Trouble Removing GPU

[Nate9922]

I am trying to remove my NVIDIA 3070 GPU in an omen 25L to get to the CMOS in order to temporarily remove it to trigger reset (resetting via other methods hasn’t worked for me). While trying to remove the GPU I came across a GPU supporting mount which locks the graphics card into place that I can’t seem to remove due to 2 screws with circular heads. I tried everything to remove it and the 2 screws won’t come off . If anyone has encountered this problem before please let me know how you solved it, thank you!

[NonSequitur777]

@Nate9922,

Welcome to our HP Community forum!

At first glance -and mind you, I could be dead wrong of course, but it almost looks like that the two screws of your GPU bracket are keyhole friction-locked, like this:

What this means, assuming the pins are part of the bracket, is that you should be able to release the bracket by gently tapping it from the bottom up or wiggling the bracket whilst pulling it up in order to release the bracket:

[EDIT:] The screws securing your GPU support bracket in the OMEN 25L GT12-1000a could be Torx security screws (Torx TR, which has a pin in the center). HP uses these on some models to prevent tampering.

 

Solution Options:

1. Correct Screwdriver:

   • If they are indeed Torx TR (tamper-resistant, 6-lobe with a center pin), you need a Torx Security (TR) bit, likely T10 or T15.
   • If the pin is interfering, make sure your bit has a hole in the center.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[Nate9922]

Thanks for the detailed response, I’ll give this a go!

[NonSequitur777]

@Nate9922,

Please follow up sharing if this worked out for you!

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[Nate9922]

I purchased the screwdriver for the screws you specified, however I’m encountering another problem which I probably should’ve foresaw.

As you may be able to tell by the first picture in my original post, the area to access the head of the screw (inside the hard drive cage) is extremely tight (with the hard drive removed of course). The only way I could get the screwdriver to the head of the screws appears to be by removing the front of the case. However I’m not sure if this is possible so wondering if you have any ideas.

The front of the case appears to be attached to the rest of the case by these circular black holes which don’t seem to have any hope of being unscrewed. Let me know if you have any suggestions I can take (sorry if these questions I’m asking are trivial I’m fairly new to PCs).

[NonSequitur777]

@Nate9922,

No worries -I am currently in transit, but will research as soon as I am back home!

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[NonSequitur777 · Accepted solution]

@Nate9922,

OK, been looking for the past hour here and there online.

Not surprisingly, your issue has come up before, including in our HP Community forum: https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Hardware-and-Upgrade-Questions/Need-help-removing-a-part-on-th..., but frustratingly never followed up anywhere with a solution.

But as I mentioned in one of my responses about the GPU bracket being keyhole-installed, the more I look at your case, including these pictures without the GPU bracket, the more I wonder if removing this bracket is simply a matter of pulling it straight out of your case:

And zoomed in:

See what I mean?

It's applying the so-called Occam's Razor approach which I learned in one of my philosophy classes way back in an undergraduate class: "the simplest explanation is usually the most likely explanation".

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[Nate9922]

Funny you mention that linked forum post, I actually found that post and started this new one because there was no solution mentioned in that one 😅

I did try pulling upwards on the bracket a little bit earlier today, but i definitely didn’t pull too hard due to not wanting to damage anything. I’ll try that out again, if I don’t have any success will probably bring it to a local tech shop to see if they have any tools that could help. Thanks again for the reply and I’ll keep you (and this thread for anyone who may experience this in the future) posted on the results!

Edit: WOW that actually worked, can’t believe I didn’t do it earlier, pulling up on the mount worked like a charm, thanks so much!

[NonSequitur777]

@Nate9922,

Awesome! 🎉🍷🎆

If you don't mind, please indicate this thread as an "Accepted Solution" to allow other Users to find this discussion easier!

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[Nate9922]

While removing the GPU did work unfortunately removing the CMOS temporarily and putting it back did not, will start a new discussion post about that!

EDIT: New thread is here if you’re at all curious https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Boot-and-Lockup/HP-Omen-25L-Won-t-Boot-Up/m-p/9302681#M84611