iBook HD upgrade

Part 5- Hard Disk Replacement

a. The hard disk is located at bottom left, suspended in a small pair of subchassis using rubber grommets. The subchassis should be released by unscrewing the four screws locating them.

b. Disconnect the ribbon cable filmwire assembly from the motherboard by lifting the connector using the loop handle. A gentle but firm upward pressure should release the connector, but take care not to be caught out by it coming free suddenly which could cause it to be damaged.

c. Once the motherboard connector is free, the hard disk can be lifted away from the machine together with the two subchassis rails. Observe how these rails relate to the disk drive before removing them - they come away from the drive easily, being a simple pushfit over a pair of protruding screwheads.

d. Using the loop handle provided, gently disconnect the ribbon cable from the rear of the drive, taking great care not to strain or damage the cable assembly. The drive is now completely free from the machine.

e. Remove the 4 black Torx screws from the sides of the drive and screw them into the same positions on the new drive.

f. Transfer the piece of black tape from the original drive to the new drive, and the black plastic strip which wraps around the front edge of the drive.

g. Reconnect the ribbon cable assembly to the rear of the new drive, taking care to align the pins correctly and ensuring that the drive is the correct way up.

h. Reposition the subchassis rails on the new drive - the rubber grommets slip over the heads of the protruding Torx screws. The rails are quite a loose fit and until relocated into the main chassis will be prone to drop off. Replace the drive into the computer, making sure that the subchassis rails are correctly positioned, and that the ribbon cable lies in the right position. Use the black tape to retain the wire which comes across the front edge of the drive, such that the wire will not be later trapped by the case when it is reassembled.

i. Replace the screws fixing the subchassis to the main chassis, and reconnect the ribbon cable to the motherboard.