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    Dissasemble a 1558

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by Otaconda, Jun 19, 2010.

  1. Otaconda

    Otaconda Newbie

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    Hi Folks,

    I bought an bluetooth adapter to put inside my new Studio 1558 (I normally do this because it's a lot cheaper than letting Dell do it). Assuming it would be a mini pci-e jobbie like I'm used to I didnt really worry about it, but now knowing where I need to put this thing I wish I didnt bother :D

    Still, I'm not afraid of drowning in screws so I had a go. Came unstuck when it came to removing the control cover. I'm supposed to open the screen as far as I can and pry it open using an edge in the battery bay. Everything is _very_ tightly fitted though, and I didnt want to go ploughing in with a screwdriver and scratching my new lappy to pieces.

    Does anyone have any tips on how to get this cover off safely?
     
    Otaconda, Jun 19, 2010
    #1
  2. Kris @ JKA

    Kris @ JKA Notebook Geek

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    'DROP THE SCREW DRIVER AND STEP AWAY FROM THE MACHINE!!!'

    Can you get around it with a very sharp knife without slicing it up?
     
    Kris @ JKA, Jun 19, 2010
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  3. Otaconda

    Otaconda Newbie

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    Cant really get anything in there except my fingers - I would take the screen off if I didnt need to get this panel off to do that.

    Might sack it off a just put a wireless 370 into the spare mini pci-e slot (where the wwan card would go)
     
    Otaconda, Jun 19, 2010
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  4. Cin'

    Cin' Anathema

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    Should request to have your thread moved to the Dell Inspiron and Dell Studio, Subforum, you would get more responses from your fellow 1558 owners (outside of the helpful input here)! ;)

    Cin...
     
    Cin', Jun 19, 2010
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  5. Otaconda

    Otaconda Newbie

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    Whoops :eek:
    My mistake :)
     
    Otaconda, Jun 19, 2010
    #5
  6. woofer00

    woofer00 Wanderer

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    The control cover i definitely the most annoying part to take off on the Studio 1558. I have a plastic scribe I use to work around the edges, so it doesn't leave any noticeable marks. You could probably make do with a credit card or some other flat piece of plastic though. My suggestion would be to work from the back and try to get just one of the sides loose between the battery bay and the hinge. Once you have a little bit loose, the rest is a piece of cake.
     
    woofer00, Jun 20, 2010
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  7. Otaconda

    Otaconda Newbie

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    Thanks for that. I'm not entirely sure where you mean though - do you get it at the back (ie in front of the screen), or can you get something under the panel from the side? And I take it the speaker grill is definitely part of the control cover (the picture doesn't look exactly like mine, though I not the service manual is also for a 1557)?

    Looking at your sig btw, I know exactly what yu mean about the resolution. I went from a 1680x1060 D820 to a 1366x768 Vostro 3300, and it felt bad... hence the swap to this Studio :)
     
    Otaconda, Jun 20, 2010
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  8. woofer00

    woofer00 Wanderer

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    You have to open the screen to get to the gap between the plastics. I had the best luck with the screen partially open. You have to get at it from behind, kind of a dumb design. The speaker grill and the shiny black plastic that wraps around the keyboard together make up the control cover
     
    woofer00, Jun 20, 2010
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  9. OneCool

    OneCool I AM NUMBER 67

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    Search the 1557 threads.

    I believe they have the same chassis and their was a couple of us that explained how to take it apart.
     
    OneCool, Jun 20, 2010
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  10. techifan1

    techifan1 Notebook Consultant

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    As OneCool suggests.
    Look here, hopefully it will help you. ;)

    http://forum.notebookreview.com/del...-1557-copper-shim-dimensions-thickness-4.html
     
    techifan1, Jun 20, 2010
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  11. Otaconda

    Otaconda Newbie

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    Just the job, thanks guys - bluetooth fitted and working fine :)
     
    Otaconda, Jun 20, 2010
    #11