Modding - dv6t/dv7t Quad Edition (2011)

===Updated Saturday, September 10th 2011===

Just wondering if any of the following were possible:

- Adding a backlit keyboard
- Upgrading the screens

If anyone can dig up any methods to do this, i will update it into the OP.

Current Ideas:
Rerouting the power source from the glowing touchpad to power LED's or a light source underneath the keyboard.

Discuss

New Developments:

YouTube - HP DV6-6091nr Partial Disassembly
(Thanks speedking261 for the video!)


Update on Screens and Keyboard:

The backlit keyboard upgrade has been confirmed as theoretically possible, but not yet sucessfully tried. There is a space with solder points for a connector on the motherboard, but no connector. We also have not confirmed that there is voltage at that point. The Envy 17 KB will not work as it is 1mm too wide, and the driver is different.

The display upgrade has been confirmed as possible on both the dv6t (720p to 1080p) and the dv7t (900p to 1080p). The dv6t requires a new cable (part#: 656805-001 ( http://partsurfer.hp.com/Search.aspx?SearchText=656805-001)) as well as the screen, but the dv7 just needs the screen to be dropped in.

 

There are several display replacement guide in dell xps forum that might help us.

and ripward mentioned there is unused 5pin connector probably for keyboard backlight while tearing down his laptop. We need more info and actual test however.

 

But there isn't any use for that if there is no room in the chassis. D:

 

The use of the 5pin connector would be to power the backlighting (It needs its own power source) =P. I'm also interested in replacing the optical drive with an SSD in my dv6... gonna look into it more when I get some time

 

I want to know if we can use other wifi cards such as 6200, 6300...

 

Yes, you can:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-...es-owners-lounge-post7351415.html#post7351415

 

But what I don´t know is if those models are the only ones, and if they have to be HP certified.

I have a 6200 and 6300, both of them are Dell OEM and I don´t know if I will be able to use them.

 

No you can't use Dell's 6200 nor 6300. It won't work on HP.

 

They are not exactly taken out from a Dell computer but the naming is just like Dell´s.

Intel Wifi Link 6300 instead of Centrino-N Ultimate 6300, same for the 6200.

Can we edit the whitelist in the BIOS? Anyone knows where can I buy a 6300 that is "HP certified"?

 

What's written on the service guide are guaranteed to work.

Some cards that aren't in the service may work too, but its luck.



The previous envy series can run the 6200 and 6300 but they are usually shipped with 6200 anyways.
Heck the dv6t-2000 can run the 6300.

They don't have to be HP certified to work.

HP Part #: 572511-001 Intel Wi-Fi Link 6300, 802.11a/b/g/n

 

According to Rocker6 in this post, the manual shows how to replace the screen and keyboard. I really want to upgrade the screen in the future. Waiting for someone to do it and enlighten the rest of us.

 

Thanks nice find.

 

Has anyone tried disassembling their dv6t? And is there a manual or guide somewhere out there? I would like to repaste the cpu/add some heatsinks at some point over the summer.

 

Look up user RIPWIND. He did a teardown and posted pics on another thread

 

Anyone know how many HD bays the DV7t has? I ordered mine with a single 640GB drive because that was the only option that uses the 7200 RPM HD. Want to put a second hard drive if possible.

Thanks.

 

It has two, BUT you need to obtain the data cable which is NOT included. Cradle IS included however

 

The cable is proprietary?

 

I think you can ASSUME so ... only because of length and the connector to the MB, but maybe not ... and I am sure they will be second sourced once the unit have been on the market for awhile...

 

Any news on if we are able to add a backlit keyboard? IMO this feature is more important than the screen upgrade.

 

Since the earlier series offered a touch screen, would it be possible to add replace the non touch screen with one from the previous series. I believe that the touchscreen requires a separate connection point on the motherboard, but I wondered if that connection was still available or not? Anyone know?

 

Ask ripwind. He's the only one who has done a full teardown of his laptop.

 

I didn't disassemble the screen when I took the unit apart. However, I did take it down to the point where the logic board and HSF unit was removed from the chassis. I don't believe there were any additional connections near the LCD display cable.

I would suggest taking a look at Page 1 in the owner's lounge here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-...n-quad-edition-6xxx-series-owners-lounge.html

Radukr has been kind enough to keep the first post updated with info, such as a link to the manual and other important milestones throughout the thread.

