5 Tips For Disassembling

1. Cut Off The Power

Now pay attention. This is important. The first thing to do when disassembling a PC is to disconnect your computer from all power sources. Rip out that power cord - I've had too many occasions when my PC was still connected to the wall outlet and I accidentally stated disassembly - with disastrous results. So always remember to do this step first.

2. Open the Case Slowly

Next, you want to open the computer case slowly. Some PCs slide off the side - and you may need to remove some screws before the cover can come off. Others open in different ways. You need to check your specific computer case.

Some cases (e.g. those from Antec) are in fact better designed and allow you to open the case easily. I always like to go for such computer cases - you can check them out at this link.

3. Learn What is Inside the Case

Once that computer case comes off, you need to familiarize yourself with the internals of your PC. If you want, you can take photos. Usually, the things to look out for are you video card, hard drives, sound card, CPU, memory modules.

4. Disconnecting Adapter Cards

If you need to remove adapter cards, e.g. a PCI based sound card, you will need to take note of the screw at the top of the bracket. Remove that screw first, then you'll be ready to disconnect the card.

5. Disconnecting Disk Drives

The other point to note is regarding disk drives. Disk drives (hard disks and floppy disks) usually have screws at the side to secure them in the PC's drive bays. Make sure you unscrew those carefully and hang on to the drive while doing it. You certainly don't want you precious hard disk dropping on the motherboard.

Conclusion

You now know some tips for disassembling a PC. Its important to bear the above points in mind when opening up your PC - it will save you a lot of headache and avoiding any potential problems. Good luck and happy computing!

source: http://www.build-your-own-computers.com/5-tips-for-disassembling-a-computer.html