In this guide I’ll be taking apart a Asus Eee PC 1201n netbook. I will show how to remove netbook memory modules, keyboard, top cover, hard drive, cooling fan and CMOS battery.

Most likely this guide will work for other Asus Eee 12XX netbooks. If it works for you, please mention the model number in comments after this post.

Make sure the netbook is turned off.

STEP 1.

Remove the battery.

Remove two screws securing the memory (RAM) cover and remove the cover.

STEP 2.

Both memory modules can be easily accessed through the door on the bottom.

Spread plastic latches on both sides of the memory slot until the memory module pops up at a 30 degree angle. After that carefully pull memory module from the slot by the edges.

In the following 7 steps I’ll be removing the keyboard.

STEP 3.

The keyboard secured by four latches on the top.

STEP 4.

Press on the latch with a sharp object and at the same time pull the keyboard a little bit up.

Do the same with remaining three latches.

STEP 5.

After all four latches are released, you can lift up the keyboard.

STEP 6.

Be careful, the keyboard attached to the motherboard with a flat ribbon cable.

Before you can remove the keyboard, you have to unlock the connector and release the cable.

STEP 7.

In order to unlock the keyboard connector, move the brown clip about 2-3 millimeters towards the display.

The brown clip must stat attached to the white base.

On the following picture the connector shown in the unlocked position.

STEP 8.

After the connector unlocked, you can release the cable and remove the keyboard.

You’ll find a few keyboard part numbers on the sticker. I’m not sure which one is the official Asus part number, but you can search on google for all of them.

I think one of these part numbers will lead you to the replacement keyboard.

In the following 5 steps I will show how to remove the top cover.

STEP 9.

Remove all screws from the bottom of the netbook.

STEP 10.

Remove all screws securing the top cover assembly.

Disconnect the touch pad cable.

STEP 11.

You unlock the touch pad connector same way you unlocked the keyboard connector.

STEP 12.

Start separating the top cover assembly from the netbook base. You can use a piece of soft plastic to separate the top cover. I’m using the guitar pick.

STEP 13.

Remove the top cover assembly.

STEP 14.

After you remove the top cover assembly, you can access the hard drive, cooling fan and CMOS battery.

STEP 15.

Remove four screws securing the hard drive assembly.

Slide the hard drive assembly to right to disconnect it from the motherboard.

Lift up and remove the hard drive.

As you see, it’s a regular 2.5″ SATA hard drive for notebooks.

STEP 16.

In order to remove the cooling fan, you’ll have to remove two screws and disconnect one cable from the motherboard.

After that the cooling fan is ready for the removal and replacement.

Today I explain how to disassemble a HP Pavilion dm3 series notebook.

In this particular guide I’m taking apart a HP Pavilion dm3-1035dx Entertainment Notebook but the guide should be the same for all other models in Pavilion dm3 line.

Before you start, make sure the notebook is turned off.

Removing hard drive, memory modules, wireless card and CMOS battery shown in steps 1-7.

STEP 1.

Remove the battery.

Remove five screws securing the hard drive and memory covers. Remove both covers.

STEP 2.

Remove two screws securing the hard drive and slide it to the left to disconnect from the motherboard.

STEP 3.

Now you can remove the hard drive.

As you see, it’s a standard 2.5″ SATA hard drive.

STEP 4.

Remove both memory modules.

In order to remove the memory module you’ll have to follow two simple steps:
- carefully spread lathes on both sides of the slot until the memory module pops up at a 30 degree angle.
- pull the memory module from the slot by the edges.

STEP 5.

Disconnect both antenna cables from the wireless card.

Remove two screws securing the wireless card.

STEP 6.

Remove wireless card same way you removed memory modules.

STEP 7.

Disconnect the CMOS battery cable from the motherboard and remove the battery.

Removing notebook keyboard shown in steps 8-12.

STEP 8.

Remove two screws securing the keyboard on the bottom of notebook.

STEP 9.

Push on the keyboard through the openings in the battery compartment.

STEP 10.

Lift up the keyboard as it shown on the following picture.

STEP 11.

Carefully lift up the keyboard and access connector underneath.

