opening the case
Ok, really basic, but I could not be sure I was opening the case the right way-- it really resisted. Battery pack open etc but getting to the inards to put in a USB port, I was cracking plastic but not getting the case open (230 53.12). I had a m100 docking station so made that into a adapter/USB cable. Haven't -*test*-('")ed yet as I will use a \"old\" CPU the first time, not one of my nice compuers, just in case. Someone have instructions on getting the case totally apart so I can put in a USB slot next time? It really looked like I was just going to mangle the thing to no avail. And there's nothing in the HOWTO or FAQ...(that I found). thanks!

Here ya go http://camerahacks.10.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=1577 Just scroll down a little.

Remove the batteries and take a small screw driver to pry the bottom up. You should be able to see the gray tab and the 4 tabs on the bottom from inside the battery compartment. Then pop the two tabs on the side of the battery compartment. Then go right above the battery compartment and pop it open from the side.

First, remove the battery cover and the batteries. The easiest way to get the battery cover off is by using a paperclip to press the latch (it's that tiny hole in the bottom of the camcorder) towards the front (lens side) of the camcorder, while sliding the battery cover down. Next, there's four screws to remove. One on each corner, under the white sticker which surrounds the LCD area. After you've got the screws out, the easiest way to open the case is to hold the camcorder with both hands and use your thumbs to open it like a clamshell, through the interface hole on the top of the camcorder. Just make sure you're prying on the case and not the circuit board, otherwise you might snap it.

I works best for me to insert a thin, slotted screw driver into top case seam on either side of the PD docking port, twist lightly, moving down the side as it pulls apart. This method works with or without the battery cover in place and causes no case scratches or marring. :D BUT, remove the case screws first! :P

I usually just kinda stick the pad of my thumb over the port and then pull and it usually pops off. The part by the battery usually sticks a bit, and the plastic might bend a bit but then it pops. It seems to work...

Usually if you can't find a screw under a label, you can run a screwdriver over the label with some pressure until it goes through. See, the screw usually has some empty space between it and the label, so there is nothing supporting the label over the screw.

ya i remember way back when i didnt know there were screw's .. it was a mess. After struggling for a while i snapped the case open. Only to find the screw's pokeing out the other side. i was pissed.

As the Great Wise One once said: "If it jams, force it. If it breaks, it needed fixing anyway."

Arthur Bloch Don’t force it, get a bigger hammer.

Murphy's Law #1: Nothing is as easy as it looks. I wish the combat ones had something relavent....but they don't.

The important things are always simple; the simple are always hard - Murphy’s Law variant bobbarker wrote: I wish the combat ones had something relavent....but they don't. Do you mean like: If at first you don't succeed, call in an air strike (a really big hammer)... or The easy way is always mined (that hidden screw)... or maybe The complexity of a weapon is inversely proportional to the IQ of the weapon's operator (ME!) :lol:

I saw all those and thought with some analogies, it'd work out...but...well...#1 sounded good to me.

opening
all you have to do is unscrew the four screws... take out the batteries... stick two fingers in the top connector slot and twist... the case should pop open!!! hope this helps!