The following guide to removing the back panel from a Hudl2 is a brief extract from my book:
Removing the Back Panel
The first challenge you are going to face when starting to repair a Hudl 2 is removing the back panel of the case. This can seem difficult and daunting at first, but like anything, it becomes easier with experience and practice. The important thing is to have access to the proper tools for the job and take your time. The Hudl 2 back panel clips are quite delicate and it’s very easy to break them while removing the back panel if you use too much force. Should this happen, you’ll end up with a Hudl 2 back panel that won’t connect properly, with ugly gaps showing when you clip it back on.
The following items, in order of preference, can be used to remove the back panel of the Hudl 2.
I prefer to use a spudger tool for this task, as this has far less chance of damaging the clips on the case than either a plectrum or in a worse case scenario, a butter knife. This is primarily because the spudger tool is made of plastic that is actually softer than the Hudl 2 case. This means there is very little chance of the spudger tool damaging the case or breaking the case clips. Start at one of the four corners and use a fingernail or a plectrum to prise open a small space big enough to fit your tool of choice into. Slide this slowly down the case, wiggling it slightly to apply lateral pressure to the clips. These should then pop open without breaking. Repeat this process working around all four sides of the Hudl 2. Once this is complete, you can remove it without any trouble.
When putting the case back on, align the “Power on” and volume controls first.
There is only one way to put a Hudl 2 back panel on properly. Start with the side with the “power on” and volume controls. You need to ensure that these align perfectly with the three micro switches on the side of the Hudl 2 motherboard. The buttons on the back panel have rubber tabs inside them that need to come into contact with the micro switches, so that when button are pressed on the outside of the Hudl 2 case, the rubber will then press on the micro switches. The easiest way to do this is to put the case back on at an angle. The external buttons frequently have an overhanging plastic lip on them that needs to fit inside the case, otherwise it will actively prevent the buttons from working correctly. This is probably the only occasion I’ve seen where the legacies of the manufacturing process are helpful to repairs!
Make sure the overhanging plastic fits inside the case and that the buttons align with the micro switches