Laptop computers have the advantage of being made up of components. Because of these components, you can make a variety of basic repairs yourself without the need of a professional repair person. This can save money and allow you to keep a laptop that's off warranty running for a long time.
Instructions
1. Remove the battery and unplug the laptop. Ground yourself by touching a metal object, then touch a screwdriver to a metal part of the laptop. You also can use a static wristband to prevent electric shocks.
2. Check the random access memory chips. Often, RAM chips can get dust on the contacts and this will prevent your laptop from working properly or it will cause crashes. RAM chips generally are located in the underside of a laptop behind a door with two to four screws. Remove the screws and the door. Then pull apart the two metal clips on either side of the chip and it will spring up. Take the chip out and blow on the gold contacts or used compressed air such as Dust-Off. Reset the chip, re-attach the door, then turn on the computer. If they same problem occurs, you may need to replace the RAM chips.
3. Check the hard drive. The drive generally is located at the top right of the computer under the keyboard near the screen. You will need to remove the keyboard. This may be attached by a plastic plate and screws or just by screws. In some laptops, such as the Apple Macintosh Powerbook Pismo, there are non-removable screws in the keyboard and latches you must pull back. When you have unscrewed the keyboard, flip it back toward yourself gently because it still will be attached with a ribbon cable.
4. Locate the ribbon cable that attaches to the hard drive. Disconnect it from the computer and lift out the hard drive. The drive may rest in a carriage. Remove the drive from the carriage, then, using your thumbs and holding the hard drive, gently rock the long black plastic or rubber piece that is attached to the ribbon cable. If you have another laptop, try the hard drive in that computer. If it still does not work, you will need to replace it.
5. Check the wires while you have the laptop open. You can do a visual inspection of most of the connections. If there are any frayed or disconnected wires, you may have found the problem. If you are skilled with a soldering gun and you know where the wires were attached, you can re-attach them.
Tags: hard drive, ribbon cable, drive drive, generally located, hard drive drive, need replace, will need