Computer Hardware Step by Step Disassembly
Computer Hardware Step by Step Disassembly
Step 1
Turn off and disconnect the power to your computer.
Step 2
Locate all the screws that secure the side panels to the back of the computer. Use the proper size and
type of screwdriver to remove the side panel screws. Do not remove the screws that secure the power
supply to the case. Put all these screws in one place, such as a cup or a compartment in a parts organ-izer.
Label the cup or compartment with a piece of masking tape on which you have written “side
panel screws.” Remove the side panels from the case.
A Phillips screwdriver or a hex driver are the most commonly used screwdrivers to remove case pan-els.
Normally, there are two screws for each panel on a mid-tower case, but there can
be anywhere from one to six screws for the case.
Step 3
Put on an antistatic wrist strap. One end of the conductor should be connected to the wrist strap. Clip
the other end of the conductor to an unpainted metal part of the case.
If you have an antistatic mat, place it on the work surface and put the computer case on top of it.
Ground the antistatic mat to an unpainted metal part of the case.
Step 4
Locate the hard drive. Carefully disconnect the power and data cable from the back of the hard drive.
Step 5
Locate all the screws that hold the hard drive in place. Use the proper size and type of screwdriver to
remove the hard drive screws. Put all these screws in one place and label them.
Caution: Do not remove the screws for the hard drive enclosure.
Normally, crosshead screws secure hard drives in place.
Most cases allow for up to four screws per hard drive.
Most hard drive manufacturers use a flush, crosshead screw.
Step 6
Gently remove the hard drive (touching only the sides) from the case. Place the hard drive into an
antistatic bag.
Look at the jumper settings on the hard drive.
Look for a jumper reference chart on the hard drive. If a jumper is installed on the hard drive, use the
jumper reference chart to see whether the hard drive is set for a Master, Slave, or Cable Select (CS)
drive.
Step 7
Locate the floppy disk drive. Carefully disconnect the power and data cable.
Step 8
Locate all the screws that secure the floppy drive to the case. Use the proper size and type of screw-driver
to remove the floppy drive screws. Put all these screws in one place and label them.
Place the floppy drive into an antistatic bag.
Step 9
Locate the optical drive (CD-ROM, DVD, and the like). Carefully disconnect the power and data
cable from the optical drive. Remove the audio cable from the optical drive.
Step 10
Locate all the screws that secure the optical drive to the case. Use the proper size and type of screw-driver
to remove the optical drive screws. Put all these screws in one place and label them.
Place the optical drive into an antistatic bag.
Step 11
Locate the power supply. Find the power connection(s) to the motherboard.
Gently remove the power connection(s) from the motherboard.
Does the power supply provide power to a CPU fan or case fan? If so, disconnect the power cable.
Does the power supply provide auxiliary power to the video card in the PCI, AGP or PCI-E slot? If so,
disconnect the power cable.
Step 12
Locate all the screws that secure the power supply to the case. Use the proper size and type of screw-driver
to remove the power supply screws. Put all these screws in one place and label them.
Carefully remove the power supply from the case. Place the power supply with the other computer
components.
Step 13
Locate any adapter cards that are installed in the computer, such as a video card, NIC, or modem adapter.
Locate the screw that secures the adapter card to the case. Use the proper size and type of screwdriver
to remove the adapter card screw. Repeat this process for all adapter cards that are installed in the
computer. Put the adapter card screws in one place and label them.
Carefully remove the adapter card from the slot. Be sure to hold the adapter card by the mounting
bracket or by the edges. Place the adapter card in an antistatic bag.
Repeat this process for all the adapter cards. Place each card in an antistatic bag.
List the adapter cards and the slot types in the following table.
Step 14
Locate the memory modules on the motherboard.
Remove the memory modules from the motherboard. Be sure to release any locking tabs that may be
securing the memory module. Hold the memory module by the edges and gently lift it out of the slot.
Put the memory modules into an antistatic bag.
Step 15
Remove all data cables from the motherboard. Make sure to note the connection location of any cable
you unplug.
At this point, the computer case should contain the motherboard, the CPU, and any cooling devices.
