Opening Powerbooks

Date: Thu, 17 Feb 1994 19:49:29 +0100 From: martin@luc.ac.be Subject: PowerBook 170 screen problem (summary) Dear net, on my query about a weird PowerBook 170 problem, where the screen image would start dancing around every so often and stop when I gave the machine a good shake, I got two long answers. Since they are instructive on how to open an PowerBook without "screwing" something to pieces, I am attaching them as a report. As it turned out, the problem was the display cable connector in the screen unit having come loose due to vibrations. Opening up the screen (by taking out the two screws that have rubber pads over them) and pushing the connector back in remedied the problem. Thanks to Keith Owens and Steven Taylor for answering! Jan M.L.Martin --- martin@luc.ac.be [archive as /info/hdwr/opening-powerbooks.txt or something] ***CUT HERE*** Date: Fri, 4 Feb 1994 10:13:06 +0100 From: " (Steven Taylor)" <steven.taylor@mrc-applied-psychology.cambridge.ac.uk> To: martin@luc.ac.be Subject: PB170 hassles Mime-Version: 1.0 Hi Jan, I've had several occasions to open PB170/180s, and it's quite easy for the Video cable (a ribbon cable) inside to be pulled out on reassembly - the top half of the case has to be 'hinged' from the front of the machine, downward, while this raises the back, and induces tension in the ribbon cable. The wires also carry trackball/keyboard ADB info. You may need to push the connector back in. If the machine has been installed after manufacture with the 8Megs, and the Global Village hardware, chances are that other stuff got loosened too - maybe the HD power cable if the tech wasn't careful. Opening the bigger PBs isn't too problematic, provided you have an antistatic surface and wristband to work with, and I think a T7 and T9 Torx screwdriver. Remove the battery to begin with; There are 5 screws in the case - a single T7 beneath the 'flap' at the rear of the machine (where ports are at); 4 x T9 screws in the case below. Once these are removed, and the machine placed with the LCD display down, in the position you would normally type at, the top half of the case can be gently removed. You will probably have to be persistent here, because it's quite stiff; the rear edge will normally release OK, but there are little 'tabs' on the front edge that can only be disengaged by your teasing the front edge backward. It will release in time. Now, you'll find the top case can pivot backward and you'll see the ribbon cable that is the video connector. It may need to be pushed firmly back into place. (though of course it may not be clear whether it was loose originally or due to the current disassembly!) You could now either reassemble the Mac, or investigate further. If the latter, the whole top part of the case including the LCD display can be put to one side if you ease the video connector straight upward (there are not clips to hold it in, part of the problem really!). There's nothing related to the Motherboard or HD on this …