PC World - USA (2020-06)

JUNE 2020 PCWorld 85

the machine. The three along the hinge side
are “captive,” meaning they’re not meant to
come out of the lid. After turning them a bit,
you’ll hear a pop as the threads snap back
into place. Stop turning! They’re
“out,” even if it’s difficult to tell.
Captive screws help separate
the bottom panel from the rest of
the chassis. Once you’ve
loosened all three, you should
notice the side with the hinges
has already begun separating. All
that’s left is to loosen the five
remaining screws. Keep a coffee
cup nearby to stash them so they
don’t get lost.
Then, get ready to rock—by
which I mean, find a guitar pick if

you have one. A “spudger”

is the correct tool for the job,

but anything will do so long

as it’s thin, durable, and

plastic. Starting from the

existing gaps on the hinge

side, run your plastic

doohickey under the edges

to pop the clips holding the

bottom panel in place. This

is the part that always feels

illegal. Even after you’ve

freed the edges you might

notice the panel’s still

holding on. Give the captive

screws one more twist if this

happens. That’s usually the culprit.

And voila, we’re inside. From here, the

hardest part is just deciphering all the various

components.

Run a “spudger” under the edges to pop the clips holding the bottom
panel in place.

Inside the Dell Inspiron 15 7000.