mm5e+@andrew.cmu.edu (Michael Molloy) (05/18/88)
I have a dead battery in my PC 7300 but I cannot figure out how to open up the machine to get at the battery. I know it is somehow hinged, but I don't have any documents and have not figured out the secret. Any help???? Thanks in advance (mkm@k.gp.cs.cmu.edu)
jep@oink.UUCP (James E. Prior) (05/20/88)
In article <EWYPQyy00jd=B9c0S6@andrew.cmu.edu> mm5e+@andrew.cmu.edu (Michael Molloy) writes: >I have a dead battery in my PC 7300 but I cannot figure out how to open up the >machine >to get at the battery. I know it is somehow hinged, but I don't have any >documents and have >not figured out the secret. > >Any help???? > >Thanks in advance (mkm@k.gp.cs.cmu.edu) Aside from the obvious screws whose heads are exposed, there are two screws hidden under little pop-out pieces of plastic that are in the middle of each of the things on the case top that the keyboard snaps into. There are also four little ramps or catches on the inside of the very front of the plastic case. You do NOT need to use tools other than your fingers to gently pry the front of the case away from the metal faraday cage. The plastic case top lifts STRAIGHT up. When it is free, lay it back, as if it was hinged at the rear. When you disconnect the power connections, make sure that you label where they came from. Note where the tie-wraps for the video cable go. Pull the video cable out of the main unit by pulling on the connector body itself, NOT THE WIRES! A note in general, you don't need to force anything. If something is binding, you are doing something wrong. Cool off and try again. I've seen AT&T's technicians struggle with these beasts. Just take it easy. If it seems awkward, that's because it is. Once you have the machine apart, file the cursed plastic latches off of the inside of the front of the case. It makes life so much easier. -- Jim Prior {ihnp4|osu-cis}!n8emr!oink!jep jep@oink.UUCP Pointers are my friend.
gil@limbic.UUCP (Gil Kloepfer Jr.) (05/22/88)
In article <EWYPQyy00jd=B9c0S6@andrew.cmu.edu> mm5e+@andrew.cmu.edu (Michael Molloy) writes: |>I have a dead battery in my PC 7300 but I cannot figure out how to open up the |>machine |>to get at the battery. I know it is somehow hinged, but I don't have any |>documents and have |>not figured out the secret. |> |>Any help???? |> |>Thanks in advance (mkm@k.gp.cs.cmu.edu) Nope. It is not (I repeat NOT) hinged!! Be careful when you take it apart since there are wires from the motherboard attached to the part that does get removed. To get the top part (ie. the plastic part covering the base) off, take the keyboard off the computer and take off the two plastic covers (on each end of the flat section in front of the floppy drive) to expose two screws. Remove these screws and two others in the back where the expansion slots and I/O ports are. This will release the top and I think that's how far you got. The annoyance and tricky part is that the plastic case is held down in front by 3 or 4 metal lips which lock into the plastic. You take your fingers and pull the plastic out just enough so you can slip the plastic case up. Now CAREFULLY lift STRAIGHT UP on the screen/case so that you have just cleared the disk drive, then tilt the screen/case back and lay it on the table behind the main assembly. Again, be careful because there are wires attached to the plastic case from the main assembly. The battery in question is UNDER the metal shield over the motherboard. The three screws in front must be removed, and you need to unplug the 20-some-odd pin connector from the power supply (and the video display plug is sometimes a good idea). The disk drives can now be tilted up, exposing the motherboard and battery. The battery is soldered in place, but a suitable replacement is probably available. It is a lot better than AT&T's idea of changing the motherboard when a battery goes dead! Hope this helps, even if it isn't written very well. I assume a little confidence and technical sense when taking apart a computer period :-|. Good luck! +------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+ | Gil Kloepfer, Jr. | Net-Address: | | ICUS Computer Group, Systems Dvlp. | {boulder,ihnp4,talcott}!icus!limbic!gil| | P.O. Box 1 | Voice-net: (516) 968-6860 | | Islip Terrace, New York 11752 | Othernet: limbic!gil@icus.UUCP | +------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
oscar@sunspot.UUCP (Oscar Von der Luhe) (05/24/88)
WHAT?? There is a *BATTERY* in there? You mean, I don't have to re-set time
and date each time I reboot???
Another happy owner of a brand-new 7300 that spent probably years in the
warehouse.
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Internet: ovonderluhe@noao.arizona.edu