Most black berries don't have cameras for that reason. they were originally for business most corporate and government locations do not allow cameras or even camera phones. wasn't until just recently a lot of younger people (who want camera phones) got into the black berry fad and black berry decided to go media phone for that new crowd of black berry customers. if im not mistaken verizon does offer black berries in a camera less version for government employees. not sure if gsm carriers do this.

Can the housing on a 8100 (Pearl) be replaced? My screen had scratches, and I let some dummy tell me that you could used toothpaste to remove them. Well as dummy#2, I did, and now I have a blurry spot on my screen in place of the scratch. (I would have rather had the scratch. it was smaller). Well now I need a new LCD or a new housing all together.

Can I used a dummy phone? If not for the housing, can I use it for the LCD?

Thanks,
Mel

I am having trouble putting the silver sides back on, any help?

Hi All,

Great picture directions. We put together a free Blackberry Pearl 8100 Take apart video on Youtube here is the link:

YouTube - Blackberry Pearl 8100 Screen Replacement & Dissection

Thanks,
Staff at PDAparts.com
PDAparts is the Palm Treo, HP iPAQ, Blackberry, iPOD and PDA Parts and Repair Specialist

i dropped it in a pot of pizza sauce, thought i was dead meat! but this thread helped me not break my phone trying to clean it

everyone has info on mods they've done to their phones but i haven't been able to find any info from any posts on if any users have found alternative cases and colors for their 8100. i'd like to swap the plain black case out on my 8100 for something in red. anyone have a source for cases for the 8100?

A member asked me how to repair his earpiece speaker, so thought I'd post a pic of the motherboard, the front and my answer to his question.

_____________________________

I've read alot of your threads and recently came across the thread with you selling the 8100 parts. I have an 8100 with a malfunctioning ear peice. I was wondering, is the internal ear peice/speaker connected to the front face plate? Do you know if there is any place to buy one? or just the speaker alone? Appreciate your time, and your help!

Thanks,
Justin


It's actually easy to fix if it is a matter of the earpiece speaker coming out of contact with the contacts on the motherboard.

The entire mechanism is kinda flimsy so I would take it apart to see if you can fix it.

The earpiece speaker has a foam pad around the edge. That sticks to the faceplate in a recess. That can come loose, I suspect.

Also, the back of the earpiece has two prongs that come into contact with the motherboard contacts. They are not soldered or otherwise "glued," they simply rely on pressure of the prongs against the the contact areas on the motherboard. I suspect the contacts are loose.

You would simply take apart the Pearl and carefully make sure the contacts/prongs have enough "spring" to come into contact with the motherboard.

I have the motherboard so see pic below for where I am talking about, the contacts on the motherboard.

While it looks daunting, the Pearl comes apart quite easily.

I was taking mine apart and noticed a spring on the floor. Is that from the pearl, or is it just something that was lying around already?

I seem to be having a lot of trouble taking the side bars off. Any tips or tools to use to easily remove it?

Just out of curiosity, is a T6 wrench something I can pick up from an office supply or computer store? I have a computer repair kit and there are a couple of torque wrenches in the kit, but they're both too large.

UPDATE: Found one at a local wholesale electronics supply store

anyone know where you can get the tools that are needed for disassembly?

where can i buy a white replacement bottom plastic cover (where the tmobile logo is)

Is dissembling an 8300 near the same (according to the pictures?).. I'm a little worried about diving into this..

Is dissembling an 8300 near the same (according to the pictures?).. I'm a little worried about diving into this..

"The LCD is held on using double sided tape, and seems very thin and flexible. I highly doubt that this lcd is user replaceable (at least with ease) like other BlackBerry LCD's are"

Actually, the LCD is very easy to change yourself. If you look at the top left corner of the LCD, you will see a copper ribbon leading to the LCD. If you remove the tape on top of the connector, you will encounter a black flip lock. Carefully raise the flip lock to unlock the copper ribbon. This is the final step to remove the LCD. The ribbon and LCD will simply slide out.Reassembly is just the opposite. Hope this helps.

thanks i was able to fix my ear peace! here is the Blackberry 8100 pearl disassembly VIDEO on youtube here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5QDsk8tEdo

Will the pics be back up soon for this. Or is it me? I go to the FAQs and the pics aren't there?

Help?

I can't view the pictures either, looks like they may have been removed. Can somebody fix it please?

I went to use the link and the pics are not showing up.... does any body know where I can see this process elsewhere or when the pics will be back

Sorry this issue has already been posted, Ill read a liitle more next time.......

i bought the replacement latch, and im having a hard time putting it on, the spring always bends the wrong way and the latch wont stay down. any ideas?

Im having the same problem as the other above.

The anoying [X] thing.


-edit-

Not sure if im allowed to post a link or not but im pretty sure the same thing can be found here- How to disassemble a BlackBerry Pearl-lots of pix, too! - BBHub

But that one has working links.

ok i will have a look at it,and thank you for sharing it