Disassembling an ASUS laptop

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78 posts

Master Geek

# 21453 27-Apr-2008 17:09

I have an ASUS A500 laptop. For some reason no power is getting into the laptop from my mains plug. I know the mains adaptor works well because it reads a constant 19.4V (laptop rated at 19V).

If I wiggle the plug in the socket it, the battery charge light goes on. I assume then, that the socket is lose/broken inside.
Can anyone guide me to disassembling this laptop? I've never opened one up before.
Is it as simple as undoing all the screws on the bottom and just pulling things off one by one?

scottjpalmer

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# 126603 27-Apr-2008 17:27

Give it a crack, just do it carefullly and you can't make too much of a mess :-)

My Asus many moons ago you had to slide off the panel above the keyboard in front of the screen which let you slide the keyboard out which exposed a whole lot more screws that held the bottom case on . . .

pm

78 posts

Master Geek

# 128170 3-May-2008 13:37

Ok i've undone like 20 screws of the bottom, the hdd and dvd writer is out, CPU is visible - but the whole black bottom panel doesn't seem to come off.
It's almost as if the circuit board is attached to it. I looked on the keyboard side but didn't see any other screws or any way of completely opening up the laptop so the circuit board is completely accessible.
I also can't find any service manuals for asus laptops - anyone got any ideas?

rscole86

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# 128177 3-May-2008 13:57

Most laptops, depending on age have screws on the underside that will release the keyboard. If you are lucky they will have a keyboard symbol next to them.

Others have a pin hole in the small panel above the keyboard, you put your pin in there, then slide that panel either left or right to gain access to the keyboard and hence whatever is underneath it.

pm

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Master Geek

# 128371 4-May-2008 12:16

Yep, you were right about the small hole - I was afraid that was the microphone hole.
Anyway, after pushing down I couldn't slide anything, but there does seem to be some hole at the back of the laptop with a padlock symbol on it. I'm not sure if that has to do with anything...

scottjpalmer

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# 128372 4-May-2008 12:19

If that is more like a slot, about 8mm long and 3-5mm wide, it is where you attach a locking cable or similar - it won't help you open it up.

That hole that looks like a microphone hole, my old Asus I had that same fear - if it is the same push a paper clip in and the panel will slide off to the left, it will be quite tight the first few times. If it is of course a microphone then a paperclip is probably going to do damage :-/

rscole86

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# 128373 4-May-2008 12:21

The small hole you have to be very exact about pushing it, if you are slightly off you will miss it.
Also, (I have not done this for a few years) but I think you have to press pretty hard. However if you slip????......

That pad lock symbol is for a laptop kensington lock, where you can use a wire to attach your laptop to you desk to stop people walking off with it. You also see them on the back of LCD monitors and TV's.

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78 posts

Master Geek

# 128374 4-May-2008 12:25

rscole86: Also, (I have not done this for a few years) but I think you have to press pretty hard. However if you slip????......

Holy crap, now I'm scared...
Also, what panel exactly slides off? Too me the entire top plate seems to be one large mould rather than seperate sections independent of one another.

scottjpalmer

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# 128376 4-May-2008 12:31

Can you point us to a photo of your machine?

On mine the whole panel between the keyboard and the screen hinges, the full width of the notebook, slid to the left.

rscole86

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# 128379 4-May-2008 12:37

Like scott has already said it can be very tight.

Normally you can see a line running along from left to right just above the keyboard, although this may not look like much it is normally where the two pieces meet.

Again as scott said, please upload a photo so we can have a look at it. I had a quick google but did not see anything?

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Master Geek

# 128381 4-May-2008 12:43

Ok I'll try organising a photo soon...don't know how long it'll be - fairly busy right now.

Thanks guys.