Disassembling the PC - PROCEDURE:

Now youre ready to get started. The following are the general steps to take to disassemble your PCs
system unit.
1.
Determine whether your PC is still under warranty. If it is, call your vendor first they
have more experience, and you may invalidate your warranty by opening it up yourself. Next,
determine whether you actually need to take apart your PC.
2.

Find adequate, clean space on a tabletop, with good lighting in the work area.

3.
Have the proper tools available, including a container in which you can store screws. Be
equipped with antistatic wrist strap.
4.

Turned off the PC and anything attached to it.

5.

Remove the monitor and put it aside.

6.
3.

Unplug the PC and remove the cover, setting screws into the container discussed in step

WARNING: Be careful that you dont rip cables when removing the top; the metal cases used on most
PCs can have very sharp edge.
7.
Diagram the setup and internals before you begin removing anything, then rediagram as
necessary to add information you couldnt see when you first began, noting in particulars:

Types and placement of cables

Location and status of DIP switches and jumpers.

Motherboard connections, including power supply, power, speaker, and keyboard (detach
the battery only if its really necessary)
8.

Start detaching the connections.

9.

Remove the boards. Set the boards in a clean, safe location.

WARNING: Dont force things. If a part wont come out, stop and look again.
10.
Remove drives (e.q. floppy disk drive, hard disk drive, CD-ROM drive & removable
cartridge storage drive), along with their various drives screws and cables. Set the boards in a
clean, safe location and store the screws in a container.
11.

Remove the power supply. (see

12.
Carefully remove the CPU by unlocking the locking lever on the ZIF socket or, if its in a
LIF socket, by using a chip extraction tool to gently pry the CPU from the socket.
13.
Carefully remove the motherboard as necessary for the type of case in use, being
cautious not to bend it or exert undue pressure on it. Put this aside in a clean place where it cant
be jostled or knocked to the floor.
14.

Evaluate the removed components, as desired.

15.
Begin reassembling the PC while checking to make certain youre not making one of the
common errors, such as reversing the way cable should connect, forgetting to reconnect a wire,
or failing to seat a board.