How do I remove the hard drive?

[TomRK1]

How do I remove the hard drive from my HP Pavilion ZE4900 so I can replace it?

I can't figure out how to release it so I can pull it out.

I have polled very hard on the door but it won't budge.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

See chapter 5, page 5-6 of the service manual for how to remove the hard drive.

http://www.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c00226047.pdf

[REO51ST]

@TomRK1

HP Pavilion ze4900 Notebook PC series - FRU Remove/Replace Videos

https://h20574.www2.hp.com/results.htm?SID=430813&MEID=66501BD5-CA01-43E8-B360-34789CAB5106

Click on Hard Disk Drive.

REO

[TomRK1]

Perfect. Thank you.

Now I have another question. Can anyone recommend a Mini PCI 802.11n wireless LAN board to replace the 802.11g board that came with my HP Pavilon ze4900?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Back in those days, HP employed a BIOS whitelist which prevents anyone from installing any other wlan card other than the ones listed in the service manual.

If you were to install a wlan card not listed in the manual, the PC won't boot up until the offending card is removed.

Since your notebook has a wireless G card and there were no wireless N cards available at the time or listed in the service manual, your only option for getting N speeds would be to use an external usb wireless network adapter.

[TomRK1]

Is there an updated BIOS for the HP ze4900 that does not include a WIFI whitelist? If so, how do I get it? If not, can I modify the existing BIOS?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

There are no BIOS updates that would not include a BIOS whitelist.

The latest BIOS update that I can find for your notebook was F.16.

As you can see from the release notes, the BIOS update does not add support for additional wlan cards.

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp31001-31500/sp31140.html

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp31001-31500/sp31140.exe

I would have no idea how or where to find a hacked ze4900 BIOS, if one even exists.

You can google the subject, and see what you can find.

As far as I'm aware, this forum has no info like that.

There are BIOS hacking websites online that have related info.

[TomRK1]

Thank you for your help. I will not pursue mini PCI wireless N card any further.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.