Replacing the hard drive of a G4 iBook
800Mhz and recovering of the built-in mike (light
version)
(As usual, YOU are responsible of what you did to your
computer by following my instructions. I'm not.)
Why?
The hard drive couldn't be mounted anymore. Drrrr clic,
drrrrrr clic, you get the picture. No booting with COMMAND S
either. I didn't get luckier trying to boot with an external
hard drive or a CD. Internal units were just waiting.
Added to the whole thing, the mike has been mute for a
pretty long time. My iBook is a year and four month old and
has no AppleCare. Since Apple's officials technicals are
quite costly, I'd rather open the computer and install the
new hard drive by myself.
As I was in a hurry, I choose a 80 Gb Samsung
hard drive at 135 euros (15 feb 2005). In the technical
specs, you can read "Component Design Life: 5 years". I'll
get another iBook until then ;-)
1)
Here are the main characters.
2)
The hard drive
3)
As usual, turn off the computer and take off the power
supply.
4)
Take off the battery. Let's start the real business.
5)
Take off the little plastic plugs, then unscrew.
6)
They removed the additional plastic part that was present
on the older iBooks G3.
When screwing back, make sure the straight area
is just in front of the corresponding "hole". Same for the
rounded area .
You'll notice some glue on the screw. It will help to
keep it from moving after screwing (lightly).
7)
Unscrew the 3 hexagonal screws. The two longer ones are
at the top, the shorter in the middle.
8)
Now, the two cruciform screws .
9)
Unclip by starting from the corner, as with the G3.
10)
Turn all along the side of the computer. I personnaly use
a ruler in the snatch, preventing damages in the plastic or
inside the computer as if I had used another prying tool.
11)
It's easier if you push right at clips level .
12)
As on the G3 iBooks, don't forget to unclip this one
.
13)
Clips .
Take care to the cables
next to the prying tool. Be cautionous and gentle.
14)
3 more clips .
15)
And here ,
is the what's cosing the malfunction of the mike :-(
16)
Damaged
on the left by the inferior shell, almost fully cutted from
the right by the armoring. Why such a lack of protection
from Apple?!
17)
Back to the other side: far left and far right
are keeping the keyboard in place. Sometimes, it's also
locked in the middle. Check carefully if it doesn't come
loose at first pull ;-)
18)
Here's the way Apple advices to do it :
- Unplug the airport card
- Unscrew the 4 cruciform screws 00
- Take off the cover that supports the card et protects
the memory
19)
The antenna connector is glued to prevent it from scratching
things (screens, etc.) Don't forget to unglue it :)
This is the keyboard connector. Unplug it. Again, be gentle,
or you could rip it open at the angle.
20)
The screws to... unscrew. One of them is hidden, as on
previous iBooks, under a magnet.
21)
When everything is taken appart, one could ask himself
why Apple is using 3 different types of screws!
22)
Screws that have to be removed to free the uper shell.
The springs that keep the battery in place. They should be
protected.
23)
Something new: the springs are covered with some sticky
stuff. It makes loosing them harder.
24)
Long screws
Short screws
25)
It seems the techies at Apple did get a lot of returns.
Now, the screws specifications are embossed next to the
hole!
26)
Unclip the upper shell.
27)
Unplug the trackpad cable to prevent ripping.
28)
Gently make the shell pass over the power supply connector.
29)
One more connector to unplug.
30)
The two connectors to unplug
A small spring that could lead to a lot of questions if you
don't take note of its original position.
31)
Once the upper shell is taken off, you clearly see that the
black cable is damaged and could make contact with the the
ground.
32)
On the inside, you can see that the armoring has, almost
without a doubt, ripped the cable open.
33)
When taking the armoring off, pay attention to the hard
drive connector!
34)
Close-up of the slaughtered cable
Another potential victim
35)
From top view: you bet there are problems :-(
36)
Cables at their "natural state" clearly outpass the
shell. This makes closing the beast a hell of an hasard for
them.
37)
This is the whole motherboard pictured, for my buddy
Jean-Marc ;-). As you can see, it's not that bigger than the
Mac mini one. It only takes half the space of the iBook.
38)
Turning the beast over, you can now unscrew the armoring.
The small magnet starts the sleep mode when you close the
iBook. It would be a shame to loose it ;-)
39)
Dimensions of two screws are embossed, not the others.
The most observing ones will notice that the long one
doesn't hold the armoring in place.
40)
I advice you to do like this. There was a screw missing
before I got started.
41)
The long screw holded that metal bar.
One screw remains, holding the "bed".
42)
A close-up of the beast, you can see the hard drive
connector down the middle. Be gentle when you lift it.
The screw pointed at 41 ()
has not been taken off yet.
43)
Unplug the motherboard connector. You can now lift the hard
drive.
44)
The holding metal bar
The "bed" where the hard drive takes place and that was
holded by the screw
The particular connector that hasn't been removed from the
original hard drive
One of the 4 screws (torx 8) used as nipple. We will have to
move them on the new hard drive.
45)
Withdrew connector with
his "nipple" screws.
46)
Thermal dissipator, quite impressive. Looks like it has been
bitten!
47)
When putting back the whole thing, be very carefull. I've
used some duct tape to protect the cable (didn't have time
to replace it).
48)
And I have inserted some cardboard for additional
protection.
49)
Tools used : mini pry-bar (to unplug the connectors),
flat ruler (to split the shell). A cruciform screwdriver 0
et another 00. An hexagonal key 2mm and a torx 8.
FYI, total time for the whole process (and taking the
pictures) was 2 hours. Without the photoshots: 90 minutes.
As usual, follow these instructions from end to beginning
the re-assemble the beast.
If you wish to thank or forsten me...
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