Can you fit a d800 lcd cover on 8600?

[Spiike]

I posted this in general, but moving to peer support. The reason I'm asking if you can swap the plastic 8600 lcd cover for the d800 is that the material in the d800 cover is aluminum/zinc alloy. Thus It will have the same durability and solid feel as my recently returned hp zt3000. I'm optimistic because the screws look like they're in the same positions. and the dimensions, i believe are the same (i'm not sure). Does anyone have any knowledge on this? Or have a link that provides informatoin? I've searched all over the dell website and on the net.. found nothing.

excellent forum by the way. :headbang:
Spiike

[Yoob@NBF]

you do realize in the event something wrong happens to your system Dell will remove the alien piece of shell with its original one? i did something similar with my anodized part of the cover and even though nothing was wrong with the screen they removed it and replaced it with the original piece

[Spiike]

well before i send it in, I could replace it with the original. I just need to know if it's worth my time to attempt a swap and have the person ship it over since I don't even know if it will fit.

[bigshloss]

It should definitely fit. My friend has an 8500 and I have a d800 and they have the same exact size top.

[Spiike]

thnx for the confirmation bigshloss

I'm going to start a lil D800 conversion on my 8600. The reason I got the 8600 was not only because of better video card but it was almost 200 bucks cheaper. But, the D800 looks more professional aesthetically imo and I'm hoping the aluminum cover gives the same solid feel as my zt3000's aluminum cover did. I found out they both use the same base and have the same screws/clips for the palm rest. This means all I need to do is get a lcd bezel, metal door covers, palmrest (retrofit the buttons on right side), and center control panel to do my conversion.

I just need to find out where to get this center control panel

[Yoob@NBF]

wait no i recall my friend getting a D800 and strange enough the Inspiron 8600 top was sent by accident and it did not fit he didnt realize it was the wrong one till i pointed it out sorry i doubt will fit

[Spiike]

do you remember what part of it didn't fit? was it the part that goes into the laptop? or is it because the cover didnt' fit the bezel? or did the latch not lock into the 8500/8600 palmrest?

[bigshloss]

Wow, that surprises me.... we inspected them and they seemed exact, except for the materials that they were made of. If I was wrong, sorry, I did not mean to mislead you.

[Yoob@NBF]

I could be wrong but my friend spent a good part of an hour trying ot fit it in and it didnt seem to fit he didnt say where or why just it woulndt fit yet the D800 cover fit liek a glove.

[Spiike]

i know the bezel (inside part of the cover very different from 8600) needs to be fitted to the palmrest because its edges are rounded, so i'm praying taht's what your friend had a problem with. If your friend had a problem with the two posts that go into the laptop chassis then I would have a serious problem.

I'll post the lid conversion after my 8600 and the cover comes in. If anyone comes across a D800 center control panel (where the powerbutton is) please contact me asap.

Update: I just found a center control panel for 10 bucks on ebay buy it now in new condition. :banana: And to think, I was just about to shell out 40 bucks at indexcomputing.net cause they're the ONLY people on the entire net that has one. I had 5 other people searching since sat. lol.

Can someone confirm what the metal pieces are in the D series besides the lcd cover?