In order to remove the keyboard you’ll have to disconnect the cable first.

On the following picture the keyboard connector shown in the locked position.

Lift up the right side of the brown clip so it opens at a 90 degree angle.

On the following picture the connector is shown in the unlocked position.

Now you can pull the keyboard cable from the connector.

STEP 12.

Remove the keyboard.

The best way to find a replacement keyboard is searching by the HP part number.

In my case I had two different HP part numbers on the keyboard: 580687-001 and 573148-001. I guess both part numbers are compatible.

If you need a replacement keyboard for HP Pavilion dm3 notebook, you can find it here.

Removing notebook top cover and cooling fan shown in steps 13-18.

STEP 13.

Remove marked screws form the bottom of the notebook.

STEP 14.

Remove six screws securing the top cover assembly.

Disconnect the top cover cable (left arrow) and touch pad cable (bottom arrow).

On some HP Pavilion dm3 models you’ll have to disconnect one more cable – the Bluetooth module cable.

On the following picture you can see the top cover cable disconnected.

On the following picture you can see how to open the touch pad cable connector.

STEP 15.

Start separating the top cover assembly from the notebook base.

You can use a thin piece of plastic (I’m using guitar pick) as a case cracker.

STEP 16.

The top cover assembly has been removed.

On the following picture the notebook shown with the top cover removed.

STEP 17.

Remove two screws securing the cooling fan.

Disconnect the fan cable from the motherboard.

STEP 18.

Remove the cooling fan.

The cooling fan part number is printed on the white sticker. In my case the part number is: 580696-001

If you need a replacement fan for HP Pavilion dm3 notebook, you can find it here.

By the way, in HP Pavilion dm3 notebook the power jack is not soldered to the motherboard. The jack attached to the power harness.

When the power jack fails, you can disconnect the failed jack harness from the motherboard and replace it with a new one.

In this guide I explain how to disassemble a Dell Inspiron E1505 or Inspiron 6400 laptop. These are two identical laptops with different names.

The main purpose of my repair is removing and replacing the cooling fan which started making lots of noise.

The cooling fan mounted inside of laptop case, so the whole thing has to be disassembled.

Make sure the laptop is turned off before you start taking it apart.

STEP 1.

Remove the battery.

Remove two screws securing the hard drive assembly and pull it out.

Remove two screws securing memory cover and remove the cover.

STEP 2.

Remove all screws from the bottom.

STEP 3.

Remove one screw securing the CD/DVD drive.

Push the drive from the laptop with a screwdriver.

Pull the optical drive from the laptop.

STEP 4.

Remove two screws on the back of the laptop.

These screws are hidden under screw seals.

On the following 7 steps I’ll be removing the keyboard.

By the way, it’s not necessary to go through all previous steps in order to remove the keyboard. Simply follow steps 5-11.

STEP 5.

Lift up the right side of the power button board cover with a screwdriver.

STEP 6.

Remove the power button board cover.

STEP 7.

Remove two screws securing the keyboard.

STEP 8.

Lift up the keyboard and carefully remove it from the laptop.

STEP 9.

Access the keyboard cable connector underneath.

STEP 10.

Unlock the connector and remove the keyboard cable.

On the following picture the connector is shown in unlocked state.

STEP 11.

Now you can remove the keyboard.

Need a new keyboard for Dell Inspiron E1505/6400? You’ll find it here.

STEP 12.

Disconnect the video cable connector from the motherboard. Remove one screw securing the video cable.

Disconnect two antenna cables from the wireless card.

Remove two screws securing display hinges.

STEP 13.

Remove the display assembly.

STEP 14.

Remove two screws securing the power button board.

STEP 15.

Carefully lift up and disconnect the power button board from the motherboard.

STEP 16.

Disconnect the lid close switch cable from the motherboard.

Disconnect the touch pad cable from the motherboard.

Remove one screw securing the top cover assembly.

On the following picture the touch pad connector shown in unlocked state.

STEP 17.

Separate the top cover assembly from the laptop base.

STEP 18.

Remove the top cover assembly.

The top cover has been removed.

STEP 19.

Remove two screws securing the cooling fan.

