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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.
September 21st, 2011 at 2:09 pm
@ Melissa,
Check out this service manual for HP Pavilion dm3 notebook.
The manual has step-by-step disassembly instructions. The LCD screen removal instructions start on the page 61.
September 21st, 2011 at 10:08 am
What do I do If I want to replace the LCR screen? I’ve already opened it up. but I’m not sure how to remove the LCD from the metal frame connected to the hinge.
September 17th, 2011 at 9:55 am
Just a quick note on disassembly:
At step 15, there was stickum on the ribbon cable going to the power/charge and HDD lights that pulled the cable loose (front right area of case). Only caused a few minutes aggravation, but hope it helps someone else.. Thank you for a great site!
August 20th, 2011 at 12:57 am
Thanks for this instruction. Its very helpful. Got a problem with my Laptop after exactly a week when my 1 year manufacturer’s warranty expires. Seems Keyboard has a mind of its own that even at start up/boot several keys were pressed hence can’t finish windows boot without an issue. after several times trying, was able to see the windows log on field but since several keys are pressed without me touching the keyboard yet, my password is automatically entered.
August 20th, 2011 at 12:45 am
Thanks for this instruction. Its very helpful. Got a problem with my Laptop after exactly a week when my 1 year manufacturer’s warranty expires. Seems Keyboard has a mind of its own that even at start up/boot several keys were pressed hence can’t finish windows boot without an issue. after several times trying, was able to see the windows log on field but since several keys are pressed without me touching the keyboard yet, my password is automatically entered. Did restore to factory settings but to no avail. Problem still exist. Wondering if this is a hardware issue. Oddly this happens after the warranty expires. Did you encounter this issue before? how did you go about it? Is this a normal occurrence for this product?
Did try doing the solutions I found in the net but nothing works. That is why I’m thinking of taking the unit apart thinking that the keyboard is the problem.
If you encountered this previously, hope you can share the solution to solve this issue.
Thanks
April 26th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
Thank you so much for the step by step
I have a problem with my laptop, is getting really hot and so bought an usb base fan cooler for it and at first is worked fine but now even though it has the extra fan keeps getting hotter that is really annoying to type because is so hot, do you know how can I fix this problem? Do I need to change the internal fan?
Thankx
Mara
April 21st, 2011 at 12:37 pm
Hey Laptop Tech!
Great site, excellent step-by-step.
Unfortunately, I have the “next gen” dm3. The “dm3-3110us” to be exact. This has a significantly different internal layout, and significantly different external underside access.
My problem is that in the process for “top cover removal”, on page 46 in the Service Manual Step 6 says, “Remove the three Phillips PM2.5×6.0 screw that secures the top cover to the computer.” It does NOT show where these three screws might be, and they are NOT visible in the diagram or in the laptop itself. Well, maybe one of them is. But the only other ones visible appear to be holding something (maybe the thing I’m trying to replace, the WLAN half-card) UNDER the top cover, and seem to be in capture mounts anyway, so won’t remove.
And the reason for the entire exercise (I was almost there when I ran into this issue) is to get a TRUE 802.11n Wi-Fi card installed. The miserable Broadcom 4313 WLAN/Bluetooth combo card that HP installed is only capable of 72Mbps max. (This may technically make it an N-spec card, but what were they thinking?!?)
Any help would be appreciated!
March 7th, 2011 at 10:57 am
I am also having the same problem with the power switch… if you have any ideas on how to fix it please share. And thanks for this guide!
February 14th, 2011 at 11:11 pm
Yes, my hp power switch also broke and appears to be missing something. I cant seem to find the small piece that broke off. All i know is the lever doesn’t move and power wont come on
February 1st, 2011 at 7:10 pm
The sliding power switch on my laptop broke. After removing the cover, I can see that the switch is no longer attached to anything. However, I am uncertain on what I actually need to replace. Do I need to buy a new USB/Power board or do I need to replace the plastic switch. Could you show a picture of how the external switch is actually linked to the USB/Power port board, so that I can see what actually broke? Thanks.