Gaming I will attempt to shell swap a DS Lite out of a broken shell, a few questions

[SkyDX]

I have a DS Lite I got at a pawn shop years ago that has a beat up shell and a semi-broken hinge so I just ordered a new translucent shell off eBay, this will be my first hardware mod of this sort and I have a few questions.

First, I watched alot of DS Lite disassembly videos and everyone removes the WiFi board, do I actually have to remove it if I just do a shell swap, couldn't I simply keep it attached to the mainboard since I throw everything into the new shell anyway?

Second, could I first do the bottom part of the shell swap completely and after closing the bottom part up move to the hinge and the top screen?

Third, would anyone who has experience with the DS Lite hardware maybe be so nice and help me out on Discord while I'm doing it? Just so I have someone to ask if I get stuck or mess up somehow.

It's not urgent at all either, eBay says my shipment will arrive at earliest on Saturday and latest on Monday.

Thanks for any help in advance!

 

[IC_]

First, I watched alot of DS Lite disassembly videos and everyone removes the WiFi board, do I actually have to remove it if I just do a shell swap, couldn't I simply keep it attached to the mainboard since I throw everything into the new shell anyway?

You don't really have to remove it but you have to unplug the antenna cable because it goes through the hinge to the top part and it's just easier to remove it

Second, could I first do the bottom part of the shell swap completely and after closing the bottom part up move to the hinge and the top screen?

The display, antenna and microphone wires go through the hinge to the bottom part and if it's even possible to replace the top shell part without unplugging the cables you would just end up breaking the cables so just separate the top and bottom piece and then connect them back together

Third, would anyone who has experience with the DS Lite hardware maybe be so nice and help me out on Discord while I'm doing it? Just so I have someone to ask if I get stuck or mess up somehow.

Sure but you could just reply to this thread too

 

[SkyDX]

You don't really have to remove it but you have to unplug the antenna cable because it goes through the hinge to the top part and it's just easier to remove it

The display, antenna and microphone wires go through the hinge to the bottom part and if it's even possible to replace the top shell part without unplugging the cables you would just end up breaking the cables so just separate the top and bottom piece and then connect them back together

Sure but you could just reply to this thread too

Thanks for clearing these up! I just checked and I have a TriWing in my bit-set already too. And I know I could post here but here it might take a while till I get an answer

 

[izy]

Just remember to be careful fitting everything through the hinge

 

[SkyDX]

Just remember to be careful fitting everything through the hinge

Hey Squee! And yeah that's the part I'm most afraid of.

 

[Amez]

The hardest past of a DS Lite shell swap is getting the top screen ribbon out of the old shell and back into the new shell, to get it out you have to gently guide it through the hole and if at any point you think it's stuck - slide it back the other way and then try again, soo many people give it a little pull and end up splitting the ribbon cable.

Top tip for beginners... use your camera phone to take pictures of the console with the back off and then with the top cover off, this will give you an idea of how it should look when you've finished, (if you've had the DS a few years - chances are it's all original inside and nobody has fiddled with it)

Good luck

 

[SkyDX]

The hardest past of a DS Lite shell swap is getting the top screen ribbon out of the old shell and back into the new shell, to get it out you have to gently guide it through the hole and if at any point you think it's stuck - slide it back the other way and then try again, soo many people give it a little pull and end up splitting the ribbon cable.

Top tip for beginners... use your camera phone to take pictures of the console with the back off and then with the top cover off, this will give you an idea of how it should look when you've finished, (if you've had the DS a few years - chances are it's all original inside and nobody has fiddled with it)

Good luck

Thanks for the tip, the camera idea sounds super handy! I had to postpone the project a few days since I found out my tri-wing bit wasn't the right size so I ordered a tri-wing screwdriver from eBay.

 

[Ericthegreat]

I have a DS Lite I got at a pawn shop years ago that has a beat up shell and a semi-broken hinge so I just ordered a new translucent shell off eBay, this will be my first hardware mod of this sort and I have a few questions.

First, I watched alot of DS Lite disassembly videos and everyone removes the WiFi board, do I actually have to remove it if I just do a shell swap, couldn't I simply keep it attached to the mainboard since I throw everything into the new shell anyway?

Second, could I first do the bottom part of the shell swap completely and after closing the bottom part up move to the hinge and the top screen?

Third, would anyone who has experience with the DS Lite hardware maybe be so nice and help me out on Discord while I'm doing it? Just so I have someone to ask if I get stuck or mess up somehow.

