I need help opening Aspire R13 (R7-371T) to add additional SSD card.

How do you open up the bottom of the R13? I can't find any information on this anywhere. I've tried myself. I have confirmed with Acer that there are 12 screws in total which I have been able to locate and remove. However I have tried to pry the cover off afterwards to no avail. It comes off almost halfway at the middle of both the top and bottom long sides but any further feels like I'm going to break the plastic if I pry any harder. Acer support just tells me to continue to pry around the top until it comes off and when I relate that it feel like it will break they default and say to take it to a technician. Please help.

P.S. My apologies if you've already seen this question posted as a reply to the 1tb SSD upgrade post.

Accepted answers

-Justin

fat_owen,

There are no screws needed to be removed to remove that hinge piece. You do not have to remove the keyboard or the screen to access the internal components of the system. Once that hinge is removed, there are 12 lower case screws that need to be removed to be able to remove the lower case itself.

All comments

fat_owen

How do you open up the bottom of the R13? I can't find any information on this anywhere. I've tried myself. I have confirmed with Acer that there are 12 screws in total which I have been able to locate and remove. However I have tried to pry the cover off afterwards to no avail. It comes off almost halfway at the middle of both the top and bottom long sides but any further feels like I'm going to break the plastic if I pry any harder. Acer support just tells me to continue to pry around the top until it comes off and when I relate that it feel like it will break they default and say to take it to a technician. Please help.

-Justin

fat_owen,

I believe that the hinge on the back side that has to be removed first, before you remove the lower cover.

fat_owen

Hi Justin, thank you. Do you mean the arms that hold onto the sides of the screen or somewhere else along the bottom where it actually hinges into the keyboard?

-Justin

fat_owen,

Looking at the unit from the picture perspective, it's the hinge that covers where the screen attaches to the unit itself.

fat_owen

How do you remove it? The only screws I can find are those where it actually connects to the screen at the end of the the arms, aside from the 12 screws on the bottom cover.. I can't find any screws where the hinge attaches to the bottom/keyboard.

-Justin

fat_owen,

Without having the ability to actually put my hands on one of these I'm restricted to pictures. There aren't any screws holding it in place, just some clips and latches that snap in to place.

fat_owen

Ok, do you have to hold the screen bracket in a certain position to unclip it?

-Justin

fat_owen,

The picture shows the bottom of the unit facing up when removing it.

fat_owen

Ok but is the screen closed clamshell style or is it opened when removing the hinge and do you have links to the pictures that show this process? Sorry for so many questions. I do appreciate the help.

-Justin

fat_owen,

I don't have any pictures to provide, but the screen is closed clamshell style.

fat_owen

Ok the very last thing I'll ask is do I have to remove any or all screws on the bottom cover before I can remove the hinge or will it come off without removing any screws? Also by removing the hinge I will also be removing the screen from the keyboard correct?

-Justin

fat_owen,

There are no screws needed to be removed to remove that hinge piece. You do not have to remove the keyboard or the screen to access the internal components of the system. Once that hinge is removed, there are 12 lower case screws that need to be removed to be able to remove the lower case itself.

fat_owen

Ok the hinge was definitely the secret to getting the cover off. You do however need to remove the screws first in order to lift up the top left corner of the cover when facing bottom side up. There are catch tabs which you have to insert a small softish material tool (I used a wooden finger nail cuticle pusher) to unclip them without putting too much pressure damage on the cover. Once you get the first clip of the hinge cover off you can continue to work the one or two other clip points on it until it comes off. This leaves the top side with easy access to undo the clips holding on the bottom cover. Then you just work your way around undoing each clip at the snag points. It's not easy but with patience and an adequate pick tool you can manage. I finally did Smiley Happy

-Justin

fat_owen,

Excellent, glad to hear it.

VV1997

Hello Owen,

You said you unscrewed 12 screws. Are these the screws that are visible on the bottom of the laptop?

And where exactly did you put pressure on the hinge to release it? (a picture could be very helpful)

I myself own an R13 as well and would like to know how to add an additional SSD as well (as I have the 128 GB model). Without breaking the laptop ofcourse. Smiley Very Happy