Unplug the cooling fan cable from the motherboard.

STEP 20.

Now you can remove the cooling fan and replace it with a new one.

Looking for a replacement fan for Dell Inspiron E1505/6400 laptop? You’ll find it here.

In this post I explain how to disassemble Asus K-series notebook and get access to main internal parts.

As an example I took a Asus K50IJ notebook. I believe disassembly steps will be same or very similar for all models in Asus K line.

Let me know if this guide works for your Asus notebook. Please mention the model number in comments below.

Make sure the laptop is turned off.

ACCESSING MAIN PARTS UNDER THE BOTTOM COVER.

Remove the battery.

Remove one screw securing the bottom cover.

Remove four screws securing the bottom cover on the back side of the notebook.

Slide the bottom cover to the shown direction.

Remove the bottom cover.

Under the bottom cover you’ll get an easy access to the memory module, hard drive, CMOS battery, cooling fan, DVD drive, wireless card and heat sink with processor.

Remove one screw securing the DVD dirve.

Slide the DVD drive to the right and remove it from the notebook.

Remove four screws securing the hard drive assembly.

Slide the hard drive assembly to the right to disconnect it from the connector on motherboard.

Remove the hard drive assembly.

Now you can separate the hard drive from the caddy and replace it with a new one if needed. As you see, it’s a SATA hard drive.

Spread latches on both sides of the memory module and after the module pops up at a 30 degree angle, carefully pull it from the slot by the edges.

In this particular notebook I found only one memory slot. It looks like some memory was integrated into the motherboard.

Not sure if all Asus K series notebooks have only one memory slot.

Remove three screws securing the cooling fan.

Unplug fan cable from the motherboard.

Now you can remove the fan.

REMOVING KEYBOARD.

In order to remove the keyboard it’s not necessary to go though all previous disassembly steps.

There are five small spring loaded latches securing the keyboard.

I pointed to them with yellow arrows.

In order to unlock the latch, simply press on it with a sharp object.

At the same time pull the keyboard upwards.

After all latches unlocked, you can lift up the keyboard as it shown on the picture below.

Carefully place the keyboard upside down on the palm rest.

Before you can disconnect the keyboard cable, you have to unlock the connector.

The keyboard cable is jammed between the white connector base and brown locking clip.

On the following picture the connector is shown in locked position.

Move the locking clip about 2 millimeters to the left (do not move any further).

The locking clip must stay attached to the white base.

On the following picture the connector is shown in unlocked position. Now you can pull the keyboard cable from the connector.

Finally, remove the keyboard and replace it with a new one if needed.

In the following guide I explain how to remove the keyboard and upgrade memory modules in a Dell XPS M1210 laptop.

This laptop has two memory slots. One of them can be easily access from the bottom of the laptop, but the second memory slot is hidden under the keyboard.

A Dell XPS M1210 can take up to 4GB memory total. You can install up to 2GB stick into each slot.

You can use DDR2-533 PC2-4200 or DDR2-667 PC2-5300 memory modules.

Before you start taking apart the laptop, do not forget to turn it off and remove the battery.

STEP 1.

Remove one screw securing the memory cover on the bottom of the laptop. Remove the cover.

STEP 2.

Spread latches on both sides of the memory slot. After the memory module pops up at a 30 degree angle, carefully remove from the slot by the edges.

Now you can replace it with a new 2GB memory module.

STEP 3.

In the following few steps we’ll be removing the keyboard.

Lift up the right side of the power button cover with a small screwdriver.

Continue removing the cover with your fingers.

STEP 4.

Remove the power button cover.

STEP 5.

Remove three screws securing the keyboard.

STEP 6.

Lift up the keyboard as it shown on the following picture.

STEP 7.

Disconnect the keyboard from the motherboard. Do it only if you are replacing the keyboard.

If you follow this guide in order to upgrade the memory module, simply flip the keyboard upside down on the palmrest.

You can access the internal memory slot without disconnecting the keyboard.

Need a new keyboard for your Dell XPS M1210 laptop? You’ll find it here very cheap.

Under the keyboard you’ll find the internal memory module and CMOS battery. Also, you’ll get some limited access to the cooling fan.

