HP Pavilion 15-p Optical drive Replacement

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Introduction

If the optical drive in your HP Pavilion 15 has failed or you do not need it (and want to install a blank or hard drive optical drive caddy), this guide will show you how to remove the optical drive, screw bracket and faceplate.

Guide notes

The replacement component must be 9.5mm. This system does not accept 12.7mm optical drives.
The optical drive must use SATA. This system does not accept IDE optical drives.

What you need

Step 1 Change note

HP Pavilion 15-p Optical drive Replacement, Change note: step 1, image 1 of 2

HP Pavilion 15-p Optical drive Replacement, Change note: step 1, image 2 of 2

Tool used on this step:

Essential Electronics Toolkit

$29.95

Buy

Due to the EET missing several components present in the Pro Tech Go and only being $20 cheaper, the EET has been removed. The EET will work for this guide as-is, but if you are shopping for a new toolkit to complete this guide, the Pro Tech Go (new or refurbished, refurbished is ~$32 cheaper), or Pro Tech ($79 new/~$59.95 refurb) is the current recommended toolkit for this guide.
If you are interested in a refurbished kit stock levels change frequently but can be found here.

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Step 2 Prepare the laptop

HP Pavilion 15-p Optical drive Replacement, Prepare the laptop: step 2, image 1 of 3

HP Pavilion 15-p Optical drive Replacement, Prepare the laptop: step 2, image 2 of 3

HP Pavilion 15-p Optical drive Replacement, Prepare the laptop: step 2, image 3 of 3

Shut the laptop down until it is hibernated or shut off. Do not remove power until both lights turn off.

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Step 3 Unlock the battery

HP Pavilion 15-p Optical drive Replacement, Unlock the battery: step 3, image 1 of 3

HP Pavilion 15-p Optical drive Replacement, Unlock the battery: step 3, image 2 of 3

HP Pavilion 15-p Optical drive Replacement, Unlock the battery: step 3, image 3 of 3

Once the computer is off, remove the battery. Switch the locking tab to the unlocked position.

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Step 4 Remove the battery

HP Pavilion 15-p Optical drive Replacement, Remove the battery: step 4, image 1 of 2

HP Pavilion 15-p Optical drive Replacement, Remove the battery: step 4, image 2 of 2

Remove the battery. Pull the battery forward and remove it from the laptop.

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Step 5 Remove the screw

HP Pavilion 15-p Optical drive Replacement, Remove the screw: step 5, image 1 of 3

HP Pavilion 15-p Optical drive Replacement, Remove the screw: step 5, image 2 of 3

HP Pavilion 15-p Optical drive Replacement, Remove the screw: step 5, image 3 of 3

EET owners: Your kit has this bit. No purchase needed.
Remove the screw that holds the optical drive in. To do this, use a Phillips #0 screwdriver. Slide the optical drive out once this screw is removed.

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Step 6 Remove the optical drive tab

HP Pavilion 15-p Optical drive Replacement, Remove the optical drive tab: step 6, image 1 of 2

HP Pavilion 15-p Optical drive Replacement, Remove the optical drive tab: step 6, image 2 of 2

EET owners: Your kit has this bit. No purchase needed.
Remove the screws holding the optical drive bracket onto the drive. To do this, use a Phillips #0 screwdriver.

Edit

Step 7 Faceplate removal

HP Pavilion 15-p Optical drive Replacement, Faceplate removal: step 7, image 1 of 3

HP Pavilion 15-p Optical drive Replacement, Faceplate removal: step 7, image 2 of 3

HP Pavilion 15-p Optical drive Replacement, Faceplate removal: step 7, image 3 of 3

Be careful not to break any clips. The faceplate will still be usable, but will be loose fitting.
To remove the faceplate, open the optical drive with a paper clip. Once the tray is released, use a flat tool to release the visible clip on the faceplate. Once done, the faceplate should come off.