Not sure about 'Absolute' but if your DC01 is like mine then what you need to change is within 3 inches of the push button switch. Only its inside. So:
0. Before you start ensure you have:
a. a #10 star type screwdriver.
b. the ability to form (crimp) a 1/4" electrical spade connection. If not, you'll need some way to (reliably) connect one of the new wires to one of the old wires WITHOUT TAKING UP VERY MUCH VOLUME AT ALL. Estimate: in less than 1/16th of a cubic inch.
1. Check again that the appliance is not plugged into the household electrical mains supply.
2. Swing the dust collector assembly off. Better, once swung off, pull it away from the body of the cleaner by displacing it sideways (relative to its handle) until one of the lugs Gently breaks looose. Otherwise its awkward to handle. You can put it together again later, with care, by reversing this process.
3. Using your absolutely necewssary #15 star type screwdriver, take off the internal cover plate that is now apparent at the back of the on/off push button toggle switch.
4. Gently Lift Out what wiring you can without straining any of it. This is to get at the connectors going to the switch.
5. Disconnect from the switch the spade connector that is on the wire that comes in from outside (a wire of the cable you wish to abbreviate/replace). Note its colour for later. You may need to manipulate the switch out of its harbour in order to achieve this. It just fiddles out.
6. Once you've achieved this you should - if you have observed all the pre-requisites - be able to complete the job. So then unscrew the small shiny metallic retainer lug that serves to prevent the external cable from pulling on any of the gubbinses inside.
7. Unscrew the other wire of the external cable from the half-of-a-'chocolate-box' type connector, noting what other wire is also connected to this (for later reconnection).
8. Decide what you want to do about connecting the new cable to the switch. If you can crimp a new spade connector (with plastic insulating cover) onto the appropriate wire of the new cable, you may elect to do that. Else you will have to somehow get another half of a 'chocolate-box' type connector to connect the existing wire coming from the switch to the new wire. Either way, you probably have to CUT the wire that goes to the switch in order to get the old cable out.
9. Cajole the old cable out.
10. Cajole the new cable in.
11. Crimp a new spade connector to the correctly coloured required wire (it will be the live wire) of the new cable, being sure to attach first any plastic insulator (e.g. the original one) FIRST if necessary.
11a. Fit this new spade connection to the switch.
12. Connect the other wire (it should be the NEUTRAL) of the new cable to the original half chocolate-box connector.
12a. If you can do it relatively safely - gingerly test for electrical function. Then disconnect again.
13. (Disconnect). Cajole the switch back into place.
13a. Test, with care, for electrical function if not already tested.
14/15. Disconnect. Cajole all wiring into the cavity provided.
14a. Test again.
15/14. Disconnect. Place the retainer over the new cable and screw in place.
16. Replace internal cover
16a. Test again.
17. Disconnect. Put the rest of the DC01 back together.
Chris Johns, August 2013