Back cover removal for HP Envy 17-da0047nr tips and techniques needed?

[atomich63]

I bought a new SSD to increase capacity and need to remove the back cover.  I downloaded the correct Service Guide from HP for my model  (https://kaas.hpcloud.hp.com/pdf-public/pdf_9996278_en-US-1.pdf ), and followed the instructions, but the back cover is stubborn, and does not seem to be ready to come off.  If you are familiar with this model, apparently it uses only five Torx screws to keep the back cover locked in place in addition to the hidden plastic clips on the inside.  This is a considerable change  from previous models where one had to remove the rubber strips or feet to gain access to usually 5-7 more screws.  The Service Guide does not show rubber strip removal to be a part of the process, nor does it show screws located under them in the diagram.  I need tips or instructions to successfully remove the back cover from the model listed in the subject.  Perhaps this is a relatively new model and the case design, because all of the youtube videos I found were for models using screws underneath the rubber strips.  The rubber pads on my computer are so firmly attached, that they do not appear to be designed to be removed.  I hope someone can solve this for me.  If they can do it a service center, it is bound to be doable.  I wonder if the techs at Best Buy could actually do it without damaging anything?  Does anyone have experience with that or am I piling on too many topics?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

The only suggestion I can offer would be to see if the service teardown video is of help to you:

Removing and replacing parts | HP ENVY 17-da0000 Laptop PC | HP Computer Service

[atomich63]

Thank you, Paul. Somehow I missed that video that is specifically targeted for this series computer.

I have a feeling that for the sake of streamlining their video, and to not show a person struggling with how to really get the back cover off, they omitted a step in the video. It shows a person casually inserting a plastic pry tool and lifting the bottom cover with very little effort, but I believe that had to have been filmed AFTER the plastic retaining clips have already been disengaged. It takes a surprising amount of force to get these to release the first time, but once two or three get disengaged, there is somewhat of a domino effect, and the remaining ones go much more quickly. Maybe I was using the wrong technique, but there aren't a whole lot of ways to pry. 🙂  Getting the first one to release was surprisingly difficult, and the whole process ended up breaking two of the plastic retaining tabs off of the back cover. You also have to be careful about what you are prying up on.

There are indeed only five screws that need to be removed, and none under the rubber strips.

Thank you for the link to the video. While it is a little bit misleading, it allowed me to see how the cover comes off, and what it looks like on the underside, and that allowed me to remove mine, but two plastic tabs broke off. I glued them back with cyanoacrylate, but who knows if that will hold. The tabs are on the backside that is secured by three of the screws so it did not impact the close fit when putting the back cover back on, but I am still a little disappointed that the tabs broke. Since the back edge is where the prying process needs to begin, they should have used a less persistent tab design, and used two more screws along that edge. Part of it is I believe they don't want users going inside, and maybe there is a special tool designed to use? I mean, I have all kinds of spudgers, and none of them performed any kind of easy removal.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

I agree with your comments regarding HP not wanting folks to work inside certain model notebooks and the level of difficulty.

Some of the service manuals such as the one for your notebook indicate that the work is to be performed by an authorized service center.

The video appears to have been sped up, and probably didn't show the amount of effort required.

I don't know of any special tools that are needed to remove the case.

The tools you had on hand were probably what most folks use.

II don't know why notebooks can't have access panels like they did in the old days.

Sorry that some of the clips broke on you.

Hopefully, you won't have to go back in there for anything else.

[atomich63]

Yes, I agree about the removable panels on the bottom.  I have often wondered why they have disappeared. 

Now that I have seen the inside, I understand why they don't want people going in there .  The levels of miniaturization and tight tolerances are impressive. Things are noticeably smaller and more tightly spaced than my 2012 era Envy.  I saw that recommendation in the Service Guide, but it didn't really sink in.  The battery design is not as protected as the older cassette type plug-in styles, and more susceptible to damage, so that is another reason they don't want users going in there.  Now that I've seen it, I wouldn't recommend it to a beginner or casual upgrader.  And then there is the way they design the plastic retaining tabs, it is so easy to break some during removal. I wore a grounding wrist strap and didn't touch anything except the items I was changing, trying to be hyper-careful.

My machine now has  64GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD, so I should be set for a long, long time.  I am running Memtest86 on the RAM now, and it has already passed multiple passes of the HP-included diagnostics in the pre-boot environment. 

Thanks again, Paul, for your help on this problem and others in the past.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance.