New T500 - Did I just do something bad to it

I just got my new T500. When I went to install the battery I noticed a small white piece of plastic inserted into a slot in the middle of the battery area as well as a little blue mylar tab with a card image and in/out arrows.

I couldn't find anything referencing it in any of the manuals so I took out the piece of plastic which removed easily and then yanked out the blue mylar tab.

Was this a mistake? What are these things for?

 

Without being familiar with these notebooks, my first assumption is that you pulled out a 'blank' for the SIM card required by some cellular broadband services. I could see it being there to keep dust/grit out of the SIM card slot over time, but pulling it out shouldn't hurt your notebook any.

My XPS M1730 has a similar provision and didn't come with a blank card... and I've experienced no problems with it in the year I've been using it. Hope this helps!

 

That white plastic is the blank for the SIM card slot. Wow, you pulled out the blue mylar too!

 

it would be tough to remove the sim card with out the blue strip. i think u can pop it back in, happened to me once.

 

Thanks folks. I am not sure it could go back in as the mylar distorted when I pulled it out.

But it's not a big deal to me as I have no plans for using a cellular broadband service.

 

I normally like to keep those slots filled so dust doesnt build up in them. If you still have the blank I would stick it in there again. Not having the sticky blue tape isnt that big of a problem. A pin or the edge of a knife can always help with extracting it at a later time

 

Agreed - that's the main reason for keeping a blank, and, if you run your T500 without the battery inserted while on AC-power (which you usually should), it'll prevent dust from getting in.