How to open a Compaq Laptop?

[onenormalman]

Hope it's the right place to post.

My laptop is dead. I need to open it to check what happened. I remove all the screws at the bottom of if but still can't take it apart. It's somehow stuck in the middle on both sides. Has anyone work with Compaq laptop?

 

[Chaotic42]

If it's still under warranty, don't open it until you make sure that won't void the warranty.

 

[wetcat007]

Crowbar?

 

[onenormalman]

Chaotic 42

It a Presario 723 RSH and not under warranty anymore.



wetcatt007

I think I need a construction rated one to open it.

 

[Gerbil333]

I opened up my Compaq 1245...actually, I didn't look up anything to first time. I just removed screws and carefully disassembled it. Later, I was looking for mobo jumper settings when I stumbled across a full disassembly manual directly from Compaq! I tried finding the manual for your model, but they only released the "Presario ____ Maintenance and Service Guide" for some models, such as mine.

All you have to do is carefully take it apart. I think I remember that problem with it being stuck. There were two plastic things covering the corners on the bottom of the LCD screen. I pried them off, and that revealed some screws. Then I was able to unscrew the keyboard, which allowed me to remove the remainder of the area around the keyboard, including the touchpad and speaker cover. From there, I was able to access the motherboard, CPU, and everything else.

Here's the manual for mine. I'm sure the models are quite different (my 1245 is old), but perhaps it'll help: Compaq Presario 1245 Maintenance and Service Guide (<---- It's a PDF)

 

[onenormalman]

I did try to search for Maintenance &amp; Service Manual with no success.

When I push the power button: power LED is on, hear a click and a spinning/grinding of the HD but the screen stays black and no HD activities or LED for HD. I put the battery in and it's still charging it, I know that because the charging LED is gone after more than an hour. The soft power off function is still working. No beep, nothing on screen, it's stuck before going into the bios: something is prevented not to boot, not sure the CPU fan is running or not. That's why I need to open to see it.

I did try to remove one at the time: hardrive, memory, video card I guess but nothing new occurs. My guess is the CPU fan is not working or something is shorted.

It's stuck at about the SHIFT keys on both sides, something is holding it back. Can I just force to pry it off and with what thing for safe?

 

[onenormalman]

Help, please!

 

[OJ]

Whats the model numbers?

 

[onenormalman]

One more time, it's a Compaq Presario 723RSH.

 

[onenormalman]

Anyone???

Is there anybody working with Compaq laptop?

 

[bluehorizon]

If you don't know how to open a laptop, my guess is that you're not technically capable enough to diagnose a problem. It's not difficult to figure out how to open a laptop. I've worked with plenty of Compaq LPs. You should have it repaired by a professional.

 

[onenormalman]

Thanks for your advise!

I know I'm not a professional but I'm working on desktops from my work, home and friends for quite a long time so I hope I know what to do. I did open DELL laptop completetly apart, even the CPU, but not this Compaq.

 

[AndrewKu]

Maybe I can help.... I have opened a fair share of Compaq, HP, Dell, and IBM notebooks...

If you send me a picture of the notebook from the bottom, I might be able to guide you along....

 

[onenormalman]

Thanks AndrewKu!

Problem solved. I got help from an expert at another forum, he has been opening more than 400 laptops, and remove my laptop completely and now it's time to track down the problem.

 

[capricorn]

Just FYI, you might be able to browse to ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/supportinformation/techpubs/ and find a maintenance guide for your laptop (or other Compaq products). You need to know the Compaq part number (not just the model number like 723RSH) in order to find anything. (Or the part number of computers close to yours since they often combine serveral similar models under one maintenance guide.)

 

[onenormalman]

Thanks for the link!