Nintendo DS Case Change.

We have one of the first Nintendo DS's and after many hard years of use the hinge broke off. I looked on the internet and found that you could purchase the cases as a replacement item. I ordered one from eBay and after a week it arrived. It was surprisingly good quality for such a cheap item. The pictures below are not of our DS but pictures pulled from the net as a forgot to take any as I did the job.

First you have to remove the 7 screws from the base of the DS. This requires the use of a special tri bladed screwdriver. (Some of the case kits on the internet come with this as standard). This removes the base of the DS.

Once the base has been removed you can them remove the 3 screws holding the board in place. You then unplug the cable at the top left of the picture. But be careful not to damage it. The cable in the bottom right can be left in place.

You can now push the bottom screen and it should come out with the board attached.

Remove the screw marked in the picture and the top part of the DS will separate. Foam is covering the back of the bottom screen, you'll have to carefully peel the cable off. When you put it back together you have to tape the foam and cable back on. The metal backing on the display cannot touch the board or a short circuit will occur destroying the DS.

Now the top screen. Remove the small rubber covers and then remove the 4 screws. After this has been done the top screen will pull apart.

You must carefully remove the hinges now. You can normally push them out with a screwdriver.

Once they are both removed you can remove the 2 screws holding small boards in place by the speakers. Once these are out the speakers will just fall out. The screen will with some very gentle persuasion come out. Thats the strip done all that is required now is the reassembly.

The hinges can only go back in one way so take your time. They can usually be pushed in with a screwdriver but small pliers can be used but remember don't break the plastic on the case or you will be back where you started from. The rest of the rebuild is just a mirror of the strip. Good luck.

Job Done.