1. Turn off the laptop and disconnect all cables, including the power cable.

2. Close the lid and flip the laptop over so that the front is facing you. Remove the battery by sliding the battery switch to the side and lifting the battery up and out of its compartment.

3. Note the location of the optical drive on the side of the laptop. Find the single phillips screw that is securing the other end of the drive in place and remove it.

4. Straighten a paper clip and insert it into the small hole in the face of the optical drive. The media tray will release outward.

5. Carefully grip the media tray and pull the optical drive straight out to remove it. Note the orientation of the drive so that you can align the replacement drive.

6. If the replacement drive does not already have a bracket, remove the two phillips screws securing the old optical drive to the bracket and remove the bracket.

7. Place the bracket on the new drive and insert the two screws, then slide the new drive into the optical drive slot of the laptop, then insert and tighten the single screw.

Boot up your computer and insert a disc to test that it is working and properly recognizes the new drive. If the drive is recognized, you have successfully completed the upgrade.

1. Shut down the laptop and remove all cables, including the power cable. Remove the battery as well to avoid the risk of electric shock.

2. Close the lid and flip the laptop over to access the back. Below the battery is a large plastic cover near the center of the laptop. This is the RAM cover. Remove the RAM cover by removing the two screws holding it in place and set it aside.

3. Remove the two screws located at the top two corners on either side of the battery compartment.

4. Remove the three screws inside the battery compartment near the back of the laptop.

5. Remove the two screws near the edge of the battery compartment and the single screw inside the edge of the RAM compartment. All three screws are marked with a keyboard icon.

6. Flip the laptop over and open the lid. Carefully pry up the plastic bezel above the keyboard with a guitar pick or other flat piece of plastic. Pull up slowly on the bezel and disconnect the flex cables underneath it.

7. Gently lift the top edge of the keyboard and slide it toward the screen then flip it over carefully. It is connected by a cable underneath. Disconnect the cable and remove the keyboard completely.

8. Connect the cable on the new keyboard to the connecter and slide the keyboard into place. Reverse the instructions to re-assemble the laptop.

Once you have the laptop re-assembled, reconnect the battery and the power cable and boot up the machine. Test the keyboard to make sure all keys are responding and you are now finished.

1. As with all repairs, shut down the computer, disconnect all cables, and remove the battery before beginning.

2. Close the laptop’s lid and flip it over so that you have access to the bottom of the laptop, with the front facing toward you.

3. Remove the two phillips screws that hold the hard drive cover in place. The hard drive cover is located at the bottom left of the laptop.

4. Lift the right side of the cover and swing it to the left to remove it. Grab the plastic tab to pull the hard drive up and out of the bay and disconnect the cable to remove it.

5. The WLAN module is located under the hard drive. Remove the two antenna cables from the module and the phillips screw, then pull it away from the connector and remove it.

6. Remove the two screws at the top corners and the three screws inside the top of the battery compartment. Also remove the two screws at the bottom of the battery compartment and the single screw that holds the RAM cover in place and remove the RAM cover, then remove the single screw inside the cover marked with a keyboard icon.

7. Flip the laptop over and pry the plastic bezel above the keyboard up with a guitar pick or flat plastic piece. Disconnect the cables underneath and remove the bezel.

8. Remove the screws securing the keyboard, then lift the keyboard up slowly and disconnect the cable connecting it to the motherboard and set it aside.

9. Disconnect the display cable at the top left and the webcam cable on the right side near the center. Remove the WLAN cables from the clip. They are located to the left of the webcam cable.

10. Remove the four screws that hold the display assembly in place and lift it out of the laptop.

11. Place the new display assembly in its place and secure it with the four screws. Reverse the directions to re-assemble the laptop.

Once the display assembly is installed and the laptop is re-assembled, you can reconnect the battery and power cable and boot up the machine to test the new display. If the display is working properly, you have successfully completed the repair.

Optical Drive

CD and DVD drives, and even newer Blu-ray drives, contain more moving parts than most other laptop components, which makes them more likely to fail. In addition, the reading lens is often susceptible to scratches and other damage. If your optical drive fails, it can often be replaced at an affordable price.

Battery

Laptop batteries are fairly destined to fail, as they lose capacity over time until their maximum capacity is no longer useful and battery life is extremely short. Luckily, replacing the battery is one of the most simple and painless items on the list.

Hard Drives

Companies that sell backup products often tell you it is not a matter of “if” your hard drive will fail, but “when.” This may be a bit dramatic, but the fact is that hard drives and their moving parts are a common point of failure for laptops. Replacing the drive is fairly simple, but getting your data back is more difficult. Always use a good backup plan that will allow you to recover your important files in case of a hard drive failure.

