Re: Zd7000 won't boot

sfcbruckmann wrote: 
Dan,
  This is off topic for this post but I don't know how else to contact
you. I read in another post (which I can't find) that you have taken
apart a HP ze notebook.  I really need help with my ze4500.  I have a
bad keyboard and am trying to get the cover off. All screws are out but
there is something in the center holding the top and bottom cover
together. I am afraid to pry to hard, and there are no screws left to
remove.  I have had this apart for 3 weeks now and really don't want to
take this laptop to a shop, but have kind of come to a dead end on what
to do.  Any help would be fantastic!!!! Bill

OK. I'll try to help you with this. You do not need to take apart the whole clamshell case to replace the keyboard. Go ahead and put the screws back in the bottom of the case. By the way, if you really need to get the case apart, removing the keyboard will reveal the screws in the center that you need to remove.
1. Turn the computer around and look at the back side. There is a screw in each one of the hinge covers for the screen. Remove them.
2. Rotate the laptop so that you are once again looking at the front side. Open the screen so that the laptop is almost laying flat.
3. Here's the somewhat scary part. Using a small screwdriver, you need to pry up the speaker grill just above and between the "home" and the "page up" key, and along the top of the Function keys F1- F11. That whole speaker grill with the power button and One Touch buttons simply snaps off once the two screws you removed from the hinge covers are out.
4. Once you have released the snaps along the front of the speaker grill, you may have to help the hinge covers get clear of the hinges. Simply place a small screwdriver under the hinge cover and gently pry up. Do this on each hinge cover.
5. Once you have the speaker grill off, you should see four small screws along the top of the keyboard. Remove these screws and the keyboard should rotate up from the top. There are tabs along the bottom edge of the keyboard that fit into the case. Pull the keyboard toward the screen about a quarter of an inch to release those tabs. The keyboard should now be free.
5. Remove the ribbon cable from the system board by lifting the small tabs at each end of the connector. Be gentle. These connectors tend to come apart fairly easily. That should do it.
By the way, as I was writing these instructions, I was disassembling my ZE4560 just to make sure I wasn't missing anything. To install the new keyboard, just perform these ops in reverse. You do have to be very careful that the ribbon cable is inserted fully and straightly into the connector.
Good Luck!!
.