CF-Y7 screen casing smashed in

My poor CF-Y7 has it's screen casing dented in, it still works of course, only now one of the dents is pressing against the screen, which worries me.

Seems like an easy fix for me: open up the casing and press back the dents to the original form. But I can't get the casing open, even though it seems to use phillips screws, none of my Craftsman micro screwdrivers seem to fit it well enough to screw out. Anyone have any ideas how to get the screen casing open yourself?

Otherwise, since a bunch of my local computer repair shops refuse to work on it because they are "not familiar with toughbooks", I might as well have to get it shipped to an authorized service center to get it fixed, probably replacing the whole screen case assembly.

What do you guys think I should do?

 

I sure hope that you have a really good story about how that got bent.

I don't know anything about your model; but on my CF-29, I bought a Husky HD-74501 W at Home Depot. Does everthing I've needed to do. It has 4 bits, which have a phillips and straight hack on either end.

If you need Torx; the Husky model is HD-74502 W.

Good luck! And work on that story.

"Pappy imagines Techlogic fighting off scores of muggers with his CF-Y7"

 

Use a toilet plunger and pop it out otherwise go spend a couple bucks on the proper screwdriver.

 

Using a toilet plunger is just not fitting for the Masked Avenger!



"Pappy envisions Techlogic in a mask and cape wielding his CF-Y7 in the name of Freedom and Justice"

 

It's not clogged, it's dented!! HAHAHAHAHAHA j/k What a story THAT would be though... "So, how did this happen".. "Well, you see, I was on the pot when...." OH THE IMAGES!!!

 

Well, the way the case is shaped will not allow for proper suction, so that won't work.

For some reason, the P-00 screwdriver seems to fit the best, but it does not go deep enough in the screw and slips out very easily, and the sides of the screw are angled so it wouldn't allow a flathead to seat good enough in the screw.

In fact the screws are tearing up my craftsman micro screwdriver set, however I was able to get one of the a flathead screwdrivers damaged enough to somehow fit and I was able to get one screw out. That's when I realized the screws are treated with threadlock.

So not only do my screwdrivers hardly fit, the screws are treated with threadlock.

 

Rather than the toilet plunger, can you get one of those suction-type automotive dent puller kits and try to pop the dent back out? The suction ideas sounds reasonable, just need a smaller plunger-type. Or is the surface not smooth enough?

 

My advice is stop before you mess up enough screws to really be aggravating.

The smaller screws on my TB, respond to a quality P-0. At a minimum, get the Husky or something better quality if you can. Trust me, you'll be happy that you did.

 

the craftsman drivers get worn out pretty fast, pappy is correct you need a quality driver. i use a snap-on sddp300 (as tough as the books it fixes). ouch, careful with suction as it looks like the dents are very close to the lcd panel. looks like a tank drove over it!

 

...or a big fat ol' dwagon sat on it...

*Snerk*

THERE's the difference between "Fully rugged" and "Business rugged"...

mnem
"How do I put this delicately, Jane? If I fly tonight, there'll be flames coming out of BOTH ends..."

 

Hey Techlogic,

Did you get those screws out?

 

He is busy sanitizing the plunger so he can yank out the dents

 

Yeah he probably got the cape and mask stuck under the plunger.

 

After looking around the internet, i found that the screws are not actually philipps screws, but frearson screws (A variation of philips cross-tip screws). I'm going to have to go to a specialty store to get a proper screwdriver, and none around are open on Sundays. That's my last resort, then if that fails I'm gonna have to ship it to an authorized service center.

Thanks for the advice guys.

 

I don't know where you're located, but look in the yellow pages under tools and call your Snap-On guy.

Man, I learn something every day! I've never heard of a frearson screw.

 

Frearson type is also known as Reed-Prince... however, I believe ToughBook says he has no problem with disassembling his CF-29s using the Husky Philips screwdrivers as I have recommended before.

mnem
*Tool-Tips from the Tool-Dwagon*

 

Yeah I bought the Husky with 4 bits (probably based on your reccomendation) and it works fine on my 29.

 

Take it apart and reverse it on a stack of heavy towels. Give it a few good smacks with your fist to see if it will pop back out. If not... Use a small block of soft wood to try to pop it out.

You CAN fix this without breaking it.

 

TB -

The guy's issue is with GETTING it apart in the first place. I think he's already got the hang of percussive maintenance...:wink:

mnem
BFW, BFC or BFH? decisions, decisions...

 

Mnementh, you are right, I didn't need the Reed-Prince screwdrivers (Those types are mostly seen in boat/nautical applications), I think I just needed a real good set of screwdrivers. Someone handed me a set of Japanese Industrial Standard screwdrivers--real top of the line stuff--and I was able to open up the casing with no problems.

With the casing open, I was able to press back the indentations and my toughbook is now shaped back to normal.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

TL,
That sure looks a lot better!

 

Although, we ARE still waiting to hear the story of how it happened??? Huh??? tell tell....

 

Hey Doob, maybe we ought to make up stories until he gives it up.

 

SOUNDS GOOD TO ME....

Let's see, he was trying to defend himself from a bunch of Dell Bullies....

No, wait, he was trying to crush a Dell laptop, but hit a REAL toughbook by mistake.....

or maybe, he made Mnem mad and that burly dragon just bit it...

 

Naw MNEM already copped to sitting on it. Or maybe Toughbook had it in for a mod, had too many jack and cokes, and fell on it.

Orrrrr, drum roll please........ Modly was circusing with the tattoed lady and, well, you know the rest har, har, har

 

DOOD!

I'm looking at the before & after pix... Is that the SAME notebook? I swear I can't see any evidence of the original damage, not a kink or even chipped paint. Did you replace the top?

mnem
*Picks a squarish silvery scale from his left flank* Strange... mine are bronze, & I'm a few hundred years too young for grey scales...

 

I doubt this is real story since Y7 lid relief looks very strange comparatively what we can see on the panasonic web site.

 

No i didn't replace the top, there are small kinks left in the top, but there are only noticeable at certain angles of light. I used my iPhone to take the before pics, and its not a real good camera to begin with. I can take more pictures of it if you guys want a better look. I just wanna say that I'm really impressed with my "business-rugged" notebook thus far.

And I'm kind of embarrassed how it got dented in the first place, it got stepped on.. twice..

 

SNIP
And I'm kind of embarrassed how it got dented in the first place, it got stepped on.. twice.. [/QUOTE]

I knew it, Techlogic is a young guy and was "circusing". The CF-Y7 was in the way; not once but twice. I'll bet that there was alcohol involved.

 

*confused*

Didn't we already establish many moons ago that toughbooks and alcohol were hand-in-hand requirements??

 

I was trying to provide him an alibi for "circusing".

 

HAHAHAHA! Ok, got ya. I won't tell....