HP Monitor MX75 / P1499A dead ('open case, how?)

[Paul Smith]

Before I tear into this beast - suspecting either blown fuse or
softstart circuit failure; how does the case open? Beyond the typical
two screws near the pedestal, there only appears to be some curious
recessed black overgrown-hex screw on the top <!>. 'Thought I would
ask before I start, so as to avoid frustration/pry-bars. It's the
first CRT I've encountered that isn't intuitively obvious from the
exterior...

And, if anyone is familiar with any typical power-up failure
mechanisms (it's dead as a doornail now), I'd be eternally grateful!

Thx, all.
Paul

[Keeper of the Purple Twilight]

> Paul Smithwrote:
Before I tear into this beast - suspecting either blown fuse or softstart circuit failure; how does the case open? Beyond the
typical two screws near the pedestal, there only appears to be some curious recessed black overgrown-hex screw on the top <!>. 'Thought I
would ask before I start, so as to avoid frustration/pry-bars. It's the first CRT I've encountered that isn't intuitively obvious from the exterior... And, if anyone is familiar with any typical power-up failure mechanisms (it's dead as a doornail now), I'd be eternally
grateful! Thx, all. Paul

I know this post is years old, and by now you've either figured out
how to remove the cover, or destroyed your monitor trying.. :D

In case anyone else is looking for the same thing, though, I just
figured this out on one that came into my shop:

Remove the base, and the 2 outer screws in the bottom. The inner ones
hold the separate bottom, which is also the circuit board mount. They
don't need to come out.

Then, along the top edge where the front and back come together, there
are two slots about 3 inches in from each edge. These allow access to
a pair of plastic clips that hold the top edge on. Get a wide flat
screwdriver, and slip it into on of these slots. Angle it so the
handle of the screwdriver is pointing toward the back of the monitor
as you go in. When it stops, pry like hell.. :eek: Kidding. You
will need to put quite a bit of force on this though, as it's fairly
inflexible plastic. Firmly pull the handle of the screwdriver toward
the front of the monitor while maintaining the downward pressure.
(This is all assuming your monitor is sitting upright on a flat
surface.) You should be getting to the point of cringing thinking
you're going to break something when the clip will release with a
pretty sharp crack. You'll probably think you have broken something
at this point, but it should have just released that side. Do the
same to the other, and the whole cover should slide off the back of
the monitor.

If you break some plastic doing this, well :crybaby: it sucks. But,
it's a typically annoying name-brand
"don't-fix-it-just-buy-another" monitor. Next time, get an
NEC or Phillips.

[Ben Myers]

Laptop repair is fraught with similar fears of snapping plastic, no matter which
brand it is. I've taken apart a client's Dell notebook twice now, and each time
I cringe while I pull the plastics apart. At Dell (and IBM) have service
manuals on their web site for the notebooks, so one can figure out how to take
them apart. HPaq posts no consumer-accessible service info on its web site, at
least nothing I can find. If you are an authorized HP service provider, you get
the service manuals and the right to charge obscenely high prices for repairs.
We here who are not duly authorized HP gurus generally tell people not to buy HP
again, due to the difficulties of servicing and maintenance... Ben Myers.

On Fri, 24 Feb 2006 18:30:55 GMT, no@spam.invalid (cbservices) wrote:
Paul Smithwrote:Before I tear into this beast - suspecting either blown fuse or softstart circuit failure; how does the case open? Beyond thetypical two screws near the pedestal, there only appears to be some curious recessed black overgrown-hex screw on the top <!>. 'Thought Iwould ask before I start, so as to avoid frustration/pry-bars. It's the first CRT I've encountered that isn't intuitively obvious from the exterior... And, if anyone is familiar with any typical power-up failure mechanisms (it's dead as a doornail now), I'd be eternallygrateful! Thx, all. PaulI know this post is years old, and by now you've either figured outhow to remove the cover, or destroyed your monitor trying.. :DIn case anyone else is looking for the same thing, though, I justfigured this out on one that came into my shop:Remove the base, and the 2 outer screws in the bottom. The inner oneshold the separate bottom, which is also the circuit board mount. Theydon't need to come out.Then, along the top edge where the front and back come together, thereare two slots about 3 inches in from each edge. These allow access toa pair of plastic clips that hold the top edge on. Get a wide flatscrewdriver, and slip it into on of these slots. Angle it so thehandle of the screwdriver is pointing toward the back of the monitoras you go in. When it stops, pry like hell.. :eek: Kidding. Youwill need to put quite a bit of force on this though, as it's fairlyinflexible plastic. Firmly pull the handle of the screwdriver towardthe front of the monitor while maintaining the downward pressure.(This is all assuming your monitor is sitting upright on a flatsurface.) You should be getting to the point of cringing thinkingyou're going to break something when the clip will release with apretty sharp crack. You'll probably think you have broken somethingat this point, but it should have just released that side. Do thesame to the other, and the whole cover should slide off the back ofthe monitor.If you break some plastic doing this, well :crybaby: it sucks. But,it's a typically annoying name-brand"don't-fix-it-just-buy-another" monitor. Next time, get anNEC or Phillips.