PowerBook G3 Wallstreet Hard Drive Replacement

Replace the hard drive in your PowerBook G3 Wallstreet.

  • Author: iRobot
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Add Note x
  • x 12

You can install hard drives up to 17mm thick, twice as thick as a slim 9.5mm drive.

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Add Note Edit Step 1 — Keyboard  ¶ 

  • Remove both expansion bay modules using the levers on the front of the computer.

  • Insert your index fingers inside the expansion bays and search for the two ribbed tabs on the underside of the upper case. The tabs are located near the bottom corners of the keyboard.

  • Pull the tabs toward yourself and the keyboard will pop up.

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Add Note Edit Step 2  ¶ 

  • Pull the keyboard forward to disengage the tabs holding it in back and rotate it toward you.

  • Rest the keyboard on the trackpad.

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Add Note Edit Step 3  ¶ 

  • This is a diagram of the ribbon clamp connectors you will disconnect in the next step.

  • 1) With your fingernails, grasp the locking bar on either side and pull up a small amount (about 1/16" or 2 mm).

  • 2) After disengaging the locking bar, slide the cable out of the connector.

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Add Note Edit Step 4  ¶ 

  • Disconnect the two keyboard connectors by disengaging the clamps and pulling the ribbons directly upward.

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Add Note Edit Step 5  ¶ 

  • Slide a spudger or screwdriver downward between each plastic strain relief cable and the wall of the case in order to bow out the cable beyond the small tab holding it in place.

  • Once the strain relief cables are free, lift the keyboard off.

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Add Note Edit Step 6  ¶ 

  • Your laptop should look approximately like this.

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Add Note Edit Step 7 — Heat Shield  ¶ 

  • Remove the two Phillips screws from the heat shield.

  • One screw is shorter than the other. When putting the Wallstreet back together, this screw goes in the middle of the heat shield.

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Add Note Edit Step 8  ¶ 

  • Grasp the metal handle on the heat shield and pull up and toward yourself.

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Add Note Edit Step 9 — Hard Drive  ¶ 

  • Unscrew, but do not remove, the single Phillips screw from the hard drive bracket.

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Add Note Edit Step 10  ¶ 

  • Grasp the hard drive bracket on the left side and pull up and to the left.

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Add Note Edit Step 11  ¶ 

  • Your laptop should look approximately like this.

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Add Note Edit Step 12 — Hard Drive Replacement  ¶ 

  • Remove the four T8 Torx screws from the hard drive bracket.

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Add Note Edit Step 13  ¶ 

  • Turn the hard drive bracket over.

  • Hold the hard drive bracket at the connector end and grasp the opposite end of the hard drive.

  • Pull the hard drive out of the bracket, making sure to pull evenly on both sides.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

For more information, check out the PowerBook G3 Wallstreet device page.

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