ThinkPad T450S impossible to open.

Hi guys. I've just been trying to pry open the bottom of my new ThinkPad t450s, with no luck. The screws generally feel flimsy. Only three at the front out of eight in total would fully come out, and that at slight angles. Basically, with the exception of the back side, both major parts adhere to each other almost as if glued together. It's nothing like the smooth disassembly guides for ThinkPad 440 I've seen on YouTube.
I've opened my fair share of laptops before, and this is the first time like I feel at every step that something is about to snap off. Any advice on how to proceed? Would 'unupgradeability' due to flaws and awkwardness featured in the ThinkPad's construction come under the warranty perhaps?

 

If it's anything like the T440s, the screws aren't intended to come out. They stay in the bottom plate. The T440s is secured all the way around with plastic tabs. They are a genuine pain to open, and we usually break the tab(s) near the battery when we open them.

 

Get a set of plastic pry tools (ie, something like this). I've opened my own T440s multiple times and also helped a classmate add more RAM to his, and have never broken any of the plastic tabs.

And S.SubZero is right, the screws don't need to come out to take the backplate off. As long as they're loosened all the way, you should be able to go around the perimeter with a nylon pry tool.

 

I had a heck of a time with both the x250 and TPYoga12, but I referred to the Hardware Maintenance Manual just to be extra careful that I was doing it right. I basically had luck by finding a point that I could get a little separation and then going around the edge with my fingernail and getting a little more separation each time. Sometimes I'd have to put the flat end of a screwdriver to keep one side from closing while going around the edge. It's a process of patience, but you'll find if done correctly it will unsnap almost easily.

I will say that after doing it now a few times (probably a dozen ) that I don't really find it difficult at all anymore. I can't say the same thing for those little ribbon cable connectors that hold the power cable, keyboard and trackpad cables, those things still give me nightmares...

 

Encouraged by your replies, and despite the best efforts on part of Lenovo to discourage home upgrades, I've finally pulled it off and added an 8 GB RAM stick, following a risky just as ugly while decidedly crackly a process of forcing the case open. Thanks everybody.

 

I had the similar experience, the screws would spin in place without coming out even if I flip the laptop over and shake it. Just like someone mentioned here, you don't need to take the screws out. As far as for opening the back cover goes, I used a prying tool and lots of patience, loosen the exhaust fan side first, then the back side, then the LAN side, then finally the front side near the touch pad (this side was the worst because I thought I was going to break something, you just have to retreat at some point, never force anything).
Fingernails alone won't do, unless you are the Wolverine.

 

Someday I will have your guys' courage to do this. For now I just took it to Best Buy and have them do it.