Computer tower
To look at a computer tower, it may seem ominous and imposing, especially if you're considering taking it apart. However, if you take it one piece at a time, it can be done simply and quickly. A computer towers is nothing more than a collection of snapped in and screwed in components that were made to be able to be removed. As long as you carefully take it apart, when you're done you'll have a nice neat pile of computer parts and an empty tower.
Instructions
1. Unplug everything. Unplug all of the wires, computer cables and power plugs from the outside of the tower. After this, it's a good idea to pick up the tower and put it on a clean flat workspace, on its side.
2. Open the case. Discharge any static electricity. If you are worried you may have a lot of static electricity, you can use an ESD strap to discharge it. Remove the sides of the tower by unscrewing the screws in the back of the case that hold them on. This is usually two screws on either side, but may be more. On the side where the computer parts are removed, the side may be screwed in with thumbscrews. Lay the computer down so that all of the components are exposed.
3. Remove the cards. The cards usually consist of, the sound card, video card, network card and maybe a few others. Some of these devices are now integrated on the motherboard, so you may have few or no cards at all. You can remove the cards by unscrewing them from the back of the computer. They usually only have one Phillips screw holding them in. Remove the card by pulling it slowly and carefully; you will have to apply some force though.
4. Take out the drives. The drives are in bays in the front of the tower and are screwed into the framework of the tower or in removable bays. You will need to unscrew several screws from this side of the tower and you will need to flip the computer over and unscrew the drives from the other side as well. Unplug all of the power cables and computer connections from the back of the drives. Pull the hard drives out of the back work area. Floppy and optical drives can now be pushed out the front. Some computer cases, such as certain Dells, have a system for the optical drives to come right out by pushing in releases on the sides of the drive and no unscrewing is required.
5. Disconnect the brains of the computer. Remove the memory by unlocking the white end clips and pulling up on the memory carefully and unsnapping it from the connection. Remove the CPU fan by unsnapping it from its connection to the motherboard. Unlock the CPU holder by unlatching the small metal clip. Lift up and remove the CPU.
6. Remove the power supply. Never open the inside of the power supply, as it may cause severe injury. Simply unplug the power supply from the motherboard. This is usually connected by a long white rectangle and requires a clip to be pinched to let it loose. Make sure the power supply is not connected to anything else inside. All that's left is to unscrew four screws on the back of the case that hold the power supply in place. Lift out the power supply.
7. Detach the motherboard. The motherboard should be screwed in with between 6 and 9 screws, simply unscrew them and lift the motherboard out at a good angle so that it fits out the side of the computer. The motherboard may have to be pulled out of the back of the case with some pressure, where the connections for the computer cables are. You should now have an empty tower.
Tags: power supply, back case, back case that, case that, case that hold, computer cables, computer parts