In this case, I think GE may stand for "Gratuitous Effort" (Required). I'm unsure why they made this so complex. Luckily, by some miracle I saved the instructions.Here's how to do it.
- At the base of the mouse (nearest your wrist), you'll see a small rectangular tab. Push down on it, and slide the cover off the top of the mouse. If your mouse is colored this is the top colored portion that slides free.
- You'll see the two batteries, trapped under the Plastic Holder of Death (P.H.D. for short). On the side of the P.H.D. closest to your wrist, look for a very small rectangular tab. It is right in the middle, in the ditch between the batteries, and rests on top of a small circular indentation/ lens thing.
- On the other end of the P.H.D, just below the mouse wheel, you should also see a larger plastic latch holding that end in place. The key is to push in the small rectangular tab while, at the same time, lifting the latch. The tab doesn't want to move, and this is tricky to do with just two hands, so what I did was:
-
Use the tip of a pen to press firmly on the plastic tab. It doesn't seem to want to move; personally just my finger pressure didn't do it, although if you have fingernails it might work for you. But the pen helped me push harder and also was easier to do one-handed. -While you push with the pen, use the other hand to slide a
fingernail into the latch on the other end of the P.H.D. Push
the latch back (towards where you're holding down the tab
with the pen), while at the same time lifting up. The tab being
pushed down will cause this latch to free, and you should feel
it come loose. Then you can simply maneuver one or the
other end of the P.H.D. out. The tab will eventually pop free,
and your batteries will once again see the light of day.
- A side note: I realized that, if you do this enough times (like more than once), the tab sort of wants to pop off. This was not a disaster. In fact, it was kind of awesome, since I won't have to do this rigmarole again. The large latch on the wheel end is plenty to hold the P.H.D. in place, and you can also wedge the (broken-off) tab back in if you want an even tighter fit. Once the mouse cover is back in place, of course, it's all good.
Whew. See my Microsoft Paint Masterpiece below for a visual on this.
Viva las pilas!