Removing back of Novel for MicroSD upgrade...

[quote name='cybrshrk;18625]Can anyone who has done this give any pointers on what to do/not do if others try? Is there a 'sweet spot' on the case that makes it easier to start opening there? Are there any parts that come off with the back' date=' like the power switch, that present a problem and should be noted before opening? Anyone recommend a "technique" for prying case apart that would reduce the risk of damage to the case or the innards? I'll probably use a guitar pick (my case opening tool of choice) but it would be awesome if there was more info about the risks.[/QUOTE'] The back of the case slides down away from the narrow end (there is a seam on the back that splits the cover). It is held in place internally by 2 strips of double sided tape, one on each side (nothing else is attached to it). Once you move it far enough to hear the hold of the tape break (it makes a sharp cracking sound) on both sides, then the back will lift off (or maybe slide a bit more first). I removed the tape after I got it off. I had a hard time breaking the hold of the tape, it is quite sticky. Once I got the gap wide enough, I used a large screw driver to wedge the back, further widening the gap, this caused the tape to give up. But only 1 side at a time. All of the connectors DO NOT physically connect to the plastic back. Do not use the screw driver to lift the back, just as a lever to widen the gap as it slides away from the narrow part.

Thanks so much for the info. I feel much more confident now popping her open for the upgrade.

Just take it easy. It only slides about 1/8 inch. Make sure you're sliding before you're prying. You only pry to get the tape to break. Once you get the tape off it comes off with fairly minimal effort, but enough that it doesn't just fall off.

If you have any very thin plastic cards in your wallet, that did the trick for me. (My insurance card, which in my case is about 1/2 as thick as a credit card). I slide it under one edge, then worked it underneath all the way across. Once I had created a gap that way, I wedged it into the gap and used it to push down.Be careful of where you hold it as well (not to press into the glass or the volume buttons too hard)

[quote name='clockworx;18651]If you have any very thin plastic cards in your wallet' date=' that did the trick for me. (My insurance card, which in my case is about 1/2 as thick as a credit card). I slide it under one edge, then worked it underneath all the way across. Once I had created a gap that way, I wedged it into the gap and used it to push down.Be careful of where you hold it as well (not to press into the glass or the volume buttons too hard)[/QUOTE'] Just wondering .... How secure is the unit after removing the tape? Will the back cover easily fall off?Thanks In Advance!

MrSecMan;19617 said:

Just wondering .... How secure is the unit after removing the tape? Will the back cover easily fall off?Thanks In Advance!

Click to expand...

If you are careful and don't break the tabs, very, very secure. Mine still requires effort to slide the back off again.

Now that the cover can be removed, can any of the components inside be replaced or updated, like a bigger battery, adding bluetooth or better wifi unit. thanks

I'm sure someone will start in on that soon... technically all possible with the right soldering skills. The battery is likely to be the subject of attention by places like rapidrepair pretty soon.

I'm wondering if there is any truth to jackbox's post on the possibility of it being a 3.7v input, with a voltage splitter from the 7.4v battery - http://www.slatedroid.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?2103-The-battery-in-the-Pandigital-Novel

Wouldn't shock me. Look at the puny battery in the fcc pics.

My battery has (2) each red and black wires. It is listed as a 7.4V battery. My guess is (2) sets of 3.7v leads can be used as either 7.4 or 3.7 depending on the circuit.

anybody take a meter to it?

Not sure if this is somebody here but, found this on youtube and he shows it being removed. Great job...

Does anyone know what the new MicroSD card needs to be formatted in? I replaced mine with a 4gig one, formatted in FAT32 and it only shows up when I connect it to the computer. No books, photos, etc show up....

I just upgraded mine to a 2 gig card. you have to format FAT32 and name the Volume PD_NOVEL for it to work. All my books and apps there and working just fine!!!!Wonder how far it can go?Rob

I just executed an upgrade to 2GB. The back came off relatively easy after watching the video. I used a high quality card. So, not only have I doubled the internal memory but the Novel is running noticeably faster.

[quote name='AJP;29502]I just executed an upgrade to 2GB. The back came off relatively easy after watching the video. I used a high quality card. So' date=' not only have I doubled the internal memory but the Novel is running noticeably faster.[/QUOTE'] That's what's known as "The Placebo Effect"

Has it been concluded that the class of MicroSD card set internally makes a speed difference or not? I have a 16GB card here I've been itching to put in, but it's only a class2 (though this specific card I've read runs fairly faster than most lower GB cards of the same class).I've been holding off either way since I didn't want to slow things down.

[quote name='bodex;29630]Has it been concluded that the class of MicroSD card set internally makes a speed difference or not? I have a 16GB card here I've been itching to put in' date=' but it's only a class2 (though this specific card I've read runs fairly faster than most lower GB cards of the same class).I've been holding off either way since I didn't want to slow things down.[/QUOTE']Ditto. Would like to know cause that's the only thing keeping me from opening it up.