I ask because I peeled them back then re-stuck them at the support team’s request when getting a replacement battery, and since then I’ve been getting a noise at high fan speeds. I think it’s the sound of excess material on the left sticker that isn’t stuck to a component flapping around in the wind, so to speak. I tried to peel and re-stick it again, and the noise seemed to change slightly.
Can I remove the left sticker entirely or will that break things?
Sorry if this has been answered elsewhere – it’s hard to search for because you only get results for stickers on the outside of the laptop.
OS: Linux Mint 21.1
Framework: 13th gen, Intel Core i7-1370P (I think 2nd batch? I got it in July 2023)
Those are to protect the board when the laptop is opened or the board is handled. Protects it from several things. ESD from anything touching it. Screws or random things falling onto the board going unnoticed, wedging between components, and / or causing a short. It cost Framework extra to have those made and applied, not done without reason. Best to keep the protection.
I’d suggest getting double-sided adhesive tape to apply in some spots if it’s lost stickiness.
The short answer is yes you may remove them and nothing will break on its own.*
*Like what @MJ1 said; Framework went the extra mile to protect those areas. As long as you are aware of what they are protecting and why; if readhering them does not work out they may be removed. Just know to be careful when working in and around those areas they normally are protected by.
Even taping over them with clear scotch tape could be ok if done carefully to hold them in place better.
It’s less that they’re coming unstuck and more that they have a lot of excess material that extends past the tallest components underneath them. This excess material can’t stick to anything, it’s just hanging in space. Maybe re-sticking them again will let me find a less noisy position…
Keeping in mind what MJ1 said, if I had this problem, I’d think that…
Capton tape is more flexible, IMO you can cut a piece of it to match the shape of the plastic and stick it on instead of the plastic. It’ll flex to stick to more components so you’ll have less flappage
