How to Replace the Motherboard in a Gateway M460

Replace the motherboard in a Gateway M460 laptop

A motherboard is the central circuit board where all the components of your computer connect and interface with your laptop. Removing your motherboard is a project that shouldn't be taken laptop. In fact motherboard removal should be handled by an experienced laptop technician. If you must remove the motherboard yourself use extreme caution. The Gateway M460 requires a complete dissection of your laptop case to gain access to the motherboard. Take your time, be patient and handle your computer's components with the utmost care.

Things You'll Need

• Phillips-head screwdriver
• Flat-head screwdriver
• Antistatic wrist wrap

Instructions

1. Turn off your laptop, disconnect the power cable and close the LCD display panel until it latches shut. Disconnect any miscellaneous cables or external devices. Place the laptop face-down and remove the battery pack.

2. Attach an antistatic wrist wrap to your wrist, and then attach the extending wire clip to the outer chassis of the laptop or attach the wire clip to an unpainted metal surface. This will help prevent any shock from dormant static electricity.

3. Remove the Phillips-head screws attaching the RAM compartment cover to the bottom casing assembly. Remove the cover and set it to the side. Push on the retaining tabs on either side of the RAM module. Slide the RAM module out of the memory compartment, and then place the module in a small static-free plastic bag. Repeat this step for each memory module you remove.

4. Remove the Phillips-head screws securing the CD-ROM drive and floppy disk drive to the laptop casing. Slide the drives out of their respective compartments and set them aside.

5. Remove the Phillips-head screw securing the wireless card cover to the casing. Remove the cover, disconnect the two antenna cables and lift the card out of its compartment and set it aside.

6. Place the laptop face-up, and then open the LCD display panel as far as it will go. Use a small flat-head screwdriver to pry up the keyboard cover/button panel located between keyboard and the LCD display. Lift the panel out of the laptop casing, and then set it aside.

7. Remove the Phillips-head screws securing the keyboard to the casing. Lift the keyboard up out of the casing and place it face-down over the palm rest, and then disconnect the keyboard ribbon connector. Remove the keyboard from the casing, and then set it to the side.

8. Pry off the LCD hinge covers with a small flat-head screwdriver. Remove the Phillips-head screws securing the metal plate covering the video cable to the upper casing assembly. Lift the metal plate out of the laptop and set it aside. Disconnect the video cable from the motherboard, and then remove the four Phillips-head screws mounting the LCD display panel to the upper casing assembly. Lift the LCD panel out of the laptop and set it to the side.

9. Remove the four Phillips-head screws attaching the speaker assembly to the front edge of the laptop. Slide the speaker assembly off of the laptop casing, and then disconnect the ribbon cable from the motherboard and set the speaker assembly to the side. Remove the Phillips-head screws exposed by the speaker assembly.

10. Place the laptop face-down, and then remove the remaining Phillips-head screws securing the bottom casing assembly to the top assembly. Place the laptop face-up, and then remove the two Phillips-head screws securing the trackpad to the upper casing assembly. .

11. Remove the screws securing the heat sink and fan assemblies to the motherboard. Disconnect the cooling fan cable from the motherboard, and then lift the upper casing assembly from the bottom casing. Set it to the side.

12. Remove the Phillips-head screws securing the video card and hard drive compartment to the motherboard. Lift them out of the laptop and set them aside.

13. Remove all the remaining Phillips-head screws attaching the port assemblies to the rear of the laptop casing. Slide the ports out of their housing. Remove the Phillips-head screws securing the modem to the motherboard, disconnect the modem antenna cables and lift the modem out of the laptop and set it aside.

14. Remove all remaining Phillips-head screws attaching the motherboard to the bottom casing assembly. Lift the motherboard out of the casing, and then set it to the side very carefully.

15. Install the new motherboard by repeating the previous steps in reverse order.

References

• Repair 4 Laptop: Gateway Solo 9550 Disassembly

Resources

• Gateway Computers