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In this guide I explain how to remove keyboard, replace memory module and access hard drive in a HP 2133 Mini-Note PC. Fortunately all these three components can be removed without taking the whole thing apart. Even a novice user can do that if he/she is careful enough.
Also, you should be able this guide for taking apart a HP 2140 Mini-Note PC which has the same body.
Before you start do not forget to turn off the laptop and remove the main battery.
STEP 1.
REMOVING THE KEYBOARD.
In the battery compartment you’ll find three screws securing the keyboard to the laptop base. Remove these three screws.
Carefully lift up the top side of the keyboard as it shown on the picture below. There are small plastic latches securing the keyboard on both side but they should’t be a problem. Do not lift up the keyboard too much, it’s still connected to the motherboard.
Set the keyboard so you can access the cable connector underneath. You’ll have to unlock the connector before you can release the cable and remove the keyboard.
WARNING! Be very careful with the connector. You cannot replace the connector if you accidentally break it. The connector is permanently attached to the motherboard. If it’s broken, the whole motherboard has to be replaced.
In order to unlock the connector, lift up the brown locking clip. The clip will open as a door on hinges.
On the picture below you see the same connector in the unlocked state.
Now you can release the cable and remove the keyboard.
Here’s the back side of the keyboard removed from a HP 2133 Mini-Note PC.
You can find a new replacement keyboard if you search by the part number 482280-001. The keyboard is not expensive and can be purchased for less than $25. Searches by the keyboard model number 468509-001 also will bring you some results.
STEP 2.
REMOVING THE MEMORY MODULE.
HP 2133 Mini-Note PC has only one memory slot and it’s located under the keyboard. After the keyboard is removed, you’ll find the memory module between the cooling fan and hard drive.
In order to remove the memory module, carefully spread latches on both sides of the slot.
The memory module will pop up at a 20-30 degree angle and you can pull it from the slot by the edges.
HP 2133 Mini-Note PC will take up to 2GB memory module. You should use DDR2 PC2-5300 or faster DDR2 SODIMM module.
STEP 3.
REMOVING THE HARD DRIVE.
Remove two screws (green) and loosen one screw (yellow) securing the hard drive assembly.
Pull the hard drive cable up and disconnect it from the motherboard.
Remove the hard drive assembly from the laptop.
Remove two screws from each side of the hard drive assembly. These screws securing the hard drive to the caddy.
Remove the hard drive from the caddy.
Disconnect the hard drive connector.
Now you can replace the hard drive with a new one. In my laptop I had a 120GB 7200RPM hard drive installed. You can replace it with a larger drive without any problem. Make sure then new drive also works at 7200RPMs. You can find a brand new 320GB 7200RPM hard drive here for less than &70.
CLEANING THE COOLING FAN.
If your laptop overheats, most likely it happens because the cooling module got clogged with dust.
When you remove the keyboard you can get a limited access to the cooling fan. It would be enough for cleaning the fan and heat sink.
For cleaning the fan use a can of compressed air of find an air compressor. Spray compressed air into the fan until all dust is gone.
Block the fan with your finger so it doesn’t spin when you spray air inside the cooling module. Hi RPMs can kill the fan bearing.
You’ll find complete laptop disassembly instructions in the official service manual for HP 2133 Mini-Note PC and HP 2140 Mini-Note PC.
By the way, the display panel disassembly instructions (LCD screen, inverter board removal, etc…) are posted in the chapter 11 (Recycling) on the page 112.
If you find this article useful, please consider making a donation to the author. Thank you!
August 10th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
Thank you very much!
I spille some soda on the keyboard and three keys stopped working. With this guide I can fix it myself. Already order the keyboard on ebay.
Sent you donation.
John
August 11th, 2009 at 3:44 am
Hi there!
Thanks for the guide! I want to open a friend’s 2133 and see if the LCD screen is compatible with my Dell Mini 9’s – do you have any experience doing this?
August 11th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Chris2.0,
I haven’t replace the LCD screen on a HP 2133 PC yet, but I can give you some directions.
1. Remove the display panel as it explained the the maintenance and service guide for HP 2133 and HP 2140 laptops. It’s on the page 72.
