How do you remove the dashboard on a 1997 Volvo 850 in order to replace the bulbs?

The bulb type should be listed in your owner's manual (you did keep it, didn't you?)

Volvos normally use halogen bulbs which must be handled very carefully. Wear clean rubber or cloth gloves since any skin oil that gets on the bulb glass can cause it to shatter when it reaches operating temperature.

Open the hood/bonnet and look in each front corner of the engine compartment. There should be a plastic holder for the bulb, accessible from the rear of the lamp cover. Pull off the power connector and release the metal spring that holds the bulb in place. Carefully remove the old bulb and set it aside somewhere safe so it won't fall and shatter. Take the new bulb (while you're wearing those gloves, of course) and put it into the holder. There should be little detents that align it correctly in the holder. Compress the metal spring and put it into place, then reinstall the power connector.

Aside from the fact that halogen bulbs are very finicky about being handled, the job is actually pretty easy.