Hi, How do I remove the case from a Gateway EC1805u notebook? I need to replace the keyboard, as it got wet and now ~ 10 keys will not work. I have removed all screws from the bottom of the notebook case, but the top cover will still not separate; it seems to be stuck around the USB sockets, but I cannot see where. Thanks in advance.

HELLO,

PLEASE PUT ALL SCREWS BACK IN...YOU NEED TO WORK FROM THE OPEN COMPUTER ON TOP, NOT THE BOTTOM!

SLIDE YOUR FINGER ACROSS THE VERY BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN...THERE WILL BE A SMALL BUMP/MARKING STICKING OUT...

JUST UNDERNEATH THIS BUMP...ON YOUR KEYBOARD PANEL WILL BE A SMALL PUSH TAB..YOU WILL NEED TO MAKE SURE YOUR SCREEN IS LAID BACK...OUT OF THE WAY...SO NOT TO SCRATCH IT ETC,. ALSO TO HELP GET TO THE TAB.

CAREFULLY USE A SMALL TOOL/FLAT SCREWDRIVER ETC.,..TO PRESS THIS PUSH TAB...

LIFT UP THE SMALL PANEL THAT HAS...(THE POWER BUTTON & ADDITIONAL (4) BUTTONS..EMAIL, WEB,ETC,. )...ONCE YOU RELEASE THIS SMALL PANEL...(THERE MAY BE A COUPLE OF SCREWS THERE TO REMOVE)...TO LIFT THIS PANEL.

GENTLY LIFT UP THE KEYBOARD PANEL...YOU WILL SEE WHERE YOU NEED TO DISCONNECT THE KEYBOARD,..PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU MARK YOUR PLUG WIRES WITH TAPE AND WRITE DOWN WHERE TO RE-INSTALL THEM.

(NOTE)...THIS IS ALSO THE WAY TO CHECK YOUR FAN AND MAKE SURE IT IS CLEAN AND WORKING PROPERLY..

IF I CAN BE OF FURTHER ASSISTANCE, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CONTACT ME!

KIND REGARDS,

MARTIE

Sean,

1) Remove ALL power to the laptop. Remove the AC adapter, (Charger), and Battery.

2) Use a multi-compartment container for the various screws you will remove. Mark each compartment for the area the screw/s come out of.

If no multi-compartment container is available, substitute with a clean egg carton. Label each egg holder. (Or use double-sided sticky tape)

Some screws look VERY similar to others, but are NOT.
Do Not mix them up.

This is a link for a free Service Manual for the Gateway EC14, and EC18 series of Notebook PC's,

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

Under the main heading Gateway, go down to the line that starts with Gateway 400, then go across, and left-click on -
EC18.

This is a PDF file.
It may take up to 30 seconds, (Or more), for the first page to come up.
It may also take additional time for the file to fully download.

At the top of the PDF file in the header is the PDF file page number box.
It is to the right of the Down Arrow.

Go to Page 65 - Removing the Keyboard.

For additional questions please post in a Comment.

Regards,
joecoolvette

@sean916

This disassembly guide is similar in removing the keyboard on the Gateway EC1805U. Go check it out.


Good luck.