How to Disassemble a Gateway MX6454 Laptop

Disassemble Gateway MX6454 Laptop

Laptop disassembly is a useful skill to learn. It will allow you to upgrade and troubleshoot hardware instead of hiring a seasoned and often expensive laptop technician. Disassembling your laptop can seem intimidating, but in the case of the Gateway MX6454 laptop, it is not terribly difficult. Although disassembly is not a complex task, you will be handling delicate electronic devices that can be damaged easily. You should handle computer hardware with the utmost care.

Things You'll Need

• Phillips-head screwdriver
• Antistatic wrist wrap

Instructions

1. Turn off your Gateway laptop, disconnect the power cable, remove the battery pack and then disconnect any other cables or external devices. Attach an antistatic wrist wrap device to your wrist, and then attach the wire clip to the laptop's casing or chassis. This will help to prevent shock from static electricity.

2. Place the laptop facedown, and then remove the three Phillips-head screws exposed by the battery pack. These screws attach the power switch to the laptop. Place the laptop faceup, and then open it up as far as it will go.

3. Lift the tabs located behind the F1, F11 and "Insert" keys on the keyboard with a small flat-head screwdriver. Lift the keyboard cover up from the laptop and set it to the side. The keyboard cover is a small plastic strip located between the keyboard and LCD screen.

4. Lift the keyboard up from the laptop at the exposed edge of the keyboard near the LCD screen. Place the keyboard facedown over the trackpad and palm rest. Disconnect the keyboard ribbon connector from the laptop base. Remove the keyboard completely from the laptop and set it to the side.

5. Close the laptop, and then place it facedown. Remove the single Phillips-head screws securing the hard drive, RAM and wireless card covers to the laptop casing. Then remove the two Phillips-head screws securing the CPU cover in place. Set all the covers and screws to the side.

6. Remove the two Phillips-head screws from the hard drive. Slide the hard drive out of its connector, lift it out of the laptop and set it aside.

7. Depress the two retaining tabs on either side of each RAM module. Slide the RAM cards out of the memory compartment and set them aside. Do the same to the wireless card.

8. Remove the two screws securing the DVD/optical drive in place. Slide the DVD/optical drive out of its compartment and set it to the side. Remove the 16 remaining screws from the bottom casing. Place the laptop faceup, and then open the laptop as far as it will go.

9. Remove the three visible Phillips-head screws from the laptop. Disconnect the LCD, trackpad and LCD power ribbon cables from the logic board. Close the laptop.

10. Use a small flat-head screwdriver to pry off the bottom casing starting near the DC power input and video port. Work your way around the entire laptop. Pull the casing off the laptop and set it aside. Don't try to force the casing off, or you may damage the cover or important hardware in the process. Take your time.

11. Disconnect the DC power board cable, USB/1394 block ribbon and left and right speaker plugs from the logic board. Remove the four visible Phillips-head screws from the logic board.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not rush while disassembling your Gateway laptop.

• You will be removing a lot of screws. It is a good idea to keep small plastic bags and label them for each disassembly phase and store the appropriate screws in the corresponding plastic bags.

References

• Gateway: Gateway Laptop User Guide
• Digital Scoop: Gateway Laptop Disassembly Guide

Resources

• Gateway: Notebooks