How to remove back cover HP Pavilion - 15-cc563st

[DoctorMatthew]

I need to replace the hard drive with an SSD, but how to open the back cover is a mystery.  I looked at the manual for this model, but the instructions and illustrations show a computer that has an optical drive (mine does not) and whose attachments are clearly different from what the manual shows.  My back cover has only 3 screws along the edge opposite the hinge.  Everything else is held in place either by tabs accessed by partly prying the cover or by the flange abutting the hinges. My prying worked for the middle section (between the hinges) but not anywhere else.  What do I do?

[banhien]

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@DoctorMatthew wrote:

... My back cover has only 3 screws along the edge opposite the hinge.  Everything else is held in place either by tabs accessed by partly prying the cover or by the flange abutting the hinges. ....

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@DoctorMatthew 

It should have total of 5 screws as mentioned on page 38 of the  Maintenance and Service Guide. Step 2 says

 Remove the two Phillips PM2.5×5.6 screws (2) and the three Phillips PM2.0×5.8 screws (3) and the that secure the bottom cover to the computer

Regards.

[DoctorMatthew]

Thanks.  I read that page prior to posting my question.  There aren't 5 screws on my model; I think the 5 screws shown in the manual may be only on versions that come with an optical drive.  My model has no optical drive and doesn't have the additional 2 screws you reference.  My original post describes my efforts to pry the cover off, which failed. Would still appreciate your help in removing the cover.

[DoctorMatthew]

OK, I found the other 2 screws. They are hidden under two of the rubber feet.  Re-read of the manual does reference that, but not clearly enough.  Also not clearly shown or explained in the manual is the connecting cable from the HDD to the motherboard.  It requires good magnification and guesswork to figure out which way the connector plug goes; specific instructions should have been provided as well as a magnified view of the connection.

[NjengaFelix · Accepted solution]

Before prying you HP Pavilion - 15-ccs563st ensure you have removed the 2 screws hidden under the rubber in your back cover. After unscrewing all 5 screws, would recommend you pry the cover from the fan section. Apply even pressure on the cover, be confident as the pry firmly holds the cover. You can use prying tools or an card if you don't mind. Once you open the back cover. You can replace with a SATA m.2 ssd not a PCIe m.2 ssd or use a 2.5 sata ssd. 

[DoctorMatthew]

Yes, I needed to do this 3 weeks ago and finally discovered that the info needed was actually in the manual, although not in a form that I could immediately recognize it for what it was.  Job is done, using a lower-priced Samsung 2.5" SSD. What a difference in speed, especially booting up and closing down! Samsung linked to freeware that made it easier than some to clone the old drive onto the new one.  Easiest if you have an adaptor for USB to SAT, but not necessary.

[NjengaFelix]

When you move from a Hard disk to a 2.5" SSD or a m.2 SATA SSD, the booting up speed changes instantly. You are able to smoothly operate windows as the windows Operating System is loaded / booted up from the SSD. When installing software you shall notice a significant difference as the write speed is great too . A hard disk is delicate and handles read and write speeds of up to 125Mbps while a SATA SSD can handle up to 550Mbps. 

I have tested an m.2 SATA SSD on the HP Pavilion - 15-cc563st and it boots up right after I press the power button. Since, the m.2 slot is using SATA I wouldn't expect a significant difference from the 2.5" SATA SSD speeds. The advantage I expect in installing a m.2 SATA SSD is that your able to still have a hard disk or a 2.5" SATA SSD in the hard disk drive bay / 2.5"  SATA bay section.