Difficulty
Difficult
Steps
11
Time Required
1 - 2 hours
Sections
3
- Battery
- 3 steps
- Palmrest
- 6 steps
- Hard Drive
- 2 steps
Flags
1
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Introduction
Guide notes
- Sort your screws. Multiple lengths are used and there are lot to sort.Hard drive replacement is unnecessarily complicated on this laptop and requires partial disassembly. CONSIDER PROFESSIONAL HELP FOR THIS IF IT IS TOO COMPLICATED.If you are unsure if you can do this repair, read the entire guide before opening the laptop.This laptop accepts 7mm and 9.5mm drives. Both drives use the same bumpers.Test the computer partially disassembled BEFORE reassembly. Complete disassembly is required to correct any issues.
What you need
Step 1
Prepare the laptop
- Shut the laptop down until it is hibernated or shut off. Do not remove power until both lights turn off.
Shut the laptop down until it is hibernated or shut off. Do not remove power until both lights turn off.
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Step 2
Unlock the battery
- Once the computer is off, remove the battery. Switch the locking tab to the unlocked position.
Once the computer is off, remove the battery. Switch the locking tab to the unlocked position.
Step 3
Remove the battery
- Remove the battery. Pull the battery forward and remove it from the laptop.
Remove the battery. Pull the battery forward and remove it from the laptop.
Step 4
Remove the optical drive
- Remove the screw that holds the optical drive in. To do this, use a Phillips #0 screwdriver. Slide the optical drive out once the screw is removed.
Remove the screw that holds the optical drive in. To do this, use a Phillips #0 screwdriver. Slide the optical drive out once the screw is removed.
Step 5
Remove the screws under the optical drive
- The system used in the guide only came with one screw. If yours came with three, sort accordingly.
- With the palmrest screws removed, remove the screws under the optical drive. Use a Phillips #000 screwdriver.
The system used in the guide only came with one screw. If yours came with three, sort accordingly.
With the palmrest screws removed, remove the screws under the optical drive. Use a Phillips #000 screwdriver.
Step 6
Remove the bottom screws
- Once the battery and optical drive are removed, remove the 11 screws that secure the palmrest.
- This screw is hidden by a stick on cover. If lost, this is only cosmetic.
- Not found on all models. On some models, there are screws in this area. If you see screws here, they must be removed.
Once the battery and optical drive are removed, remove the 11 screws that secure the palmrest.
This screw is hidden by a stick on cover. If lost, this is only cosmetic.
Not found on all models. On some models, there are screws in this area. If you see screws here, they must be removed.
Step 7
Remove the hinge caps
- If you choose to reuse the original pads, stick them to the hinge caps to preserve the adhesive.
- Remove the hinge caps. To do this, remove the rubber pads. Use a Phillps #0 screwdriver.
- Remove the screws under the hinge caps. To do this, use a Phillps #0 screwdriver.
If you choose to reuse the original pads, stick them to the hinge caps to preserve the adhesive.
Remove the hinge caps. To do this, remove the rubber pads. Use a Phillps #0 screwdriver.
Remove the screws under the hinge caps. To do this, use a Phillps #0 screwdriver.
Step 8
Remove the palmrest
- Do not fully remove the palmrest - the power button is still connected to the motherboard.
- If you are having trouble removing the palmrest, try using a guitar pick.
- Run a plastic tool around all 3 sides of the palmrest. Once they are loose, disconnect the keyboard and trackpad. Flip the black plastic tabs on the connectors up and disconnect the cables.
- Once the keyboard and trackpad are disconnected, the palmrest can be lifted up. In some cases, further prying may be needed.
Do not fully remove the palmrest - the power button is still connected to the motherboard.
If you are having trouble removing the palmrest, try using a guitar pick.
Run a plastic tool around all 3 sides of the palmrest. Once they are loose, disconnect the keyboard and trackpad. Flip the black plastic tabs on the connectors up and disconnect the cables.
Once the keyboard and trackpad are disconnected, the palmrest can be lifted up. In some cases, further prying may be needed.
Step 9
Disconnect the power button
- With the keyboard and trackpad disconnected, disconnect the power button. Flip the black tab up and remove the palmrest.
With the keyboard and trackpad disconnected, disconnect the power button. Flip the black tab up and remove the palmrest.
Step 10
Disconnect the flat flex
- If this guide is used as a prerequisite, the hard drive may not need to be removed.
- The I/O daugherboard can be removed if it is in the way.
- Disconnect the flat flex cable over the hard drive. To do this, lift the black locking tab up and remove the cable from the ZIF socket.
- To remove the hard drive, tilt it forward starting with the SATA interface. Once it is removed, set it aside as shown.
- Disconnnect the drive cable. Wiggle the cable off until it is released. Do not forcefully remove the cable. Unserviced “virgin” systems may require more force.
If this guide is used as a prerequisite, the hard drive may not need to be removed.
The I/O daugherboard can be removed if it is in the way.
Disconnect the flat flex cable over the hard drive. To do this, lift the black locking tab up and remove the cable from the ZIF socket.
To remove the hard drive, tilt it forward starting with the SATA interface. Once it is removed, set it aside as shown.
Disconnnect the drive cable. Wiggle the cable off until it is released. Do not forcefully remove the cable. Unserviced “virgin” systems may require more force.
Step 11
Remove the drive bumpers
- If your hard drive has a plastic sticker over the PCB and an SSD is installed, put this in the chassis in case a traditional hard drive is installed later.
- If your drive has a plastic sticker over the drive PCB, this MUST be transferred to the new drive.
- Remove the drive bumpers from the old drive. Transfer these to the new hard drive.
If your hard drive has a plastic sticker over the PCB and an SSD is installed, put this in the chassis in case a traditional hard drive is installed later.
If your drive has a plastic sticker over the drive PCB, this MUST be transferred to the new drive.
Remove the drive bumpers from the old drive. Transfer these to the new hard drive.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
Once tested and reassembled, you will need to install an operating system. Install whatever OS you like.
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Nick
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lifeat46hol - Jul 21, 2017
Reply
Some hp pavilions you need to detach the keyboard first, then, and only then, can you access the screws that hold the palmrest!
Nick - Jul 21, 2017
This isn’t the case on the P series. The keyboard is welded in with plastic so the top piece and keyboard is a singular component.
Maarten Merken - Nov 20, 2017
Reply
Thanks, Nick. Great guide, took me about 20 mins to get this done.
Nick - Nov 20, 2017
That’s good to know. I said 2 hours to cover for users who will take a little longer to complete the repair. The difficulty also reflects on that.
Andy Ray - Mar 23, 2018
Reply
Dear Nick,
Thank you for the info. My Wife’s laptop is a slightly different version but I was able to install a SSD today. What a nightmare! I’ve never known a laptop to be so difficult to upgrade.
Cheers!
Andy
