How do you replace the monitor on a Gateway NV53A24U Laptop?

The Gateway NV53A24U Notebook PC is one of the Gateway NV53 series of Notebook PC's.

I would like you to download the Service Manual (Free)

http://www.tim.id.au/blog/tims-laptop-service-manuals/#toc-gateway

The first line begins with Gateway 400.
Go to the second line, and click on the blue - NV53

This is a PDF file. The computer you are on now has Adobe Reader on it, which uses PDF files.
After you click it may take as much as 30 seconds, before you will see the first page come up.
Additional time may be needed to fully download the file.

{Took approximately 12 seconds to download just now, with no additional download time needed.
The first page is a black blank page}

Go to Page 70 (PDF file page number) Replacing the LCD panel assembly

1) Work on a table. Observe Anti-Static Precautions.

Your body carries Static electricity. Static will fry out (Short Circuit) the delicate hardware components inside a computer.
Relieve your body of Static BEFORE working on the laptop.

If you have an ESD wrist strap, connect it's alligator clip to a good ground source.
(I use an empty desktop computer case, and connect to an unpainted surface of the metal frame. Average cost of an ESD wrist strap is around $5)

[Electro Static Discharge.
Examples of an ESD wrist strap,

http://www.esdsystems.com/ESDCatalog/PersonnelGrounding/WristStraps/ ]

If an ESD wrist strap is not available, at least place a large metallic object on your 'workbench', and touch it before working on the laptop.
If you get up, and leave in the middle, be SURE to touch the metallic object again upon your return.
(Perhaps a metal serving tray, or large metallic knickknack)

If the table is on a carpeted surface refrain from swinging your legs.


2) Remove ALL power. Remove the AC adapter (Charger) and Battery

3) Press, and hold down on the Power On button for at least 5 seconds.
You're removing any residual power.

4) Place a towel, or similar object on your table to keep from scratching the laptop, and table.
Sit the laptop on the towel. Laptop closed.

(Also peruse Pages 50 through 54. NOTE* All pages noted are PDF file pages, and not the manual's pages)

The first hardware part to remove is removal of the Wireless Card, if a wireless card has been installed. Turn the laptop over on it's top.
Go to Page 55 - Removing the Bay Cover.

Under the Bay Cover is a wireless module. This module has antenna leads which go through the body of the laptop, and are attached to the wireless antenna in the Display Assembly.
Before you can remove the Display Assembly these antenna leads must be disconnected.

[ NOTE* The Display Assembly consists of;
A) Top Cover (Top plastic cover of laptop)

B) Display Bezel (Plastic frame in front of the LCD screen, and surrounds the LCD screen. Resembles a picture frame. Gateway's term is Front Panel)

C) LCD screen panel

D) LCD screen panel frame
(Metal frame which surrounds the LCD screen. Also resembles a picture frame.
An LCD screen is composed of layers. The screen frame holds these layers in alignment.

This alignment should not be disturbed. For this reason be careful which screws you remove out of the screen frame, when replacing the LCD screen.
You only want to remove the screws which hold the metal screen frame, to the plastic Top Cover, the screws which hold the Hinges in place, and the screws which hold the LCD panel brackets in place.
{Display Hinges}

There are screws which hold the metal frame together, and screws going through the brackets.
Just remove the bracket screws.

E) Wireless Antenna

F) Webcam

G) LCD Panel Brackets (Metal long brackets which attach the LCD screen to the Hinges)

H) Various Philips head screws ]


Remove the bar code sticker that covers the wireless antenna leads. (Page 58)
Unplug the antenna leads from the wireless module.

NOTE* Make a drawing if you wish, and notes, (And photos?), plus make marks on the leads, and connections, so you can plug them back in correctly.
You may have a wireless module that has two, or three leads.

Observe the routing of the antenna leads in the body of the laptop. Observe the plastic 'clips' of the laptop's body, and the channeling.

You will be 'fishing' these leads up out of the body of the laptop.
You must lead them back in the correct routing when reinstalling.
(They come up out of the top of the laptop)

I would also like you to remove two Philips head screws, which help to hold the Display Assembly in place, while the laptop is in this position.

Looking at the bottom of the laptop, and at the Battery Compartment side, there is a Philips head screw on each outer corner, (Outside edge)

Laptop facing Battery Compartment away from you, there is a screw to the very left of the Battery Compartment.
There is another screw to the far right above the ventilation slots, and 'bumper'. It's on the outside edge.
{Page 70}

5) Remove the Keyboard Cover (Page 64)

Battery Compartment Cover removed, and Battery removed, there are three Philips head screws down in the Battery Compartment to remove.
They are towards the outer edge of the laptop. One in the middle, and one on each end.