If the fan looks dusty, blow it off with compressed air.

Cleaning the cooling fan once in a while will prevent the laptop from overheating.

STEP 8.

Now you can access the memory module installed in the internal slot.

Spread latches on both sides of the slot and carefully pull the memory module by the edges.

Now you can replace it with a new 2GB memory module.

After both memory modules are replaced, you can assemble the laptop back together and turn it on.

You don’t have to change any settings in the BIOS. New memory should be detected and configured automatically.

In this post I explain how to replace a noisy or failed cooling fan in a Lenovo ThinkPad T61 laptop.

This guide might work for some other Lenovo ThinkPad models. If it works for you, please mention the laptop model number in the comments after the post.

The cooling fan is a part of the heat sink assembly. If the cooling fan fails, the whole heat sink assembly has to be replaced.

It’s possible that you can separate the fan from the heat sink and replace it separately, but in this guide I’m replacing the whole assembly.

Let’s remove the cooling fan assembly and replace it with a new one.

Turn off the laptop, unplug the AC adapter and remove the battery.

STEP 1.

Remove four (red) screws securing the palm rest.

Remove one screw (yellow) securing the keyboard.

STEP 2.

Lift up the palm rest.

STEP 3.

Place the palm rest upside down so you can access the touch pad cable underneath.

STEP 4.

Disconnect the touch pad cable from the motherboard.

By the way, both memory modules are located under the palm rest. If you are replacing or upgrading memory modules, you don’t have to follow the guide any further.

A Lenovo ThinkPad T61 laptop can take up to 4GB RAM total. You can install up to 2GB memory module into each slot. You should use DDR2 PC2-5300 or PC2-6400 memory modules.

STEP 5.

Lift up the keyboard and place it upside down.

STEP 6.

Disconnect the keyboard cable from the motherboard.

In order to disconnect the cable simply lift up the the connector, same way you disconnected the touch pad cable.

If you are replacing the keyboard, you don’t have to follow this guide any further.

You can find a new replacement keyboard by the Lenovo FRU part number printed on the label. In my case the keyboard part number is 42T3209.

Need a new keyboard for your Lenovo ThinkPad?  Search here.

STEP 7.

Remove three screws securing the speaker cover.

By the way, the CMOS battery is located under the keyboard.

STEP 8.

Remove two screws securing the speaker cover on the bottom of the laptop.

STEP 9.

Remove the speaker cover.

STEP 10.

Remove four screws securing the cooling fan assembly brackets. Remove both brackets.

I would recommend taking a close up picture of the lower bracket, so you know how the wires are routed. The picture will help you to rout wires correctly when you assemble the laptop back together.

STEP 11.

Remove two screws securing the left speaker.

Disconnect connectors shown by two arrows.

Move the left speaker with cables to the right side, so you can get to the cooling fan assembly.

STEP 12.

Disconnect the cooling fan cable from the motherboard.

Remove four screws securing the cooling fan assembly.

STEP 13.

Lift up the cooling fan assembly as it shown on the picture below.

STEP 14.

Remove the cooling fan assembly from the laptop.

If you are replacing the failed cooling fan assembly with a new one, most likely the heat sink already has thermal grease pre-applied.

On the other hand, if you are installing a refubished cooling fan assembly, you’ll have to apply thermal grease on both chips shown below.

You can search for a replacement cooling fan assembly by the Lenovo FRU number from the failed fan.

The FRU number is printed on the label. In my case, the FRU part number is 42W2460.

You can find a new or used cooling fan assembly here.

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In this guide I explain how to disassemble a Gateway MX (Model #MA2A) series laptop. To be precise, I’m taking apart a Gateway MX6650 laptop. If this guide works for your Gateway laptop, please mention the model number in the comment below.

The main purpose of this repair is replacing the laptop base cover. A piece of the base assembly where the right hinge connected broke off and the whole base assembly has to be replaced.

If yo need spare parts for your Gateway laptop, you can search by the model number here.

Let’s go through the laptop disassembly process step by step. Before you start, turn off the laptop, disconnect the AC adapter and remove the battery.

STEP 1.

