Replacing bottom case

[Blue House Computer Help]

Hi All,

I have a customer who dropped her laptop. After inspection/reassembly all is OK except the one of the plastic screw holes in the bottom case is broken, so the screw just goes way too far in and doesn't hold anything. It's next to a hinge, so structurally important.

So I figured I would replace the bottom case, but what about the COA and specs sticker? What do you usually do for that?

 

[mikeroq]

In ye olden days, before Windows 8 where the COA has a product key, I would remove the COA and apply it to the new base. I haven't really had to deal with that in a long time. Never worried about anything else. I would tape it down under the battery if it was removable. Of course it's been quite a few years (8 came out in 2012). But some laptops back then the COA might have been on an access cover that I would just swap over to the new base.

 

[wavey]

Sometimes you can repair the old plastics, it's amazing what you can do with epoxy resin, a small file and a dremel.

 

[frase]

It may, though will be back to the same issue in no time. As it is on a structural area that is going to be used constantly.

One can use a hairdryer and a scalpel to slowly remove the required stickers.

 

[Blue House Computer Help]

Thanks guys.

@mikeroq Yeah I still get a few of those one in a while.

Good tip Frase, I've done that with other stickers before. But then again I didn't have to stick them back on. I'll try that and let you know.

 

[Diggs]

One can use a hairdryer and a scalpel to slowly remove the required stickers.

I use a heat gun (which can get too hot as I melted laptop key once) and plastic razor blades. The blades work great on decals and stickers and don't scratch. They are also cheap and disposable when dulled.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Never heard of a plastic razor blade before…

 

[seashore]

Never heard of a plastic razor blade before…

When the men in white coats come, they're standard issue.

 

[HCHTech]

Never heard of a plastic razor blade before…

Me either - who knew - there's a whole selection on amazon - I think I have to have some of those.

 

[Markverhyden]

Never heard of a plastic razor blade before…

Me either - who knew - there's a whole selection on amazon - I think I have to have some of those.

 

[Blue House Computer Help]

What's the advantage? Is it just that they're less likely to scratch plastic?

 

[Diggs]

What's the advantage? Is it just that they're less likely to scratch plastic?

Exactly. No matter how hard you dig around or scrape with them they won't scratch yet are sharp enough and strong enough to work on any sticker or decal. I used them a few times when splitting laptop cases open but have since moved on to guitar picks for that.

I stick to the single edge ones as they are still sharp enough to cause injury and I like to hold them and not use a holder.

 

[Markverhyden]

Exactly. No matter how hard you dig around or scrape with them they won't scratch yet are sharp enough and strong enough to work on any sticker or decal. I used them a few times when splitting laptop cases open but have since moved on to guitar picks for that.

I stick to the single edge ones as they are still sharp enough to cause injury and I like to hold them and not use a holder.

Exactly. Back when I work at CompUSA we did a lot of OEM repairs. Their instructions always included directives that tools like screw drivers and knives should never be used to separate plastics, like screen bezels and lids. Only tools like wood or plastic spudges, etc. Most of them provided us with credit card sized pieces of plastic to use.

 

[HCHTech]

Most of them provided us with credit card sized pieces of plastic to use.

Back when I used to get 19 credit card offers per week - some of them came with mockup cards. I would save those and use them for this purpose - had a drawer full, just about. They eventually ran out and we're on the guitar pick train now.