How to disassemble HP Pavilion dv2 laptop

In this guide I show how to disassemble a HP Pavilion dv2 laptop. I’m taking it apart in order to replace the motherboard.

HP Pavilion dv2 motherboard comes with the processor attached to it and the motherboard is not very expensive. If the motherboard failed it might make sense to repair the laptop.

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

STEP 1.

Remove laptop battery.

STEP 2.

Loosen five screws securing covers on the bottom of the laptop. Lift up and remove all covers.

STEP 3.

Under these covers you can access the hard drive, memory module, wireless card.

NOTE: HP Pavilion dv2 laptop has only ONE memory slot.

It’s not necessary to remove the memory module and wireless card for the purpose of my guide. I’ll leave them connected to the laptop.

STEP 4.

Remove four screws securing the hard drive mounting bracket.

STEP 5.

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

STEP 6.

Lift up and remove the hard drive assembly.

If you are replacing the hard drive you’ll have to transfer the mounting bracket to the new drive.

You can use any 2.5″ SATA hard drive.

STEP 7.

Remove two screws from the bottom. These screws securing the laptop keyboard.

STEP 8.

Lift up the upper side of the keyboard and move it towards the screen.

STEP 9.

Here’s where to find the keyboard cable connector.

It’s necessary to unlock the connector and release the cable before removing the keyboard.

STEP 10.

In order to unlock the connector you’ll have to lift up the left side of the locking tab with your fingernail.

The locking tab will open up at a 90 degree angle.

It must remain connected to the brown connector base.

STEP 11.

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

Now you can pull the cable from the connector.

STEP 12.

Remove the keyboard.

Here you can find new replacement keyboards for HP Pavilion dv2 laptops.

STEP 13.

Remove screws from the bottom of the laptop.

STEP 14.

Remove screws securing the top cover assembly.

Disconnect the touchpad cable.

You disconnect the touchpad cable same way as the keyboard cable.

STEP 15.

Remove the top cover assembly.

STEP 16.

Here’s a view on the laptop with the top cover assembly removed.

STEP 17.

Remove three screws securing the cooling fan.

Unplug the cooling fan cable from the motherboard.

STEP 18.

Lift up and remove the fan.

New fans for HP Pavilion dv2 laptops available here.

STEP 19.

Remove five screws securing the side cover.

STEP 20.

Remove the side cover.

STEP 21.

Disconnect the RJ-45 (LAN) jack cable from the motherboard.

STEP 22.

Lift up and remove the RJ-45 (LAN) jack assembly.

STEP 23.

Disconnect two antenna cables from the wireless card.

STEP 24.

Disconnect the video cable connector from the motherboard.

The video cable connector located close to the wireless card on the bottom of the laptop.

STEP 25.

Remove one screw from the VGA connector.

STEP 26.

Remove all screws securing the motherboard.

Disconnect the following cables from the motherboard:
1. Bloetooth module cable.
2. Speaker cable.
3. DC power jack cable.
4. Webcam/microphone cable.

Here’s how to unplug the Bluetooth and speaker cables.

Here’s how to unplug the webcam/microphone cable.

Here’s how to unplug the DC jack cable.

STEP 27.

Start removing the motherboard from the left side.

STEP 28.

Carefully lift up the motherboard. There is one more cable to disconnect on the right side.

This is the switch board (on/off button) cable.

Unplug the switch board cable.

STEP 29.

Now you can remove the motherboard from the laptop.

Here’s the laptop bottom cover with the following components still attached:

- Speaker.
- DC power jack.
- Switch board aka Power button board aka on/off button board.

On the bottom side of the motherboard you can access the CMOS battery and heatsink

As I mentioned before, the processor (CPU)  is soldered to the motherboard. It cannot be removed, upgraded or replaced.

Here’s where I found a brand new replacement motherboard for HP Pavilion dv2 laptop for less than $70.