Home
In this guide I explain how to disassemble a HP Pavilion dm4 laptop.
I’m doing this disassembly in order to replace damaged LCD screen. Unfortunately, in order to replace the LCD screen in an HP Pavilion dm4 laptop, it’s necessary to disassemble the entire laptop and remove the display panel.
I’ll split laptop disassembly instructions across two posts. In this post I explain how to remove the display panel and in the next post I’ll explain how to replace the LCD screen.
Before you start make sure the laptop is turned off and battery removed.
STEP 1.
Remove two screws securing the memory cover in battery compartment.
STEP 2.
Slide and remove the memory cover.
Remove two screws securing the hard drive cover. Remove the cover.
STEP 3.
When all covers removed you’ll be able to access both memory modules, hard drive, CMOS battery and wireless card.
For the purpose of my guide it’s not necessary to remove memory modules, wireless card and CMOS battery.
STEP 4.
Disconnect hard drive cable from the motherboard.
Remove the hard drive assembly.
STEP 5.
Carefully disconnect both antenna cables from the wireless card.
Again, we’ll leave the wireless card connected to the motherboard.
STEP 6.
Remove one screw securing the DVD drive.
Slide DVD drive to the left and remove it from the laptop.
STEP 7.
Remove two screws securing the keyboard.
STEP 8.
It’s very tricky removing the keyboard from a HP Pavilion dm4 laptop. There is no way you can do it from the top without damaging the keyboard.
Here’s how I did it.
In the DVD drive compartment there is a hole and you can use it for removing the keyboard.
Very carefully push the keyboard through the hole in the DVD drive compartment. I’m using a thin plastic tool for that.
After the keyboard separates from the top cover you can continue removing it with your fingers.
To make it more complicated, HP glued the keyboard to the top cover with double sticky tape. 
STEP 9.
Continue separating the keyboard from the top cover.
STEP 10.
Finally, lift up the top side of the keyboard and flip it upside down on the palm rest.
STEP 11.
Now you can access the keyboard cable and disconnect it from the motherboard.
STEP 12.
The keyboard connector opens up as it shown on the picture below.
Carefully open the brown tab at a 90 degree angle. Do not separate the locking tab from the white base.
On the following picture the keyboard connector shown in the unlocked position.
STEP 13.
Now you can pull keyboard cable from the connector and remove the keyboard.
Need a new keyboard for HP Pavilion dm4 laptop? You can find good selection here.
STEP 14.
Remove all screws from the bottom of the laptop.
There are two screws hidden under base feet (green circles).
Remove the rubber foot with a sharp object and remove the screw.
STEP 15.
Remove four screws securing the top cover.
Disconnect three cables. Use same technique as in the step 12.
STEP 16.
Carefully separate the top cover from the laptop base.
Continue removing cover with your fingers.
STEP 17.
The top cover has been removed.
Here’s the opposite side of the top cover.
Here you can access and remove (if needed) the finger scanner and power button board.
STEP 18.
Disconnect display video cable from the motherboard.
Pull both wireless antenna cables through the hole in the bottom cover.
STEP 19.
Remove four screws securing display hinges.
STEP 20.
Now you can separate the display panel from the laptop base.
The display panel is ready for the LCD screen replacement.
Here’s the laptop base with the display panel removed.
In a HP Pavilion dm4 laptop the DC power jack is not soldered to the motherboard. The jack is attached to a power harness.
If the DC power jack goes bad you simply unplug it from the motherboard and replace with a new DC jack.
October 27th, 2011 at 4:12 pm
Has anyone been able to use a lighted keyboard on the DM4T?
October 1st, 2011 at 10:53 am
!!!!NOTE FOR PEOPLE HAVING TROUBLE WITH STEP 6 BELOW!!!!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! I’m pretty savvy when it comes to software but not as much in the hardware world. Your clear concise directions made everything a breeze to get a new keyboard installed and my machine cleaned out. Your work is appreciated.
RE: Step 6 The DVD drive getting stuck when trying to remove. It seems that some of the models weren’t put together as as well as others. The retaining bracket for the dvd player (the silver metal piece) pops out a little too much on the opposite side you see when the laptop screen is on the table and the bottom is facing you. I solved this by placing the laptop on one of it’s small edges (DVD drive facing up) holding the laptop with my feet (lol) pulling upward with moderate force while working the drive back and forth.
You’ll most likely see a little damage to the retaining clip. This can either be replaced or use a dremel like tool to remove the non necessary part of the bracket so it won’t catch again.
I hope this helps someone.
Cheers!!
J
September 26th, 2011 at 10:56 am
Hi,
I have a hp dm 4 (1100) . Now its fan is making too noise and system is getting heated and switching off automatically.
I could follow all steps in given example but, could you also include some stepes to reach to fan by removing the motherboard as well on your site..?
thanks in advance. excellent steps.
September 18th, 2011 at 9:18 am
I have a hp dm 4 (1101) few days ago i was playing games on it suddenly smoke started to pour out of sd card slot and flames came out of the vents, now whenever i turn it on sd card slot get extremely hot i disassembled it but there was no burn or anything
can anyone plz help me
July 28th, 2011 at 2:50 pm
I got this far in taken it apart, but my problem is my webcam is just slightyly lowered to where when i skype half of the screen is covered by the ring around the screen, i need to adjust the camera and move it up slightly, not sure not to get the casing around the screen apart to get to the webcam?? Can anyone help with this?
THANKS!!!!
July 12th, 2011 at 9:13 pm
Hello.
I need to replace a bad DVD drive but when i get at the part to slide the DVD (Drive+bracket) out of the notebook, it’s getting a little hard (like the bracket was stucked inside after going a few inches to the left ) and I get a little afraid to force a little more. It is ok to do that ? is there any latch or something besides the only screw that secure the DVD bracket inside the Notebook ?
I get HP service guide PDF document for this model (c02615687.pdf) and at page 60 It’s doesn’t show anything like a latch to release the DVD + Bracket set.
Thanks
June 20th, 2011 at 8:53 am
I agree with some of the other comments that the HP dm4 is more difficult than most laptops to disassemble for replacing the LCD. As an electronics design engineer and someone who takes just about everything apart, I got pretty far but got to a point where I was concerned I might break something. I did some quick searching and came across this guide. Great info, useful annotated photos, and good detail. I’m impressed! I only wish more “guides” had this level of quality information. (Come to think of it, more user’s manuals out there would benefit as well.) Thanks!
June 14th, 2011 at 2:25 am
Thank you for the information. I had to change my keyboard and It was really useful!
May 31st, 2011 at 9:36 pm
Great instructions! I’m a laptop repair tech and I usually can figure out how to disassemble laptops but this one was tuff. Great site! and the link to get plastic tools was very helpful!
May 26th, 2011 at 5:21 pm
Worked for me!!! Thank you!!