Getting a laptop open

S

Squirrel93

New Member
I have a HP Pavilion dv6. It's not an ultra gaming computer but still decent and it gets way too warm and the fan works frenetically when I play even old games. I suspect the fan could use some cleaning.

Problem is, I can't get it open. I've been to a hardware store twice - the first time they recommended a set of precision screwdrivers that fit the outer screws fine, but I can't get enough leverage to turn (they have no proper "handles" - just the shaft). Today I went back and got a screwdriver with more grip, but that turned out to be too big and just slides around instead of gripping. The precision screwdrivers fit the screws but I can't get enough leverage - the screws are extremely tight. Only "flat" 2mm screwdrivers seem to fit well, and I don't think the store has screwdrivers that small with a decent grip - I had to buy the precision set to get one that small.

Any ideas about getting into the case and cleaning out the fan, whether it involves the screws or not? I've already spent money on the set I can't turn and the screwdriver that doesn't fit, and I don't want to make any more mistakes.

Thanks.
 
Use a pair of pliers to grip the screwdriver and turn it. Thats what I have to do with my precision set. They don't understand that some screws are just so tight you can't turn them.
 
Be careful that you don't bugger up the screw head when you try to turn it using the extra leverage of the pliers. Make sure you are pushing down with sufficient force to ensure the screwdriver tip is bottomed out in the slot. Believe me, I learned this the hard way.

Sometimes mfrs use Locktite on screws which makes them difficult to remove.

Another tip, google for info on how to disassemble your model laptop. Sometimes it's difficult to figure out which screws to remove and in what sequence to remove them.
 
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Thanks for the tips! I bought pliers to turn the screwdrivers, and got the laptop open yesterday.

I cleaned out quite a bit of dust, and removed white-grey grease that covered the little metal plates on the motherboard (connected to the fan, had to detach it from the mb). Then I reassembled the computer. The outgoing air is now much cooler than before, but the fan is still working overtime - in fact, I think it's working even harder than before even though it does not seem to need it. Will it calm down, or might I have made some mistake in the reassembly? Could there be a setting for fan speed? I'm not very knowledgeable about hardware, so I watched a youtube guide and was careful to reconnect the power supplies and all flex (?) cables (the thin, plastic ones).

I have some screws left over, though...
 
Update: I just closed an old game on Steam and started playing a Youtube video, and then the screen went black and the computer shut down. When I restarted, a black screen told me it had shut down to prevent overheating.

I'm confused, because (other than the leftover screws) I'm pretty sure I put everything back the way I found it. It has never shut down due to overheating before - I have experienced something similar with a desktop computer, but that was when the fan had stopped and this one definitely works.
 
Did you reapply that paste? Doesn't look like it.

If you didn't you'll need to disassemble and put thermal paste on the heatsink. You just removed the "insulation" for heat transfer..

You'll have to buy some, Arctic Silver MX5 is good stuff.
 
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