2 Questions on HP dv7-3165dx Parts

Hello,

On the bottom of this HP notebook, there is a circular piece that is between the HD 1 compartment and the DVD drive. It is dislodged.

1) What is the best way to gain access to put it back in position, and what is the best way to affix it (glue, etc.)?

2) Where can I get keyboard caps for it? I have an older model of the same notebook. But the escape key doesn't fit on the new one.

Thanks in advance.

 

I hope someone with more experience taking laptops apart can give you advice on fixing the circular piece. I haven't taken a notebook apart in years so I can't give any hands-on advice.

This thread has all the links I was going to give you.
Glancing at the pictures that circle (if yours is the same) is the last thing he gets to after dissembling the entire notebook. I didn't see any way around to get at it easier, since it appears to be under the motherboard.

There are a couple of sites that sell keys individually for about $5 (just google laptop keys and you'll get 3 reputable sellers on the first page. All have good info on their sites about how to replace. ex. http://www.laptop-keys.com/). That particular keyboard isn't terribly expensive $25-40 new and maybe cheaper used on ebay. This ad gives you some keyboard model numbers to search.

 

Thanks for the advice. I'm attaching an image of the bottom of the laptop. The links that sach2 provided contain a different laptop than the one with the issue.

 

Again, I hope someone can give you some pointers but the PDF guide from HP seems to match up with your model. It says that circle should be a subwoofer assembly. Take a look at page 90 of the PDF. Unfortunately, they do a lot of dis-assembly before getting to that piece. I couldn't find a picture guide that matched your model.

Or maybe your model didn't come with a subwoofer and that is just a piece of plastic that is a cutout for the subwoofer.

 

I can't edit but if it is just two pieces of flat plastic rattling around loose in the notebook then I would just get a pair of tweezers and try to remove them. Put a piece of black vinyl tape over the hole and be done with it. I don't think disassembly is worth the trouble.