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I've used the Gateway M275 repair manual to disassemble my laptop for a repair job and (while I'm in there) some cleaning. I have never done this before, and while I think I remember what screws go where, I'm worried about putting something back in the wrong place. (Specifically, I'm worried about putting in a screw that's too long and shorting out a board.)

The repair manuals I've found for the Gateway M275 don't seem to have screw charts or any diagrams that help place screws in the correct locations.

How can I make sure I'm putting in the correct screws that will both hold the part in place and not interfere with any other components?

If you're experienced with laptop repairs, please look at my other question about the problem I'm fixing!

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you should have put each set of screws separate with a location description for each, that would have avoided this altogether – ratchet freak Sep 5 '11 at 19:31
Most of them are well associated with their respective components. There are just a couple that are ambiguous, because I had to move them. – dgw Sep 5 '11 at 19:35
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3 Answers

up vote 6 down vote accepted

If disassembling something looks complicated, I keep written notes and take photos. It helps to keep the screws in a suitable container and order them logically (i.e. in the order you removed them).

You can always draw the laptop on a piece of paper and sellotape the screws into the appropriate positions.

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+1 I make drawings and use tape or blu-tack to put the screws in the right place on the drawings. – Linker3000 Sep 5 '11 at 20:29
Just like how you know the folder named "pictures" has pictures. By labeling them. – surfasb Sep 6 '11 at 3:52
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up vote 2 down vote

On some laptops, there are numbers by each screw hole. There is a diagram on the bottom of the laptop where you can match a screw to a number.

If your laptop does not have that diagram, take it apart very carefully.

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up vote 2 down vote

Usually there is a number near the screw hole which indicates the screw size that should go there. Rule of thumb: if it feels like you're apply a lot of pressure/torque, it's the wrong screw.

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