This week I have been working on an Acer AL1916W and a Dell E178fp, both of which have cases where the front bezel is snapped to the back of the case, rather than being retained by screws. There are a lot of posts and web sites around which say to pry this type of case apart with a flat blade screwdriver, and that is what I did. However, it is probably worth noting that that for both of these cases what works best is not to pry the bezel straight up from the case, but rather to pry the back of the case outward from the monitor while simultaneously lifting the bezel and rotating it (top part moving outward, bottom part moving inward). This works because along the hidden inside face of the bezel there are periodically flanges which project down, each with a set of rectangular holes. The back of the case has a matching set of triangular shaped hooks, and prying the case outward disengages the hooks so that the bezel can move up. Using this method the bezel and case will not be marred as you work around the edge until the bezel is fully released, because the screwdriver is pressing on the inside edge of the case, which won't be visible once the case is reassembled. While it is possible to pry a case apart by prying straight up, it leaves a series of dings in the case from the edge of the screwdriver, and tends to break the plastic hooks that held it together. That was the method used on the Acer, and it was the wrong method.
Making the initial detachment between the bezel and the case is tricky though. I thoroughly chewed up about an inch on one side of the Dell trying to get the screwdriver in to begin separating the case from the bezel before finally finding a method which works. Initially I started working on the bottom of the case, so the marks wouldn't be so visible, but on the Dell the bottom was much tighter than the sides and top, and I just couldn't get it to budge. I am right handed, reverse if you are left handed. Place the display on a table facing up with one side away from you. Grasp the bezel in the middle of the far side with your left hand and pull up on the inside edge with your thumb. Rest the near side of the display against your gut, and press down hard with the fingers of your left hand on the outer edge of the bezel. This makes the back of the case flex outward slightly, and the outside edge of the bezel move in slightly. With your right hand slide a small screwdriver between the bezel and the case, aiming downward as much as possible (prying the case outward). Once it is in place leave it there to keep the hole open and insert a larger screwdriver next to it. Repeat until quite a large screwdriver is wedged in. I started with a largish jewelers screwdriver, then a smallish flat blade, and finally a large flat blade. Once the large screwdriver is in use it as a crowbar between the metal side of the actual display and the inside of the plastic case. Eventually one of the tabs will pop free and this will form a "bubble" in the connection between the bezel and the case. At that point the display can be placed flat on the table, and the rest of the bezel released as described in the first paragraph.
It would be better yet if there was a way to pull the case straight out, perhaps by attaching a handle with a releasable glue of some sort. Unfortunately without drilling a hole in it, mechanically there is just nothing available to grab onto on the outer case surface to let you pull it outward from the display.
Sorry, no pictures, I was working alone on this and did not have a free hand. Will post some pictures of the flange and hooks later.
Making the initial detachment between the bezel and the case is tricky though. I thoroughly chewed up about an inch on one side of the Dell trying to get the screwdriver in to begin separating the case from the bezel before finally finding a method which works. Initially I started working on the bottom of the case, so the marks wouldn't be so visible, but on the Dell the bottom was much tighter than the sides and top, and I just couldn't get it to budge. I am right handed, reverse if you are left handed. Place the display on a table facing up with one side away from you. Grasp the bezel in the middle of the far side with your left hand and pull up on the inside edge with your thumb. Rest the near side of the display against your gut, and press down hard with the fingers of your left hand on the outer edge of the bezel. This makes the back of the case flex outward slightly, and the outside edge of the bezel move in slightly. With your right hand slide a small screwdriver between the bezel and the case, aiming downward as much as possible (prying the case outward). Once it is in place leave it there to keep the hole open and insert a larger screwdriver next to it. Repeat until quite a large screwdriver is wedged in. I started with a largish jewelers screwdriver, then a smallish flat blade, and finally a large flat blade. Once the large screwdriver is in use it as a crowbar between the metal side of the actual display and the inside of the plastic case. Eventually one of the tabs will pop free and this will form a "bubble" in the connection between the bezel and the case. At that point the display can be placed flat on the table, and the rest of the bezel released as described in the first paragraph.
It would be better yet if there was a way to pull the case straight out, perhaps by attaching a handle with a releasable glue of some sort. Unfortunately without drilling a hole in it, mechanically there is just nothing available to grab onto on the outer case surface to let you pull it outward from the display.
Sorry, no pictures, I was working alone on this and did not have a free hand. Will post some pictures of the flange and hooks later.