How to open an Elonex Tablet PC?

[Old Sparky]

I have an Elonex eTouch Tablet with an intermittent DC socket. Having removed two tiny screws from RH end, where the sockets, etc., are, I still cannot open it. Is this one of those things where you have to lever off the cover with the attendant risk of breaking plastic clips or worse? Anyone know how to get inside the d***n things??

[camallison]

A lot of these modern products have (fragile) plastic tabs as well as the fastening screws. The way to undo these is to use a plastic tool called a spludger, or a plastic guitar pick and gently ease the joint along its full length, feeling for and unclipping the tabs. There are many videos on youtube showing this process on mobile phones, tablets and the like. Try googling something like Elonex eTouch stripdown.

Colin

[camallison]

There's a video of someone making a hard job of opening one to replace a broken screen here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62UAKT97peg

What's wrong with yours?

Colin

[Old Sparky]

What's wrong with yours?

There's an intermittent connection in the DC Power/charger socket (it could be a faulty socket or dry solder joints). The PSU/Charger itself is O.K.
Looks like I'll have to gingerly prise it open. Thought that might be the case, but didn't think of You Tube, did I?
Don't possess a spludger or a guitar pick, though!

[camallison]

I broke the bank and bought this set of tools:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/15-pcs-iPhone-...arts_Tools&hash=item4857d25ebb

Colin

PS - the 2 blue plastic tools are the spludgers, and the blue guitar picks are self-evident..

[Eddystonepete]

A blunt Stanley knife blade works for me!

Peter

[Old Sparky]

I actually managed to open the Tablet with a small screwdriver (and a lot of care!) The fault was due to dry solder joints around the DC Power i/p socket. In fact the +ve terminal didn't appear to have been soldered at all!. Maybe I'll get a set of those tools off eBay for future use, though

[camallison]

A blunt Stanley knife blade works for me!

Peter

Always the risk of cutting the plastic no matter how blunt though. A man has to have a set of every sort of tools as well!

Colin

[Keithstv]

Dry joints. That'll be the curse of unleaded solder.

Keith

[boiss]

I Have or should I say had a sat nav thingy 7" screen made in China loaded with iGO software, It did all sorts of thing apart from Nav. Music from USB memory to FM stereo radio. Viva Voice over bluetooth for mobiles, playback of videos etc. etc. and all for 60 quid. Only drawback was the rather poor illumination of the screen.
I fitted a bracket in the car to hold it, upgraded the maps and decided to open it to try and improve the illumination. Opening was not a problem even opening the screen assy. My downfall was in removing a tiny piece of what appeared to be sellotape attached to the bottom of the screen with a loose end. On removing it the screen went blank with just a few vertical striations. Removing the tape had removed the super fine tracks on the glass of the screen. I must now order one from China for about 25 pounds and wait up to 6 weeks. You live and learn.....................
Mike