Learn to replace your HP Pavilion's motherboard.
Motherboard replacement is a risky project to attempt. All of your hardware devices connect directly to your computer through the motherboard. If your motherboard isn't functioning properly, it may render your laptop virtually useless. Replacing your HP Pavilion's motherboard requires that you completely dismantle the laptop and remove all hardware connected to the motherboard. If you don't know what you're doing, you can permanently damage your laptop's most instrumental hardware devices.
Instructions
1. Shut down your HP laptop. Unplug the computer's AC power cable and disconnect all other cables or devices. Close the display panel and place the laptop face-down. Orient the laptop so the front opening edge is facing toward you. Slide the battery's release lever to the left and remove the battery from its compartment along the top edge of the bottom casing.
2. Remove the hard drive compartment cover and its retaining screws from the lower right or left corner of the laptop. Remove any screws securing the hard drive inside its compartment. Grasp the hard drive's plastic pull-tab, and then lift the hard drive out of its compartment.
3. Remove the single Phillips-head screw securing the CD/DVD drive to the right or left side of the laptop. Insert a small paper clip into the release hole on the front of the drive. Push the paper clip inside until the drive ejects from its compartment. Remove the drive from the computer.
4. Remove the Phillips-head screws securing the memory compartment cover to the center of the laptop. Remove the cover and all memory modules from inside the compartment. The modules are held in place by two clips on either side of each module.
5. Remove the wireless compartment cover and its retaining screws. The wireless compartment varies widely from laptop to laptop. It is usually a very small compartment located on the laptop's bottom casing. Disconnect the antenna cables from the wireless card. Remove or disengage the card's retaining devices. Most wireless cards are secured by two retaining clips just like the memory modules. Some wireless devices are secured in place by one or two Phillips-head screws. Remove the wireless card from the laptop.
6. Remove all remaining screws from the laptop's bottom casing. Place the laptop face up, and pull the display panel open. Pry the keyboard cover from the laptop with a flat-head screwdriver. Remove the Phillips-head screws from behind the keyboard's top row of keys. Lift up on the keyboard, and place it face-down on the palm rest. Disconnect the keyboard's ribbon cable from the motherboard. Remove the keyboard from the laptop.
7. Disconnect all cables extending from either side of the display panel to the motherboard. Remove the securing screws from each display hinge. Carefully remove the entire display assembly from the laptop.
8. Remove the remaining screws securing the top cover to the base of the laptop. The top cover is the main plastic casing that covers the entire motherboard. Disconnect all visible cables through the access holes on the top casing. Remove the top cover from the laptop's base.
9. Remove the Phillips-head screws securing the cooling fan assembly to the upper left or right corners of the motherboard. Unplug the fan's cable from the motherboard. Remove the cooling assembly to reveal the processor chip. Turn the processor's flat-head locking screw in the counterclockwise direction one-half turn. Remove the processor from the laptop.
10. Unplug all remaining cables from the motherboard and remove all remaining screws securing the motherboard in place. Carefully begin lifting the motherboard out of the laptop's base. Examine the bottom side of the motherboard for any cables still connected. Disconnect them as necessary. Remove the motherboard from the laptop.
11. Reverse this procedure to install the new motherboard and reassemble the laptop.
Tags: from laptop, screws securing, hard drive, laptop Remove, Phillips-head screws, screws from, bottom casing