dirty screen :(

flyingpete2002 · #1 (**permalink**) 24th Mar 2007, 1:24 am

i need some help guys. so, i have a fmp 1.5, and the problem is that there is dirt on the inside of the screen. is there anyway to clean it w/o dismatling this thing? i've read some stuff about dismantling it and it doesnt seem too easy, or safe for that matter. is there anyone who's had to deal w/ this b4? thx in advance for the help.

lattesurf · #2 (**permalink**) 24th Mar 2007, 1:33 am

flyingpete2002 , if you need to clean the inside of the screen, you need to open the player. There is no other way to access the inside if it is not opened.

flyingpete2002 · #3 (**permalink**) 24th Mar 2007, 8:08 pm

lol. i thought as much. so, is there a tutorial on opening the ipod nano clone w/o messing it up? this is the one with the rounded sides...no screws...

_Odyssey · #4 (**permalink**) 24th Mar 2007, 8:39 pm

flyingpete2002, I have a FMP 1.5 and i always have dirt, dust and wierd fluffy stuff collecting under the screen. I've taken mine apart several times to clean and it isn't an easy task.
But heres how to do it...

First you have to remove the control button. This is probably the hardest part. It doesn't need to be rotated counter clockwise like other nano clones. It's actually stuck to the actuation pads with a thin layer of sticky glue type material.
You have to lift the button with a very small fine flat screwdriver being careful not to break the thin plastic pad type things underneath. You have to separate the circular button from these pads very carefully, so do it slowly. Don't pull it straight off or these pads will break and the button won't be any good to you. There are 4 of these pads... just gently raise the button and slide the screwdriver under each at a time separating each one by removing the sticky stuff.
Once the button is off make sure there is no sticky residue left on them otherwise it will make it very hard to slide the guts of the unit out.

Next remove the sticker from the bottom of the player around the headphone socket and USB port. Peel it off carefully so the sticky stuff comes off with it.
Then remove the two screws from either side and take the bottom panel off.

Next, push upwards very gently on each 'white' post where the screws were attached the panel. Alternate this pushing, push one side a little then the other side. After a little while the top of the unit should 'pop out'.
Continue doing that unit there is enough of the unit out to hold firmly with your fingers and gently slide the insides out face down... otherwise it'll all just fall apart. Be careful not to catch any of the buttons/actuation pads on the way out.

Then you can clean the screen and the inside of the glass with a cotton swab or something similar.

To put it back together just reverse the process and stick the button back with the sticky material that came off with it.

Take it slow and be aware of what is what... good luck

flyingpete2002 · #5 (**permalink**) 28th Mar 2007, 10:13 pm

thank you odyssey. i am happy to say that the operation was successful. my fmp came out looking like when i first got it. now, another ?: where's the dirt coming in from, and is there something i can do to stop it from happening again?

_Odyssey · #6 (**permalink**) 28th Mar 2007, 10:57 pm

pete,

At first i wondered the same thing. I thought the dirt and dust was getting in through the USB port and headphone socket. Which it can, but it has to work it's way up through the player to get onto the screen. Shortly after giving mine a clean i used a cloth to wipe off the fingerprints. As soon as i had finished i saw that more dust and fluff has got in under the glass cover.

Then i had a close look at it. Around the sides of the screen there is a very small gap about 1/8th of a millimeter wide.. wide enough for dust particles to squeeze between. When i gave the screen a wipe, some small particles of... something... came off the cloth and slipped in this small space and stuck to the LCD panel under the glass. I then realised that all the while it was rolling around in my pocket earlier, dust and fluff were getting 'pushed' under the screen at the sides.

I have considered trying to squeeze some silicon sealant or glue around it to fill the gap.. a delicate job. Maybe... but for now if i take it with me anywhere i put it in a small air tight plastic clip seal bag

flyingpete2002 · #7 (**permalink**) 13th Apr 2007, 10:16 pm

sry for the long delay, but thanks. i guess i'll just keep opening it to clean it whenever i need to. i actually bought a pack of ipod "socks," but it still gets dirty... o well.