How to Replace HP Pavilion dv6 Keyboard

Replacing a damaged keyboard can be done relatively quickly.

Replacing your HP Pavilion dv6 notebook keyboard is a simple task that can save you a trip to your computer repair shop. Any number of fates can befall your laptop keyboard: liquid gets spilled on it, a key stops working, the keyboard as a whole stops functioning or a key pops off. If you feel comfortable working inside of your computer you just need a little bit of spare time, a Phillips-head screwdriver and a replacement keyboard. Also, make sure you have a grounding strap to prevent static electricity damage.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Grounding strap
• Phillips-head screwdriver
• Replacement keyboard

1. Turn off you HP Pavilion dv6 notebook. Unplug the power cable and disconnect any external devices plugged into the notebook. Lift up the notebook and place it upside-down on a flat surface with the battery next to you.

2. Push the battery-release latch above the left side of the battery to the right to disengage it from the notebook. Remove the battery. Remove the three screws along the bottom of the battery bay using a Phillips-head screwdriver.

3. Loosen but do not remove the four screws on the outer edge of the base cover above the left side of the battery bay. Remove the cover.

4. Disconnect the hard drive cable extending from the left side of the hard drive, located in the upper-left corner of the bay, from the notebook. Slide the hard drive bracket to the left edge of the hard drive bay. Lift and remove the bracket.

5. Remove the screw below the lower-right side of the hard drive bay, and remove the screw in the lower-right corner of the base cover bay. Grab the optical drive on the upper-right edge of the laptop and pull it out of the HP Pavilion dv6 notebook.

6. Lift the HP Pavilion dv6 notebook and set it down right-side up. Open the display.

7. Lift the back of the keyboard and slide it back 1 inch toward the monitor. The keyboard ribbon cable that plugs into the notebook just above the mouse touch pad will be visible. Lift the black plastic connector about one-quarter of an inch and carefully pull the ribbon cable out and remove the old keyboard.

8. Place the new keyboard just in front of the monitor. Insert the keyboard's ribbon cable into the connector. Slide the keyboard down into the bay, close the monitor and turn the laptop upside-down.

9. Slide the optical drive back into the notebook and replace the two screws in the base cover bay and the three screws in the battery bay that connect the optical drive to the HP Pavilion dv6 notebook.

10. Plug the hard drive cable back into the notebook and place the hard drive bracket on the left side of the hard drive bay. Slide it to the right to connect it to the HP Pavilion dv6 notebook.

11. Replace the base cover and screw in the four screws connecting it to the notebook.

12. Slide the battery into the battery bay and press down until it clicks and locks into place.

13. Turn the HP Pavilion dv6 laptop right-side up.

References

• HP: HP Pavilion dv6 Maintenance and Service Guide