Laptop Disassembly Sheet

[Bloogen]

I've recently been looking for a better way to organize laptop screws when dissembling laptops and haven't been able to find a way. I decided to use a paper template that I could print out and separate the screws and detail where they came from ect. I put together an example of what I was thinking really quick and I wanted to get some feedback/ideas on how to make it better.

I was thinking it would be really cool if you could make a version of this that possibly was larger, has the screw "sections" with slightly raised "walls" to avoid them from moving around. The material would probably be thicker than average paper to allow you to move it around. The notes could be written in a removable/erasable marker or pen. I would pay for something like that for sure.

 

[Tweak]

I've recently been looking for a better way to organize laptop screws when dissembling laptops and haven't been able to find a way. I decided to use a paper template that I could print out and separate the screws and detail where they came from ect. I put together an example of what I was thinking really quick and I wanted to get some feedback/ideas on how to make it better.

I was thinking it would be really cool if you could make a version of this that possibly was larger, has the screw "sections" with slightly raised "walls" to avoid them from moving around. The material would probably be thicker than average paper to allow you to move it around. The notes could be written in a removable/erasable marker or pen. I would pay for something like that for sure.

Dry erase board with the very thin magnetic sheet adhered to it might be worth considering.

More specifically...you can then create a map of sorts duplicating the laptop to a degree, make other notes as needed, and not end up with lost or dropped screws. Finding a sheet or wide strips of something like this is what I meant in case I wasn't clear.

 

[MM PC Solutions]

Grab a bit of corrugated cardboard, draw a laptop shape if need be & stick the screws in that. Job done!

 

[trapped]

I just tape them either in the hole or next to the hole where they go.

 

[thor999]

They do make digital calipers (outer micrometer) for measuring lengths, if you get lost it might get you out of a jam as most of the service manuals I have seen list parts, and can then be cross-referenced to the part list. I always wondered: get a tupperware container for each screw type, and a book of small colored stickers, put one on each container for each type of screw, apply that same color sticker to each corresponding screw prior to removal then deposit said screw in its color-coded container; voila!

 

[JosephLeo]

I just lay them out on a white sheet of paper as I'm taking them out in the shape of the laptop. Never had a problem once- well there was one time when my brother moved the paper, but luckily they were all the same size

This is a good idea though if you laminate it and use a dry-erase marker.

 

[greggh]

We talked about this in a few other threads on here before. Here is what I do, amazingly simple.

1. Get a standard sheet of 8-10 paper. Draw a basic set of lines that describe the lines on the bottom of the laptop. Including the various panels that remove. Takes 10 seconds.
2. Take screw out, place a small line of double sided scotch tape on the paper where the screw goes. Place screw on tape. Make sure it sticks.
3. Do this for other parts of the laptop as well, such as the top under the keyboard, and top view once top panel is taken off. Also for the lcd if you have to take its assembly apart.

Simple as that. With them stuck to the tape you dont have to worry to much about accidentally hitting the paper and having them all go rolling away.

 

[scorcher]

I worked as a Dell Technician and some laptops had 50+ screws and some of those with 6+ different size screws.

The best thing to get is a small tackle box that have removable walls. I have one that is no bigger or thicker than a book and it works great. You can make each compartment as big as you need/want. I labeled the bottom of each compartment, ie Motherboard, Heat Sink, Keyboard, etc.

One this size will easily fit in whatever bag you carry. I never lost or forgot where a screw went after doing this.

 

[xxsilk109xx]

I worked as a Dell Technician and some laptops had 50+ screws and some of those with 6+ different size screws.

The best thing to get is a small tackle box that have removable walls. I have one that is no bigger or thicker than a book and it works great. You can make each compartment as big as you need/want. I labeled the bottom of each compartment, ie Motherboard, Heat Sink, Keyboard, etc.

One this size will easily fit in whatever bag you carry. I never lost or forgot where a screw went after doing this.

Wow thats a pretty good idea! Thanks!

 

[Bloogen]

Thanks for the suggestions guys some really good ideas. I think I want to try the tackle box suggestion. I tried using a basic screw organizer I have but found it to small to be usable and not sure how to label it properly.

 

[usacvlr]

Alas one has finally spilled the beans. I hinted at this several months back. There are 10 laptop screw categories as I said back then in EVERY laptop. I did not give the names at the time and will not here but he is correct. You can create your own category names. Once you've defined the 10 major categories you can disassemble and reassemble any model within minutes.

I worked as a Dell Technician and some laptops had 50+ screws and some of those with 6+ different size screws.

The best thing to get is a small tackle box that have removable walls. I have one that is no bigger or thicker than a book and it works great. You can make each compartment as big as you need/want. I labeled the bottom of each compartment, ie Motherboard, Heat Sink, Keyboard, etc.

One this size will easily fit in whatever bag you carry. I never lost or forgot where a screw went after doing this.