Remove two screws (yellow) securing the hard drive assembly.
Remove one screw (red) securing the wireless card cover.
Remove seven screws (green) securing the memory cover.

There is one screw on the bottom (pink) securing the keyboard. You can remove this screw now or in the step 8.

STEP 2.

In order to remove the hard drive assembly, slide the whole assembly to the left to disconnect the hard drive from the motherboard.

Lift up and remove the hard drive assembly.

STEP 3.

Loosen three screws securing the heat sink assembly.

STEP 4.

Carefully lift up the heat sink assembly and disconnect the cooling fan cable from the motherboard.

STEP 5.

Remove both memory modules.

Disconnect two antenna cable from the wireless card.

STEP 6.

You remove the wireless card same way as the memory module.

Spread metal latches on both sides and when the wireless card pops up at a 30 degree angle, pull the wireless card from the slot.

STEP 7.

Remove one screw securing the CD/DVD optical driver.

Pull the CD/DVD drive from the laptop and remove it.

STEP 8.

Remove all screws from the bottom of the laptop. Do not forget two screws (yellow) located in the CD/DVD drive compartment.

STEP 9.

Remove two screws from the back side of the power switch cover.

STEP 10.

Carefully lift up the power switch cover with a screwdriver.

Continue removing the cover with your fingers.

STEP 11.

The power switch cover has been removed.

STEP 12.

Lift up the keyboard and place it upside down on the palm rest.

STEP 13.

Now you can unlock the keyboard cable connector.

After the connector is unlocked, you can pull the cable and remove the keyboard.

STEP 14.

Disconnect the LCD cable connector from the motherboard.

Pull the wireless card antenna cables through the opening in the top cover.

Remove four screws securing the display assembly hinges.

STEP 15.

Remove the display panel assembly.

You can remove and replace the LCD screen using this guide. It’s not necessary to separate the display assembly from the laptop base in order to replace the LCD screen.

STEP 15.

Remove four screws securing the top cover assembly.

Disconnect the touch pad cable from the motherboard.

The CMOS battery can be accessed and replaced in this step.

STEP 16.

Carefully lift up and remove the top cover assembly.

STEP 17.

Disconnect the speaker cable from the motherboard.

Remove four screws securing the motherboard.

STEP 18.

Carefully lift up the motherboard and disconnect the VGA board cable from the other side.

STEP 19.

There is nothing on this side of the motherboard except the CMOS battery.

STEP 20.

The processor (CPU) is located on the other side.

In order to remove the processor you have to unlock the socket.

STEP 21.

Remove two screws securing the VGA board.

STEP 22.

Remove two hex studs securing the VGA board on the back side of the base.

STEP 23.

Remove the VGA board.

STEP 24.

Finally, remove one screw securing the speaker cover assembly.

Remove the speaker cover assembly.

Now you can replace the damaged base cover with a new cover.

In this guide I explain how to disassemble a Compaq Presario v6000 series laptop.

Most likely this guide will work for some other Compaq Presario models. If it works for you, please mention the laptop model number in the comments after the article.

By the way, some Compaq Presario v6000 laptops might have a know problem with the motherboard. Check out this article about HP/Compaq Limited Warranty Service Enhancement program.

Let’s disassemble this laptop step-by-step.

STEP 1.

Turn off the laptop, unplug the AC adapter and remove the battery.

Remove three (yellow) screws securing the power switch cover.

Remove three more (green) screws securing the keyboard.

STEP 2.

Start removing the power switch cover as it shown on the picture below.

Be careful, there is a cable under the cover connecting the LED board to the motherboard. Do not lift up the power switch cover too much.

That’s the cable I was talking about.

STEP 3.

Now you can lift up the keyboard and access the cable connector underneath.

The cable connector has to be unlocked before you pull the cable and remove the keyboard.

STEP 4.

In order to unlock the keyboard cable connector, you’ll have to move the brown clip about 2 millimeters into the direction shown by two arrows. The brown clip must stay attached to the white connector base.

On the picture below the connector is shown in the unlocked position.

Now you can pull the cable and remove the keyboard.

STEP 5.

