This excellent video tutorial created by jRin.net explains how to disassemble a Dell Mini 10v (aka Mini 1011) notebook. With this guide you’ll be able to remove and replace the keyboard, hard drive, internal memory module and even motherboard.

ACCESSING THE HARD DRIVE

In this model the hard drive cannot be accessed through the door on the bottom. The hard drive is mounted under the keyboard. In order to access the replace the hard drive, the keyboard has to be removed first. While removing the keyboard, be very careful with the connector on the motherboard. Instead of using a small screwdriver as the author did, I would suggest using your fingernails.

If you are looking for a new keyboard, you can search here.

In this Dell Mini 10v notebook there is a SATA hard drive installed. If your hard drive went bad, you can replace it with any other 2.5″ SATA hard drive.

ACCESSING THE MEMORY MODULE

Dell Mini 10v comes with only one memory module installed. Unfortunately, this memory module is hidden deep inside the laptop, under the motherboard. In order to access and replace/upgrade the memory module, it’s not enough to remove the keyboard. The whole motherboard has to be removed.

If your laptop came with 1GB memory module installed, you can remove it and replace with a 2GB memory module.

You can use DDR2 PC2-5300 (DDR2-677) or PC2-6400 (DDR2-800) SODIIM memory modules.

The following video explains how to assemble the same Dell Mini 10v (Mini 1011) notebook back together.

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.

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.

In this guide I explain how to remove and replace the keyboard in a Sony Vaio VGN-T350 (model PCG-4E1L) laptop.

You can use this guide for replacing the keyboard or accessing the internal memory slot which is located under the keyboard.

This guide might work for some other Sony Vaio VGN-T series laptops. Please mention the model number in comments below if it works for you.

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

STEP 1.

Remove three screws securing the keyboard on the bottom of the laptop.

STEP 2.

There are two latches securing the keyboard on the top.

They are located above the F5 key and NumLk key.

STEP 3.

Push on both keyboard latches with a small screwdriver and release the keyboard.

STEP 4.

Lift up the keyboard from the laptop case. Be careful, the keyboard is still attached to the motherboard.

STEP 5.

Turn the keyboard upside down and place on the palm rest.

Now you can access the keyboard cable connector which is located on the right side from the cooling fan.

When the keyboard is removed, you can access the memory slot. In this laptop you have to use PC2700 DDR333 microDIMM memory module (512MB maximum).

STEP 6.

Before you pull the keyboard cable form the connector, the connector has to be unlocked.

In order to unlock the connector, flip the left side of the brown locking clip up with your fingernail. The brown clip will pop up at a 90 degree angle.

After that you can remove the keyboard cable from the connector.

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

STEP 7.

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

The best way to find a new replacement keyboard for your Sony Vaio VGN-T series laptop is searching by the laptop part number.

Search for the keyboard part number on the sticker. In my case the part number is 147898681. You can use this keyboard for Sony Vaio VGN-T150/T250/T350 laptops.

You can buy a new keyboard replacement here.

In this post I explain how to remove and replace damaged keyboard in an HP Pavilion dv3500 (dv3000 series) notebook. It’s not difficult and if you are careful enough, you can swap the keyboard in about 10-15 minutes.

It’s possible that my guide fits some other HP Pavilion models in the dv3000 line. If the guide works for you, please mention the notebook model in comments after the post.

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

STEP 1.

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

STEP 2.

One of the keyboard screws is located under the hard drive and it has to be removed.

In order to remove the hard drive, slide it to the left until the hard drive is disconnected from the connector on the motherboard. Now you can lift up and remove the hard drive.

It’s not necessary to remove memory modules.

Remove four screws (green circles) securing the keyboard.

STEP 3.

Carefully lift up the top side of the keyboard as it shown on the picture below.

STEP 4.

Move the keyboard in the direction shown by the yellow arrow.

Be careful, the keyboard is still connected to the motherboard.

STEP 5.

Turn the keyboard upside down and place it on the palm rest.

As you see, the keyboard is connected to the motherboard via two ribbon cables.

Let’s disconnect the small cable (Connector 1) first.

STEP 6.

Before you pull the keyboard cable from the connector, the connector has to be unlocked.

In order to unlock the connector, move the black clip about 2 millimeters in the direction show by two arrows.

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

WARNING! The locking clip (black plastic piece you move) must stay attached to the connector base. If you break the connector, you’ll have to replace the entire motherboard.

