Opening a Mac SE

[Apostrophe]

Hi,

I just went out today and got a long shaft Torx-15 screwdriver. It's long enough for the screws in the recess, so it should take care of all 4 screws.

I want to open the SE to see if there's any dust or blown capacitors, etc. I know that any potential problem may be coming from the HDD, but you never know, that's what I say...

I do realize that there's already a 'Compact Mac opening' post in this forum, but my topic is slightly different...

The SE has already been opened in the past (since it says 1 mb on the case, but the Finder says 4 mb) so do you think that just using something to pry the case open would be enough? Like, a long piece of metal that I could just worm along the crack to pry it off? Or would just tugging on it be enough?

If none of my suggestions are good, then I'll just go with equill's advice in the other compact opening post.

Thanks,

-Apostrophe

 

[Torbar]

I have found for opening compact macs, you don't really need a "mac cracker"(or whatever they're called). Just try removing the screws and taking off the back of the case, or using a wide flathead screwdriver and lightly turning it to separate the case.

 

[equill]

I can attest to the utility of the method proposed by equill. It has the least propensity to marr the case's seam-edges, damage the contents of the case, or go horribly wrong as the Mac bounces off the floor. There is only one more convenient and effective opening method: use of a case-cracker.

Prior openings have little bearing on the ease of re-opening, which depends on the tightness of the screws in their holes. Don't overtighten when you reassemble, and the following time will be easier.

de

 

[Apostrophe]

Hi,

At first, I tried to use the smooth side of a kitchen knife to pry it open. When that didn't have much effect, I just tugged--and it came loose. So then I positioned it CRT down and removed the case. It was actually in remarkable condition, with barely any dust, so I think that if the 'long loading' is actually a problem, then it's coming from the HDD. As I said before, I'll just run a Disk Tools floppy on it (once I find one).

As I took off the case, a piece of aluminum foil-like material fell from the bottom of the case, which was covering up a circuit board. It turns out it was held on by two pieces of Scotch tape. Needless to say, after 20 years, the tape was no longer sticky, so I used Duct tape and re-positioned it the way it was before.

When you say 'don't over-tighten the screws'...what I did was, as I tightened each screw, at one point, the screw seemed to 'stop', and so I generally just made sure that it was in that 'stopped' position...does that make any sense? So I didn't really over-tighten it, but just enough to make sure the case stayed on.

Well, this little opening has taught me two things:

A. This Mac is in like-new condition with barely any dust.

B. Now I know how to open a Compact Mac!

In a second I'll turn it on to make sure I didn't damage anything while I had it open...

I just had to make sure that nothing was wrong with any components. So does anyone know where I can get a Disk Tools floppy disk without having to spend over 5 dollars?

-Apostrophe

 

[equill]

This is an infallible source of software for older Macs. System 6.0.8 will do you very well, at the cost in time and effort of downloading the software and writing your own floppies, whether 800kB or 1.4MB, depending on the drive in your SE.

Otherwise, you are dependent on the hit-or-miss of eBay, swap groups, MUGs, recyclers, and chance encounters with rubbish skips (or dumpsters). A close-by fellow-soldier may offer to help you.

You did right with your case screws. It's not a job calling for a torque-wrench, but the commonsense of your own wrist-tension. You are aiming to get friction enough to prevent loosening, but not so much torque as to strip the thread in the plastic with the top screws. The bottom screws, as you now know, are metal-thread.

de

 

[Apostrophe]

Actually, I got System 6.0.8 from TheNixer. I installed it, and despite the fact that the installation was successful, Microsoft Word still takes 2 minutes to load.

That, and another clue I got when I ran Disk First Aid, tells me that the HDD may have a slight problem. I believe that Disk Tools can fix it, or at least, indicate if there really is a problem.

I personally don't mind if it takes two minutes to load programs, but I'm considering the SE's overall function as well. Taking 2 minutes to load a program may mean that the SE is going through way too much trouble to load Microsoft Word.

At any rate, I just did a homework assignment on the SE and it seems to be working just fine. So now I'll see if I can get ahold of Disk Tools.

-Apostrophe