Disable the Dell Latitude 2100's Wi-fi Light
Posted: 20 Aug 2009 12:47 PM PDT
Summary: /* Step 1: Turn off the PC */
[[Image:Dell2100 1.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Don't let your Dell narc on you! Disconnect the tattletale network activity light on your 2100 netbook so you can procrastinate in peace. Photo:Jon Snyder/Wired]]
The newest Dell Latitude netbook, the 2100, is a rugged little beast. It's perfectly sized, tricked out and priced for the student market. In a [wired.com/reviews/product/pr_dell_lattitude hands-on review], Wired.com gave it a very favorable 8 out of 10.
One of its school-savvy features is a small LED strip at the top of the edge of the lid that lights up whenever the computer is connected to either a wired or wireless network. It's meant to give teachers and parents a heads-up that their little one is Twittering, chatting, e-mailing or surfing YouTube when they should be busy doing their creative writing assignments.
This feature is great for authority figures, but it's a sucky proposition for kids. Luckily, it's an easy feature to disable. Nobody will be able to tell you've unhooked it, and you can easily re-connect the light later if you have to.
Mom always told us that nobody likes a tattletale. Disable the Dell 2100's network indicator light so you can slack off in peace.
''This article is a '''wiki'''. Got extra advice to share? Log in and contribute.''
==What You'll Need==
* a Dell Latitude 2100 Netbook
* a guitar pick, or some other plastic tool for prying
* a tiny screwdriver or pair of tweezers
==How to Proceed:==
===Step 1: Turn off the PC===
[[Image:Dell2100 2.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Turn the netbook with the top of the lid facing away from you like this. Photo: Dylan Tweney/Wired]]
This is a no-brainer, but you want to make sure the machine is powered down before doing this hack.
Hold the netbook on a table with the hinge pointing down and the front plate facing straight up. The top of the lid should be facing away from you.
Take a deep breath and come to terms with the fact that you're probably about to void your warranty.
<br clear="all" />
===Step 2: Pry the lid===
[[Image:Dell2100 3.jpg|620px|frame|Slide your pick in, find the point where you can get some leverage, and pry away, working toward the center. Photo: Dylan Tweney/Wired]]
Find a guitar pick or some other plastic prying tool. The tools that come with iPod DIY kits work well -- just make sure you're using plastic so you don't damage the case.
Force the pick between the black case and the colored, rubbery exterior skin. Slide it slowly back and forth inside the crease. You'll find a couple of spots where you're easily able to slide the pick further inside the netbook lid. When you get to those points, push the pick in and twist it to pry open the top edge of the lid.
Work your way toward the center of the lid where the light strip is. This will take some trial and error, and probably a bit of force. You only need to create an opening about half an inch to get to the back of the light strip, and the netbook's shell is quite durable, so don't be afraid to apply some force.
===Step 3: Locate the light===
[[Image:Dell2100 4.jpg|620px|frame|Find the back of the light assembly and look for the ribbon cable plugged into the white socket. Photo: Dylan Tweney/Wired]]
Once you have an opening about as wide as your finger at the center of the lid, look for the back of the network indicator light. The light is powered by a tiny ribbon cable. It connects to the light strip via a tiny white socket. With the top of the lid facing away from you, the socket will be on the right edge of the light.
===Step 4: Unplug the ribbon cable===
[[Image:Dell2100 5.jpg|620px|frame|Gently pop out the ribbon cable to disable the light. Photo: Dylan Tweney/Wired]]
You want to disconnect that cable to kill the light. It doesn't take much force to undo it.
Use a pair of tweezers or a tiny flathead jewelry screwdriver (the kind they give you in eyeglasses repair kits work well) and pop the plug at the end of the ribbon cable out of the white socket. Don't use anything too sharp, and be very careful not to damage any of the other parts or the shielding inside the lid.
Once the ribbon cable is disconnected, wrap the end in electrical tape.
===Step 5: Close up===
Simply snap the case back together when you're done. The next time you try to pry it open, you'll notice it's much easier. If you need to reconnect the cable, just open the case back up, grab it gently with the tweezers, take off the electrical tape, and plug the cable back into the socket.
