Apple Powerbook 540C Disassembly Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          30 minutes - 1 hour

Sections

Apple Powerbook 540c Disassembly
29 steps

Flags

In Progress

This guide is a work in progress. Reload periodically to see the latest changes!

Needs More Images

A few more images would make this guide’s procedures crystal clear.

Member-Contributed Guide

An awesome member of our community made this guide. It is not managed by iFixit staff.

BackPowerBook 500 Series
Full Screen
Options
History
Save to Favorites
Download PDF
Edit
Translate
Get Shareable Link
Embed This Guide
Notify Me of Changes
Stop Notifications

What you need

Step 1

              Battery/PCMCIA Module

Slide the release button toward you and pull out the main battery from the right battery bay of the computer.
Repeat the procedure for the second battery, if installed, in the left battery bay of the computer.
If a PCMCIA card is installed, eject the card first, then remove the PCMCIA card cage from the left battery bay.

Slide the release button toward you and pull out the main battery from the right battery bay of the computer.

Repeat the procedure for the second battery, if installed, in the left battery bay of the computer.

If a PCMCIA card is installed, eject the card first, then remove the PCMCIA card cage from the left battery bay.

1024

Step 2

              Keyboard

Using a T8 torx driver, remove the middle two bottom housing screws
Using a small flat-blade screwdriver, lift the front of the keyboard and pull it forward slightly.
Rotate the keyboard so that it is perpendicular to the top cover.
Release the locking tabs on the two keyboard cable connectors and disconnect the cables from the motherboard
Lift off the keyboard.

Using a T8 torx driver, remove the middle two bottom housing screws

Using a small flat-blade screwdriver, lift the front of the keyboard and pull it forward slightly.

Rotate the keyboard so that it is perpendicular to the top cover.

Release the locking tabs on the two keyboard cable connectors and disconnect the cables from the motherboard

Lift off the keyboard.

Step 3

              Hard Drive

Using a T8 torx driver, remove the hard drive mounting screw.
Using a small flat-blade screwdriver, pry up the front of the hard drive and slide it forward.
Lift the drive partway out of the unit and disconnect the hard drive cable.
Remove the hard drive.

Using a T8 torx driver, remove the hard drive mounting screw.

Using a small flat-blade screwdriver, pry up the front of the hard drive and slide it forward.

Lift the drive partway out of the unit and disconnect the hard drive cable.

Remove the hard drive.

Step 4

              Hard Drive Replacement

If you are replacing the hard drive, remove the four screws and remove the hard drive bracket and insulator.

If you are replacing the hard drive, remove the four screws and remove the hard drive bracket and insulator.

Step 5

              Floppy Drive

Using a T-8 torx driver, remove the two floppy drive screws.
Using a small flat-blade screwdriver, pry up the cable end of the floppy drive and slide the drive to the left.
Slide the drive forward slightly and lift it partway out of the unit.
Disconnect the floppy drive cable from the motherboard and remove the drive.
If you are replacing the floppy drive or floppy drive cable, release the locking tabs and disconnect the cable from the drive.

Using a T-8 torx driver, remove the two floppy drive screws.

Using a small flat-blade screwdriver, pry up the cable end of the floppy drive and slide the drive to the left.

Slide the drive forward slightly and lift it partway out of the unit.

Disconnect the floppy drive cable from the motherboard and remove the drive.

If you are replacing the floppy drive or floppy drive cable, release the locking tabs and disconnect the cable from the drive.

Step 6

              Clutch Covers

Open the unit and rotate the display assembly as far back as it will go.
Using a flat-blade screwdriver and your fingers, press in on both sides of the wide end of the right clutch cover and release the two front latches.
Rotate the clutch cover up, release the third latch, and remove the cover.
Repeat for the other clutch cover.

Open the unit and rotate the display assembly as far back as it will go.

Using a flat-blade screwdriver and your fingers, press in on both sides of the wide end of the right clutch cover and release the two front latches.

Rotate the clutch cover up, release the third latch, and remove the cover.

Repeat for the other clutch cover.

Step 7

              Display Access Cover

Using a small flat-blade screwdriver, pry up the display access cover at the three slots in the front of the cover.
Remove the display access cover.

Using a small flat-blade screwdriver, pry up the display access cover at the three slots in the front of the cover.

