How to disassemble Gateway NV7802u

In this post I explain how to disassemble a Gateway NV7802u laptop.

I will tear the whole thing apart and show how to remove the motherboard.

Before you start, make sure the computer is turned off and battery removed.

STEP 1.

Remove two screws securing the hard drive cover.

Remove three screws securing the memory cover.

Lift up and remove both covers.

STEP 2.

Slide the hard drive to the left and disconnect it from the motherboard.

Lift up and remove the hard drive.

My Gateway NV7802u lapop had a regular 2.5″ SATA hard drive installed.

You can replace this hard drive with any other large capacity 2.5″ SATA hard drive or 2.5″ SSD (more expensive but silent and fast).

STEP 3.

Both memory modules can be accessed under the memory cover.

Remove memory modules if needed.

STEP 4.

Remove one screw securing the DVD drive.

Pull the drive to the left and remove it.

STEP 5.

Remove three screws securing the LED board cover.

STEP 6.

Lift up one side of the LED board cover and continue removing it with your fingers.

STEP 7.

The LED board cover removed.

There is a cable connecting the LED board to the motherboard.

While I was removing the cover, the cable disconnected from the LED board.

STEP 8.

If you removed the LED board cover but the cable still attached to the LED board, here’s how to remove it properly.

Lift up the left side of the locking clip. It will open up at a 90 degree angle.

STEP 9.

Now you can pull the cable from the connector.

STEP 10.

After the LED board cover removed, you can start removing the keyboard.

Lift up the top side of the keyboard as it shown on the following picture and placed it upside down on the palmrest.

STEP 11.

The keyboard still connected to the motherboard.

The connector has to be unlocked and cable released before you remove the keyboard.

STEP 12.

On the following picture the keyboard connector shown in the locked position.

Very carefully move the brown locking tab about 2 millimeters to the direction shown by two yellow arrows.

The locking tab must stay attached to the connector base.

STEP 13.

On the following picture the connector shown in the unlocked position.

Now you can pull cable from the connector.

STEP 14.

Remove the keyboard.

STEP 15.

Turn the laptop over and disconnect two antenna cables (black and white) from the wireless card.

It’s necessary to release Wi-Fi antenna cables in order to remove the display.

STEP 16.

Disconnect two cables from the motherboard.

Pull the wireless card antenna cables though the opening in the top cover and unroute the cables.

STEP 17.

Remove four screws securing the display hinges.

STEP 18.

Remove two more cables securing display hinges on the bottom.

STEP 19.

Now you can lift up the display assembly and separate it from the base.

STEP 20.

Remove all screws from the bottom.

STEP 21.

Remove screws securing the top cover.

Disconnect four cables from the motherboard.

STEP 22.

Start separating the top cover assembly from the base.

STEP 23.

Remove the top cover assembly.

STEP 24.

Disconnect modem and USB board cables from the motherboard.

Remove one screw securing the motherboard.

By the way, in Gateway NV7802u laptop the CMOS battery soldered directly to the motherboard.

STEP 25.

Start removing motherboard from the bottom case.

STEP 26.

The motherboard has been removed.

STEP 27.

You can access the cooling module (fan and heatsink) on the bottom side of the motherboard.

STEP 28.

Remove three screws ssecuring the cooling fan.

Disconnect fan cable from the motherboard.

STEP 29.

Remove the fan and replace with a new one if needed.