How to Make a Netbook Into a Touch Screen
A netbook is an inexpensive, lightweight miniature laptop. Unlike a tablet PC, a netbook doesn't offer a touchscreen LCD, which is a screen you can touch and write on via your finger or a stylus. If you can't find a tablet PC in your budget range or want a highly-portable touchscreen computer, you can add a touch screen to your netbook, transforming it into a cheap tablet PC.
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Things You'll Need
- Solderless touchscreen kit
- Plastic prying tool
- Jewelry screwdriver kit
- Netbook manual
- Cloth
Instructions
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Purchase a solderless touchscreen kit for your specific netbook model. Unlike a normal touchscreen panel, a solderless kit is a touchscreen for your netbook that is pre-wired so that you simply connect it to one of the free USB power ports on the motherboard.
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Turn off your computer, unplug its power cord and remove its battery. This is a basic safety precaution to prevent accidental electrocution. Wash the netbook's LCD with a damp cloth.
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Remove your netbook's keyboard and screen bezel. While each netbook is different, most can be disassembled by prying up a small piece of plastic that is located directly above the keyboard. Once the plastic is removed, two screws will be visible where the plastic was; they attach the keyboard to the chassis. Remove the screws, then lift the keyboard and gently disconnect its ribbons from the motherboard. Remove the screen's bezel by removing its screws if it has them, or prying it off with a plastic prying tool. Consult with your computer's manual for specific instructions.
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Consult with your netbook's manual to locate a free internal USB power port on the motherboard; plug the touchscreen's cable into one of these ports. Remove the adhesive covering from the back of the touchscreen, then place the adhesive side of the glass against your netbook's LCD. Press the touchscreen firmly in place.
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Replace the keyboard, making sure the touchscreen's cable is tucked neatly into the machine. Replace the two screws, then the plastic piece that is situated above them. Replace the LCD's bezel by screwing or snapping it in place, depending on which type it is. The bezel may bulge slightly due to the added girth of the touchscreen.
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Tips & Warnings
Adding a touch screen may void your netbook's warranty.
