Cuz We Said So

The screen mask includes the clear writing window as well as the black and silver borders around it. (Here's a picture of the new screen mask next to the tablet.). The mask is Toshiba part number P000388420; I ordered my new one from National Parts Depot, who call it an LCD MASK ASSEMBLY PORTEGE M200. They responded to my order promptly, and shipped the part the same day. Total cost including UPS 2nd Day shipping was $166. Spare Parts Warehouse also carries it. (Many thanks to justjoem2 on at the TabletPCBuzz.com forums for tracking down the part number and suppliers.)

The mask snaps onto the surface of the tablet, and is held in place with six Philips head screws.

Four of the screws are located under the four gray, rubber plugs located along the hinge side of the display, two by the hinge, and two by the corners.

The other two screws are located under the triangular black decals at the corner of the display along the latch side of the display.

Replacing the mask took about twenty minutes. To replace it, I:

1. Turned off the tablet and moved it to a clean (relatively dust-free) location.

2. Removed the four rubber plugs. I was able to remove these using a very small flat head screw driver, pushing it straight down along the edge of the plug, then gently levering the plug out of the hole.

3. Removed the two triangular decals. I was able to do this easily just by sliding my thumbnail under the long edge of each decal. I placed the decals aside sticky side up, so I could reuse them later.

4. Removed all six screws using a small Philips head screwdriver.

5. Gently pried the damaged screen mask from the tablet. I found the mask is still snapped onto the tablet even with the screws out. By using a flat head screwdriver in the two narrow slots along the latch side of the screen, and working my way carefully around the screen assembly, I was able to pull the mask and the tablet gently apart without hurting anything.

6. Attached the replacement screen mask to the tablet. If, like my mask, yours came with plastic sheeting on each side, you'll need to remove the sheeting first. Be careful not to touch the inside surface of the mask, as your fingers will likely leave smudges that will be visible once the mask is reattached.

7. Made sure the silver cap on the four-way switch was properly seated on the switch underneath--it simply rests there, and falls off if one isn't careful--and that there was no dust or other debris present on either the underside of the mask or on the tablet. Then I snapped the new mask into place.

8. Replaced all six screws to their original locations, reapplied the triangular decals, and replaced the rubber plugs.

Voila! Done.