With distractions (and the right tools) my teardown took approximately 2 hours from start to finish.

 

I am planning on taking out a 500GB 7200RPM drive from my ASUS laptop and put it in the new DV7t. Keeping my fingers crossed the cable/connector will fit.

 

it should fix

 

Would any 15.6" screen work or does it have a specific connector and screen thickness? This laptop would be perfect if it had a better screen. The viewing angles are god awful.

 

I don't know about the connector, but the dimensions are probably going to be the biggest issue. Look at the manual and find the specs on the screen and do from there.

 

Is it really that bad? If i were only using it on a desk, is the viewing angle really that annoying?

 

Maybe I exaggerated bit since my last laptop was a dell l501x with a gorgeous fhd screen. on the hp, the colors gets washed out just by moving your head up a few degrees . I'll be buying a AUO B156HW01 V.4 screen after doing more research on how to swap screens

 

anyone install a backlit keyboard in a dv7tqe yet?

 

Rumors that you can buy a ENVY 17 keyboard off of ebay and swap it in.

 

You can always mod the BIOS

 

Seems like you need a "dual lvds" connector for a fullhd screen and since dv6's were never offered with a 1080 res screen, I doubt it'll suppose one without major modifications. Maybe using the dv7's display cable might work.

 

Quick question, is the GPU on the motherboard, or is it removeable? If it is, I may be tempted to put in, oh say, a 6850M?

 

I am currently using an hp DV7-2XXX laptop and there is definitely a "Sweet spot" for viewing angle. I have to adjust my screen approx 20' back from the 90' position for optimum color. I expect thhe same for my new DV6T.

 

Anyone replaced the optical drive with a Hard Drive

 

I just checked the teardown, forget the GPU, hah.

 

It is soldered to the MB... hence two MB part# (for quad cores) and two MB part# for dual cores

 

I'm pretty sure it's soldered to the motherboard, most notebook GPUs are. It's an intriguing idea though, in this case, I would be happy to be proven wrong though. I might be getting this laptop soon, and I probably would perform the following mods, in this order:
1) replace keyboard with backlit model.
2) replace HDD with SSD (perhaps not strictly a mod, but oh well).
3) IF a good replacement part shows up, replace the screen with a 1080p version.

 

If I get one, and 1080p is possible, I'd do it in a heartbeat. You can alwyas play in non native res if the GPU isn't powerful enough.

 

Really, before upgrading the screen, or even spending the money if they offered a screen upgrade for $150 (which is typically what they cost), I would spend the money on a nice 23" Monitor. You can get Asus VH236H for around $180.
http://reviews.cnet.com/lcd-monitor...4_7-33615002.html?tag=contentMain;contentBody

Of course if you needed the nice 1080P screen while mobile, your SOL.

If the DV7t's screen is comparable to my 5 year old, non-LED Dell XPS M1710 then I will be happy. That screen is a FULL HD 1080P, but I have been happy with the colors, viewing angles, and brightness.

 

Any news if the envys backlit keyboard fits?

 

Still waiting on this

 

Add me to the list about the envy backlit keyboard.

 

This is an image found googling for an Envy keyboard (Russian Version, but it doesn't matter, first found with a decent size ). On the backside there are the two flat "ribbon" connector, one for keypresses (same as non-backlit one) and the other small one (4 pin?) for wled power.

Notice that it is just under the screw hole used to secure the keyboard in place.
Someone that owns a dv6 or dv7 could just pop out the keyboard (from the manual it's just a screw to undo, maybe you have to remove the Wireless NIC first) and verify the presence of the power connector, and maybe the number and spacing of the notches used to fix the keyboard in place?

 

hope it's compatible, it would be great, is all you need this lapy





I have envy

 

infomatt seems compatible

 

It looks pretty much the same to me

 

Here is the American version of the envy 17 keyboard.

 

It looks to be the exact shape of my dv6. Are we suggesting that this would only be compatible with the dv7 or do you think they all use the same keyboard?

 

Apparently the keyboard envy17 is compatible with dv6 and dv7 models, since both use the large keyboard, with numeric pad

that's good for users of both teams dv6/7 (I do not know if there a difference in size anyway)

envy15/14 have without the numeric keypad