Removing back panel

[Johninch]

Simple question, sorry I didn't find it with a search.

How do I remove the back panel?

I have taken out the battery and have loosened the 2 screws on the panel.

The only way to leverage the panel is at the battery end.

Why is the panel stuck?

The 2 screws are not removeable because after a few turns they rise but don't come out, and just make a ratcheting noise.

I have leeveraged the panel a bit at the battery end, but it is strongly stuck and shows no signs of coming up in the middle.

[visruth]

Hi:


Please identify your notebook:
http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c00033108



Regards

Visruth

[pl3ym0b1l_]

hi mate,

here you go with the service manual. On page 57 you will find the procedure to undo the display assy.

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c03233548.pdf

hope that helps.

[Johninch]

Thanks for the g6 manual. Unfortunately the manual picture of the service panel is not the same as the one on my g6.

The manual instructions for removing the panel do not work, because I cannot raise the panel, so therefore I cannot slide it out.

That is the problem.

[Johninch]

It is a HP Pavilion g6 Notebook, Serial No. [Personal Information Removed], Product No. QG 871 EA # UUZ.

Whilst leveraging the service panel at the battery end with the battery removed, the panel does not budge in any direction, even though the two screws seems to be fully loosened. The solution would be to know where and how to apply force.

Since the two screws barely rise above their openings, it is impossible to get a grip on them in order to pull them out any further ( if that were to be the solution, which I doubt).

[visruth]

Try instructions given in page 49 in this manual:
http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c02968997


Regards

Visruth

[Johninch]

Thanks for the correct manual for my product number.

It shows the correct picture of the service panel, although not how to get it out!

I have now got it out using a measured amount of force. Fortunately the plastic panel was flexible enough to take it.

I levered up the panel at the battery end and then I inserted a knife under the edge of the panel near to the middle screw and levered that. Finally the panel came out.

Putting it back was also not easy, but at least I could see that there are several small tabs on two sides of the panel, which have to go into slots. They didn't all want to go, but I persevered. Perhaps it was the tabs which were hindering the removal of the panel. I didn't see anything about these tabs in the manual though.

May I ask another simple question, now that I have access to the hard disk?

It's like this, I get a grinding noise on start-up, but only when the notebook is cold. I thought it might be the fan , so I have cleaned the vents as recommended, but no change.

So now I plan to search for the noise. Can I start the notebook with the cover off so that I can better hear the harddisk, or how would you recommend to establish whether the noise is or is not coming from the HD?

Thanks in advance.

[visruth]

Is there any error messages coming up on start up?

Only grinding noise? Only at start up? Is it clicking type? Random or recurring in same rate?

Test your hard drive - quick & extensive tests from BIOS by tapping f2 key as soon as you power on laptop.


Regards

Visruth

[Johninch]

There are never any error messages on startup.

Only grinding noise, only for 2-3 seconds and always when the notebook is fully cooled down. Does not happen when notebook has been turned off for only 1-2 hours.

Does not click, but grinds about 2 seconds after start for 2-3 seconds continuously and then goes away.

Has been happening for the past 3 months, at first not every time, but now every time on cold startup. Notebook is 3 years old and is used all day, every day.

I ran the short and long HD diagnostics tests and the memory test. All passed ok.

I turned the notebook on its side when starting last time cold and am confident that the noise comes from the fan.

So my conclusion is that I do not have any problem with the HD, but I have a problem with the fan.

The manual shows that the access to the heat dump fan is very complicated. Is this the only fan we are talking about?

If yes, then I propose to do nothing until the fan stops working.

Can you give me an idea how long the fan might still work? A month or a year?

What happens when the fan stops working? Does the notebook shut down?

What would be the likely damage? Would it cost a lot?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

[visruth]

It looks like cooling fan then. There's no other moving parts that I know of.

May be some screw got loose or the fan itself getting bad.

If the fan starts malfunctioning, slowly heart dissipated from CPU, graphics build up. The heat build up in turn can get the whole board into failure. I can't predict the time left. It's better to replace the cooling fan to prevent any further damage in the future, & since you're using the system everyday. Cooling fan doesn't cost much, but changing other parts like CPU, board can cost you more than the laptop itself sometimes.


Changing the fan if complicated, you can take help from good tech store or HP nearby.

When fan stop working, the system won't turn on due to heat or may be due to whole board failure.



Regards

Visruth