For complete Computer Hardware part visit
Planet Lawrenz Choice PC Store
Turn off and disconnect the power to your computer.
Step 2
Locate all the screws that secure the side panels to the back of the computer. Use the proper size and
type of screwdriver to remove the side panel screws. Do not remove the screws that secure the power
supply to the case. Put all these screws in one place, such as a cup or a compartment in a parts organ-izer.
Label the cup or compartment with a piece of masking tape on which you have written “side
panel screws.” Remove the side panels from the case.
A Phillips screwdriver or a hex driver are the most commonly used screwdrivers to remove case pan-els.
Normally, there are two screws for each panel on a mid-tower case, but there can
be anywhere from one to six screws for the case.
Step 3
Put on an antistatic wrist strap. One end of the conductor should be connected to the wrist strap. Clip
the other end of the conductor to an unpainted metal part of the case.
If you have an antistatic mat, place it on the work surface and put the computer case on top of it.
Ground the antistatic mat to an unpainted metal part of the case.
Step 4
Locate the hard drive. Carefully disconnect the power and data cable from the back of the hard drive.
Step 5
Locate all the screws that hold the hard drive in place. Use the proper size and type of screwdriver to
remove the hard drive screws. Put all these screws in one place and label them.
Caution: Do not remove the screws for the hard drive enclosure.
Normally, crosshead screws secure hard drives in place.
Most cases allow for up to four screws per hard drive.
Most hard drive manufacturers use a flush, crosshead screw.
Step 6
Gently remove the hard drive (touching only the sides) from the case. Place the hard drive into an
antistatic bag.
Look at the jumper settings on the hard drive.
Look for a jumper reference chart on the hard drive. If a jumper is installed on the hard drive, use the
jumper reference chart to see whether the hard drive is set for a Master, Slave, or Cable Select (CS)
drive.
Step 7
Locate the floppy disk drive. Carefully disconnect the power and data cable.
Step 8
Locate all the screws that secure the floppy drive to the case. Use the proper size and type of screw-driver
to remove the floppy drive screws. Put all these screws in one place and label them.
Place the floppy drive into an antistatic bag.
Step 9
Locate the optical drive (CD-ROM, DVD, and the like). Carefully disconnect the power and data
cable from the optical drive. Remove the audio cable from the optical drive.
Step 10
Locate all the screws that secure the optical drive to the case. Use the proper size and type of screw-driver
to remove the optical drive screws. Put all these screws in one place and label them.
Place the optical drive into an antistatic bag.
Step 11
Locate the power supply. Find the power connection(s) to the motherboard.
Gently remove the power connection(s) from the motherboard.
Does the power supply provide power to a CPU fan or case fan? If so, disconnect the power cable.
Does the power supply provide auxiliary power to the video card in the PCI, AGP or PCI-E slot? If so,
disconnect the power cable.
Step 12
Locate all the screws that secure the power supply to the case. Use the proper size and type of screw-driver
to remove the power supply screws. Put all these screws in one place and label them.
Carefully remove the power supply from the case. Place the power supply with the other computer
components.
Step 13
Locate any adapter cards that are installed in the computer, such as a video card, NIC, or modem adapter.
Locate the screw that secures the adapter card to the case. Use the proper size and type of screwdriver
to remove the adapter card screw. Repeat this process for all adapter cards that are installed in the
computer. Put the adapter card screws in one place and label them.
Carefully remove the adapter card from the slot. Be sure to hold the adapter card by the mounting
bracket or by the edges. Place the adapter card in an antistatic bag.
Repeat this process for all the adapter cards. Place each card in an antistatic bag.
List the adapter cards and the slot types in the following table.
Step 14
Locate the memory modules on the motherboard.
Remove the memory modules from the motherboard. Be sure to release any locking tabs that may be
securing the memory module. Hold the memory module by the edges and gently lift it out of the slot.
Put the memory modules into an antistatic bag.
Step 15
Remove all data cables from the motherboard. Make sure to note the connection location of any cable
you unplug.
At this point, the computer case should contain the motherboard, the CPU, and any cooling devices.
For complete Computer Hardware part visit
Planet Lawrenz Choice PC Store
