Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

22

Time Required

                          15 minutes - 1 hour

Sections

1

  • How to clean the HP Pavilion 550
  • 22 steps

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What you need

Step 1

              How to clean the HP Pavilion 550
  • Disconnect the computer from the power outlet by unplugging the power cord.
  • Unplug all peripherals from the computer.
  • Stand the desktop tower upright so that the back of the tower is facing you.
  • Remove thumbscrew below the side panel handle.

Disconnect the computer from the power outlet by unplugging the power cord.

Unplug all peripherals from the computer.

Stand the desktop tower upright so that the back of the tower is facing you.

Remove thumbscrew below the side panel handle.

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Step 2

  • Once the retaining thumbscrew is removed, pull off the side panel to expose the internal components.
  • Lay the computer down so that the opened side is facing you.

Once the retaining thumbscrew is removed, pull off the side panel to expose the internal components.

Lay the computer down so that the opened side is facing you.

Step 3

  • Clip an anti-static bracelet to any exposed metal on the computer chassis.
  • Make sure the metal does not have paint on it as this will reduce the effectiveness of the bracelet.
  • Always wear the bracelet when handling the circuit boards.

Clip an anti-static bracelet to any exposed metal on the computer chassis.

Make sure the metal does not have paint on it as this will reduce the effectiveness of the bracelet.

Always wear the bracelet when handling the circuit boards.

Step 4

  • Locate the hard drive located near the front panel of the case.
  • Remove the for screws holding the hard drive in place.
  • Make sure to reattach the wire connected to this screw when putting the hard drive back in.
  • With your hand under the drive, slide the drive out from the caddy in the direction indicated by the arrow.

Locate the hard drive located near the front panel of the case.

Remove the for screws holding the hard drive in place.

Make sure to reattach the wire connected to this screw when putting the hard drive back in.

With your hand under the drive, slide the drive out from the caddy in the direction indicated by the arrow.

Step 5

  • Locate the flat and wide SATA cables.
  • The SATA cables can simply be removed by holding the head of the cable and carefully pulling them out.

Locate the flat and wide SATA cables.

The SATA cables can simply be removed by holding the head of the cable and carefully pulling them out.

Step 6

  • Remove all the connections located at the bottom of the circuit board.
  • Some connectors may have a locking clip that has to be pressed in order to remove the cable.

Remove all the connections located at the bottom of the circuit board.

Some connectors may have a locking clip that has to be pressed in order to remove the cable.

Step 7

  • Locate the chassis fan header cable.
  • This cable usually has a red, black, and yellow wire.
  • Press the clip on the connector and disconnect the cable from the circuit board.

Locate the chassis fan header cable.

This cable usually has a red, black, and yellow wire.

Press the clip on the connector and disconnect the cable from the circuit board.

Step 8

  • Remove the three screws holding the chassis fan in place.
  • Set aside the fan for clean up.

Remove the three screws holding the chassis fan in place.

Set aside the fan for clean up.

Step 9

  • Remove all screws holding the circuit board in place.
  • Keep the screws in organized clusters as this will ease your reassembly of the computer.
  • Do not forcibly remove the board. Check if there are any screws still in place.

Remove all screws holding the circuit board in place.

Keep the screws in organized clusters as this will ease your reassembly of the computer.

Do not forcibly remove the board. Check if there are any screws still in place.

Step 10

  • Locate the Wi-Fi card and remove the antenna cables connected to the card.

Locate the Wi-Fi card and remove the antenna cables connected to the card.

Step 11

  • Now that the circuit board is loose, gently lift the board out of the case and place the board onto a non-conductive surface.

Now that the circuit board is loose, gently lift the board out of the case and place the board onto a non-conductive surface.

Step 12

  • Locate the RAM module and press the white tabs to remove the RAM.
  • Set the RAM on a static-free surface.
  • Remove the screws attaching the CPU fan to the CPU heatsink.
  • Set aside the fan for cleaning.

Locate the RAM module and press the white tabs to remove the RAM.

Set the RAM on a static-free surface.

Remove the screws attaching the CPU fan to the CPU heatsink.

Set aside the fan for cleaning.

Step 13

  • Press down on the heatsink retaining clips to remove the heatsink.

Press down on the heatsink retaining clips to remove the heatsink.

Step 14

  • Prepare the Q-tips and isopropyl alcohol.
  • Remove as much of the thermal paste on the CPU as possible.
  • A microfiber cloth can be used to remove any remaining thermal paste present on the CPU.
  • Do not allow thermal paste to touch the small electrical components on the CPU.

Prepare the Q-tips and isopropyl alcohol.

Remove as much of the thermal paste on the CPU as possible.

A microfiber cloth can be used to remove any remaining thermal paste present on the CPU.

Do not allow thermal paste to touch the small electrical components on the CPU.

Step 15

  • Put a small pea-sized drop of fresh thermal paste onto the CPU.
  • The CPU heatsink can now be secured back in place.
  • There is no need to spread the paste out. The heatsink pressure will automatically spread out the thermal compound evenly.

Put a small pea-sized drop of fresh thermal paste onto the CPU.

The CPU heatsink can now be secured back in place.

There is no need to spread the paste out. The heatsink pressure will automatically spread out the thermal compound evenly.

Step 16

  • Use a vacuum and/or compressed air to remove dust from the chassis fan.

Use a vacuum and/or compressed air to remove dust from the chassis fan.

Step 17

  • Use compressed air or a vacuum to remove dust from the CPU fan.

Use compressed air or a vacuum to remove dust from the CPU fan.

Step 18

  • If dust is present on the hard drive, remove it using compressed air.
  • Avoid touching the circuit board as this could cause electrical damage to the board.

If dust is present on the hard drive, remove it using compressed air.

Avoid touching the circuit board as this could cause electrical damage to the board.

Step 19

  • Inspect the computer case and remove any dust using a vacuum, towel, or compressed air.

Inspect the computer case and remove any dust using a vacuum, towel, or compressed air.

Step 20

  • Place the circuit board back into the case and secure the board using the screws removed earlier.
  • After the circuit board is secured, secure the fan using its specific screws.
  • Insert the hard drive and reattach it using the correct screws.

Place the circuit board back into the case and secure the board using the screws removed earlier.

After the circuit board is secured, secure the fan using its specific screws.

Insert the hard drive and reattach it using the correct screws.

Step 21

  • Reattach the antenna cables to the Wi-Fi card.
  • Reattach all the SATA cables and peripheral cables.

Reattach the antenna cables to the Wi-Fi card.

Reattach all the SATA cables and peripheral cables.

Step 22

  • Once every component is secured inside the case, slide the side panel back on and secure it using the thumbscrew.

Once every component is secured inside the case, slide the side panel back on and secure it using the thumbscrew.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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                    Peter Le

Member since: 11/22/2021

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