How to Replace a Mac PowerBook DC and Sound Card
Apple Computer used the "PowerBook" designation on many laptop computers between 1991 and 2005. The most recent version that has a DC-in and sound card-in combination is the Aluminum 1.67 GHz model, which was put in the market in October 2005 and discontinued in February 2006. It is more difficult to replace the parts of Aluminum PowerBooks than earlier PowerBooks because of the internal design; Apple did not intend for Mac users to disassemble the PowerBook Aluminum laptops.
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Things You'll Need
- 4 mm and 5 mm nut drivers
- Torx T6 screwdriver
- #00 Phillips screwdriver
- Replacement DC-in and sound card
- Anti-static wristband
Instructions
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1
Unplug the AC adapter and use a coin or your thumbnail to unscrew and remove the battery. Bring a metal screwdriver into contact with the exposed metal of the battery compartment to dissipate built-up static electricity. The anti-static wristband should keep your PowerBook from getting any static discharge from you.
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2
Unscrew all 10 screws from the bottom of the PowerBook. Two are inside the battery compartment, four hold the RAM compartment cover in place, and four line one end of the bottom of the PowerBook near the screen. These are different length screws, but all come out with the Phillips #00 screwdriver. Once the RAM cover is removed, two more Phillips screws need to be removed from beneath the cover.
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3
Remove the three screws on either short side of the PowerBook and the two on either side of the screen hinge. Open the PowerBook and remove two more T6 screws on the top casing near the screen. Gently lift both sides of the top casing and disengage the clips; be careful to avoid yanking the clips and ripping the trackpad and keyboard cables.
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4
Raise the top casing toward the screen and disengage the trackpad ribbon connector. Now you can remove the top casing and set it aside. With the screen still open, you should have a full view of the innards of the PowerBook. In the upper-left corner, take out two Phillips screws from the sensor and disconnect its connector from the logic board.
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5
Disengage the hex nut on the speaker on the left side of the PowerBook. The speaker cable has a connection to the logic board you need to disconnect, then remove the speaker. Just above the open battery compartment is the cage for PCMCIA cards. Unscrew the two screws at the right of this, then uncouple the PCMCIA cable. Remove the PCMCIA card cage.
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6
Unscrew the Phillips screw and hex nut of the DC-in and sound card, then disengage the speaker and power cables. The DC-in and sound card is a long, narrow circuit board on the left side of the PowerBook. Raise it out of the computer, then disengage the power cable underneath and the modem cable. Remove the card and replace it with a new one by reversing the steps above.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not attempt to work inside a PowerBook unless you are confident about your skills to do so. It is delicate and complex work.
