Hmmmm... Are you sure you should be doing it that way??

[SilkDawg]

Ok... this is the story of my Dell Inspiron 9100 to date.

Once the lappy arrived I checked the screen (WSXGA+) to make sure it was a Samsung. Yup... it is. Great! Very bright, and no noticeable light leakage.
However, I did notice after using the lappy a bit more there was a little imperfection in the screen. Looked like a dust/hair (very small 5mm) behind the screen! Made it look as though I had a small line of dead pixels. Didn't notice it before cause I hadn't used a white background to this point. (limited testing and use)

So... now I have this dust thingy staring back at me... hmmm... day 15 of my 15 day TSP so I better act. Called CS and all was good. Shipping a new screen and a tech is going to install it. Cool, I think. Beats shipping it back. The CS lady was VERY helpful and even extended my TSP period to ensure I am happy. Cool.

The tech is here the next business day (Monday) with my new screen. Yes... it was a Samsung... so that was good. But here is were things go a bit South.

The tech... nice young guy... opens that package of the new display to reveal only the guts of a LCD screen. Not the whole outer chassis as I thought. Hmmm... I figure... ok... he knows what he is doing, right? But I ask him anyway... 'have you ever changed one of those in a 9100 before?' Nope, was the reply. Ok, I figured he was qualified.

SO.. I go and get the Dell 9100 manual for him to review the steps on how to to remove the display from the main body of the lappy. Well... not as easy as it looks. He was able to remove the first two little panels on each side of the machine, but removing the centre piece was a whole different story.
Anyway... at the end of it... he was able to remove it, BUT not before using a very tiny screwdriver to wedge/pry the centre piece anyway from the main chassis. (Me thinking, Are you sure you should be doing it that way?)

I was watching in horror as he was making these small little pry marks all around the LCD display case with the screwdriver. He even used the screwdriver to pry the centre piece up but using the keyboard as leverage! I did say something before it got too far, but... at that point figured... this baby is going back to Dell no matter how nice that replacement screen looks.

Well... he got it all back together... pry marks and all. Even had a screw left over too!! Hmmm... Oh well... it was such an effort to dismantle the screen in the first place, he said it must have been an extra screw from his toolkit. (I found it on the floor!).

After the tech left I emailed my CS contact. She called back within 10 mins with my NEW order already to go. Supposedly, her supervisor was at her cubicle when my email came in. She authorized my replacement on the spot.

Once again I told her I wanted a Samsung display with the replacement, and she told me that they aren't shipping anything but to Aussie. BTW - the new screen has no dead pixels, but some light leakage!! Maybe could be attributed to the way the LCD was installed. There are stickers on the back of those screens that say, 'Very sensitive, do not touch white area', hmmmm, I can tell you that it won't take a CSI agent to find the finger prints the tech guy left on the sensitive internal areas of the LCD display.

Well... in all, I am still happy with Dell. Yes, this is a pain, but, I want to make sure I get what I paid for. Not sure if I mentioned that when I first received the 9100 there was a small scuff/scratch on the corner of the chassis (where the palms rest while typing). I did mention that to Dell and they sent me a Bluetooth card for my troubles.

In the end, I am just glad that this baby is getting replaced.

Here's hoping all is well second go round.

Keep you all posted!

BTW - Lesson learnt... maybe that hair thingy wasn't that bad, and keep screwdrivers away from notebook chassis'.

SD

[Hazridi]

The directions to remove the assembly aren't that great, but I replaced the screen on my first i9100 just fine (and there wasn't an extra screw )

[Viper118]

UGH! I have a guy coming out Tuesday to replace my LCD. Now you have me worried.

[Hazridi]

you do need to apply force to get the lcd off the bezel after you've unattached it - but use a very small screwdriver, and do it on the loosest parts first

[HeLLSpiRE]

yea the part with the bezel is a pain in the arse, everything before htat was fine. Putting it together again is fine except sometimes the power button panel doesn't get the slot onto the lil switch that tells your laptop that your lid is closed and it screws up, it takes a few tries to get that working.

[SilkDawg]

The way the tech was reefing on the LCD outer assembly was unbelievable. I really thought that he was going to bust it.

I don't think the techs should be using any metal implements to pry open the panels. Dell should really provide some sort of tool that minimizes the chances of damaging the outer case. The picture in the manual where the guy is lifting the centre piece off from the back of the unit by hand is crap. There was no way it was coming apart like that. Dell needs to work out a better method.

Also, while disassembling the display the tech had to remove all the little rubber bumpers (where all the screws were). Dell doesn't supply new ones, which was crap too... as if the adhesive was going to be as strong when reapplied.

Anyway... this is my only rant so far. Dell's service has been outstanding, just the actual physical replacement of the LCD display was a shocker.

I would be worried too when the guy shows up with you replacement display. If he pulls out a screwdriver... leave the room.

[Viper118]

Tomorrow's the day. If he screws it up, I'm getting a new laptop. I'm annoyed about the little rubber bumpers having to be removed too.

Geeze, I am so close to just cancelling the technician.

[SilkDawg]

Viper118... maybe try to remove the side and centre pieces first (before the tech gets there) and see how hard it is. Look at page 118 of the 9100's owners manual. (If it is the same one I have). The side bits are easy to remove, the centre piece is the issue.

Let me know if the tech brings the WHOLE LCD Display (cover and all) or just the internal bits.

Good Luck!

[somms]

The trick to removing the center hinge cover is too push it out from the bottom of the notebook rather than prying it out. You can access this by removing the right rear fan then gently push up on the hinge cover from the inside. At least this is the recommended way of doing it on the I8600 model.