAM modules with the holes on the RAM ports. Slide the RAM into the ports and then put the plastic cover back into place. Reattach the cover's screws.

7. Turn the entire laptop over and then open the lid so that you can see the screen and keyboard. Insert a flat object such as a screwdriver underneath the plastic bezel between the keyboard and screen. Pop the bezel off the case.

8. Check to see if your bare-bones system also has extra screws at the top of the keyboard. Remove the screws if they are there and then lift the keyboard off the case. Unplug the cable that runs from the keyboard to the center of the motherboard. Set the entire keyboard aside.

9. Connect the wireless network card into the open port at the far left end of the motherboard. Find the socket for the processor at the bottom-right side of the motherboard. Compare the pin configuration on the processor with the series of holes on the socket. Set the processor on the socket and then push it downward.

10. Place the heat sink and fan assembly that came with the processor directly on top of the processor. Attach the screws to hold the processor and heat sink assembly in place. Reattach the keyboard to the motherboard and then set the keyboard and plastic bezel back onto the case.

11. Put the battery back into the case and then turn the laptop on. Insert the operating system's disc into the CD or DVD drive. Follow the installation instructions on the screen to finish building your laptop computer.

Tips & Warnings

• Electronic components such as laptop parts are highly susceptible to damage from static electricity. Make sure to ground yourself before opening up the laptop's case by grabbing any metal object that is firmly connected to the ground.

References

• Putting together a laptop computer
• Building a notebook computer