In this guide I explain how to disassemble an HP ENVY 15 notebook.
My goal is removing and replacing failed keyboard (a few keys stopped working).
Before you start taking it apart, make sure the computer is turned off and battery removed.
STEP 1.
Remove three screws securing the memory cover.
STEP 2.
Remove the cover.
STEP 3.
Remove four rubber feet. They are glued to the bottom case with double sticky tape.
STEP 4.
Remove all screws from the bottom.
STEP 5.
Now you can lift up and separate the top cover assembly from the base.
STEP 6.
Be careful. There are cables connecting the top cover assembly to the motherboard.
You’ll have to disconnect those cables before removing the top cover assembly.
1. LED board cable.
2. Touchpad cable.
3. Keyboard cable.
STEP 7.
Unplug the LED board cable connector from the motherboard.
STEP 8.
Pull the touchpad cable from the connector on the motherboard.
This connector has no locking mechanism.
STEP 9.
In order to remove the keyboard cable you’ll have to unlock the connector first.
On the following picture the connector is shown in the locked position.
STEP 10.
Very carefully lift up the brown locking tab about 2-3 millimeters.
The locking tab must stay attached to the connector base.
On the following picture the connector shown in the unlocked position.
STEP 11.
Now you can pull the cable from the connector.
STEP 12.
After all cables I mentioned in the step 6 are disconnected, you can remove the top cover assembly.
STEP 13.
When the top cover removed, you can access:
– Hard drive.
– All internal memory modules/slots. HP ENVY 15 has four memory slots.
– CMOS battery.
– All three cooling fans.
STEP 14.
The keyboard is mounted to the top cover assembly and covered with black protective film.
STEP 15.
Remove the black film.
STEP 16.
Remove 60 (yes, sixty) tiny screws securing the keyboard to the top cover.
STEP 17.
After all screws removed, you’ll be able to lift up and remove the keyboard.
STEP 18.
Replace it with a new one.
You can search for a new keyboard using the HP part number.
Here are part numbers for HP ENVY 15Â I found in the official service manual:
Keyboards with bronze finish:
â– For use in Belgium 576835-A41
â– For use in Brazil 576835-201
â– For use in Denmark, Finland, and Norway 576835-DH1
â– For use in France 576835-051
â– For use in French Canada 576835-121
â– For use in Germany 576835-041
â– For use in Italy 576835-061
â– For use in Latin America 576835-161
â– For use in the Netherlands 576835-B31
â– For use in Russia 576835-251
â– For use in Saudi Arabia 576835-171
â– For use in South Korea 576835-AD1
â– For use in Spain 576835-071
â– For use in Switzerland 576835-BG1
â– For use in the United Kingdom and Singapore 576835-031
â– For use in the United States 576835-001
Keyboards with black finish:
â– For use in France 580132-051
â– For use in Saudi Arabia 580132-171
â– For use in the United Kingdom and Singapore 580132-031
â– For use in the United States 580132-001
lolometal
Hi! First of all very thanks for your work and dedication!! I find very useful your posts and tips.
Well i have this problem after changing HDD for this envy 15: when I try to install Windows 7 Home premium i have this message:
“Load Driver A required CD/DVD drive device driver is missing. If you have a driver floppy disk, CD, DVD, or USB flash drive, please insert it now. Note: If the Windows installation media is in the CD/DVD drive, you can safely remove it for this step”
I tried with 3 differents original Windows 7 discs and from an USB pendrive with the system and 3 different optical units too. Always having the same message.
I have also tried with a Vista disc, trying to recover system, then chosing command prompt and in this moment changing the Windows Vista disc for the Windows 7 disc and executing x:\sources\setup. I got the same result.
The solution of the Vista disc worked for me time ago with the installation of Windows 7 in a computer of a friend, but this time there´s no way to make it run.
Have you any clue why this problem is happening to me, someone can help??
Sorry about my English, i´m from Spain, i know my english can be improved. Thanks !!
IML Tech
@ lolometal,
Are you replacing a regular hard drive with SSD?
Here’s something to try.
1. Remove new hard drive from the laptop and connect it to any other PC.
2. If the hard drive has partition, try removing it.
3. If the hard drive has no partition, try creating a new partition and format the drive.
After trying different options, try installing the hard drive back into the laptop and run Windows 7 installation disc again.
I had a similar problem once when I installed a 64GB SSD from Crucial. This problem was driving me crazy. One of the above mentioned problem helped me (I cannot explain why).
lolometal
Hi, thanks for the quick answer!
I tried your solution but the problem remains.
The HDD is standard, not SSD: Samsung HM500JI (500GB,5400 rpm,8M).
The original one is an Hitachi 7K500-500 HTS725050A9A364, 7200rpm. I don´t think using different HDD is the source of the problem but, who knows?