LCD Screen

The LCD screen of your laptop draws more power than any other component, making it susceptible to power problems. Diagnosing the issue is often challenging, as it could be a problem with the screen itself, the inverter, or other problems. See a repair shop for a good diagnosis.

AC Adapter

The AC adapter is an overlooked component of a laptop, but is essential for keeping it up and running. It is also the most likely part to fail on any laptop, printer or desktop (power supply). AC adapters tend to get knocked around and shoved in and out of bags, making them susceptible to physical damage to the cords and the transformer unit. Like batteries, AC adapters are very easy to replace.

If you find that a component of your laptop has failed, see if the repair is covered under warranty. If not, and the repair is simple, consider performing the repair yourself, or consult a repair shop for help.

First, you will need to find a suitable replacement part. Use a parts locator tool to search for your make and model number. This helps ensure that you have the exact part that is compatible with your model. Once you have the correct part, follow the instructions below to perform the replacement.

1. Before beginning any laptop repair, it is important to shut down the computer, unplug all cables, especially the power cable, and remove the battery. Simply flip the laptop over and slide the switch above the battery to the side to release the battery.

2. With the laptop flipped over, make sure the front of the laptop is toward you. Remove the three phillips screws inside the battery compartment.

3. Flip the laptop back over and open the lid as far as possible. Look for two tabs located on either side of the keyboard a few inches from the top. Release these tabs gently and lift the top of the keyboard up toward you.

4. The keyboard is connected by a small ribbon cable underneath. Release the connector and slide the cable out of it. Remove the keyboard.

5. Connect the replacement keyboard to the ribbon cable connector and slide the keyboard into place, bottom first. Snap the tabs into place near the top of the keyboard then flip the laptop over and replace the three phillips screws.

At this point, you can replace the battery, plug in the power adapter, and boot up the machine. Test to make sure the new keyboard is functioning properly. If all is well, you are finished.

1. For safety, shut down the laptop, remove the laptop’s battery, and disconnect all cables, including the power cable.

2. Turn the laptop over and remove the six screws located in the battery compartment.

3. Turn the laptop over and open the screen as far as possible. Remove the bezel above the keyboard, carefully, as it is attached by a ribbon cable underneath. Remove the ribbon cable and set the bezel aside.

4. Remove the 5 rubber seals around the display bezel, and the screws underneath each seal. You can then gently pry the display bezel and remove it.

5. Disconnect the backlight cable at the lower right of the screen. Remove three screws from each hinge on either side at the bottom of the screen. Tilt the LCD screen forward until you can access the video cable. Remove the tape and disconnect the video cable.

6. Remove the two screws on either side of the screen, which connects it to the hinge brackets, and remove the screen.

7. Remove the three screws below each hinge, which secure the hinge to the laptop chassis. Remove the hinge.

8. Put the replacement hinge in place and secure the three screws you just removed. Reverse the above instructions to reassemble the laptop.

Once the laptop is reassembled, test that the new hinge or hinges are working properly, and that all buttons above the keyboard are functioning. If everything is working properly, you have completed your repair.

1. The Box

The easiest place to find your model number or serial number is often the box your laptop came in. If you still have your original box, look for a sticker, which usually displays the product’s model number and serial number. The serial number is usually a 10-digit number, and both are usually clearly marked.

2. The Laptop’s Sticker

If you don’t have your original box, close the lid of your laptop and turn it over. On the bottom of the laptop there will usually be a sticker with the serial number clearly marked. Again, it should be a 10-digit number for most HP laptops. Many HP laptops also have the model number listed on this sticker, or at a different location on the bottom of the laptop.

3. Your Receipt

If you still have the receipt from when you purchased your laptop, the model number and serial number may be listed there as well. This often depends on your point of purchase, however, as to whether or not it is printed on the paper receipt.

Using the methods above, you should have been able to locate your model number and serial number. If none of these methods worked for you, you should contact HP directly for support, as they may have more advanced methods of tracking your serial number and your model number.

The first step, as with any laptop repair, is to remove both your Laptop AC adapter and notebook battery from your machine. On the HP dv9000, slide and hold the battery release latch to the release position, and lift the front edge of the battery to remove it from your machine. Next, using a Phillips-head screwdriver, remove the 7 mm screw that secures your optical drive in your machine. The drive should slide easily out of the base enclosure.

Once you have obtained your new drive from a spare parts retailer or the manufacturer, insert your new optical drive into the base enclosure until the connector is firmly seated. Be firm, but delicate. These connectors are vital to the entire function of your drive, and so must be securely seated without damaging their components. Once seated, replace the screw to secure your drive into the base enclosure.

