How To Replace an iBook Hard Drive

Marketed as a lower-cost alternative to Apple's Macintosh laptops, and with a major focus on education and consumer markets, the iBook series of Apple laptops was on retail shelves beginning in 1999. Apple discontinued the iBook in 2006. You can upgrade the hard drive on the iBook to increase the storage capacity. Most iBooks came with only a 30 to 60GB hard drive, so upgrading the hard drive may become critical to your iBook's continued performance.

Things You'll Need

• Phillips head screwdriver
• Small flat-head screwdriver
• T8 Torx screwdriver
• Antistatic packing foam
• Paper
• Tape

Instructions

1. Purchase a replacement hard drive from an online source or a local retailer. Check the user's manual or Apple's website to find the correct part number needed.

2. Turn the powered-down iBook over and rotate the large screw in the middle 90 degrees to unlock the battery. Remove the battery and unplug the power cord. Turn the computer back upright and open the top to expose the screen.

3. Pull the keyboard release tabs beside the "ESC" and "F12" key toward you and then lift to release the keyboard. Flip the keyboard over toward you, being careful not to tug its cable, and lay the keyboard gently on the track pad.

4. Remove the AirPort card if the iBook has one installed by pushing the wire clasp away from the Airport card and then gently work free from the RAM shield. Hold the clear plastic tab on the card and pull toward the display. Remove the antenna from the side of the AirPort card and set the card aside.

5. Remove the four screws covering the RAM shield and tape them to a piece of paper; mark the paper "RAM shield." Lift the cover after the screws have been removed by lifting straight up. Gently release the cable connecting the keyboard to the computer and then set it aside.

6. Turn the computer back over, face-down. Remove the three rubber feet on the bottom by sticking them with a pin and then gently pull up. Remove the three screws and tape to the paper; mark them "bottom case."

7. Remove the three metal rings that are around the screws by prying them with the screw driver. Remove the three hexagon screws that make a triangle shape on the bottom using a T8 Torx screwdriver, tape them to the paper and mark them "T8."

8. Remove the two Phillips head screws located in the battery compartment. Tape them to the paper and mark them as "inside battery." Push the thin rims near the battery compartment until the case comes free. Use a small flat-head screwdriver to gently pry the case and then remove it completely.

9. Remove the small springs with white caps from the battery compartment by just popping them out. Remove the four screws on the metal cover and tape them to the paper, marking them "inside cover."

10. Lift the inside cover off, exposing the internal components. Remove the two screws securing the DC-In board and tape to the paper, marking them "DC." Disconnect the DC-In cable from the logic board, moving it carefully around the optical drive.

11. Remove the tape, if necessary to remove the cable, and then lift the DC-In board out of the compartment angling slightly to remove. Set the DC-In board aside.

12. Remove the two screws on the outer edge of the lower case and tape to the paper, marking them "lower." Carefully turn the computer back up exposing where the keyboard was removed. Place the laptop on antistatic packing foam to protect the logic board.

13. Pry up the magnet covering a Phillips head screw near the middle of the computer.

14. Remove seven screws from the edges of the keyboard area. Begin with the three on the far right-hand edge; tape them to the paper and mark them "Right upper edge." Proceed to the screw that is under the magnet remove it, tape it to the paper and mark it "top middle." Next remove the lower-left screw, tape it to the paper and mark it "lower left." Remove the lower-middle screw and upper left-hand screw and tape and mark accordingly.

15. Disconnect the trackpad cable before removing the upper case by pushing the sides of the connector in, then unfasten the cable. Gently pry the upper case free using the small flat-head screwdriver.

16. Disconnect the power and speaker cables by pressing in the tabs and then slide out until they are free. Remove the upper case completely once the cables have been disconnected.

17. Remove the 15 screws from under the case, starting with the upper-left corner, and then tape to the paper and mark as "upper left top case." Remove the remaining 14 screws and mark them as "other upper case."

18. Remove the top case and set aside. Lift the metal restraining bracket from the hard drive and set it aside. Turn the computer over again and disconnect the orange hard drive cable from the logic board.

19. Turn the iBook back face up and remove the two Phillips head screws securing the hard drive. Tape them to the paper and mark them "hard drive."

20. Gently remove the hard drive, making sure to guide the cable through the slot. Remove the hard drive bracket from the left side of the drive.

21. Remove the two T8 Torx screws from each side of the removed hard drive. Remove the large orange ribbon cable, using extreme care and gently rocking the cable back and forth. Attach the ribbon to the new hard drive.

22. Repeat the steps backward to reassemble the iBook, paying close attention to the proper screw placement.

References

• PowerBook Medic
• Apple: Support
• Sterin: iBook
• YouTube: Replace iBook Hard Drive