Disconnect the LED board cable from the motherboard.

STEP 6.

Remove the power switch cover.

STEP 7.

Remove one screw securing the CD/DVD drive.

Push the CD/DVD drive from the laptop with a screwdriver and remove the drive.

STEP 8.

Remove screws securing the hard drive and memory covers.

Remove both covers.

STEP 9.

Lift up the right side of the hard drive to disconnect it from the motherboard.

Remove the hard drive assembly from the laptop.

STEP 10.

Remove the memory module.

Disconnect two antenna cables form the wireless card (green arrows). Remove two screws securing the wireless card. Remove the wireless card from the laptop.

Also, you can access and remove the CMOS (RTC) battery here.

STEP 11.

Remove all screws from the bottom of the laptop. Do not forget three screws in the CD/DVD drive compartment (red circles) and one screw in the hard drive compartment (green circle).

Remove two hex studs found on the left side from the Wi-Fi card slot.

STEP 12.

Pull the wireless card antenna cable through the opening in the top cover.

Disconnect the power switch board cable from the motherboard.

Remove four screws securing display hinges.

STEP 13.

Disconnect the LCD cable. You’ll find this connector close to the left hinge.

STEP 14.

After I disconnected the LCD cable, I found that there is one more cable running from the display panel to the power switch board.

It’s easier to disconnect the cable from the power switch board if you remove the board first.

STEP 15.

Remove one screw securing the power switch board, lift up the board and turn it over.

Now you can unplug the cable.

Put the power switch board back in place.

STEP 16.

Remove the display panel assembly from the laptop.

STEP 17.

Remove four screws securing the top cover assembly.

Disconnect the touch pad cable from the motherboard.

STEP 18.

Start separating the top cover assembly from the laptop base.

Continue removing the top cover assembly.

As a case cracker I’m using a guitar pick.

Insert the guitar pick between the top cover assembly and base and move slowing along the side. This will help to release hidden latches.

STEP 19.

The top cover assembly removed.

STEP 20.

Remove six screws securing the motherboard assembly.

STEP 21.

Lift up the right side of the motherboard and disconnect the PC card slot.

STEP 22.

Remove the motherboard from the laptop base. Do not forget to disconnect the audio board cable on the front.

STEP 23.

Turn the motherboard upside down and disconnect two more cables underneath.

Those are the power cable and USB cable.

STEP 24.

Remove the motherboard from the base.

Laptop base without motherboard.

STEP 25.

Loosen four screws securing the heat sink assembly.

Disconnect the cooling fan cable from the motherboard.

STEP 26.

Lift up the cooling module assembly.

Now you can access the processor (CPU).

If you need spare parts for your Compaq Presario v6000 laptop, you can find them on eBay.

In this guide I explain how to disassemble an HP Pavilion dv7 notebook.

To be precise, I’m taking apart an HP Pavilion dv7t-1000 notebook but you should be able to use these instructions for all models in the Pavilion dv7 line.

The guide will show how to access both memory modules and hard drives if you are upgrading the notebook, remove most internal components, access and clean the cooling fan.

Before you start, turn off the notebook and remove the battery.

If you need spare part for your HP Pavilion dv7 notebook, you can search here.

STEP 1.

Remove (loosen) four screws securing the hard drive and memory cover. Remove the cover.

STEP 2.

Remove four screws securing hard drives (two screws per hard drive).

Slide the hard drive 1 to the left until it’s disconnected from the motherboard. Remove the hard drive 1.

Slide the hard drive 2 to the right until it’s disconnected from the motherboard. Remove the hard drive 2.

STEP 3.

Remove both memory (RAM) modules.

Disconnect two antenna cables from the wireless card. These laptop has three antenna cables but only two are used.

One of the antenna cables connected to the main contact on the wireless card and the second one is connected to the auxiliary contact. All three antenna cables are labeled.

Remove two screws securing the wireless card. Remove the card.

STEP 4.

Remove one screw securing the CD/DVD drive.

Slide the CD/DVD drive to the left to disconnect it from the motherboard.

Remove the CD/DVD drive.

STEP 5.

Remove all marked screws from the bottom of the notebook.

