A technician received an escalated trouble ticket for a laptop that required the replacement of the internal speakers. When the technician arrived and inspected the laptop, he found that the external plastic covers and keyboard bezel that were removed by the previous technician were scratched, cracked, and not fitting together properly. After interviewing the laptop's user, he determined that the laptop covers were fitting properly prior to the initial disassembly by the previous technician.

Which of the following is the most likely reason for this issue?

a. The laptop's internal battery has swollen and disfigured the bottom case of the laptop.
b. The previous technician did not remove the ribbon cable connecting the touch pad and keyboard to the system board.
c. The previous technician was not careful when prying the plastic case apart.
d. The battery and AC adapter were not removed prior to attempting to remove the speakers.