2. After the display assembly is removed you can remove the display bezel and access the LCD. The bezel is secured to the back cover by four screws hidden under screw seals in four corners of the display.
Remove screws seals, remove four screws, separate the bezel from the cover with a piece of plastic. Now you can access the LCD.
September 19th, 2009 at 11:35 am
sir can you please teach me how to remove the plastic of the display. I just remove the two screw and the plastic snap from the speaker (bottom and both side but the top portion I cannot remove. Please help.
September 19th, 2009 at 11:46 am
leo alba,
I didn’t disassemble the display panel on this unit myself and cannot give you a good advice.
It might be necessary to remove the display panel from the laptop before you can take it apart. The display removal instructions can be found in the official service manual on the page 72.
Also, look for hidden screws in the top left and right corners of the display bezel. Can you find any? In most laptops screws are hidden under rubber/plastic seals.
October 23rd, 2009 at 7:57 pm
[...] In the previous post I explain how to remove keyboard from HP 2133 Mini-Note PC. [...]
December 3rd, 2009 at 11:34 am
i took a friend laptop and i need to replace the processor and i do not now how to go about this .Do you have any experience on this.if u do please email this address
February 18th, 2010 at 9:20 am
Hi so like some other posts on here i am trying to remove the lcd screen from the hp 2140. I already dissasembled the machine in order to remove the display from the rest of the computer. My biggest problem is removing the bezel from the display. I already unscrewed the two top screws and the bottom has no screws. I am able to pop most of the bezel off except from the top of the display where the microphone and webcam is located. It appears to be glued or something because it does not come off easily. PPPlease help me with this. I think i am going to have to call hp also and see if one of there techs can help me out.
February 18th, 2010 at 9:35 am
mark,
Don’t call HP. Most likely you will not get any help, at least for free.
Download this service manual for HP 2133 Mini-Note:
http://bizsupport2.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c01658655/c01658655.pdf
It’s a 4.32MB pdf file and might take some time to download.
Go to the chapter 11 (Recycling) page 112. You’ll find the LCD screen removal instructions in there.
I don’t know why HP posted these instructions in the recycling chapter.
February 26th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Thanks laptop tech but the service manual did not help. The computer used to demonstrate how to remove the bezel is noth the same therefore does not have the same issue i am having. I have replaced many screens in the past but this one just isn’t coming off. I was told by the support group that the bezel is not intended to be removed as it holds the microphone and webcam in place. The solution is to replace the display entirely which runs around 270 bucks.
February 27th, 2010 at 11:51 am
mark,
This is strange. You said you have an HP 2140 notebook and the service manual says it’s for HP 2133 Mini-Note PC and HP 2140 Mini-Note PCs.
I’m not sure why it’s different.
March 8th, 2010 at 6:00 am
DO ALL HP 2133 COME WITH HARD DRIVE? MY HP NEVER WORKED RIGHT HAD IT IN FOR AT LEAST 6 TIME TO HP – I GAVE UP – AFTER 6 MTD I THOUGHT I WOULD TRY TO REPAIR. OPENED IT UP NO HARD DRIVE. A CIRCUT BOARD NO HARD DRIVE – SHOULD IT HAVE ONE
April 19th, 2010 at 7:43 am
Hello, find your directions very helpful. Can you tell me how to access the wires leading from the base unit to the screen? I have a black screen that just flickers when you hold the ‘off’ slider for a few seconds to power it down. I think there may be a chafed wire. I have tried all the instant remedies so far regarding black screens…
-deplete static charge by removing battery & holding ‘on’ button for 60 seconds
-freeze the unit to re-set the thermal switch
-reseat the memory
Anything I haven’t tried to get the black screen alive again?
Many thanks,
Robert
April 19th, 2010 at 9:57 am
Robert Szabo,
You’ll find step-by-step disassembly instructions on this service manual for HP 2133 Mini-Note PC and HP 2140 Mini-Note PCs.
The display removal instructions starts at the page 36.
The display disassembly instructions are on the page 112, in the recycling section.
PC
June 17th, 2010 at 8:41 pm
Would anyone know a solution for the usual motherboard heat problem on all 2133? I was thinking on using a 2140 motherboard (with an ATOM CPU). Does anyone know it’s possible? Does it match the form and size?