Turn the laptop over to it's normal position. Open the laptop.
The Keyboard Cover is a plastic strip which lays below the Display Assembly, and above the Keyboard. It is the cover which has the Speakers, Touch Keys (Capacitive), and Indicator LED lights.

At the right side of the Keyboard Cover is a small dip, or slot. This is where a tool is used to gently pry the Keyboard Cover up a little, so that you can use your fingers to ease the Keyboard Cover up, and off.

NOTE*
Up and off. Not quite.
The Keyboard Cover has two tabs coming from it on the Front side. The front of the laptop.
These plastic tabs go down into the Palm Rest. The Keyboard Cover is lifted up gently from the Back of the laptop. The LCD screen side.
Use care so that the plastic tabs are not broken off.

NOTE*
The Keyboard Cover has cables (Wires) coming from it. Use CAUTION as you insert your tool to remove the cover. DO NOT insert the tool too far as you may damage the cables.
DO NOT try to completely remove the cover as of yet, as the cables are still attached.

Once the Keyboard Cover is free from the Palm Rest, turn it over, and lay it back on the Keyboard.
Now disconnect the Keyboard Cover cable, (Multimedia Cable), from the connector ON THE multimedia board. (The multimedia board is glued to the underside of the Keyboard Cover)

This connector is a ZIF connector. The cable is an FFC. Flat Flex Cable. {I will use the abbreviation FFC from now on}

ZIF stands for Zero Insertion Force.
The ZIF connector is a connector which opens up to release the FFC, but Does Not come completely apart in two pieces.

The ZIF connector is a rectangular shaped object. There is a larger bottom 'half', and a smaller top 'half'.
The smaller top part slides up away from the larger bottom part.
It is approximately 1/8th of an inch thick. Just a strip that goes across the top.

The smaller part uses a wedge type of design to lock the FFC in place, when the connector is closed.
The smaller top part should have two tabs on each corner. These tabs are what is used to slide the top part up, and away from the larger bottom part.
Use your fingernails, or CAREFULLY use a small tool.

(I suggest a flat tipped Jewelers screwdriver as opposed to a computer pick)

The FFC is a flat ribbon-like cable. There are wires laid side by side, then coated with plastic insulation.
At the end of the flat ribbon-like cable there is no insulation. There are metal contacts.
Just the flat ribbon-like cable comes out of the ZIF connector.

Observe, and perhaps mark the cable, as to which direction it plugs into the ZIF connector.
Reinstall the FFC the same way it came out.

6) Remove the Keyboard.
Lift the Back edge of the Keyboard slightly. (The edge towards the LCD screen)
Lift it up to a 30 degree angle then slide it back towards the LCD screen.
The Keyboard has two tabs in the Front, which go into the Palm Rest.

The Keyboard is still attached by the Keyboard Cable.
Flip the Keyboard over, back towards the front of the laptop, and lay it down on the Palm Rest.
Disconnect the Keyboard cable from the motherboard. (Palm Rest area)

It's another FFC and ZIF connector.

The rest should be easy now following the Service Manual.
For additional questions please post in a Comment.
Regards,
joecoolvette

Hi there and welcome to Fixya!
Please follow the steps below to replace the LCD screen on your laptop.
1. Power off your laptop . Turn the laptop upside down so that you can see the bottom side of the laptop's case. 2. Depress the battery release latch and lift the battery and laptop ac adapter out of the laptop. Flip the computer back over and open up the LCD screen to a 90 degree angle. 3. Pull off each of the rubber buttons located along the edges of the Gateway NV53A24U Screen. Remove each of the screws underneath the buttons with the Phillips-head screwdriver, remove keyboard. 4. Insert your fingers underneath the cover of the Gateway NV53A24U Screen. Work your fingers around the edges of the cover to unlock it from the screen. Pull the cover off the screen and set it aside. 5. Locate the inverter board at the bottom edge of the Gateway laptop screen . Disconnect the cables at the right and left end of the board that connect to the Gateway NV53A24U Screen. Remove the screw holding the inverter board in place and then lift the board off the LCD screen. 6. Tilt the screen slightly towards you until you can see the strip of tape holding the video cable. Pull off the tape and then disconnect the video cable from the laptop case. 7. Remove the Gateway NV53A24U LCD screen from the case. Set the new screen onto the case and reattach the video cable and tape strip. Position the replacement inverter board at the bottom of the screen and attach the screw. 8. Reconnect the inverter board's cables. Pop the plastic cover onto the Gateway NV53A24U LCD screen and reconnect the screws. Set the rubber buttons over the screws. Reconnect the battery. 9. Turn on the laptop. Wait for the manufacturer's logo to appear on the screen to ensure the display was replaced properly.
Hope this helps. Thanks!