Unable to remove keyboard on Sager NP7358 / Clevo W350SS

So my new Sager arrived today and my first order of business was to install an mSATA SSD. I wasn't able to find the service manual for this particular model, but was told to refer to the service manual for the Clevo W350ST as the layout is supposed to be identical to the newer W350SS. The process seemed simple enough. Open the back, push the speaker grill out at a specific point (just to the right of the copper heatsinks by the fan), flip over the laptop and remove the speaker grill, then remove the keyboard screws and pull out the keyboard to reveal the mSATA slot. Sounds simple enough.

First thing I notice when I open the back is the copper heat sinks extend much further to the edge of the machine than the W350ST manual seems to suggest. Whether this is a change with the W350SS over the the W350ST or the manual simply wasn't accurate about this, I don't know.

Anyways, looking at this part of the laptop, I notice it's very difficult to make out what's supposed to be the speaker grill from the underside of the computer. Most of the space seems to just be the motherboard. With the help of a flashlight, I did notice a little black raised clip (not sure if I'm describing this right) just superior to the motherboard and between the 2 copper heat sinks. I am not sure if this clip is part of the speaker grill, as the manual implied the speaker grill should be just to the right of of the 2 heatsinks (not underneath it) and fan, but I do not see anything on that side that resembles a speaker grill.

So I try pushing on the clip with a screwdriver carefully (since it's very close to the motherboard) and while it makes a little noise and moves, it doesn't seem to detach the grill and the clip returns back to it's original position. It is very difficult to access the notch as the heatsinks get in the way of the screwdriver, and I'm questioning whether I'm poking at the right thing.

I'm not sure if anyone else here has any experience with this model and removing the keyboard, but any help would be greatly appreciated. Everything I hear about removing keyboards on Sager computers makes it sound very easy (that's the reason I thought I could do the mSATA install myself), so I'm not sure what I'm missing.

TL;DR: Not sure what's supposed to be the speaker grill from the underside of the laptop. Found a black clip under heatsinks that might be it but speaker refuses to budge. Wondering if someone has clearer instructions on what to do.

Thanks for your help.

 

Looking at the W350ST service manual, it really looks like the spot they want you to push the speaker grill underneath is where the motherboard is on the W350SS, which is making me wonder if this process has changed on the new model.



Anyone know where I could find the service manual for the W350SS (or W355SSQ)? If the instructions are exactly the same in that, then I'm really not sure how you're supposed to open the speaker grill.

I also tried to pry the speaker grill from the top, but it's completely flush with the keyboard, and the margins around it are so narrow that I can't imagine how even the slimmest knife could fit through there to pry it open.

 

Well after poking and prodding in the general area of the spot marked in the manual, I finally found a little hole, pushed the screwdriver through it, and sure enough the speaker grill opened up. installing the mSATA drive was simple enough after that. While the spot was in the area of the motherboard, it took me a while to notice there was a hole right there that was meant to push a small screwdriver through. Live and learn.

 

Hi JoeGamer and NP7358 Users,

I cannot locate this hole. Do you guys mind taking a photo and uploading it here. It would be a great help to me and other NP7358 users. Thanks!