How to Disassemble an Acer ZB3 Notebook

A small Philips head screwdriver like this is perfect

"ZB3" is one of the model numbers for Acer's Aspire 3660 laptop computer. Over the time you own your laptop, you'll likely have to open the machine up and deal with its insides at some point. This tends to be a lot easier with desktops than with laptops, and for routine tasks such as adding/replacing RAM or swapping out an optical drive, you don't have to completely disassemble the whole thing. Still, it's a good skill to learn.

Things You'll Need

• Acer Aspire notebook computer
• Philips head screwdriver

Instructions

1. Turn off and unplug the computer if you have not done so already. Flip the computer over such that the bottom is facing up and you can see the battery on the top right.

2. Remove the 4 screws holding the memory panel in place. This panel is located in the center of the computer's bottom, directly below the battery. Remove the memory panel and set it aside, thus exposing the WiFi card situated on top and the memory card situated below the WiFi card.

3. Remove the 3 screws holding the hard drive panel in place. This panel is located in the bottom left corner, opposite the battery. Remove the hard drive panel and set it aside, thus exposing the metal plate underneath, which is the hard drive assembly.

4. Remove the 4 screws holding the hard drive assembly in place. Remove the hard drive assembly and set it aside.

5. Disconnect the two small wires attached to the top of the WiFi card, then carefully pull the WiFi card straight out of its slot and set it aside.

6. Carefully pull the memory card straight out of its slot in the exact same manner as the WiFi card.

7. Remove the screw directly to the right of where the WiFi card was. This screw holds the computer's optical drive in place. Once it is removed, slide the optical drive straight out of the computer's side.

8. Remove all the remaining screws from the bottom of the computer.

9. Flip the computer back over and open the screen all the way. Beginning on the right side, begin carefully prying loose the plastic piece that lies between the keyboard and the screen. This piece is attached to the motherboard, so go slow.

10. Remove the screw holding the keyboard in place. It is located directly behind the "F10" key.

11. Lift up the side of the keyboard with the "F" keys, keeping the side with the spacebar down, and flip the keyboard vertically so it is lying face-down on the palm rest. You should now be able to see where the keyboard is connected to the motherboard.

12. Pull the brown tab on the keyboard connector towards the palm rest, thus unlocking the connector. Slide the connector out and set the keyboard aside.

13. Unplug the connector where the plastic piece that lies between the keyboard and the screen is connected to the motherboard. It is located close to where the power button is when the plastic piece is attached.

14. Pull the wires that were attached to the WiFi card up through the hole in the center-right of the computer's metal casing.

15. Unplug the video cable from the motherboard. Its connector is located above and to the right of the hole through which the WiFi cables were pulled.

16. Remove the screws holding the screen in place. They are located on either side of the computer, near the screen's hinges. Remove the screen and set it aside.

17. Disconnect the 2 white cables that are connected near the center of the motherboard, directly above the trackpad. Use the same method that was used to remove the keyboard connector earlier.

18. Pry the plastic cover assembly off with your fingers, thus exposing the entire motherboard.

19. Disconnect the speaker cable, which is located toward the bottom left.

20. Remove the 5 screws holding the motherboard in place. Beginning with the bottom right, carefully remove the motherboard from the case. At this point, we can safely say the computer has been disassembled.

References

• Acer: Aspire 3660 User Manual
• Inside My Laptop: How To Clean Cooling Module In Acer Aspire 3620 Laptop