HP TouchPad Home Button Board Replacement

Written By: Andrew Bookholt

Comments: 4

HP TouchPad Home Button Board Replacement

Difficulty

Difficult

Steps

Time Required

No estimate

Introduction

Use this guide to replace a broken home button board.

Tools

Step 1

In the following steps, you will use a metal spudger to lift the front panel out from the rear case of your TouchPad.
The front panel is held in by seven clips (boxed in red) that are lightly anchored to the rear case. When you remove the front panel assembly, you are bound to break either the clips or their supports attached to the rear case. We will update this guide as we find replacement parts or a better method to remove the panel.
As you remove the front panel assembly, also be careful not to damage the ambient light sensor (boxed in yellow) or the two antennas (boxed in orange).

Beware of the ribbon cable right beneath the volume rocker, as it's easy to shear that cable if you are too rough with the metal spudger.

Michael Innes -

I wasn’t happy with using a metal spudger as it felt a bit forceful, as I have a bulk pack of opening tools I tried using them instead.

I may have been lucky, but by using those tools instead with the angled lip facing inwards at points adjacent to where the mounting clips are located according to the above image (like this, https://i.imgur.com/dylp6BG.jpg ), I managed to open the unit without breaking a clip or scratching the plastic back panel by bending the outside of the panel enough to pop the lcd panel.

Michael Sim - 19/05/18

Step 2

Insert a flat metal spudger in the gap between the rubber outer ring on the front panel assembly and the black plastic rear case near the USB connector.
Pry the front panel assembly up from the rear case, being careful not to damage the LCD or the glass panel.
As you work through the following steps, insert your metal spudger and pry the front panel up, but do not try to slide the spudger along the gap you're creating. Always remove your spudger, then insert it at another spot and pry upward.

Step 3

As in the previous step, use a spudger to pry the front panel up from the rear case along its long edge on the volume button side of the TouchPad.
Continue to pry the front panel assembly up along the volume button side of the TouchPad until there is a gap between it and the rear case.

Step 4

Pry up the front panel assembly along the top edge of the TouchPad.
Be careful not to damage the ambient light sensor or the upper antenna.

Step 5

Pry up the front panel along the edge closest to the home screen button.

Step 6

Before lifting the free side of the front panel up from the rear case, you may need to release it from the plastic retaining clips holding it down.
Use your metal spudger to pull the stuck retaining clips away from the edge of the front panel.

Step 7

After freeing the retaining clips, lift the front panel assembly away from the rear case.
Do not try to remove the front panel assembly from the TouchPad just yet, as it is still connected to the motherboard.

Step 8

Use the attached black tab to pull the display data cable straight up and out of its socket on the motherboard.
Pull the cable upwards and not parallel to the face of the motherboard. Doing otherwise may damage the socket on the motherboard.
Take care not to pull on the ribbon that is stuck by adhesive to the bottom of cable you are detaching. It does not need to be disconnected.

The ribbon can be adhered to other parts placed under it. You'll have to separate them tighly so you don't damage the ribbon.

Laurent -

Step 9

Use your fingernail to carefully flip up the retaining flaps on the two digitizer ribbon cable ZIF sockets.
Be sure you are prying up on the hinged retaining flaps, not the sockets themselves.
Pull the digitizer ribbon cable straight out of its two sockets on the motherboard.

Step 10

Remove the front panel assembly from the rear case assembly.

Step 11

Use a plastic opening tool to pry the home button board off the adhesive securing it to the front panel.
Be careful not to flex the board too much. It is very thin and delicate.

Step 12

Remove the home button board from the front panel.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Author

Andrew Bookholt

585795 Reputation

One comment

Could anyone please let me know where I can buy the Home Button Board for the touchpad. Thanks.

Sao -