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Mac Help Help Article

 

PC World            Mac Help

How to Remove and Install an iBook Hard Drive

 

Removing your old hard drive

  1. Back up your data. In case something were to go wrong in this process, it’s important to make sure that your important documents are backed up somewhere so you have access to them on your new hard drive. Two very good options are a ZIP drive, which you can purchase along with ZIP disks from Iomega or from www.streamload.com if you have Internet access. This is the best online storage site available today. It offers unlimited file storage for free. Their slogan: Bring it on! The only catch: free accounts may not access their account as much. But that’s okay; you should only need it twice. Upload, download…which brings me to my other point; they have a great download service also.
  2. Open the CD drive door and shut down the iBook. Make sure that you print this document off so you can continue to use directions. Most printers will know to change the background and text to work. But if you don’t think your printer is smart enough, save this file in your Bookmarks or Favorites. Then navigate to that folder on your hard drive, highlight it, click Edit, click Edit. Now your text editor should open and you can change the background and text settings before printing…or print it like this if you like.
  3. Prepare your iBook for service. Setup on a flat surface and make sure that all plugs and outlets are unplugged. Gather the following materials:
    -Jewelers flat head and Phillips screwdriver
    -Small flat head and Phillips screwdriver
    -Small needle-nose pliers
    -Small Torx driver (T-9)
  4. Begin taking your iBook apart. Place it on a cloth upside down and remove the three small feet and the battery.
  5. Remove screws. Remove the five (5) screws from the bottom along with the three (3) Allen screws. The two (2) long ones go in the back.
  6. Remove CD drive. Remove the five (5) screws from inside the CD/DVD/RW drive. Slide it out just a little and you’ll be able to get at the other screw.
  7. Remove more screws. Remove the two (2) screws from inside the battery compartment. They are next to the battery connector.
  8. Start removing the bottom cover. Carefully pry the lid off. It’s best to start with the battery compartment.
    DO NOT PRY BETWEEN THE TOP AND BOTTOM LIDS – YOU WILL DAMAGE THE TOP LID!
    It takes quite a bit of pressure to pull of the bottom cover. Try not to flex it…pull it straight off. The last cover may have to be pulled sideways and then away from the top cover.
  9. Continue maintenance. From the bottom, remove the small screws next to the latch (Sleep LED). Remove the small long screw from the front cover – it holds the lid on. Remove the two screws from inside the battery area. You do not have to remove the battery’s metal shield.
  10. Remove the keyboard. Open the iBook and remove the keyboard.
  11. Remove screws. Remove the six (6) screws inside the keyboard area and the two (2) small screws holding the Airport plate.
  12. Unplug. Unplug the trackpad and the keyboard.
  13. Unplug connecting wires. Unplug the two (2) connecting wires that are attached the underside of the cover in the mainboard. Carefully pull straight up with need close pliers.
  14. Remove the top cover carefully. It’s best to start in the back left corner and the right front corner.
  15. Remove screws. Remove the screws from the left corner just enough to lift up the shield and get at the hard drive.
  16. Unplug the ribbon cable. Labeled “To Main Board”
  17. Carefully unplug wire. Unplug the wire in the front left corner and the tape holding it to the hard drive.
  18. Remove hard drive. Lift up and out the hard drive and carefully remove the ribbon cable.
  19. Remove brackets. And then using a small Torx screwdriver remove the four (4) small screws.
  20. Remove the metal tape shield from the hard drive. Congratulations! You’ve successfully removed your hard drive!

Installing your new hard drive

  1. Install the metal tape shied. Install the four screw plugs into the new hard drive.
  2. Install brackets. Install the two (2) small brackets into the side of the new hard drive.
  3. Replace hard drive. Place the hard drive back into its position and carefully plug in the ribbon cable.
  4. Plug in wire. Carefully plug the wire in the front left corner and replace the tape holding it to the hard drive.
  5. Plug in the ribbon. Labeled “To Main Board”
  6. Replace shield. Install screws.
  7. Replace the top cover. But only enough to replace the two (2) wires to the main board.
  8. Once the wires are connected reseat the top cover. Start with the back right corner and carefully replace them back into position.
  9. Reinstall. From the bottom, install the screw that holds the sleep LED and the long screw located in the front left corner.
  10. Reinstall. Reinstall all of the keyboard area screws (6). Plug in the trackpad and keyboard ribbon cable. When plugging in the trackpad, make sure the ribbon cable connector is released.
  11. Reinstall. Reinstall the Airport post using the two (2) small screws. Reinstall the Airport card.
  12. Replace keyboard. Carefully put the keyboard back into place.
  13. Replace bottom cover. Sliding it carefully into position until it snaps into place.
  14. Replace screws. Replace the two (2) screws from the CD/DVD/RW drive. Slide it out just a little and you’ll be able to get at the other screw.
  15. Replace screws. Replace the four (4) screws in the battery compartment. Two (2) are next to the battery connector and two (2) are holding the lid on.
  16. Replace screws. Replace the five (5) screws into the bottom along with the three (3) Allen screws. The two (2) long ones go in the back.
  17. Replace the battery.
  18. Wipe. Wipe with a clean dry cloth. (Cheese cloth works best.)
  19. Power on. Power on the iBook and clear the PRAM. Hold Option + Command + P + R to do this. Hold them until you hear the tone at least three times.
  20. Getting back to Mac OS. If your hard drive is brand new, your computer will need to boot from the CD so be sure to put in incase it needs it. If your hard drive was from another computer, it should load the settings for that computer. Remember, everything that you needed was backed up. So set yourself up and you should be good to go. Congratulations on replacing your new hard drive!

Need help on this article? Email machelp@hotpop.com for more information!