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PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement

PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement

iRobot

iRobot and one other contributor

Last updated on July 31, 2013

No estimate
Difficult

Introduction

Go to step 1

Changing the top case will also give you a new trackpad, but requires removing everything from the computer.

What you need

Parts

Tools

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  1. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement, Keyboard: step 1, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the battery.

    • Turn the keyboard locking screw so that it is parallel to the space bar.

    • Pull the keyboard release tabs toward you and lift up on the keyboard until it pops free.

    Edit

  2. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 1

    • Rest the keyboard face down on the trackpad area.

    • Disconnect the keyboard connector from the logic board.

    Edit

  3. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement: step 3, image 1 of 1

    • Your laptop should look approximately like this.

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  4. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement, RAM: step 4, image 1 of 1

    • Release the tabs on each side of the RAM chip at the same time. These tabs lock the chip in place and releasing them will cause the chip to ÒpopÓ up.

    • Pull the RAM chip out.

    • Repeat this process if a second RAM chip is installed.

    Edit

    • Turn the G4 over.

    • Remove the eight T8 Torx screws from the lower case.

    Edit

  6. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 1

    • Using your thumbs, slide the lower case away from you.

    • The lower case may stick in the front on a tab just above the center of the DVD drive. Be careful as you work the case off, or you may break the thin strip of plastic just above the drive.

    • Lift the lower case off.

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  7. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 1

    • Your laptop should look approximately like this.

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  8. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement, Airport Card: step 8, image 1 of 1

    • Skip this step if your computer does not have an Airport card.

    • Firmly grasp the plastic tab attached to the Airport card and pull up and to the left.

    • Disconnect the antenna cable from the left side of the Airport card.

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  9. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement, Hard Drive: step 9, image 1 of 1

    • Disconnect the hard drive ribbon from the logic board using a spudger or the tip of your finger, removing tape as necessary.

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  10. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 1

    • To free the hard drive, remove the two T8 Torx screws from the right wall of the battery housing.

    Edit

  11. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the hard drive by gently grasping the orange ribbon cable and lifting the left edge up and out of the computer.

    • There are four rubber bumpers that fit over the hard drive screws. Ensure that these bumpers come out when you remove the hard drive.

    Edit

  12. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement: step 12, image 1 of 1

    • Your laptop should look approximately like this.

    Edit

  13. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement, DVD Drive: step 13, image 1 of 1

    • If your G4 has a CD-RW or Combo drive, the pictures in the following steps will not exactly match your computer.

    • Before continuing, place a soft cloth on your work surface to rest the computer on. Turn the G4 over, making sure the DVD drive doesn't fall out. Place the computer on the cloth.

    Edit

  14. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement: step 14, image 1 of 1

    • Bend the silver metal EMI clip so that it is vertical. This part may fall out after removing the DVD drive.

    • The EMI clip is not essential for reassembling the computer. If the clip falls out, don't worry about putting it back in.

    Edit

  16. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 1

    • Turn the G4 over.

    • Disconnect the orange DVD ribbon cable from the logic board using a spudger or the tip of your finger

    Edit

  17. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement: step 16, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the DVD drive by lifting the right edge up and out of the computer.

    • If you have a CD or any other object jammed in your optical drive, we have an optical drive repair guide.

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  18. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement, Modem: step 17, image 1 of 1

    • Turn the G4 over.

    • Using a 5 mm nut driver or needle-nose pliers, remove the hex nut from the modem.

    Edit

  19. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement: step 18, image 1 of 1

    • Lift the modem out by pulling up and to the right.

    • The plastic shielding on the modem may catch on the computer's case. Rocking the modem from side to side will help free the modem.

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  20. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement: step 19, image 1 of 1

    • Disconnect the connector cable from the modem.

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  21. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement, Logic Board: step 20, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the single T8 Torx screw located near the silver heat pipe.

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  22. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement: step 21, image 1 of 1

    • Disconnect the three indicated connectors from the logic board.

    • Disconnect the orange PC card cage connector from the logic board.

    • The large multicolor cable may be difficult to free.

    Edit

  23. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement: step 22, image 1 of 1

    • Turn the G4 over.

    • Remove the three T8 Torx screws from the logic board.

    • Be sure not to lose the rubber washers protecting the logic board from the lower two screws.

    Edit

  24. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement: step 23, image 1 of 1

    • Disconnect the indicated connectors from the logic board, removing tape as necessary.

    Edit

  25. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement: step 24, image 1 of 1

    • Carefully lift the logic board up and pull it away from you.

    • This step requires some force, but if the logic board will not come up, make sure you have removed all screws and connectors necessary.

    • Remove the logic board from the computer.

    Edit

  26. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement: step 25, image 1 of 1

    • Your laptop should look approximately like this.

    Edit

  27. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement, PC Card Cage: step 26, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the two T8 Torx screws that secure the PC Card cage.

    Edit

  28. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement: step 27, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the PC Card cage by pulling it to the right and twisting slightly toward you.

    Edit

  29. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement, Display: step 28, image 1 of 1

    • Performing the following steps incorrectly can easily damage the display and render it inoperable. The multicolored display data cable is especially fragile.

    • Remove the four black T8 Torx screws from the plastic framework.

    Edit

  30. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement: step 29, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the five silver T8 Torx screws from the metal framework.

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  31. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement: step 30, image 1 of 1

    • Turn the G4 over.

    • Grasp the plastic framework and pull directly up.

    Edit

  32. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement: step 31, image 1 of 1

    • Position the display at a 45 degree angle and rest the computer on a soft cloth with the back panel ports facing up.

    • Remove the two T8 Torx screws from each clutch cover.

    Edit

  33. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement: step 32, image 1 of 1

    • Close the display and pull off both clutch covers. You can use a non-metal flathead screwdriver if the clutch covers do not come off easily.

    Edit

  34. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement: step 33, image 1 of 1

    • Open the back panel port cover and remove the four T6 Torx screws.

    • The upper screw on each side fastens a small metal mount in place. Be sure to put this part back in when reassembling the computer.

    Edit

  35. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement: step 34, image 1 of 1

    • Disconnect the audio cable at the right side of the computer, removing tape as necessary.

    Edit

  36. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement: step 35, image 1 of 1

    • Open the display to a 90 degree angle. Rest the trackpad face down on the work surface and allow the display to hang over the edge. If possible, adjust your chair or work surface height so the display will rest on your legs and the trackpad will lie flat on the work surface.

    • Remove the four T8 Torx screws that fasten the display to the trackpad. The screw closest to the display data cable has a tapered head.

    Edit

  37. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement: step 36, image 1 of 1

    • Grasp the metal heat exchanger and pull up and away from you. You may need to move the inverter cable on the right side of the computer in order to rotate the heat exchanger.

    Edit

  38. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement: step 37, image 1 of 1

    • Lift up the metal brackets on either side of the upper case.

    Edit

  39. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement: step 38, image 1 of 1

    • Disconnect the inverter cable and carefully thread it through the slot in the upper case.

    • Carefully thread the display and backlight cables individually through the slot in the upper case. Be very careful with the display cable as it is easily damaged.

    • Remove the display assembly.

    Edit

  40. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement, Inverter Board: step 39, image 1 of 1

    • Lift the inverter board out of the computer.

    Edit

  41. PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx Upper Case Replacement, Upper Case: step 40, image 1 of 1

    • Upper case remains.

    Edit
Conclusion

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

2 other people completed this guide.

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with 1 other contributor

iRobot

Member since: 09/24/09

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