Painting the LCD cover on my Mini 9

Well, I mentioned previously that I didn't care for the smudges on the glossy black cover of the mini. So I ordered a spare LCD cover to save in case I want to revert back to stock, and took my mini apart tonight to paint the cover.

See the attachments.... one is a good example of the smudges.

right now I have the mini COMPLETELY apart!

I was going to paint the cover a red wrinkle finish, but have decided at the last minute to use a red rubberized coating instead. I guess this is similar to what the larger inspirons feel like.

Anyway, second coat is about to go on, I'll post pictures of it when it's done.

 

post pictures mid progress too!

 

Good luck. That is really smudgy :\

 

ok, second coat is on.... I'll show the preliminary results.... the color is more uniform than it appears in the photo's. I think the lighting makes it look like it's not very even. Looking at it up close it's pretty nice. I actually like how the dell logo still shows through it too.

 

Yeah that's pretty smudgy. I am not sure why the glossy top finish is so popular. Let us know how it turns out, I am sure others would like a choice of colors besides just black and white.

 

if you put enough layers would it get rid of the dell logo? if so i'd like to paint my mascot on my mini when i get it.

 

It might. You could also probably put a primer coat on that would cover it up or something....

 

Well, here's the finished product! I like it.

 

Oooooo.....and Aaaaaah!!! :yes: I just got your PM
(now I respond to it)

Your I9 looks fabulous! A very nice *red* I must say!
I have wanted the *red*, and perhaps, I shall end up doing this!

All in all, how long did it take?

Once again....it looks really, rather good!


Cin

 

gorgeous! i might have to do a sage colour and no wait for colour options :laugh:

 

it took a few hours probably.... I took my time tearing it all down into pieces, taking lots of pictures along the way, then after painting the first coat, it had to sit 30 minutes before applying the second. Then it was probably 90 minutes to 2 hours before I could put it back together again.

It was worth it though. I'm real happy with it, I don't have to worry about fingerprints anymore, and it looks cool.

 

Well, it shows that you took great care, in getting it how you wanted it!

So, maybe someone from Dell will see what a great job you did..and think..*OH DUH..why did we not put the I9 out in more color options*?!
LOL.


Cin

 

there were always plans to release more colours, but I really think it would have happened by now

 

Looks really nice! Did you ever think about doing custom orders?

 

can u post a detail steps by steps how to take it apart and put them back in?

 

When I painted the LCD cover of my mini, I took pictures along the way. Hopefully these are helpful for someone....

So many people are curious about the Bluetooth module... location, ease of installation, etc... so I pointed out where it is in some of the pictures.

I followed the steps outlined in the online manual, so if you go by those steps and look at my pictures, things will be easy to follow. Don't just rely on my pictures alone!

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins910/en/sm/index.htm

There were a few times where the manual says to just use your fingers to pry something apart, and I thought I was going to break the plastic but if you keep using a little more force until the connectors snap apart, then it'll come apart. Once you get a part of it apart, the rest comes easy.



To Begin: Remove the Battery!


Next remove the back cover with two screws


Remove screws from bottom, including two that hold the keyboard on:


Once the keyboard screws are out, you can lift the keyboard back... don't pull too hard, the ribbon is still attached.


pull back to expose the ribbon... to remove it you'll need to push the two connector tabs back on each side, which is easier to get to from the other side of the keyboard, not how it's pictured here:


here's the keyboard connector... push the two grey tabs straight back, the ribbon will now slide out. To install, slide the ribbon in, and lock the tabs back in.


Now disconnect the three cables shown here... two use the same type of connector as the keyboard, by pushing tabs back, but the Bluetooth connect just comes out with some light force.


now you have to start popping the palm rest loose... once you pry one part up the rest come easy. I started at the top right near the LCD.


Once you have the palm rest loose, you can turn it over and see the Bluetooth module, held on with two screws.


Now admire the mini motherboard!


a look underneath, with my 2gb upgrade of memory installed. You need to unplug the WLAN antenna wires now, they just come straight up from the board.


an up close shot of the Bluetooth:


And the motherboard connector for the Bluetooth:


once you disconnect the WLAN wires, you can feed them through the hole in the base and pull them out.


Remove two screws from the hinges that connect it to the base, and you now have the two halves apart.


With the LCD apart, you can then pry the LCD trim off. Same as the palm rest, it just snaps on there, and you only need your fingers to remove it. This one I thought I was going to break because it took quite a bit of force in spots to get it apart. It survived ok though.


Backside of the LCD Trim piece.


LCD Trim removed, you can now see the two speakers, marked L and R, and the built in Camera at the top.


Remove some more screws, unplug the camera and speaker wires, and you can now pull the LCD from the LCD cover.


The LCD cover all by itself.... camera and speakers still installed.


Back of the LCD... with DO NOT TOUCH warnings at the base, where the LED lights are I guess.




After all of that, I prepped the top by lightly sanding with very fine sandpaper, and then painting it in my garage. Once you have it apart, you know how to get it back together.

 

+1 rep to you.

Nice work.

 

curious to know if the paint is chipping off or if it still looks new... any update cmarcho???