How to Take Apart an Atari 2600
While Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft have taken gaming to a new level in the past decade, it was the Atari 2600 that first made gaming a phenomenon. The small black box brought gaming into the homes of millions for the very first time. While its archaic, blocky graphics are woefully dated by today's 3D gaming standards, there is still much fun to be had with a 2600. It's likely, however, that your 2600 hasn't been used in years, which means it may need a little TLC before you can start playing it. Disassemble your 2600 so you can clean it and get it back into game shape.
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Instructions
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Make sure your 2600 isn't connected to the power outlet. If it is, unplug the adapter from the outlet. Disconnect the adapter from the input on the back of the 2600.
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Lay the 2600 face-down on a large table. Make sure to give yourself plenty of working room. Avoid working on carpet to reduce the risk of static electricity damaging your Atari. The 2600 is a hardy console, so it can take quite a beating, but use care.
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Remove the four screws on the bottom of your 2600. The are two screws in the front of the console and two in the back. Tape the screws next to their holes on the case so you can easily remember where to place them when you put the console back together.
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Turn the 2600 right-side up. Carefully lift the top half of the console up and off of the base. Lift the top half at a slight angle so you can slide it off of the switches in the back of the machine. Once the top half is removed, you will have access to the system board.
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Disconnect the RF cable from the system board. Remove the foam pads over the four switches on the back of the board. Grab the system board by the edges and lift it up and out of the 2600 base.
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Use a flat-head screwdriver to straighten the four tabs on the metal shield in the center of the motherboard. Lift the shield straight up to remove it. This will give you access to the CPU and memory chips of the 2600.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep your 2600 clean. Dirt and grime are among the more common reasons a 2600 will stop working, so give it a solid cleaning every once in awhile.