Quelle: Wired: How-To Wiki / 20.08.2009
Posted: 20 Aug 2009 12:47 PM PDT
Summary: /* Step 1: Turn off the PC */
[[Image:Dell2100 1.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Don't let your Dell narc on you! Disconnect the tattletale network activity light on your 2100 netbook so you can procrastinate in peace. Photo:Jon Snyder/Wired]]
The newest Dell Latitude netbook, the 2100, is a rugged little beast. It's perfectly sized, tricked out and priced for the student market. In a [wired.com/reviews/product/pr_dell_lattitude hands-on review], Wired.com gave it a very favorable 8 out of 10.
One of its school-savvy features is a small LED strip at the top of the edge of the lid that lights up whenever the computer is connected to either a wired or wireless network. It's meant to give teachers and parents a heads-up that their little one is Twittering, chatting, e-mailing or surfing YouTube when they should be busy doing their creative writing assignments.
This feature is great for authority figures, but it's a sucky proposition for kids. Luckily, it's an easy feature to disable. Nobody will be able to tell you've unhooked it, and you can easily re-connect the light later if you have to.
Mom always told us that nobody likes a tattletale. Disable the Dell 2100's network indicator light so you can slack off in peace.
''This article is a '''wiki'''. Got extra advice to share? Log in and contribute.''
==What You'll Need==
* a Dell Latitude 2100 Netbook
* a guitar pick, or some other plastic tool for prying
* a tiny screwdriver or pair of tweezers
==How to Proceed:==
===Step 1: Turn off the PC===
[[Image:Dell2100 2.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Turn the netbook with the top of the lid facing away from you like this. Photo: Dylan Tweney/Wired]]
This is a no-brainer, but you want to make sure the machine is powered down before doing this hack.
Hold the netbook on a table with the hinge pointing down and the front plate facing straight up. The top of the lid should be facing away from you.
Take a deep breath and come to terms with the fact that you're probably about to void your warranty.
<br clear="all" />
===Step 2: Pry the lid===
[[Image:Dell2100 3.jpg|620px|frame|Slide your pick in, find the point where you can get some leverage, and pry away, working toward the center. Photo: Dylan Tweney/Wired]]
Find a guitar pick or some other plastic prying tool. The tools that come with iPod DIY kits work well -- just make sure you're using plastic so you don't damage the case.
Force the pick between the black case and the colored, rubbery exterior skin. Slide it slowly back and forth inside the crease. You'll find a couple of spots where you're easily able to slide the pick further inside the netbook lid. When you get to those points, push the pick in and twist it to pry open the top edge of the lid.
Work your way toward the center of the lid where the light strip is. This will take some trial and error, and probably a bit of force. You only need to create an opening about half an inch to get to the back of the light strip, and the netbook's shell is quite durable, so don't be afraid to apply some force.
===Step 3: Locate the light===
[[Image:Dell2100 4.jpg|620px|frame|Find the back of the light assembly and look for the ribbon cable plugged into the white socket. Photo: Dylan Tweney/Wired]]
Once you have an opening about as wide as your finger at the center of the lid, look for the back of the network indicator light. The light is powered by a tiny ribbon cable. It connects to the light strip via a tiny white socket. With the top of the lid facing away from you, the socket will be on the right edge of the light.
===Step 4: Unplug the ribbon cable===
[[Image:Dell2100 5.jpg|620px|frame|Gently pop out the ribbon cable to disable the light. Photo: Dylan Tweney/Wired]]
You want to disconnect that cable to kill the light. It doesn't take much force to undo it.
Use a pair of tweezers or a tiny flathead jewelry screwdriver (the kind they give you in eyeglasses repair kits work well) and pop the plug at the end of the ribbon cable out of the white socket. Don't use anything too sharp, and be very careful not to damage any of the other parts or the shielding inside the lid.
Once the ribbon cable is disconnected, wrap the end in electrical tape.
===Step 5: Close up===
Simply snap the case back together when you're done. The next time you try to pry it open, you'll notice it's much easier. If you need to reconnect the cable, just open the case back up, grab it gently with the tweezers, take off the electrical tape, and plug the cable back into the socket.
Quelle: Wired: How-To Wiki / 20.08.2009