Remove the display access cover.

Step 8

              Display Assembly

Disconnect the interconnect to logic board cable.
Using a T-8 torx driver, remove the two display mounting screws.
Slide the display assembly to the left so that the right clutch clears the loop of the interconnect to logic board cable.
Remove the display assembly.

Disconnect the interconnect to logic board cable.

Using a T-8 torx driver, remove the two display mounting screws.

Slide the display assembly to the left so that the right clutch clears the loop of the interconnect to logic board cable.

Remove the display assembly.

Step 9

              Center Base Cover

Using a T-8 torx driver, remove the two rear panel screws.
Pull the center base cover forward slightly and slide it to the right to release the two screw carriers.
Remove the center base cover.

Using a T-8 torx driver, remove the two rear panel screws.

Pull the center base cover forward slightly and slide it to the right to release the two screw carriers.

Remove the center base cover.

Step 10

              Top Case

Rotate the feet to the up position.
Using a T-8 torx driver, remove the screw located under each foot.
Remove the four screws at the front edge of the bottom case
Remove the remaining screw on the inside top edge of the case.
Carefully lift and rotate the top case toward you and disconnect the track pad cable from the motherboard.
Remove the interconnect to logic board cable from the opening for the right clutch.
Remove the top case.

Rotate the feet to the up position.

Using a T-8 torx driver, remove the screw located under each foot.

Remove the four screws at the front edge of the bottom case

Remove the remaining screw on the inside top edge of the case.

Carefully lift and rotate the top case toward you and disconnect the track pad cable from the motherboard.

Remove the interconnect to logic board cable from the opening for the right clutch.

Remove the top case.

Step 11

              Daughterboard EMI Shield

With a T8 Torx driver, remove the three mounting screws on the EMI shield.
Using a small flat-blade screwdriver, pry up and remove the daughterboard EMI shield.

With a T8 Torx driver, remove the three mounting screws on the EMI shield.

Using a small flat-blade screwdriver, pry up and remove the daughterboard EMI shield.

Step 12

              Daughterboard

Remove the plastic retainer bar.
You will need an IC extractor. I do not recommend using a flat head screwdriver
Place the legs of the IC extractor in the notches at the end of the daughterboard and pull up.

Remove the plastic retainer bar.

You will need an IC extractor. I do not recommend using a flat head screwdriver

Place the legs of the IC extractor in the notches at the end of the daughterboard and pull up.

Step 13

RAM

Remove the two screws from the plastic retainer bar.
Gently but firmly slide the plastic retainer bar away from the RAM card to release it.
Insert the IC puller along the two notches on either side of the RAM card.
Gripping the IC puller firmly, pull straight up to remove the RAM card.

Remove the two screws from the plastic retainer bar.

Gently but firmly slide the plastic retainer bar away from the RAM card to release it.

Insert the IC puller along the two notches on either side of the RAM card.

Gripping the IC puller firmly, pull straight up to remove the RAM card.

Step 14

              Modem

To remove the modem card, place the legs of the IC extractor in the notches at the end of the board and pull up.

To remove the modem card, place the legs of the IC extractor in the notches at the end of the board and pull up.

Step 15

              Interconnect to Logic Board Cable

Disconnect the interconnect to logic board cable from the motherboard and remove the cable.

Disconnect the interconnect to logic board cable from the motherboard and remove the cable.

Step 16

              Side Panels

Using a T-8 torx driver, remove the three right side panel mounting screw.
Lift the panel slightly, slide it back, and remove it from the CPU stiffener.
Using a T-8 torx driver, remove the three left side-panel mounting screws.
Slide the panel to the left and remove it from the CPU stiffener.

Using a T-8 torx driver, remove the three right side panel mounting screw.

Lift the panel slightly, slide it back, and remove it from the CPU stiffener.

Using a T-8 torx driver, remove the three left side-panel mounting screws.

Slide the panel to the left and remove it from the CPU stiffener.

Step 17

              CPU Stiffener

Unlatch the left side panel from the back panel.
Rotate the feet to the up position.
Lift the CPU stiffener straight off the unit.

Unlatch the left side panel from the back panel.

Lift the CPU stiffener straight off the unit.