It's not urgent at all either, eBay says my shipment will arrive at earliest on Saturday and latest on Monday.

Thanks for any help in advance!

Watch the videos. be careful not to break cables, don't put too long of screws in the wrong holes or screw screws through your shell, other then that, its not that bad, ist a fun mod, dont strip yours screws either. Have fun.

 

[nolimits59]

Map your screws, carefull with the ribbon on the hinge, this is the most pain in the ass moment I occured when I "case moded" my DS Lite, but hey, worth it ! (though i barely use it anymore as the DSi is 10000000x better on any point x) )

(Gave her a "pokeball" color scheme without it being too obvious! )

 

[SkyDX]

Watch the videos. be careful not to break cables, don't put too long of screws in the wrong holes or screw screws through your shell, other then that, its not that bad, ist a fun mod, dont strip yours screws either. Have fun.

Map your screws, carefull with the ribbon on the hinge, this is the most pain in the ass moment I occured when I "case moded" my DS Lite, but hey, worth it ! (though i barely use it anymore as the DSi is 10000000x better on any point x) )

(Gave her a "pokeball" color scheme without it being too obvious! )

Alright thanks! I plan to put each type of screw in their own labeled cup so I hopefully won't mess that up

And that Pokéball Lite looks beautiful, great job!

 

[SkyDX]

I guess I have to shelf this project, the two left-side Tri-Wing screws seem to be stripped and I can't get them out, oh well :/

 

[IC_]

I guess I have to shelf this project, the two left-side Tri-Wing screws seem to be stripped and I can't get them out, oh well :/

Try using a hammer or some destructive methods since you're going to replace the shell anyway

 

[SkyDX]

Try using a hammer or some destructive methods since you're going to replace the shell anyway

Well I did just that and broke off a veeeery small part of the PCB right at the very corner, I'm curious if it still works

 

[IC_]

Well I did just that and broke off a veeeery small part of the PCB right at the very corner, I'm curious if it still works

If it's a veeeery small part it should be fine
With the hammer I mean putting the screwdriver into the screw and hitting the screwdriver from the top a few times

 

[SkyDX]

If it's a veeeery small part it should be fine
With the hammer I mean putting the screwdriver into the screw and hitting the screwdriver from the top a few times

I freed the board now, that's the damage:

It's basically just the wrap-around of the plastic-tube where the screw resides. But now I wonder, how do I get the green border off that sits around the bottom-screen?

 

[IC_]

I freed the board now, that's the damage:

It's basically just the wrap-around of the plastic-tube where the screw resides. But now I wonder, how do I get the green border off that sits around the bottom-screen?

The border is the touch screen panel, you have to unplug that tiny ribbon cable from the bottom of the board and then use a flat screwdriver or guitar pick or similar tool to peel it off the screen
You don't have to remove it if you're going to put it back in with the same touch panel and border though
https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Nintendo_DS_Lite

 

[SkyDX]

The border is the touch screen panel, you have to unplug that tiny ribbon cable from the bottom of the board and then use a flat screwdriver or guitar pick or similar tool to peel it off the screen
You don't have to remove it if you're going to put it back in with the same touch panel and border though
https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Nintendo_DS_Lite

Yeah okay I'm going to leave the green border on the screens, even though my replacement-shells came with gray borders that's way too much of a hassle to remove

 

[SkyDX]

The border is the touch screen panel, you have to unplug that tiny ribbon cable from the bottom of the board and then use a flat screwdriver or guitar pick or similar tool to peel it off the screen
You don't have to remove it if you're going to put it back in with the same touch panel and border though
https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Nintendo_DS_Lite

Another question, I managed to reassembled the top-screen in the new shell now but I'm stuck at the hinge cylinder. How can I make sure it has the right rotation and is it normal that I would have to force it in with strong force in the new shell? In the old, broken shell it slides in easily.

 

[IC_]

Another question, I managed to reassembled the top-screen in the new shell now but I'm stuck at the hinge cylinder. How can I make sure it has the right rotation and is it normal that I would have to force it in with strong force in the new shell? In the old, broken shell it slides in easily.

If the old shell had a loose broken hinge then it's probably normal, I don't really remember how it was for me from the only time I replaced a top screen in a DS lite

 

[SkyDX]

Okay I guess I have to just see if it fits, it's atleast snuggly in the tunnel now.