PowerBook G4 Aluminum 17" 1.67 GHz (High-Res) Hard Drive Replacement

Replace the hard drive in your PowerBook G4 Aluminum 17" 1.67 GHz (High-Res).

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Upgrade your hard drive for more storage space.

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Add Note Edit Step 1 — Battery  ¶ 

  • Use your thumbs to push the two battery retaining tabs away from the battery.

  • The battery should pop up enough to rotate it toward yourself and lift it out of the lower case.

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Add Note Edit Step 2 — Memory Door  ¶ 

  • Remove the three 2.3 mm Phillips screws securing the memory cover to the lower case.

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Add Note Edit Step 3  ¶ 

  • Lift the memory cover slightly and pull it toward yourself to remove it from the lower case.

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Add Note Edit Step 4 — Upper Case  ¶ 

  • Remove the following ten screws:

    • Two 14.7 mm shouldered Phillips.

    • Three 12.3 mm Phillips.

    • One 3.8 mm T8 Torx.

    • One 6.8 mm T8 Torx.

    • Three 1.3 mm Phillips.

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Add Note Edit Step 5  ¶ 

  • The ZIF cable is located underneath the bottom RAM slot. If your PowerBook has both RAM slots occupied, make sure to remove the RAM chip.

  • Use your fingernails to separate the ZIF cable lock away from its socket. (Move the two brown bits down 1mm)

  • The ZIF cable lock will move about a millimeter away from the socket before it stops (see picture 2). Do not try to remove the ZIF cable lock.

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Add Note Edit Step 6  ¶ 

  • Use the tip of a spudger to slide the trackpad ribbon cable out of its socket.

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Add Note Edit Step 7  ¶ 

  • Remove the four 3.4 mm Phillips screws from the PC card side of the PowerBook.

  • When replacing these screws, you must reinstall each screw in the correct order. Begin by installing the screw closest to the display hinge, and go out from there.

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Add Note Edit Step 8  ¶ 

  • Remove the four 3.4 mm Phillips screws from the DVI connector side of the PowerBook.

  • When replacing these screws, you must reinstall each screw in the correct order. Begin by installing the screw closest to the display hinge, and go out from there.

  • During reassembly, make sure to reinstall the two screws on the right into their appropriate locations, and not the DVI port anchor holes.

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Add Note Edit Step 9  ¶ 

  • Depress the display latch release button and open your display.

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Add Note Edit Step 10  ¶ 

  • Starting near the display, lift the upper case straight up off the lower case, minding any cables that may get caught.

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Add Note Edit Step 11 — Hard Drive  ¶ 

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the sound card ribbon cable connector up off the logic board.

  • Move the sound card ribbon cable away from the face of the hard drive.

  • It is not necessary to disconnect the sound card ribbon cable from the sound card.

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Add Note Edit Step 12  ¶ 

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the hard drive ribbon cable connector up off the logic board.

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Add Note Edit Step 13  ¶ 

  • Remove the following four screws:

    • Three 11.1 mm T8 Torx.

    • One 3.9 mm T8 Torx.

  • Lift the hard drive out of the lower case.

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Add Note Edit Step 14 — Hard Drive Replacement  ¶ 

  • Pull the hard drive cable straight away from the hard drive. It is helpful to wiggle the connector while pulling it away from the hard drive.

  • If you happen to bend the hard drive pins during removal, use the connector as a guide to bend them straight.

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Add Note Edit Step 15  ¶ 

  • Remove the two Phillips screws from the right side of the hard drive.

  • Pull the right hard drive bracket away from the hard drive.

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Add Note Edit Step 16  ¶ 

  • If necessary, peel the piece of tape holding the left hard drive bracket to the hard drive shield off the hard drive shield.

  • It is not necessary to completely remove this piece of tape.

  • Remove the two Phillips screws from the left side of the hard drive.

  • Pull the hard drive bracket away from the hard drive.

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Add Note Edit Step 17  ¶ 

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to separate the adhesive holding the hard drive shield on the hard drive.

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Add Note Edit Step 18  ¶ 

  • Pull the hard drive shield off the hard drive.

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

For more information, check out the PowerBook G4 Aluminum 17" 1.67 GHz (High-Res) device page.

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