This will be a guide on how to disassemble the HP DV5 laptop. As usual do this at your own risk and ensure that you have some means of categorizing the screws so you don't mix them up or lose any.

So recently my cousin had some trouble with her laptop. After doing some research I found that there are two things that happen with the DV5. One is overheating and the other is a power management setting in Vista (for those shipped with Vista) which contributes to the overheating and then graphics-related issues. Aside from running a different OS or changing the power settings you may need to clean it up and change the thermal paste. Here's how I did it recently. Thumbnails are being used - click to get bigger images.

For those who want to see without the thumbs you can check an external post here -> http://www.techjamaica.com/forums/showthre...DV5-Disassembly

@ Perry/Mods - let me know if you rather thumbnails or if I can link to the full images.

Here is this particular model of the DV5. Athlon X2, Radeon HD 3xxx and Windows Vista.






First thing to do is remove the battery.


Please note that once you slide the release latch across the battery should raise up or fall out depending on which way you hold the laptop.




Next you could remove the screws and the covers for the various bays - RAM, HDD, etc.


These are the screws on the outside - there are a few others to remove once the covers (above) are removed. Please also note that the one in BLUE is for the optical drive. It's positioned so you can remove/replace this without disturbing anything else.


Once the covers (and hard drive) are removed here are the remaining screws. See below for removing the hard drive.


To remove the hard drive there's a single screw in the top left corner from the shown orientation.


Remove it and then slide the drive to the left then lift up.






You can then disconnect the cable from the drive and/or from the board.


Remove the WIFI card and any other options that may be in your model. Only the WIFI card was in this particular model.


The optical drive could be taken out now. Just slide it out basically. You could have removed this once the screw for the drive was removed.


Next you want to get to the bezel for the speaker and the keyboard. As long as all the screws above were removed (or if you know exactly which ones to take out for the keyboard and bezel) then you just need to pry up the bezel for the speaker.




Once that bezel is out of the way - containing the power and hotkeys - you will see the screws for the keyboard.


Once removed simply lift from the top and slide the keyboard up. There's nothing else holding it.


Remove the various ribbon cable connections.

Keyboard.


Speakers. (I think)


Power button. (I think)


Touchpad


Next you want to remove the screen. There are five screws holding it in - 3 on the left and 2 on the right. Disconnect the cables for the screen and route through the WIFI connections first though.








Once you're done just place the screen safely somewhere else and continue to open up the laptop.

At this point you can remove the speakers. Disconnect the cable and lift it out. There's a little silicone-like paste holding it down just under where the cable goes into the speaker block - just pull it up and rip the paste.




Either before or after removal of the speakers - there are two screws just below the speaker block. They will have to come out for you to snap off the top cover.


Then you can start prying the top cover from any side you like going right around. You'll get it off. Just be careful not to break anything.




Now remove all other connections. The one going to the power connector may be difficult and could wait till you've removed the last things before the board will come out.


There's a screw under this ribbon cable. Detach and remove the screw.




There is also a card seen here which may require removal depending on your setup. There are two screws holding this in - just remove them then lift out the card.


Once these are out you can slide the board to the right side and lift then you'll get it out. Ensure everything else is detached prior so you don't break anything.

Place the board on a non-conductive surface and proceed to remove the heatsink.




Prior to loosening the three screws on the heatsink you may want to disconnect the fan connector.


On this particular one the fins of the heatsink were mostly clean but the thermal paste was caked solid.


If you want to get into the fan for deeper cleaning just remove the 3 small phillips screws that are on the top then open it up. They're already removed in this pic.




How to put it back together? Use this as a reference and go in reverse.

Once I get it booted and take screenshots of the settings in Vista to be changed I'll edit and post the info here.

This post has been edited by khat17 on Mar 18 2012, 03:44 PM