This guide shows how to open and disassemble a Sony Picturebook computer to the point where the hard drive can be accessed.

Disclaimer: This guide is provided here solely for academic purposes. Disassembly of your computer will of course void the warranty and most likely render it inoperable. The author of this guide takes NO RESPONSIBILITY for any consequences should you attempt to follow these instructions.

These steps were successfully performed on a Sony C1VN Picturebook.

Instructions:

1. Remove the battery (not shown).
2. Remove the hinge caps (Figure 1). This is probably the most difficult step. The caps are not affixed with an adhesive, but they have these three pesky teeth holding them onto the hinge (Figure 2). Be careful to not break the plastic.
3. Remove the six screws indicated in Figure 1.
4. Free the keyboard. There are two plastic tabs on either side of the front of the keyboard, beneath the left Ctrl and the right End keys (Figures 3 and 4), which hold the front of the keyboard in place. Use two slot screwdrivers to gently push in the tab while lifting on the keyboard (Figure 5). This will free the front of the keyboard so that it can be lifted (Figure 6).
5. Disconnect the keyboard cables. There are two ribbon cables connecting the keyboard to the mainboard. To free the cable from the connector, do not just pull it out. Lift the top of the connector on both sides, and the connector will "let go" of the cable (Figure 7). (See Figure 10 for a hint.) The reverse of this procedure will be used to reconnect the cable. To reconnect the cable, first make sure the top of the connector is lifted. Guide the cable into the connector and it should slide in without the need for any force. Hold the cable in place with one hand, and with the other hand push down on the top of the connector. You should feel the connector "bite" into the cable and hold it firmly in place.
6. Set the keyboard aside (Figure 8).
7. Remove the four screws indicated in Figure 9.
8. Remove the two cables connecting the top of the case to the mainboard (Figure 9). Use the procedure described in Step 5 to free the cables from their connectors (Figures 10, 11, and 12).
9. Gently lift the top of the case and set it aside.
10. Disconnect the remaining flat cable (Figures 13 and 14).
11. Removed the three of the four hard drive mounting screws that are circled in Figure 13.
12. To access the fourth drive mounting screw (arrow in Figure 13), you may find it best to remove the two cables shown in Figure 15. Next, remove the fourth hard drive mounting screw.
13. Gently lift the hard drive taking care not to knock it into the mainboard or pull too hard on its connecting cable (Figure 16).
14. Gently but firmly remove the hard drive connector cable (Figure 17). This may be difficult and take care not to put too much tension between the cable and the mainboard.
15. You will now be able to remove the hard drive (Figure 18).
16. Reverse these instructions to reinstall the hard drive and assemble the computer.

Figure 2: Hinge Cap

Figure 3: Keyboard Tab

Figure 4: Keyboard Tab

Figure 5: Freeing the Keyboard

Figure 6: Lifted Keyboard

Figure 7: Keyboard Cable Connectors

Figure 8: Remove the Keyboard

Figure 9: Top View

Figure 10: Freeing the Top Cover Cables

Figure 11: Freeing the Top Cover Cables

Figure 12: Freeing the Top Cover Cables

Figure 13: Inside

Figure 14: Freeing a Mainboard Cable

Figure 15: Accessing the Fourth Drive Mounting Screw

Figure 16: Freeing the Drive

Figure 17: The Hard Drive Connector

Figure 18: Hard Drive - Bottom View