HP 15-fc0000 Series Heat Sink Replacement

Written By: Spencer Pennington
  • Comments: 0
HP 15-fc0000 Series Heat Sink Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

13

Time Required

30 minutes - 1 hour

Introduction

Use this guide to replace the heat sink or apply new thermal paste in your HP 15-fc0000 series laptop.

Note: This procedure was written using a model 15-fc0093dx HP 15 Laptop PC but is compatible with any HP 15 Laptop PC whose model number starts with 15-fc.

This procedure requires removing the battery to disconnect it. Use care to avoid bending, twisting, or puncturing it—a charged lithium-ion battery can be very dangerous if accidentally punctured. If your battery looks puffy or swollen, take extra precautions.

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    • Shut down the laptop.

    • Unplug the charger and any other cables from the laptop.

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    • Close the laptop and flip it over so the rubber feet are facing up. Place the laptop on a soft surface to avoid damaging the top cover.

    • Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the four screws securing the bottom cover.

    • Two 6.8 mm‑long screws near the rear of the laptop.

    • Two 4.8 mm‑long screws near the front of the laptop.

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    • The clips attached to the bottom cover are fragile. Use caution when releasing them.

    • Insert an opening pick under the bottom cover at the rear of the laptop.

    • Twist the pick until one or more clips release.

    • Repeat this procedure along the rear edge until you release all the clips.

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    • The bottom cover is fragile. Use caution when bending it.

    • Place your fingers under the part of the bottom cover you've raised, near a corner.

    • Use your fingers to gently pry up the corner of the bottom cover.

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    • Insert an opening pick under the edge of the bottom cover next to the corner you've raised.

    • Pry up the back cover clips along the edge.

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    • Use an opening pick to repeat the procedure from the previous step to pry up the remaining sides of the bottom cover.

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    • Remove the bottom cover.

    • Some clips may re-engage when you're releasing other sides. If the bottom cover doesn't lift off easily, use the opening pick to release any remaining clips.

    • During reassembly, lay the bottom cover on the laptop so the sides of the cover align with the sides of the laptop. Then, gently press on the sides until you hear the clips click. If the clips don't engage easily, adjust the cover and try again.

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    • Do not put too much stress on the wire, as that can harm your laptop's audio quality.

    • Use a spudger or your fingers to lift the tape that adheres the speaker wires to the metal trackpad bracket.

    • Try not to fold the tape so it can be reused during reassembly.

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    • Use a spudger or your fingers to remove the speaker wires from the routing clips along the edge of the battery.

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    • Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the five 4.3 mm‑long screws securing the battery.

    • During reassembly, press firmly on the battery connector to ensure a strong connection.

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    • Do not grab the battery at the ends because this battery is flexible. Instead, grab the battery one inch from each end to better support the middle.

    • Use two hands to grip the battery about one inch from each end.

    • Lift the front of the battery (the side closest to you) until the battery is free of its alignment pegs.

    • Pull the battery towards you to release it from its connector.

    • Don't continue to use a damaged battery, as doing so is a potential safety hazard. If in doubt, replace it with a new battery.

    • During reassembly, insert the battery onto its connector at a slight downward angle before pressing it flat to the frame.

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    • Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the four 3.1 mm‑long screws securing the heat sink in the following order:

    • Top‑left

    • Bottom‑right

    • Bottom‑left

    • Top‑right

    • When replacing the screws, insert them in the same order as they were removed, i.e., top-left should be first.

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    • Lift the heat sink away from the motherboard to separate the thermal paste and remove it.

    • If the heat sink is stuck, gently wiggle it until it comes loose. If it's still stuck, use the flat end of a spudger to gently pry the heat sink off of the processor.

    • Do not pry on the processor with any metal tools.

    • To replace your thermal paste, follow this guide.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Be sure to thoroughly clean all thermal paste off of the processor and heat sink, then apply new thermal paste before replacing the heat sink.

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler. Depending on your region, used HP devices and parts can be returned for reuse or recycling through the HP Planet Partners program.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our Answers community for help.

Author

Spencer Pennington

Member since: 09/09/23

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