STEP 7.

Turn the keyboard over again and access the second connector.

STEP 8.

Unlock Connector 2 the same way you unlocked Connector 1.

Move the locking clip about 2 millimeters in the direction shown by two arrows. Pull the keyboard cable from the connector.

Again, the locking clip must stay attached to the connector base.

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

STEP 9.

Remove the damaged keyboard from the notebook and replace it with a new one.

STEP 10.

You can find a new replacement keyboard by the HP spare part number printed on the sticker.

In my case the keyboard part number is 496120-001.

Some sellers reference by the keyboard model number and in my case it’s 492991-001.

You can find a brand new keyboard for HP Pavilion dv3500 dv3000 notebooks here.

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.

In this guide I explain how to clean the cooling fan in a Toshiba Satellite P305D laptop. Also this guide should work for the following Toshiba laptops: Satellite P300, Satellite P300D, Satellite P305.

My customer complained that his laptop overheats and shuts off while running a game. Apparently, the heat sink got clogged with dust and needed a good cleaning.

There is no easy access to the cooling fan in a Satellite P305D laptop. You can see the air intake on the bottom of the laptop, but the fan is covered with a perforated metal sheet, so blowing air into the air intake will not be enough for cleaning the fan.

You can get better access to the fan under the keyboard. Let’s remove the keyboard.

Remove three screws securing the keyboard bezel. These screws located under the battery.

Carefully lift up and remove the keyboard bezel.

Remove two screws securing the keyboard.

Lift up the keyboard and place it upside down on the palm rest. It’s not necessary to disconnect keyboard cable from the motherboard.

The cooling fan is still covered  but at least now you can blow compressed air into the fan and remove all dust from the heat sink.

For cleaning laptop fans I use compressed air duster.

First. Blow compressed air into the cooling fan through two holes on the top cover.
Second. Change the direction and blow air into the fan grill on the side. Also, blow air into the air intake on the bottom.

Change air direction two-three times until there is no dust coming out of the laptop.

In this guide I explain how to access the memory module installed into the internal slot on a Dell Latitude D520 laptop. You can use this guide for removing/replacing the keyboard or replacing/upgrading laptop memory.

Dell Latitude D520 laptop has two memory slots. One of them can be easily accessed through the door on the bottom of the laptop. The second memory slot is hidden under the keyboard.

Before you start, don’t forget to turn off the laptop and remove the battery.

On the following picture you can see the memory module installed into the external slot located on the bottom of the laptop.

We’ll start removing the keyboard with removing the bezel.

Insert a flat head screwdriver under the right side of the bezel and carefully lift it up.

Continue removing the keyboard bezel with your fingers.

Now you can remove two screws securing the keyboard.

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

Under the keyboard you get access to the cooling fan.

If the cooling fan looks dirty, you can remove dust with compressed air. I usually use “Dust off” computer compressed air.

By the way, if the laptop shuts down on its own while running multiple applications, most likely it happens because of CPU overheating. In this case cleaning the cooling fan and heat sink will fix the problem.

In order to access the memory module installed in the internal slot, you’ll have to turn the keyboard as it shown on the picture below.

It’s not necessary to disconnect the keyboard from the motherboard. Leave it connected.

To remove the memory module simply spread latches on both sides until the module pops up at a 30 degree angle.

Now you can pull the memory module from the internal slot and replace it with a new one if needed.

Dell Latitude D520 can take up to 4GB memory total. You can install up to 2GB memory sticks into each slot.

Dell recommends using PC2-5300 DDR2-667 200pin SDRAM SODIMM modules.

It’s possible to use faster memory modules, for example PC2-6400 DDR2-800 should work fine, but they will clock down and run at PC2-5300 speed.

It’s not necessary to change any settings after upgrading laptop memory. The laptop will detect and configure new memory on the first start up.

In this guide I replace damaged keyboard on an HP Pavilion tx1000 notebook. It’s possible that my guide fits some other HP Pavilion notebooks. Please mention the notebook model number in the comments after the post if it works for you.

I believe these instructions will work for one of the following models: HP Pavilion tx1100, tx1200, tx1300, tx1400.

Before you start, do not forget to turn off the notebook.

STEP 1.

Remove the battery.

Remove four screws securing the keyboard on the bottom.

STEP 2.

Carefully insert a very small screwdriver between the top side of the keyboard and notebook case.

