How to Remove a Motherboard From a Gateway Notebook
If your motherboard is malfunctioning, or if you want to do major upgrades to your Gateway notebook, you can remove the motherboard from your computer and replace it with a different one. While the process may vary based on the model, many Gateway notebooks can be disassembled in a similar or even identical manner.
Removing the motherboard from a Gateway notebook requires quite a bit of finesse and technical knowledge, so it's not recommended that you remove the motherboard unless you have experience working with the interior of your notebook.
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Instructions
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Power down the notebook completely and remove the AC adapter and any other peripherals. Touch a piece of unpainted metal to ground yourself.
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Close the lid and turn your notebook upside down so that the bottom is facing up. Slide the latch or latches to the side to release the battery, then pull it out from the computer. You may need to release a lock holding the battery in place.
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Unscrew the the hard drive, Wi-Fi and memory cover. The covers are delineated separately from the rest of the laptop.
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Remove the hard drive from its bay and gently disconnect from it any cables.
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Unscrew the wireless card from its bay and gently lift it from its holder. Remove any cables attached to it.
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Gently remove the RAM from the memory slot. In some cases, you may need to unsnap a clip on either side before you can remove it.
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Remove the screws located to the left of the fan and lift it from its bay. Disconnect any cables connected to the fan.
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Unscrew the DVD or CD drive from its bay. The screw may be located directly next to the drive door, or it may be located a few inches away, to the left of the drive.
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Remove any remaining screws holding the Gateway notebook in place. Lift the computer so that the backside is facing towards you. Remove the screws holding the cover in place.
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Turn the Gateway notebook upright and open the lid. Wedge a flathead screwdriver underneath the bezel to loosen it, and then use your hands to remove the bezel rest of the way. To prevent breaking it, do not pull too forcefully.
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Lift the keyboard up and remove the cable connecting it to the motherboard. Place the keyboard aside.
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Remove any cables you see connected to the motherboard. Be sure to do so gently. Then remove the screws holding the LCD display in place.
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Unscrew the top cover, unplug the cable connected to the touchpad, and then remove the top cover from the computer.
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Remove the remaining screws securing the motherboard to the Gateway notebook.
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Lift the motherboard from the computer and detach any cables connected to it.
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Tips & Warnings
It's recommended that you wear an anti-static wrist strap while working on your notebook to prevent damaging any parts.
Removing the motherboard from your Gateway notebook may void the warranty.