Step 18

              Motherboard

Remove the motherboard mounting screw and standoff.
Carefully pry the motherboard from the positioning peg located below the standoff.
Slide the board forward and lift it out.

Remove the motherboard mounting screw and standoff.

Carefully pry the motherboard from the positioning peg located below the standoff.

Slide the board forward and lift it out.

Step 19

              Hard Drive Cable

Turn over the motherboard.
Disconnect the hard drive cable from the motherboard.

Turn over the motherboard.

Disconnect the hard drive cable from the motherboard.

Step 20

              Microphone Assembly

Carefully disconnect the microphone cable from the interconnect board.
Using a small flat-blade screwdriver, pry up and remove the microphone assembly.

Carefully disconnect the microphone cable from the interconnect board.

Using a small flat-blade screwdriver, pry up and remove the microphone assembly.

Step 21

              Backup Battery

Using a small flat-blade screwdriver, pry up and remove the backup battery cover.
Carefully disconnect the backup battery cable.
Remove the cable from the cable guides.
Pry up and remove the backup battery and cable.

Using a small flat-blade screwdriver, pry up and remove the backup battery cover.

Carefully disconnect the backup battery cable.

Remove the cable from the cable guides.

Pry up and remove the backup battery and cable.

Step 22

              Trackpad Assembly

Using a T-8 torx driver, remove the front two mounting screws.
Disconnect the trackpad cable assembly and remove it from the unit.
Using a T-8 torx driver, remove the remaining two mounting screws
Pry up and remove the trackpad actuator assembly.
With your fingers, push up from underneath the trackpad logic board and remove it from the top case

Using a T-8 torx driver, remove the front two mounting screws.

Disconnect the trackpad cable assembly and remove it from the unit.

Using a T-8 torx driver, remove the remaining two mounting screws

Pry up and remove the trackpad actuator assembly.

With your fingers, push up from underneath the trackpad logic board and remove it from the top case

Step 23

              Display Bezel Disassembly

Disconnect the speaker cable from the interconnect board.
Remove the bottom two bezel mounting screws.
Pry off the two rubber bumpers and remove the top two bezel mounting screws.
Pull the display bezel forward and lift it off the rear housing.

Disconnect the speaker cable from the interconnect board.

Remove the bottom two bezel mounting screws.

Pry off the two rubber bumpers and remove the top two bezel mounting screws.

Pull the display bezel forward and lift it off the rear housing.

Step 24

              Display

Remove the four mounting screws.
Disconnect the backlight cable from the inverter board.
Lift the display from the rear housing.

Remove the four mounting screws.

Disconnect the backlight cable from the inverter board.

Lift the display from the rear housing.

Step 25

              Inverter Board

Remove the two mounting screws
Disconnect the interconnect to inverter cable and the backlight cable.
Remove the inverter board.

Remove the two mounting screws

Disconnect the interconnect to inverter cable and the backlight cable.

Remove the inverter board.

Step 26

              Interconnect Board

Disconnect the interconnect to display cable and the interconnect to inverter cable.
Remove the two mounting screws.
Remove the interconnect board.

Disconnect the interconnect to display cable and the interconnect to inverter cable.

Remove the two mounting screws.

Remove the interconnect board.

Step 27

              Interconnect to Inverter Cable

Disconnect the interconnect to inverter cable from the interconnect and inverter boards.
Remove the cable from the back housing.

Disconnect the interconnect to inverter cable from the interconnect and inverter boards.

Remove the cable from the back housing.

Step 28

              Interconnect to Display Cable

Disconnect the interconnect to display cable from the back of the display.
Remove the cable.

Disconnect the interconnect to display cable from the back of the display.

Remove the cable.

Step 29

              Clutches

Remove the mounting screw for the right clutch and remove the clutch.
Repeat for the left clutch

Remove the mounting screw for the right clutch and remove the clutch.

Repeat for the left clutch

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Cancel: I did not complete this guide.

                                                                                      One other person completed this guide.

Author

                                      with 5 other contributors

                    Luke

Member since: 09/27/2017

1,605 Reputation

                                      4 Guides authored                  



                       Badges:
                       15







                                                        +12 more badges

In Progress#

Needs More Images#

Member-Contributed Guide#

What you need#

In Progress

Needs More Images

Member-Contributed Guide

What you need