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Snap! 1000/1100 Disassembly

(Article ID: 000947)
Step-by-step instructions

This is a typical Snap! 1000/1100 unit. Once you take the system apart you'll see that there isn't much to it. In this particular case I am taking my 1100 apart.

Begin by looking at the back of the server. Starting from the left you'll see the Ethernet port, reset access hole, power button, and DC power input.

The power button you see is actually a piece of plastic that extends a button that is surface mounted to the motherboard. Remove the extension using a pair of tweezers or fine point needle-nose pliers.

Turn the server upside down. There are four rubber feet with a Philips head screw in each foot. Unscrew each screw and set the screws and feet aside. After removing the screws and feet remove the bottom plate.

This is where things get a little tricky. Along each side of the metal box that holds the internals of the server are two notches. There is a plastic ear that hooks in to each of those notches. You will have to stick your fingers in between the plastic cover and the metal box and pull the box just enough to where the ears clear those notches. When you do that turn the server so that the box is pointing downward and give it a little shake. You are counting on gravity to help you here. Make sure that you do this over something padded in case you shake too hard and the box comes out on the first shake. If it does not come out on the first shake, that is okay. The trick is to get the metal box out enough so that it is clear of the ears and you can pull it out yourself.

The lid on the metal box does not really attach to the box at all. It is more of a dust cover while it is inside of the plastic housing. Pull the cover off to expose the hard drive and internal electronics.

The front of the server (where the lights are located) is where the hard drive connects to the motherboard. As you can see it uses a short IDE ribbon cable (only a few inches long if that) and a standard molex connector. Carefully disconnect the IDE cable and molex power connector. If the molex power connector is to tight you can use a pair of needle-nose pliers to carefully loosen it. When it is loose enough you should be able to pull it out.

There are four Philips screws (two on each side) that hold the hard drive in the unit. Turn the server upside down (hard drive down) and remove these four screws. Carefully lift up the server as the hard drive may stick inside of the metal case and dropping the hard drive is probably not something you want to do.

Taking the motherboard out of the system is not difficult. Disconnect the fan from the motherboard by pulling the fan connector away from the motherboard at a slight angle. The motherboard is attached to the metal box by four Philips screws. Remove the four screws and lift up on the front of the motherboard enough to get your fingers under it. While pushing in on the Ethernet port from the outside of the case continue lifting the motherboard up until it is clear of the case.

Most people will not have a need to do this unless you want to modify your server further by changing the color of the LEDs for example. I did this with my Snap! 1000. I changed my System LED to red and my Disk LED to a high intensity blue. I learned a few things from this. The standard 5mm LEDs you buy at places like Radio Shack will not fit unless you are prepared to do some really fancy bending with the leads. Also be careful that you get LEDs that draw the same amount or lower current than the stock LEDs. One final note would be to make absolutely sure that you use a low power soldering station so that you don't burn out the motherboard.
***DISCLAIMER***
The author of this site makes no warranties, express or implied, and assumes no responsibility for the use of the materials presented here. Any use of these materials is strictly at the risk of the user.

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***DISCLAIMER***
The author of this site makes no warranties, express or implied, and assumes no responsibility for the use of the materials presented here. Any use of these materials is strictly at the risk of the user.