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open an HP Pavilion 17-1230nr to replace hard drive

I've never seen a laptop like this one.
There are NO covers on the bottom.
The only thing that can be removed is the DVD drive.
There are a lot of screws on the bottom - which I removed.

I can pop the top off a bit at the front edge and on the sides but not at the rear near the hinges.
Something continues to hold it together back there.
I can just "see" the hard drive but there's not been enough disassembly to get it out.
(It's on the top of the motherboard and under the keyboard).

How does the top panel with the keys come apart?
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Dr. Klahn

There are so many Pavilion models it's hard to know which case is on which model.  Is this one your case?

http://laptopmedia.com/highlights/inside-hp-pavilion-17-2016-disassembly-internal-photos-and-upgrade-options/
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It doesn't look like it really.
I found this which looks like it:
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/HP+Pavilion+-+17+g173ca+Disassembly+to+access+RAM+and+Hard+drive/62710
The main differences are:
Step 3 would say:
"Remove the rubber feet and the phillips screw under each one".

Then after Step 4 it appears there's something holding things together around the "R" key.
I'd rather not start removing keys...... but it appears that's going to be necessary.

So any advice on that would help a lot!
often the keyboard is retained with clips, situated above the top row of keys - 2 or 3 that need to be pushed up - towards the back end  of the laptop (side hinges)
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Gary Case
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i did not see any reference to the R key?? surely must have missed it
I believe what I missed in that set of instructions was:
"then slide the bottom cover off".  
I was working from the top side because that's where I first was able to see the HD.
I'm trying from the bottom next.....
I suspect I'll find a screw under the bottom cover on the bottom of the mobo in the x-y vicinity of the "R" key.... IF one were ever to want to separate the keyboard plane from the mobo plane.
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It looks like you  may indeed have the 17-f230nr that fred noted above.

There are very detailed disassembly instructions in Chapter 6, starting on page 45 of the service manual for this unit, which is available here:
http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c04511833
Gary Case:  Thank you.  On page 52 it says to lift the top off.  This is where there appears to be something below key "R" that is holding things together.  I've used quite a bit of force to no avail.  So, it's like a screw is there....
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Great responses!
I hope this is all water under the bridge as I did manage to replace the hard drive from the "wrong side".  It was difficult and NOT recommended.  I no longer have the laptop.

This thing had NO covers on the bottom!!  The pictures we see are pretty darned good.
But the instruction to slide the bottom off is like "and then a miracle occurs".  
I never did figure out how that would be even possible.
But, I'm sure that the screw we're looking for would be apparent if that were possible.  But then - the screw we're looking for would not be an issue because then everything would be accessed from the bottom and not from the top beneath the keyboard.
But, just in case it comes back ... I wonder about removing that bottom cover?  Of course now I can't try anything but there must be a simple secret that we could illuminate perhaps.
'... I did manage to replace the hard drive from the "wrong side" '  ==>  Okay, my curiosity is aroused.  HOW did you do this without actually removing the bottom cover as detailed in the manual??
Gary Case:  Once the screws are all removed and the back corners and screws are removed then one can pry the keyboard UP a ways.
This gives some access and visibility to the upper side of the mobo.
(And this is where the keyboard and mobo are still stuck together around key "R".)
The hard drive is in front on the left.  And, because it is only friction-mounted it can be removed.
I did have to disconnect the ribbon cable from the mobo end and that was tricky to reattach.

But as before: NOT recommended.....

If one can remove the bottom cover then the HD can be removed from the bottom (as it is located in a hole in the mobo and is accessible from either side: top or bottom.  But I still dont' know how to remove the bottom cover!!
Your description matches the manual exactly -- the friction mount; the "hole" in the motherboard for the drive; etc.   It's really surprising you couldn't slide the bottom cover off as shown in the instructions -- there either HAS to be a screw you missed; or it needed a bit of a "slide" before it came loose, and you just didn't try that particular maneuver.   Of course unless you get access to the laptop again, we'll never know just what was required.
maybe the screw was hiding under a sticker?
I suspect that's very likely => the instructions noted that you have to remove a label to get to one of the screws ... good chance that's where it was.