Replace your battery and/or AC adapter and boot your machine. Follow any instructions included with your optical drive for installation of appropriate drivers and software. It is also always a good idea to visit the website of your drive’s manufacturer and check for any updated drivers or software available for your particular machine to bring it up to date with the latest operating systems and software or hardware developments. Completing installation may require a system restart, but should have you up and running fairly quickly.

First, do a quick cable check. If you are using a desktop computer, check the cable connections from the back of your tower, to your router (if you have one), to your modem, and finally to your wall. All connections should be tight and secure. If you’re using a laptop on a wireless connection, you should still check the cables from your router, to the modem, and finally to the wall. Also, while you’re checking your modem, check its status lights. Is it sending and receiving information? If it isn’t, you may need to contact your internet service provider.

Another simple cause of connectivity issues that happens more frequently than you’d think is actually having the wireless card enabled. Most laptops will have either a button or switch right near the keyboard to toggle the wireless card on and off. Check that this is in the “on” position. If this doesn’t fix the problem, go into your computer’s device manager and check the status of the wireless card. It may not be functioning properly, or may have been disabled manually while your wireless switch remained in the “on” position.

When in doubt, restart your modem and your router. Sometimes, they just get stuck. Routers are notoriously sensitive machines, and the tiniest thing can throw them off. Usually, unplugging either of these devices for about 10 seconds and then plugging them back in gets them to refresh themselves, which in itself can sometimes fix whatever problem you may be having.

If none of these things work, contact your internet service provider. Many times their technicians will be glad to assist you in checking everything over, and they can double check and confirm the status of your internet service as well.

The first thing you’ll want to do is identify your machine, with a model number if possible. Typically, this will be displayed on the underside of the laptop on a white sticker called the service tag. If you’re not sure what is what on this sticker, write it all down. The model number identifies your machine, and the product number narrows it down even more.

If you are unable to find your specific model number, you may need to remove the LCD itself and find a part number on it. To do so, look at the front of your monitor. It will either have screws or caps along the edge facing you as if you were using the machine. If it has caps these can be removed simply by popping them off with a tool. Remove the screws beneath around the perimeter of the screen. Then, take a corner of the bezel (the part of your computer case surrounding the monitor itself) and carefully remove the entire face and set aside. Now at the bottom of your laptop, you should see screws on the hinges which will also need to be removed, carefully. Once this is done you should be able to lower the monitor itself face down to the keyboard, revealing its backside, which will list its specific part number.

If you do attempt to do this at home, be sure to remove the AC adapter and the battery. Remember always, safety first. If you are not comfortable with doing this, take your machine to a local repair shop, or contact your manufacturer for further assistance.

When shopping for replacement LCDs, there are a number of specifications of which to be cognizant. First and foremost will be size. Especially when purchasing a new laptop monitor, you will be locked into a specific size, so make sure your new monitor will fit your machine properly. Aspect ratio refers to the height and width of display, for example a 16:9 would be considered a widescreen display format. Resolution is typically the gold standard of performance rating. The higher the resolution, the more pixels the monitor will display. More pixels allow for a sharper, crisper image. Most common displays run at WXGA or XGA, depending on the aspect ratio. There are many other specifications that come in to play that you may wish to discuss with a computer repair shop or retailer, but those listed above will be the most influential to the quality and function of your display.

Here are a few of the methods you can use to find your laptop’s serial number.

The Manufacturer’s Label

Most HP and Compaq laptops have a label affixed to the bottom of the laptop itself which give the serial number. In many cases, there is also a separate label for your Windows activation code, which is not related. This sticker will usually list the product number or model number of your laptop, and have a 10-digit number labeled “Serial No.”. This is your serial number. It may be helpful to write this number down in a safe place in the event that your sticker is lost.

HP’s Website

If you are using the machine itself, you can go to HP’s support website to download a piece of software that will check your laptop’s serial number for you. Since HP has merged with Compaq, this will work for both HP and Compaq laptops.

Windows

You can usually check your laptop’s serial number within Windows. Right-click on My Computer and choose Properties. Under the “General” tab, you should see your serial number listed under “Support Information”.

Receipts

If none of these methods reveal your serial number, look on your original purchase receipts. In many cases, the serial number will be listed on the receipt itself.

Not all laptop models are alike, and some models may require different steps for replacement. It is a good idea to consult the manual or a service manual for your specific model for more detailed instructions.

Here are the basic steps for installing an HP CD/DVD/DVDRW replacement:

1. Disconnect the AC power adapter and remove the battery to ensure there is no power going to the laptop, to reduce any risk of electric shock. It is also a good idea to use an anti-static wrist band to minimize the risk of damage from static electricity. Slide the battery latch to release the battery and gently pull it toward you to remove it.

