Pointers for Opening the 17 inch PowerBook Display

1. The 17 inch display is completely different from the 12 and 15 inch displays. Don't waste your money on any take apart guides for those models. They won't help you; they will only confuse you.
2. The main source of difficulty in separating the back from the display is that it is held on by these fiendish spring-metal fingers that actually tighten their grip when you attempt to pull the back off.
   
   Fig. 1. View of the inside of the back cover of the 17 inch PowerBook display showing the spring metal fingers that hold the back in place.
3. Don't use metal tools to pry the back off. You will scratch it, bend it, and damage the cables that run just inside where the case opens up.
   
   Fig. 2. View of the 17 inch PowerBook display with the back removed showing the airport cable, which runs around the perimeter.
4. Wrap the cable ends in tissue and secure with tape to prevent them from scratching the screen while you wrestle with the display.
   
   Fig. 3. View of the 17 inch PowerBook display with the cable wrapped in tissue paper to prevent it from scratching the screen.
5. Start working from the hinged end of the display. The fingers down at this end come loose fairly easily, and the hinge prevents the screen from flexing as you pry the back away, thus preventing the screen from cracking.
   
   Fig. 4. View of the 17 inch PowerBook display with the back partially removed.
6. Use plastic putty knives , popsicle sticks or tongue depressors to pry the back away from the screen and shim the opening. Slide them along or insert new ones as you go.
7. As you open up the gap between the aluminum back and the gray plastic trim ring, look inside for the bright metal spring clips. They will be hidden behind tabs projecting from the gray plastic trim ring. Take a small jeweler's screwdriver and carefully pry the edge of the spring clip outward and towards the back. Be careful not to pierce the Airport cable which is strung around the outside of the display very close to these clips.
   
   Fig. 5. Close-up of the side of the back cover of 17 inch PowerBook display showing spring metal clips.
8. Once you have released the spring clips from the bottom and both sides of the display, slide the back up and off of the display assembly. Set the back aside and place the display assembly face down on the work table.
   
   Fig. 6. Close-up of the top of the back cover of 17 inch PowerBook display showing spring metal clips. Note the difference in shape. These cannot be pried loose, so the back must be slid upwards to remove it.

Fig. 7. View of the 17 inch PowerBook display with the back removed. The inverter board is in the bottom edge of the assembly, secured by two pieces of yellow cellophane tape.