The green circled screw secures the keyboard.

Don’t forget to remove two screws hidden in the CD/DVD drive bay.

STEP 6.

Start separating the speaker cover from the notebook base.

You can use a guitar pick as a case cracker. Insert the guitar pick between the speaker cover and case and slowly move along the side.

STEP 7.

Lift up the speaker cover. Be careful, it’s still connected to the motherboard.

In order to remove the cable, you’ll have to unlock the connector first.

Move the brown clip about 2 millimeters in the direction shown by two arrows. The clip must stay attached to the connector base.

On the picture below the connector is shown in the unlocked position.

STEP 8.

Now you can remove the speaker cover.

STEP 9.

Remove four screw securing the keyboard.

STEP 10.

Lift up the keyboard from the base and access the cable connector underneath.

STEP 11.

Carefully unlock the keyboard cable connector.

Move the brown clip about 2 millimeters in the direction shown by two arrows. The brown clip must stay attached to the connector base.

If you damage the connector, the keyboard will not work when you assemble the notebook back together.

Well… I broke the connector. I removed thousands of laptop keyboards before but I broke this connector!

As you see, the left pin on the brown clip is missing.

No panic! I still can use this clip to lock the connector.

You’ll find more info here: Fixing damaged keyboard connector on a laptop motherboard.

STEP 12.

Pull Wi-Fi antenna cables though the opening in the cover.

Remove three screws securing the speaker assembly.

Disconnect the speaker cable (green arrow) from the motherboard.

STEP 13.

Remove the speaker assembly.

STEP 14.

Disconnect the video cable from the connector on the motherboard.

Remove six screws securing display hinges (three screws per hinge).

STEP 15.

Separate the display assembly from the notebook base.

In the next post I will explain how to take apart the display panel assembly and remove the LCD screen with inverter board.

By the way, it’s not necessary to separate the display panel assemble from the base in order to take it apart.

STEP 16.

Disconnect and remove the CMOS battery.

Remove all marked screws from the bottom. The green circled screw is hidden in the CD/DVD drive bay.

STEP 17.

Remove all screws securing the top cover assembly.

Disconnect the touch pad cable from the motherboard.

STEP 18.

Start separating the top cover assemble from the notebook base.

You can use same trick with the guitar pick shown in the step 6.

STEP 19.

Remove the top cover assembly.

Here’s the back side of the top cover assembly.

STEP 20.

Disconnect the USB and audio board cables from the motherboard (green arrows).

Disconnect the cooling fan cable from the motherboard (yellow arrow).

Remove four screws securing the motherboard.

STEP 21.

Lift up the right side of the motherboard as it shown on the picture below and disconnect the DC-IN jack cable.

STEP 22.

Remove the motherboard from the notebook base.

On the opposite side of the motherboard you can access the processor (CPU) when the heat sink is removed.

The motherboard is dead? Check out these motherboard repair offers.

By the way, the best way to find a replacement motherboard is searching by the HP part number. The part number should be located on a sticker in the memory compartment. The HP part number looks like XXXXXX-001.

Here’s the notebook base without motherboard.

The USB board, audio board, cooling fan and DC-IN jack are mounted on the base.

In order to remove the cooling fan, simply remove two screws securing the fan.

As you see, the cooling fan is dusty and has to be cleaned.

UPDATE:

There are only two fans listed in the service manual for HP Pavilion dv7 series notebook. They are listed on the page 27.

488885-001 for laptops equipped with AMD processor.
480481-001 for laptops equipped with Intel processors.

One of the DIY-ers had trouble searching for a new replacement fan for her AMD notebook. After the notebook was disassembled, she found that it had an Intel fan installed.

Here’s her comment:

Forget the question I just asked…We opened up our laptop and found the fan for the Intel processor installed instead of the fan for the AMD…apparently these ARE interchangeable…FYI

Check out comments 29 and 30. Thanks to Liz for this information.

In the following guide I explain how to disassemble HP Pavilion dv6500, dv6600, dv6700, dv6800 notebooks. In this particular case I’m taking apart an HP Pavilion dv6700 notebook.

I believe this guide will work for some other models in the Pavilion dv6000 line.