2. For most models, removing the drive is very simple. On the bottom of the laptop, look for a screw located near the back of the optical drive. Remove this screw.

3. The original drive likely has a plastic bezel on the exterior that has the button to eject the drive tray. This may or may not have to be moved over to the replacement drive.

4. If applicable, transfer the drive bezel to the new drive and any other brackets that are attached to the original drive that are not present on the replacement. The idea is to make the replacement drive look exactly like the original drive did when you removed it.

5. Replace any screws that were used to mount the drive into the machine and check to ensure that the drive is secure and will no longer slide or move around inside the notebook.

6. Replace the battery, reconnect the power, boot up the laptop and test the drive.

Be sure to test reading and writing a number of different media types to ensure all functions work correctly. If the drive is working correctly than you are finished. If you continue to have problems you will want to further troubleshoot your machine. Check out our other articles for helpful hints and guides.

1. It is not a bad idea to back up important data in case something goes wrong. Shut down the HP laptop and remove the battery. Also, unplug the laptop from the wall to ensure no power is going to the machine.

2. With the screen closed, flip the laptop over and find the RAM access door. In most cases, it will be marked with a picture of a RAM stick. If you cannot find the access door, check the user manual for your HP laptop.

3. Unscrew the access door and remove it from the laptop.

4. The memory has clips holding it in. In some models these clips need to be opened to the sides. In other models you must press on the memory and it will swing out toward you to be removed. Remove the memory by gently but firmly pulling it toward you.

5. Replace the new memory in the same slot as the old memory. Make sure the notch at the bottom of the memory stick matches the notch in the slot and gently but firmly slide it into the slot.

6. Replace the securing clips if necessary for your model of laptop. Swing the memory back into place if necessary for your model.

7. Replace the access door and any screws.

8. Replace the battery, power up the HP laptop, and verify that the correct capacity of memory is being recognized.

Replacing memory is a very simple process that can be safely performed by most users, but it is always a good idea to consult your user manual for the location of the access door and specific information on how to replace the memory for your model of laptop.

The power utility in your laptop is the best place to start in power conservation . In Windows the path to the power utility looks something like this: Start –> Settings –> Control Panel –> Power Options. This is the area that will allow you to set the time for the monitor to turn off as well as your hard drive and the amount of time it takes to switch to stand by. Power schemes are also available that have preset parameters like “Home/Desktop” or “Portable/Laptop.” These settings will automatically set the times for the typical laptop or home user. The provided “time” fields will be automatically filled in with the appropriate numbers and settings.

You can freely change any of these preset numbers in the selection made. For instance, if the setting shows 45 minutes to turn off the monitor you could change it to 30 minutes, an hour or whatever value you deem necessary. The average laptop can consume up to $50.00 a year in energy costs but using these simple utilities can help reduce this by half.

You may need to loosen a few of the plastic latches individually to fully remove the bezel. Place the bezel out of the way to prevent undue damage. Below the screen you will find the inverter; it is a long rectangular piece with wires attached at either end. Remove the wires and replace the inverter if needed. Three screws reside below the screen on the left and right sides, removing them will allow the plastic hinge covers to become free of the screen. You may now carefully lean the screen forward to reveal the video cable plugged into the back of the screen. Remove the tape covering the connection and unplug the cable from the screen.

The screen is still attached to the hinges via screws along either side of the screen remove these now but be sure to steady the screen so it does not fall and break creating a very large mess that is difficult to clean. Replace the screen and repeat these steps in reverse taking care not to force any screws in their respective holes farther than allowed. Even the slightest mistake could damage internal components rendering your hard work useless.

Then locate the large panel on the back of the machine; it will be located on the right side of the laptop. There are eight screws that will need to be removed using a small Phillips head screwdriver. You may find a small amount of dust and dirt in this part of the machine and it is a good idea to clean it with some compressed air. A clean, unused small paintbrush may be used to brush out the dirt form hard to reach places. Under the plate you will find the heat sink and fans on top of the CPU. Find the four screws on the outside of the heat sink assembly, loosen and remove them. Be especially careful when removing the heat sink assembly as it rests on top of the processor itself.

If the heat sink is pulled off at an angle the processor pins could bend as well as the possibility of damaging the receptor holes on the CPU socket. Before attaching the new processor you can take a little of the compressed air and clean out the motherboard. A few simple passes should do just fine. Virtually any P4 processor will work in this HP laptop; line up the CPU with the socket. There will be a “marker,” on one of the corners of the socket and CPU; match these up and then carefully place the new CPU into the socket. Reverse the steps above and you are finished.