How to disassemble HP Compaq 8510p notebook PC

In the following guide I will disassemble a HP Compaq 8510p notebook PC and remove all main parts. According with the HP specifications, my disassembly guide should work for a HP Compaq 8510w mobile workstation. If it works for any other model, I would appreciate if you mention the model name in the following comments.

In the next guide I’ll explain how to remove and replace the screen inverter.
Before you start, you should turn off the laptop and unplug the power adapter.

STEP 1

Remove the battery.
Remove the hard drive and memory covers.

STEP 2

Remove the memory module.
Remove the hard drive as it shown on the sticker. Simply remove one screw securing the hard drive, slide the hard drive to the left and remove it from the laptop.

STEP 3

Remove one screw securing the optical drive (CD/DVD drive). Push the drive from the laptop with a screwdriver. Remove the drive.

STEP 4

Loosen two screws securing the keyboard. Both screws will stay attached to the laptop bottom.

STEP 5

Slide four latches securing the keyboard to the direction pointed by red arrows.

STEP 6

Lift up the keyboard with a sharp object, you can use a small flathead screwdriver.

STEP 7

Continue removing the keyboard. Place it upside down on the palm rest.

STEP 8

The keyboard is connected to the motherboard via two flat ribbon cables. Unlock both connectors by lifting the locking tab about 2-3 millimeters up with your finger nails. Be very careful with the connectors.

On the picture below you can see both connectors unlocked and keyboard cables removed. The locking tab must stay attached to the connector base.

STEP 9

Remove two screws securing the cooling fan. Unplug the fan cable from the motherboard.

Remove the fan.

STEP 10

Remove six screws securing the video card (VGA board) and processor (CPU) heat sinks.

Remove the heat sink.

STEP 11

Remove two screws securing the video card.

The video card will pop up at a 15-20 degree angle. Carefully pull the video card from the slot by the edges.

STEP 12

Now I’m going to remove the laptop top cover. Remove all screws from the bottom of the laptop. The orange screw securing the touch pad. There are two more screws (marked with green squares) hidden under rubber seals.
As you see, you can access the Bluetooth card through the hard drive compartment.

STEP 13

Lift up the touch pad assembly as it shown on the picture below. Place the touch pad upside down on the palm rest.

Disconnect the touch pad cable from the motherboard. Remove the touch pad.

STEP 14

Start removing the keyboard bezel with a small screwdriver. Do not forget to disconnect the cable the same way as you disconnected the keyboard cables.

Continue separating the keyboard bezel with your fingers and remove it from the laptop.

STEP 15

Unplug the LCD cable from the motherboard.
Unsnap three wireless card antenna cables from the wireless card.
Unroute the wireless card antenna cables.
Remove five screws securing the display hinges (two from the left hinge and three from the right hinge).

STEP 16

Remove four screws securing the display hinges on the back of the laptop.

STEP 17

Remove the LCD screen (display) assembly.

STEP 18

Remove six screws securing the top cover assembly.
Unplug the CMOS (RTC) battery cable from the motherboard.
Unplug the finger scanning device cable from the motherboard.
If you wish, you can remove the wireless card here. I’ll do it later.

STEP 19

Start removing the laptop top cover assembly. It could be a challenge.

The top cover is still attached to the bottom with a cable pointed with the red arrow. Unplug this cable. By the way, you can access the Bluetooth module from here too.

Remove the top cover assembly.

On the picture below you can see the finger scanning device attached to the top cover.

STEP 20

Remove two screws securing the speaker assembly to the motherboard (I don’t remember if I had to remove three screws).
Unplug the speaker cable.

Lift up and remove the speaker assembly.

STEP 21

Remove two screws securing the wireless card. Remove the wireless card from the motherboard.
Remove two screws securing the modem card. Unplug the modem card cable from the motherboard. Remove the modem card.

STEP 22

Remove two hex studs from the VGA port (two orange arrows on the top).
Unplug cables pointed with red arrows.
Remove five screws securing the motherboard.

STEP 23

Start removing the motherboard from the laptop base.

The motherboard has been removed. If you are replacing the motherboard, transfer the processor (CPU) to the new board.