How do you remove the top case cover

every time i open and close my screen it sounds like a loose screw is rolling around by my screen. i see that there is 4 allen screws on the sides but i had those out and the top cover was still on very tight, is there just some plastic clips in there?

iBook G4 1.33ghz, Mac OS X (10.5.1)

Posted on Jan 10, 2008 3:06 PM

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12 replies

Jan 10, 2008 6:48 PM in response to side_fx

side_fx:

Your profile does not say if your 1.33 GHz iBook G4 is a 14" or 12". ifixit does not have a guide for the 12" iBook G4 1.33 GHz. The 14" iBook G4 1.33 GHz requires removal of the battery, keyboard, airport extreme card, lower case, lower shield, before you get to the upper case. Thought you might want to know.

Good luck.

cornelius

Jan 10, 2008 8:09 PM in response to side_fx

side_fx:

The top shield is a metal shield that covers the entire top of the computer with an opening for the RAM shield (and the RAM under it), in which the airport extreme is nested, with the RAM under it. This is likely the part you see just under the keyboard. You need to remove the RAM shield to be able to unplug the keyboard for complete removal.

Thanks for posting back with updated information on the computer. You will find disassembly directions here.

If you plan to go through with this disassembly here are some tips you may find helpful:
• Print out the ifixit directions as well as the screw guide ahead of time.
• Be sure you have the right tools. You don't want to damage the screw heads or you may never get them out. And the Torx 8 screw driver is critical.
• I use small medicine cups one for the screws in each step. I nest them so that the last ones out and the first to go back in are on top. You can use an ice cube tray, egg carton, dixie cups etc. (Some users report cutting up the screw guide and placing the applicable section in each container.)
• Be very careful pulling out leads. Hold the lead as close to the plug as possible and wiggle (the plug 🙂 ) to loosen its grip. Don’t hold the wires and pull as that can damage the cable, or worse, in some instances pull the wires out of the plug. Use needle nose pliers if you can access the plug, or nudge the plug with a small instrument to help loosen its grip.
• Use force gently in removing parts. Separating upper and lower case takes some doing. Use a plastic tool (spudge) so as not to leave marks.
• Refer to the screw guide when reassembling computer. Putting longer screws in the wrong place can perforate the circuit board.

Good luck 🙂

cornelius

PS: Upon reviewing your initial post I think you are referring not to the top case, but to the display. If that is the case, unless you are very comfortable with your mechanical skills, I would hesitate to try it myself. For directions you can navigate to it from here.

Message was edited by: cornelius

Jan 10, 2008 9:37 PM in response to cornelius

yeah i was looking at the fixit page and can not find a article that is related to removing the top of the laptop. its the plastic piece with the apple logo in it. on the left and right of the screen there are two allen bolts per side. is it just those 4 screws and some plastic clips holding it on? i would guess there is some access in there for the latch pieces...

Jan 10, 2008 10:48 PM in response to side_fx

Hey Sidefx,
The OP (you) is talking about removing the back of the display housing. Rhonda posted a take apart for that recently.
Yup they're here:
http://www.powerbookmedic.com/Take-Apart-Repair-Manuals-p-1-c-258.html
under 14" you can download a PDF for taking that display apart.
Altho I can't think what would be rolling around in there that sounds like a screw? Bit of plastic?
Richard

Message was edited by: spudnuty

Jan 11, 2008 6:01 PM in response to side_fx

Hey side..,
I think you can access the inside of the display by just prying up the top after removing the screws.

HOWEVER, are you sure that you want to mess around with something that's working fine??

There's a lot of very delicate connections inside there and the smallest misstep will result in bad things happening to the display.
For instance damaging the top of the display where the grid array connects will result in permanent, usually white, vertical lines in your display.

So even if there is a screw in there, which I doubt, look at page 53 in the take apart I reference. I'm looking at the one for the 12" here. All the connections are completely covered up with that yellow tape and those connectors are sealed up.

richard

Message was edited by: spudnuty

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How do you remove the top case cover

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