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PowerBook G3 Wallstreet Hard Drive Replacement

What you need

  1. PowerBook G3 Wallstreet Hard Drive Replacement, Keyboard: step 1, image 1 of 1
    • 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.

  2. PowerBook G3 Wallstreet Hard Drive Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 1
    • Pull the keyboard forward to disengage the tabs holding it in back and rotate it toward you.

    • Rest the keyboard on the trackpad.

    • 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.

  3. PowerBook G3 Wallstreet Hard Drive Replacement: step 4, image 1 of 1
    • Disconnect the two keyboard connectors by disengaging the clamps and pulling the ribbons directly upward.

  4. PowerBook G3 Wallstreet Hard Drive Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 1
    • Slide a spudger 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.

  5. PowerBook G3 Wallstreet Hard Drive Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 1
    • Your laptop should look approximately like this.

  6. PowerBook G3 Wallstreet Hard Drive Replacement, Heat Shield: step 7, image 1 of 1
    • 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.

  7. PowerBook G3 Wallstreet Hard Drive Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 1
    • Grasp the metal handle on the heat shield and pull up and toward yourself.

  8. PowerBook G3 Wallstreet Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive: step 9, image 1 of 1
    • Unscrew, but do not remove, the single Phillips screw from the hard drive bracket.

  9. PowerBook G3 Wallstreet Hard Drive Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 1
    • Grasp the hard drive bracket on the left side and pull up and to the left.

  10. PowerBook G3 Wallstreet Hard Drive Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 1
    • Your laptop should look approximately like this.

  11. PowerBook G3 Wallstreet Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive: step 12, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the four T8 Torx screws from the hard drive bracket.

  12. PowerBook G3 Wallstreet Hard Drive Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 1
    • 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.

Conclusion

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

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iRobot

Member since: 09/24/09

1 Reputation

636 Guides authored

2 Comments

It is much easier to remove and replace the hard drive by first removing the two T8 Torx screws on the hard drive connector at the end of the hard drive bracket (small green IC board). Less of a chance of bending the HD pins.

randy3833 - Reply

You absolutely do not need to remove the keyboard ribbon cables in order to replace the hard drive. You just need to be careful and the HDD caddy will come out just fine. As someone who has had some bad experiences with ribbon cables, I prefer not to remove them unless absolutely necessary.

Talor Berthelson - Reply

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