Simple JHL90 disassembly guide

Hello Gents,

After my own experience, I thought I should write this quick quide for anyone who wants to open up their Compal JHL90. I am quite sure that many current owners would have had the idea of reapplying thermal paste to the GPU by now, but don't know how. I myself failed at taking it apart 2 years ago.

But in reality the process is relatively easy, you just need to follow a certain pattern.

I want to be short here. There are no pictures, but some might come later, as I need to take mine apart again when a new DC cable arrives.

You will need:

Philips screwdriver,
Thermal Paste
Paste removal liquid (spirit, or vodka if there is nothing else)
LONG NAILS. If you don't have those, just get some sort of plastic tweezers to help you pry off panels and cable locks.
If you plan on taking GPU headsink off -- also 6x 2mm thick Thermal pads

One more thing you will need - get a roll of paper based medical plaster, 2.5 cm wide.

DISCLAIMER: I am assuming you have an idea of what you are doing if you really are to open up your JHL90. I am not going to explain certain things assuming you can figure how to do them by applying simple logic (i.e taking HDD out etc.). Just be organised throughout the process and it'll be fine.However, if you break it, it's not my fault.

Let's begin

0. Unplug --> Take battery out

1. Take all of the back panels off and put them away with their corresponding screws.

2. Take out HDD, Memory and DVD drive out (that one also is held by a screw at the back, just so u know).

2. Unscrew all of the long screws you can find on the back (including inside the compartments). There are some under the feet too, be aware of that (Those who carry their lappy around a lot must be already aware of that...).

3. Unscrew 3 short screws from the back in the battery compartment. They are holding the panel north of the keyboard, with buttons and logo.

4. You need to take that panel off next. To do so, open the screen to 180 degrees angle, and gently push the clips that you will find next the screws you just undone. Then gently pry the panel off.

5. Unscrew the screws along the top of the keyboard. Take the keyboard off.

6. Unscrew the panel with power button.

7. Disconnect all the cables coming from screen and take them out of their beds. You will now start understanding why you need plaster later. The cables are - VGA, Camera, Aerials, 2x Microphone - NOTE which is R and which is L before disconnecting, a marker brush on one would do.

8. With all the screen cables out, take the screen off. It's just 4 screws.

9. Unscrew that screw(1 or 2 - don't remember) under the keyboard.

10. Disconnect all of the cables that you can see coming from the panel to the motherboard.

11. Take out the fan.

11. Remove the CPU heatsink. The CPU and GPU got separate heatsinks, they are just placed one behind another. (You will have to remove some more stickers though, but you have magic plaster to replace them later, remember?)

12. Unscrew that one screw you will find under the cpu heatsink.

13. Unscrew the modem.

14. Pull out the plastic Wireless switch lever.

15. Gently take the panell off by prying aroud the edges. It's sitting on its base like a mushroom head.

16. Disconnect the cables you find inside from the motherboard.

17. Unscrew the 3 screws along the bottom of the board.

18. Gently grab the motherboard and take it out by pulling it right and up.

You're DONE!



I hope this will be helpful to someone.

 

Ok. Looks like a wonderful story. But where are the damn pictures?

 

Patience is not what you are normally praised for, is it? )))

as I said, I will need to take it apart again when the new cable arrives. Will take pictures then. I wasn't planning on writing this guide initially