Taking off the back cover Acer 5100

I'm overheating and trying to follow this guide to look at the fan:

http://www.insidemylaptop.com/taking-apart-acer-aspire-5100-laptop/

I remove the 4 Red screws and loosened the 2 Green ones (sure loose, I can tighten them again)

But now I stuck, can seem to slide the cover off and don't want to force it, there is an indentation that looks like it is for that purpose but not "sliding". Can someone point me in the right direction please? First stop laughing, I know I'm hardware challenged *smiles*

 

They don't slide off. Use the indentations to lift off the covers. And yes, you may need to force it. It may have clips or tabs holding the cover in addition to the screws.

 

Thank you Just Playing, will give it a try, was afraid.

Update cover off

Removed fan and found the dust bunnies

 

Thank you for the hand holding Just Playing, I put it back together and all is well.

*smiles*

Cat

 

You are bolder than most just for trying!

[rant on]
Sadly, notebook makers, in an attempt to make their notebooks different, slimmer, lighter, etc. use proprietary parts and methods of assembly. PCs conform to ATX Form Factor standards - which means you can open the left side panel of virtually every PC and get access to all the standard size parts. Not so for notebooks as for each case type is different, often requiring special tools, training, and an intimate knowledge of strategic tongue placement. If I were a conspiracy freak, I would say all the notebook makers are in this together, working to avoid industry standards. They don't want you and me building notebooks like we do PCs - choosing from a host of makers knowing all the parts will not only fit, but work together.

This is bad for the consumer on many fronts - proprietary always means higher costs and limited choices. But also, since heat is the bane of all electronics, it is a user responsibility to ensure our computers remain free from heat trapping dust. Relatively easy with PCs. Again, not so for notebooks - as most folks really should not be digging around inside sensitive electronics and need to take them into a shop periodically. Either way, if the interior of notebooks are not periodically cleaned, then within a few months, maybe a year, depending on hours used and environment, the user will be back wondering why the notebook is running slow, the fan is loud, or why it keeps freezing.

Consumers need to complain to notebook makers and demand they standardize on a form factor, similar to ATX and PCs, that provides a method for easy access for cleaning by normal non-technical consumers. Until them, I recommend everyone stick to PCs, when possible. In spite of what notebook marketing people would have us believe, notebooks are portable devices for road warriors and briefings. They are NOT suitable substitutes for desktops, or gaming rigs.
[rant off]

 

You are entirely correct, however if we had standardized laptops, then they would probably all look like this:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FRxJZ5TKRFM/RwXcpAQNhZI/AAAAAAAAANo/OUXoZ1XnE1Y/s320/pic5.jpg