Lift up the keyboard. Be careful with the keys.

STEP 3.

Remove the keyboard.

STEP 4.

Place the keyboard so you can access the cable connector underneath.

The keyboard cable is plugged into the connector on the motherboard. You’ll have to unlock the connector before removing the cable.

On this picture the cable connector is shown in the locked position.

On the next picture, the same connector is shown in the unlocked position.

Now you can pull the keyboard cable from the connector.

STEP 5.

Remove the keyboard and replace it with a new one.

You can search for a new keyboard replacement by the part number printed on the sticker. In my case the keyboard part number is 441316-001.

A new keyboard for an HP Pavilion tx1000 can be purchased here for less than $20.

In the following guide I remove the motherboard from a Compaq Presario CQ50 laptop. Also this guide should work for Compaq Presario CQ 60/CQ70 and HP G50/G60/G70 laptops.

If you need replacement parts, you can find them here. Just search by the part name and laptop model.

Start laptop disassembly with removing the battery.

STEP 1.

Remove memory, hard drive and wireless card covers.

STEP 2.

Remove three screws securing the hard drive assembly.

Slide the hard drive assembly to the right, disconnect it from the motherboard and remove from the laptop.

STEP 3.

Remove both memory modules.

Disconnect two antenna cables from the wireless card. Remove two screws and remove the wireless card from the laptop.

STEP 4.

Remove one screw securing the DVD drive.

Pull the DVD drive from the laptop.

STEP 5.

Remove all screws from the bottom of the laptop.

Disconnect the CMOS battery cable from the motherboard.

STEP 6.

Carefully lift up the keyboard as it shown on the picture below.

STEP 7.

Access the keyboard cable connector underneath the keyboard.

Unlock the connector before removing the keyboard.

In order to unlock the connector you’ll have to move the locking clip (white) about 2-3 millimeters towards the LCD screen.

The locking clip must stat attached to the connector base (dark brown) as it shown on the picture below.

Now you can release the cable and remove the keyboard.

STEP 8.

Unlock the power button cable connector.

On the following picture you can see the connector in the unlocked state.

Now you can remove the power button board cable from the connector.

STEP 9.

Remove the plastic cover.

STEP 10.

Disconnect the video cable connector from the motherboard.

Disconnect the webcam cable.

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

STEP 11.

Remove screws securing the display hinges.

STEP 12.

Remove the display assembly from the laptop.

In the next post I explain how to remove the LCD screen, inverter board and hinges from the display assembly in HP G50/G60/G70 laptops. It’s similar for Compaq Presario CQ50/CQ60/CQ70 laptops.

STEP 13.

Disconnect the touch pad cable from the motherboard.

Remove screws securing the top cover assembly.

STEP 14.

Start separating the top cover assembly from the laptop base.

You can use a guitar pick in order to split the laptop case.

STEP 15.

The top cover assembly has been removed.

STEP 16.

Remove one screw securing the left speaker.

Remove the left speaker from the base.

STEP 17.

Remove four screws securing the motherboard.

Disconnect four cables from the motherboard.

STEP 18.

Remove the motherboard from the laptop base.

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

STEP 19.

Disconnect the cooling fan cable from the motherboard.

STEP 20.

Loosen four screws securing the cooling fan assembly.

STEP 21.

Remove the cooling fan assembly from the laptop.

STEP 22.

In this model the power jack is not soldered to the motherboard.

You can unplug the power jack cable from the motherboard and replace it with a new one if needed.l

My customer complained that one of the keyboard keys stopped working correctly. Something got stuck under the key and it stopped moving freely. He had to push on the key very harder to make it type the symbol.

After keyboard diagnostic I confirmed that something got stuck under the right side of the key.

Here’s how you can take off the key cap and remove the stuck object.

STEP 1.

Make sure the keyboard is turned off.

Very carefully start removing the key cap as it shown on the picture below.

STEP 2.

Continue removing the key cap. The cap has to unsnap from the lifting mechanism.

STEP 3.

Make sure the key hinges (lifting mechanism) stay connected to the keyboard. If you accidentally removed the hinges, you can assemble them back together using this guide.

STEP 4.

As you see on the next picture, there is something stuck under the right side of the hinge assembly.

STEP 5.

Carefully lift up the hinge assembly and remove the stuck object.

STEP 6.

Position the removed key cap above the hinges.

STEP 7.

Push on the key cap until it clicks back in place.