 

[Vicenarian]

1 Motherboard
2 Heatsink
3 Keyboard
4 Optical Drive
5 Hard Disk Drive
6 LCD
7 HDD
8 Expansion Ports
9 Case Covers/Panels
10 ???


Let's categorize all the wonderful laptop screws.

 

[Vicenarian]

Ok, revised list of screw categories:

- Keyboard
- CD/DVD Drive
- Power Switch Bezel (the one that covers the speakers usually and/or power buttons and stuff)
- RAM Cover
- HDD Cover
- Wifi Card
- Heatsink
- Display Hinges
- Mobo
- Batt. Compartment
- Top Cover Assembly (screws securing plastic top cover of laptop)
- Bottom Cover Assembly (screws securing plastic bottom cover of laptop)
- PCMCIA/Expresscard
- HDD Caddy
- Misc. Category 1 (depending on laptop model, for odd screws)
- Misc. Category 2
- Misc. Category 3

Sure it's 17 categories...and I'm sure it could be narrowed down to less items, but I like it, and it seems to work so far

One thing I thought was useful, try to leave certain screws (like the ones for the HDD/memory covers, stuck inside the covers themselves. Tape them if you have to, but this, it's not easy to get them confused with other screws.

Came up with this list via disassembling and re-assembling a fried Compaq v6000 series lappy today.

 

[coreyspeed]

nice like it might now go and label up some boxes

 

[Larry Sabo]

One problem with categories, is that parts have holes with different screw sizes and only some of them are marked to signify their size or that they are used to secure the part. How many times have you put screws into holes on the MB only to find they were for case screws, not MB screws? Maybe I'll give it a try and change my mind.

At the moment, what works for me is the quick sketch on 2 sheets of paper: 1. bottom and top case view showing screws that can be seen with the keyboard and small cover plates (RAM, HDD, battery, etc.) removed, and a 2. bottom and top MB view after case covers have been removed. I also mark where cables have been disconnected, to avoid getting it all re-assembled only to discover that I forgot to plug in a cable that was hidden under a part/MB/cover during re-assembly.

Poster Putty works great for attaching the screws to the sheets, in the marked positions they came from, and is easily removed from the sheets afterward by dabbing it with the clump of poster putty from which it was pinched. That lets me stow the sheets for re-use on that model in the future. I can move the sheets around without the screws falling off and the sheets don't stick to each other.

I have also started leaving the screws in the case parts and just covering the opening with low-tack, green masking tape after loosening. Saves time by greatly reducing how many screws need tacking to the layout sketches.

 

[Vicenarian]

One other thing I tried that might help somebody...I took those sticky round label things:

http://www.staples.ca/ENG/Catalog/cat_sku.asp?CatIds=&webid=12264&affixedcode=WW
(almost 1000 labels for under $6.00)

Anyway...for odd screws (like tiny sized case screws that went in the CD/DVD compartment of the v6000 I tore down last night), I wrote a description of the screws location on the paper side of the sticker, and then peeled the sticker from the backing sheet, and stuck the screws to it. voila. Instant screw organization.

 

[PcTek9]

i was thinking wards specimen trays are really cool for this.

you can get a tray that is 5 x 10 cells. They are like $ 5.50 for a 50 cell tray.
You can get a tray box as well if you like.

http://wardsci.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_IG0009287_A_name_E_Plastic+Specimen+Trays


Batt cd/dvd psb pcmcia hdd caddy wicrd hs Dsp Hng MB KB
HDD
ram
bot
top m1 m2 m3

First column would be like battery cover, hdd cover, ram cover, bottom cover, and top cover
then other columns could be used as different layers or types of screws under cd/dvd, etc.

Because the tray has 10 columns by 5 rows.

This box is about 3.50, it's a plastic ammunition case for 40 caliber (thick bullets).
It's at http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=549292

 

[MobileTechie]

I find my memory for screws gets better the more laptops I do.

I use the little compartment box that was in my Belkin tookit. All the screws from the back go in the first compartment, unless there are different length ones in which case I'll make a note and seperate them - different diameter doesn't matter since it will be obvious if they are wrong. Screws from covers just get put back in the cover's hole and kept there on the bench.

As I go through each section of the laptop - back cover, under keyboard, top cover, hinges, motherboard - I add the screws to the next compartment. Since I tend to take them apart in the same order each time the order of the compartments is the same and I just reverse the process when reassembling.

However there are some tricky ones which need proper notes. I think some Thinkpads can have a larger range of screws which need more careful attention.

I'm not convinced there is a perfect system for all laptops. If there is then I'd like to hear about it.

 

[ComputerClinic]

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.4580

I use those and a small dry erase marker. I mark each compartment with abbreviated words like "mobo", "bott.", "hdd", "kb". When I'm done I just wipe the marks off and re-use.

 

[DarDar]

I use the same container but i usually work with the manuals from the manufacturers. Do it in their order and then as you move to each step you can put them in a new slot. Just go in reverse once you are done. Once i have done a particular line from a manufacturer, i can do it without the manual. Although i find Dells are really simple to do.