iMac G3/400 slot-loading HDD replacement

[Snial]

Hi folks,

I was trying to dismantle an iMac 5521/400 in order to replace a HD. An early stage involves taking off the bottom of the casing (after opening the hatches, removing the RAM and undoing about 4 or 6 screws). I can almost do this, but there are three clips at the front which I can't remove easily. I've watched a few videos, but all of them seem to show the case basically falling off the front, so I conclude they broke the clips in a previous dismantle.

I can see the clips, but I'm not sure which part has the clips and which the holes for the clips, nor exactly how to press or lever the lower casing to pop the clips out. I've dismantled polycarbonate iBooks, an iMac 266 and even an iMac G4 before, but this seems more problematic to my mind.

The best picture I've seen is attached, but it's too blurry to determine exactly which part has the protruding clips.

thanks in advance.

 

[corgski]

All I did with mine when I took the bottom case off to get at the PRAM battery was tilt it forward. It hung up on the same clip on mine too and when it let loose it sounded scary but nothing was broken. You might wanna try sliding a narrow spudger in there right in front of the clip to ease it along a little bit.