The most irritating for me is when trying from usb pendrive also have this problem!! even if i don´t have an optical drive connected!!!
I don´t know what to do with this problem…is driving me crazy.
If someone knows a solution, please post it!!
Thanks in advance, and again: thank you very much for you help IML Tech!!
EnvyHP
Hello
This is a common problem. You need to download the Intel SATA raid controller driver and install it at the point it asks during the install. The next problem you will encounter once your os is installed is the video driver issue.
Regards
M
IML Tech
That’s a good point. It does sound like a problem with the SATA controller but isn’t it imbedded into the Windows Vista or Windows 7 installation disc?
I remember times when you had to manually load SATA driver from a floppy disk while installing Windows 2000 or Windows XP but I’ve never had to do it with Windows Vista or Windows 7 and I install hundreds OS on hundreds different laptops.
I’ve checked available drivers for HP Envy 15 notebook and I don’t see any SATA controller driver.
Here’s one more thing to try. Enter the BIOS setup menu and try loading default settings. Save them and try installing OS again.
IML Tech
Maybe the following thread will be helpful:
http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Operating-systems-and/A-required-CD-DVD-drive-device-driver-is-missing/td-p/3749
They are talking about a different laptop model but probably you can use same solution.
lolometal
Hi and thanks for the help! I apreciate a lot !!
I have try using chipset drivers downloaded from official HP site following the method of the link but i´m unable to load this drivers because windows installer doesn´t recognize the unit from which i´m trying to load them.
When I try to load drivers from a usb drive, windows installer only recognize c:(this is HDD –> where i want to install system) and x: (this is a partition in RAM – i think – from which the system installs itself)… Windows 7 installer doesn´t recognize any other drive than this 2 i mentioned above…
I´m so tired with this, i´m spending time and patience and i´m not solving it. I think i´ll have to spend my money in recovery DVDs if i don´t find a valid solution for my problem 🙁
Zeeshan
Check your BIOS setting when i was installing win2003 server in pc i got similar problem go to the controller and try to change it raid or some thing i forgot . 🙂
lolometal
Hello again! I finally make it works! Although the solution is a little bit “twisted”, and not all the people will have the necessary parts/components to make it work. But at least is a valid solution!
After a lot of problems and testing i finally did it.
I used an hp pavillion dv6 2150es HDD (it has the same Hitachi hdd than the envy 15) and i cloned it in my new samsung hdd.
Of course i had to install some drivers (usb 3.0 and others), and i lost the recovery options from the initial boot of the computer but anyway the system is working perfectly again, and that´s what i wanted. No blue screens, no problem at all until now, hope keep this way.
I think if you can use any hdd with system installed with an intel cpu of the same family and similar chipset you can make it work! You have to have this, i know not all the people have this possibility, but at least is an option to have your laptop working again.
Thanks for you help and hope this solution is usefull for someone! 🙂
David
Maybe the last HP laptop we see for a while if the news is anything to go by. They’ve been nothing but trouble though with the video chip fault they all seem to develop.
Nebb
Perhaps it’d be ideal to tell people that they are going to need VERY small screwdrivers to actually get out the screws.
IML Tech
@ Nebb,
Perhaps it’s not very difficult to figure out.
Berik
Hello Could somebody to help me. I broked my touchpad ribbon cable on my Hp Envy 15 loptop, so i try to byu another on but i don ‘t know serial number of the cable ? or similar loptop cable can be exist ?
IML Tech
@ Berik,
I don’t think you can buy a cable separately. Most likely the touchpad is part of the top cover assembly (palmrest assembly).
You can search on eBay for a replacement top cover.
Mathew
What kind of screwdriver I need to remove the 60 screws that are on the keyboard?
IML Tech
@ Mathew,
I was using Wiha PH00 Phillips screwdriver.
Mathew
Thanks for the quick reply. This helps – I had opened up my laptop and was stuck at removing those screws!
Will it be ok if I reuse the original mylar sheet? I ordered the replacement keyboard from ebay since I am in India now and they sent me just the keyboard – no mylar sheet or screws.
Magdy Nassar
I need a control keyboard and a control keypad for use in Saudi Arabia and United Kingdom urgently , so reply asap !
Blythe
This was an outstanding tutorial with great pictures. Very helpful! Thanks for posting.
Stash
My envy 15 will not come on. Wen I press the power button, the wifi light blinks once and that’s all. Av tried removing the battery and putting it back but still won’t come on besides the wifi indicator blinking once on the keyboard. Any ideas on how I can get around this? Would be very grateful.
Thank you
IML Tech
@ Stash,
This could be memory related failure. Try reseating both memory modules. Try turning on the laptop with only one memory module installed.
Mad
I have an Envy 15-3033cl but cant figure out how to replace the keyboard, can you help me? Thanks