How to Replace Zune Screens

A Zune media player's LCD screen, which does not have any protection, can be cracked or broken if the player is dropped. You can replace the Zune's screen yourself, saving the cost and time lost from having to send it to a service center. A few tools from an iPod supply store are needed, as is a replacement LCD screen from an electronics supply store. No special electronic skills are needed.

• 1

  Place a bath towel on a table. Place the Zune face up on the bath towel with the LCD screen farthest from you.

• 2

  Insert the tip of the iPod opening tool beneath the plastic cover plate on the bottom left side. Lift up on the tip to loosen the plate. Repeat this on the right side of the bottom of the Zune. Pull the plate out of the bottom of the Zune.

• 3

  Insert the tip of the iPod opening tool into the seam between the front and back case at the upper left corner. Pull the tip down the side of the Zune to the lower left corner. Pull the tip across the width of the Zune to the lower right corner. Pull the tip up the side to the upper right corner. Pull the tip across to the upper left corner.

• 4

  Pull the top case off the back case with your fingers. Place the top case aside. Remove the tape from across the bottom of the battery inside of the bottom case. Remove the two screws surrounding the headphone jack at the upper right corner of the case with the Phillips jeweler's screwdriver.

• 5

  Lift the battery out of the bottom case. Insert the tip of the Phillips jeweler's screwdriver beneath the plug attached to the circuit board on the bottom case. Lift up on the tip to release the plug. Remove the battery from the bottom case and place it aside.

• 6

  Remove the tape from on top of the antenna wire with your fingers. Remove the screws from the circuit board beneath the tape and on the bottom edge of the case with the Phillips jeweler's screwdriver. Unclip the cables using the tip of the Phillips jeweler's screwdriver. Lift the cables up and off the bottom case.

• 7

  Pull the antenna module out of the bottom case with your fingers--the module sits next to the antenna wire that was removed earlier. Insert the tip of the Phillips jeweler's screwdriver beneath the plug on the circuit board underneath the module. Lift up on the tip to release the clip. Remove the screw next to the clip with the Phillips jeweler's screwdriver. Pull the orange cable out of the bottom case.

• 8

  Lift up on the circuit board from the bottom edge. Insert the tip of the Phillips jeweler's screwdriver beneath the plug underneath the circuit board. Lift up on the tip to release the clip holding the plug. Remove the circuit board from the bottom case.

• 9

  Run the edge of the razorblade across the bottom edge of the case to release the wireless assembly's cable. Lift up on the cable with your fingers. Pull the wireless assembly out of the bottom case. Run the edge of the razorblade around the sides of the LCD screen to release the clips holding it in the bottom case.

• 10

  Pull the LCD screen out of the bottom case and its frame. Slide the replacement LCD screen into the frame. Pop the LCD screen back onto the bottom case.

• 11

  Place the circuit board back into the bottom case. Reinsert the plug of the wireless assembly into the circuit board. Place the wireless assembly back into the bottom case. Place the antenna module's cable back into the circuit board. Reattach the screw. Place the antenna module back into the bottom case.

• 12

  Rearrange the cables around the wireless assembly. Replace the tape. Reattach the battery cable to the circuit board. Place the battery back in the bottom case. Reattach the tape. Place the headphone jack back into the bottom case and reattach the screws. Place the front case back on the bottom case. Press down on the sides of the top case to reengage the clips. Place the plate back into the bottom of the Zune.