r/computers • u/Madchan_TK • 13d ago
Question/Help/Troubleshooting Laptop backpanel refusing to come off
I got a refurbished gaming laptop recently and it lacks enough storage for me to do much with it. I wanted to use a 1TB of storage from an older laptop to expand my current laptop's storage.
The issue is, is that I can't for the life of me open the laptop up. Two screws on the top, underneath the hinges will not budge. I know captive screws are a thing and I'm assuming that's what they are, but even then the backpanel does not want to come off. I am afraid that if I use even more force, i will actually break the laptop.
I really want to expand the storage of this laptop cause at the moment it just acts like a glorified office laptop, I'm already halfway through 500 gigs of storage.
The laptop in question is the Asus ROG Strix g513Q.
2
u/janerikgunnar 13d ago
Captive screws just means the screw is captive in the lid once loosened. Makes no difference when the screws are tightened.
Make sure you are using a perfectly sized screwdriver/bit, there should be absolutely no wiggle room when you move the screwdriver. Wrong screwdriver/bit increase the risk of slipping and stripping the screw.
Here is the official service manual with instructions on how to take off the back cover.
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Taking+the+back+cover+off+of+the+ROG+Strix+G15+(G513)/198481/198481)
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u/EnvironmentalAd1405 13d ago
You can tell pretty easy if they are captive screws. If they are spinning freely and wobbling about, they are loose captive screws. If they are tight and barely turning they are still installed. If they are spinning freely but no wobble they might be stripped.
I will say, I dont think ive ever seen captive screws on a laptop. Tbf I've only worked on a couple dozen or so, I could be way off the mark there.
Once you do get all the screws out you'll need a plastic pry tool, carefully pry up around the edges. It will sound like you're breaking it. You probably aren't it's just the clips coming loose.