Tonamel on 26/1/2010 at 07:37

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The fan on my laptop has died. Well, not <i>died</i>, per se, as it's currently making a lovely sanity-destroying grinding noise. But yeah, it's on its last legs.

I've managed to track down a pdf of the repair manual for this model, and using that I found that I can get a replacement heat sink assembly for about $15 on ebay.

What's got me nervous is that the assembly on this laptop is UNDER the motherboard, which means to replace it you have to remove literally EVERYTHING. Or, to break it down:


* Hard Drives
* Optical Drive
* Switch Cover
* Keyboard
* Speaker Assembly
* Display Assembly
* Top Cover
* Wireless Switchboard
* Audio Board
* USB Board
* Top Cover Support Trim
* Power Connector Assembly
* Motherboard


(edit: OK, I guess that's not <i>everything</i>. I don't have to remove the power button or the SD card reader :P )

That's a LOT of stuff, and I've never done laptop repair before, so even though I'm confident I can get everything taken apart, I'm less sure about putting it back together. Having a repair shop do it will cost $200-$300 because of the labor involved, and at that price I may as well start looking for a new computer.

So what do you guys think? Should I get the part and chance rendering my computer totally inoperable, should I save my pennies to let the pros handle it, should I save even more pennies to get a totally new computer, or should I start wearing earplugs at my desk?

Tonamel on 26/1/2010 at 07:47

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HP Pavilion dv9035nr

bikerdude on 26/1/2010 at 08:46

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I have taken many laptops apart and the Hp's are no different, so its very likely the cpu fan/cooler is either under the keyboard or under the bottom cover. Im trying to find a parts assy diagram or better still a guid for you to follow, but thus far all i have found is a company selling all the internal parts for that model - (http://www.impactcomputers.com/pavilion-dv90xxx-series-parts-pavilion-dv9035nr-notebook-parts-internal-parts-and-assemblies.html).

Where are you located btw..? you can send it to me and I`ll do it for you.

[update] -
Looking at the picture below suggests that the top cover (the keyboard sits on top of) comes off and the the CPU cooler/fan is directly under that - the big circular hole in the right hand corner is a dead give away. An educated guess I would say remove all the screww from the bottom of the laptop (but make a not of which ones goes in which hole) and then remove the top cover. Removing/replacing the3 cpu cooler/fan assy should be easy after that.

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/impactcomputersmiami_2088_3047950251

The above shop stocks the replacement cooler $60 - (http://www.impactcomputers.com/448016-001.html)

Sorry, but thats utter bollox. His laptop is still quite new.

bikerdude on 26/1/2010 at 12:16

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Hmm I didint think it was gonna be as old'ish as that, so apologies to 376. Ok, if can you afford to replace it, if yes then I would suggest a new one - you can get a bloody good laptop for under $500 these days. If no then see below
You have 3 options -

1. Do it yourself, its not that hard you just have to be slow and methodical and gentle - you will need to remove the bottom cover and see if you have to remove ALL of the parts listed.
2. Get a mate who is like me to have a look at doing for you.
3. I am happy to sort it for you for free, but your gonna have to cover the shipping w/insurance in both directions (USA-UK-USA) and the cost of the replacement cooler ($60) - which is a darn site cheaper than what that bloody shop are wanting to charge...

bikerdude on 26/1/2010 at 20:12

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I know its not how you meant it to come across, but fyi I am a computer engineer... But on the subject of the shop, for the $200-300 they are gonna charge, he might as well get either another s/h laptop or a brand new one. And then he can take his time replacing the fan on his old one himself.