You can use these instructions for removing and replacing all main notebook components.

If you need spare parts for HP Pavilion dv6500/dv6600/dv6700/dv6800 notebooks, you can search here.

Turn off the notebook and unplug the AC adapter.

STEP 1.

Remove the battery.

Remove four screws securing the hard drive and memory (RAM) covers. Remove both covers.

STEP 2.

Lift up the right side of the hard drive assembly to disconnect it from the motherboard.

Remove the hard drive assembly.

STEP 3.

Remove both memory (RAM) modules.

Disconnect two antenna cables (black and gray) from the wireless card. Remove two screws securing the wireless card to the motherboard. Remove the wireless card.

By the way, in this step you can access the CMOS (RTC) battery.

STEP 4.

Remove one screw securing the CD/DVD drive to the laptop base.

Pull the CD/DVD drive from the notebook and remove it.

STEP 5.

Remove all screws from the bottom of the notebook.

Do not forget:
- three screws in the CD/DVD drive bay (yellow).
- one screw in the hard drive bay (green).
- two hex studs under memory slots (orange).

Mark all removed screws somehow so you don’t forget their location when assemble the notebook back together.

STEP 6.

Carefully lift up the right side of the power button board cover.

There are two cables connected to the motherboard. We’ll disconnect these cables after removing the keyboard in the STEP 8.

STEP 7.

Now, when the power button board cover separated from the laptop case, you can remove the keyboard as it shown on the picture below.

STEP 8.

Carefully disconnect the keyboard cable from the motherboard.

For more detailed keyboard removal instructions please follow this guide for HP Pavilion dv6000 laptop.

These instructions should be identical for HP Pavilion dv6500, dv6600, dv6700, dv6800 notebooks.

STEP 9.

Disconnect two cables running from the power button boar cover.

There are no locks on these connectors. Simply pull both cables from connectors.

STEP 10.

Turn the cover upside down and disconnect one cable from the power button board.

STEP 11.

Remove the cover.

STEP 12.

Disconnect the video cable connector from the motherboard.

This connector is located close to the left display hinge.

STEP 13.

Pull both wireless card antenna cables through the opening in the top cover. Unroute both antenna cables.

Remove two screws securing the display assembly hinges.

STEP 14.

Lift up and separate the display assembly from the notebook base.

In one of the previous posts I explain how to disassemble the display assemble and remove the LCD screen from an HP Pavilion dv6000.

These instructions should be identical for HP Pavilion dv6500, dv6600, dv6700, dv6800 notebooks.

STEP 15.

Remove five screws securing the top cover assembly.

Disconnect the touch pad cable from the motherboard.

STEP 16.

Start separating the plastic cover from the notebook base. You can use a piece of soft plastic (I’m using a guitar pick) to separate the cover from the base.

The cover has been removed.

STEP 17.

Separate the top cover assembly from the notebook base.

Again, as a case cracker I’m using the same guitar pick.

STEP 18.

Remove the top cover assembly.

The top cover assembly has been removed.

STEP 19.

Disconnect the Bluetooth module cable from the motherboard.

Remove two screws securing the Bluetooth module.

Remove the module.

STEP 20.

Remove four screws securing the express card slot.

Slide the slot board to the right and disconnect it from the motherboard.

STEP 21.

There is only one screws securing the motherboard to the notebook base.

Remove these screw.

STEP 22.

Start removing the motherboard as it shown on the picture below.

When the motherboard is lifted up, disconnect one cable from the audio board.

There are two more cables connected to the motherboard and we’ll remove them in the next step.

STEP 23.

Turn the motherboard upside down and disconnect two more cables.

STEP 24.

The motherboard has been removed.

The audio board and power connector board are still connected to the notebook base.

STEP 25.

Loosen four screws securing the cooling assembly (heat sink and fan) to the motherboard.

STEP 26.

Lift up and remove the cooling assembly.

Now you can access the processor (CPU).

In this model the power connector (DC power jack) is not soldered directly to the motherboard.

The power connector is mounted on a separate board.

If the power connector fails, you can desolder it from the board and replace with a new one or replace the entire power connector board.