Laptop Screw management.

[usacvlr]

As I have said before. Every laptop has 10 basic screw categories and nearly every model has only those 10. You can figure out the 10 categories yourself...The pill box guy above is going in the right direction. There was a Dell guy on here once that spilled the beans on the basic method which is nearly the one we use as well. I figured out the factory method after about 20 systems and defined the 10 categories after about 40 or 50. The only systems that don't fit the standard very well are IBM/Lenovo followed by Sony to some degree and then Fujitsu. Acer, Toshiba, Gateway, Emachines, Dell, MSI, Asus, Hp and Compaq, etc all use the same assembly style, the same screw lengths in the same places etc. Once you define the 10 categories you will realize how much faster it makes disassembly and reassembly. It's night and day. You will also find some laptops which simply use the same length for nearly the entire system which negates the requirement of categorizing the majority of the ones you remove. Categorizing also prevents you from leaving out a screw. Experience is the best tool of course. By about number 50 to 100 it should become like a fisherman filleting a fish. I was doing them faster and faster to see how quickly I could do it. If I rush I can do a total jack repair in about 10 minutes assuming an HP or Compaq. Normally it takes about 30 minutes.

I will sometimes see a system that has been worked on by someone else before and there are usually several things they do wrong usually in soldering the new jacks on in the case of some HP models and most older Toshibas or they put long screws in a short screw hole. Some common sense goes a long way. I put in my fair share of longs in short holes when I started. There's a secret to getting rid of the white dimples too ;P

 

[NYJimbo]

If I rush I can do a total jack repair in about 10 minutes assuming an HP or Compaq.

Are we doing this again ?.

TEN MINUTES, REALLY ? Come on.

 

[usacvlr]

Just to be silly yeah I've done it but most you can't. There are several models of older Toshibas that come apart real fast and have easily removable jacks. With a high speed clutched screwdriver you can whiz through them. Most systems I spend 30 minutes on total.

 

[sandvtech]

If I am not putting it right back together, I use little plastic part bags that zip, that ics and other parts come in, here at our shop. I put the screws in them and label them, If they are going back together, I just lay them out on a table how they come out of the bottom and lay the others with the parts they went with.

 

[frostbyte5014]

I use a space on my bench any lay them out in the pattern they came from. Work every time.

 

[hyfidel]

Didn't see anyone mention this, but many manufacturers have service manuals available for download in the support section of their website.

I know that the Dell manuals have a printable placemat for all the screws with labels for where they belong. I put the printout on a tray and put the screws right on top, sometimes with double-sided tape, sometimes with paper cups.

 

[chrisaroz]

Read this today on LifeHacker:

In case you ever have to take something apart with many little screws, like a computer, I find the best method for keeping track of those various screws is a simple index card.

Just puncture the card with as many screws as you like. You can also draw boxes around similar screws and label them as "Power Supply,", "DVD Drive," or whatever function they have to label them further. I find this better than the old stand-by of a bunch of bowls. Granted, there are better solutions for larger screws and bolts, but for the little ones in a PC, this method is perfect.

 

[alsTech]

I use those small hardware trays you can buy at any store such as wally world. They have removable dividers, I just label the dividers with a Sharpe, ex: mobo screws, emi shield screws, keyboard screws etc.. This works great for me, especially if I have to order parts for the laptop, the screws are in a container with a lid on them and labeled in a safe place. No chance of loosing them or forgetting where they go.

 

[cktechsolutions]

Laptop Screw management

I read somewhere online that if you buy the service repair book for the laptop that you are currently working on, and tape the screws to the pictures of each part you are servicing, it makes it real easy.

Hope this helps.

Take care,
Chris

 

[NYJimbo]

I read somewhere online that if you buy the service repair book for the laptop that you are currently working on, and tape the screws to the pictures of each part you are servicing, it makes it real easy.

Hope this helps.

Take care,
Chris

Man, you can't be serious.

 

[vdub12]

I lay them out on my workbench.

No mater what method you use as long as you have a system of organization that you are happy with you should not have a problem.

Heres an example of what I do. Note the screws on the top right.

 

[Onouris]

+1 sheets of paper trick. i draw a rough diagram of the laptop and place the screws head down in their approx location.

 

[Pc Fixed Right]

it would be easy to video yourself taking apart a laptop but the paper trick is probably the easiest of all.

 

[Larry Sabo]

I've found the solution to attaching screws to the paper: Poster Putty. Handy-Tak is similar. It also holds LCD screw covers in place very well.

 

[Harold]

Coin Envelopes or snack size ziploc's.

 

[dmurphy315]

i use something close to the "pill box" method. picked up a few plastic fishing tackle compartment boxes. has about 12 or so compartments, with dividers you can re-position.

With re-positioning some of the dividers, i can store the laptops memory, wifi, modem cards etc all in the same box. can drop the wifi, modem etc screws in with the cards. and the drop the rest of the screws as i remove into compartments along with a little note paper scribble with "Back of laptop", "hinge screws" etc...................... snap lock the container shut with notation sticker on the outside lid, laptop model customer name ..



http://laptoprepairaugusta.com

 

[Thedog]

Dont know if anyone else said this but Ive done a camera a couple of times. I have a regular digital camera that records quite well (HD) so I bought some really cheap tripod...

Although I admit that sometimes its just to much hustle, make sure camera is charger etc etc ;P

 

[iptech]

If you use the pill box method, I recommend you get ones with a curved base - it makes it a lot easier to get the screws out when you're reassembling.

 

[Skyhooker]

I use sheets of white paper and label or at least place them recreating where they're coming from. As many laptops have different "layers", I use different sheets of paper.

Yep, only way to go - hasn't failed me yet. It's dummy-proof, which is perfect for me!

 

[iptech]

You guys who don't use any kind of sealed container, how do you have to put the stripped laptop aside whilst you wait for ordered parts?