HP Pavilion dv7 Cleaning CPU FAN

HP DV6s and DV7s scare the crap out of me. Ticking time bomb with the video chip waiting to let go from the MB. I always pray it doesn't happen while on my bench. I've got another call on one today. I can reflow them, but that's a "Hail Mary" as they say in the states and I hate doing them anymore. I usually just pop the drive into an external enclosure and show the customer where their files are.
 
The only time I take one that far apart is if I have to replace something inside the unit. Otherwise I use a straightened out paper clip and insert it into the bottom vent of the computers case (where the fan resides) and then using compressed air, I blow thru the air outlets toward the fan to rid the unit of the crap which has accumulated inside. When I do take a unit apart to do any internal work I will also do the aforementioned cleaning including the heat sink pads and the areas on the PCB where they come in contact.

Generally when I am pulling apart a unit like this it usually means that it is being stripped for good parts and the rest is going into the scrap bin.
 
I tore apart a laptop once that was so dirty that the area between the fan and the heat sink fins look like it had a factory installed filter in it. The dust... filter??? I dont know what to call it, it was at least a quarter inch thick. I saved it to show the customer and told them it was not a good idea to smoke around the computer but I'm sure that went in one ear and out another. I just love how people tell me there's something wrong with the computer, I figure out what it is and tell them what it was and then they ignore me. Its ok I'm the computer tech, I know nothing... I get a bit sarcastic some times. lol
 
I tore apart a laptop once that was so dirty that the area between the fan and the heat sink fins look like it had a factory installed filter in it. The dust... filter??? I dont know what to call it, it was at least a quarter inch thick. I saved it to show the customer and told them it was not a good idea to smoke around the computer but I'm sure that went in one ear and out another. I just love how people tell me there's something wrong with the computer, I figure out what it is and tell them what it was and then they ignore me. Its ok I'm the computer tech, I know nothing... I get a bit sarcastic some times. lol
Unfortunately for smokers, its not just the dust that accumulates in the computer, but all of that tar, etc. etc.. The same stuff that shows up in their lungs. I'm speaking from experience - I used to smoke but have no reason to ever want to start again. Smoked from about 1970-ish up until 2005.
 
The only time I take one that far apart is if I have to replace something inside the unit. Otherwise I use a straightened out paper clip and insert it into the bottom vent of the computers case (where the fan resides) and then using compressed air, I blow thru the air outlets toward the fan to rid the unit of the crap which has accumulated inside. When I do take a unit apart to do any internal work I will also do the aforementioned cleaning including the heat sink pads and the areas on the PCB where they come in contact.

Generally when I am pulling apart a unit like this it usually means that it is being stripped for good parts and the rest is going into the scrap bin.

Great tip with the paper clip. I'm going to try that out! When I was doing a n&p on it I noticed how hot it was getting and knew something was wrong. Wish I would have thought of the paper clip idea. Could have saved me some time.

How about the ones that like to eat over there keyboards. I'm shocked I don't see more bugs then I do. Or my favorite. My computer is 2 years old I need a new one and there not gamers.
 
Cleaning from the outside will help but some of the systems have a much deeper problem. See https://goo.gl/photos/urrJFidCwSPs54Q46 for a photo of one cooling unit I cleaned. Typically these type need to be cleaned from the inside.

Side note, I know how you all feel regarding HP's notorious failure rate with AMD Systems. It's like it was assembled with bits of tin and glue and when it dies, it's gone. :(

Regarding re balling, here is a very interesting video on YouTube, Luis Rossman does MacBook repair in NYC and has some opinions on reballing which are interesting:

Also for a public service anouncement:
;-)
 
The only time I take one that far apart is if I have to replace something inside the unit.

Years ago I stumbled upon the same idea but with a shop vac. I use a non-conducting toothpick held at an angle to prevent the fan from over-speeding while the 2" vacuum hose fits flatly on the laptop case and pulls out all the dust and debris that builds up between the heat sink and fans exhaust port.

The first few times I pulled the laptop apart to ensure this methodology worked. What a time saver.
 
Years ago I stumbled upon the same idea but with a shop vac. I use a non-conducting toothpick held at an angle to prevent the fan from over-speeding while the 2" vacuum hose fits flatly on the laptop case and pulls out all the dust and debris that builds up between the heat sink and fans exhaust port.

The first few times I pulled the laptop apart to ensure this methodology worked. What a time saver.
Sometimes it is still a good idea to pull the unit apart to clean the heat sink / CPU and re-apply heat transfer grease. I did that with a Latitude E5410(?) just this past Friday and it made a HUGE difference in the cooling of said unit. It's all loaded and already on the sales floor.
 
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