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How to Disassemble the Cover on a New Style PS3

Under the hood, the PlayStation 3 looks like your standard computer. It has a processor, motherboard, hard drive, network interface card, power supply and disc-based media drive. However, opening the cover to examine these internal components is a little different than opening a standard computer. Although it's not common to open the unit, knowing how can come in handy if your technically inclined and need to clean, repair or optimize your PlayStation 3.

Things You'll Need

Soft cloth or towel
Phillips screwdriver
Utility knife
T8 Torx screwdriver

Instructions

- 1
  Disconnect your PlayStation 3. Place the unit on a solid, flat surface that is covered by a soft, clean cloth or towel. Ensure you are left with enough open space to place screws and pieces of the cover to the side as you disassemble the unit.
- 2
  Turn the PlayStation 3 upside down. Use the utility knife to remove the seven rubber feet. Under these feet are the screws holding the cover in place. Remove the seven screws, and place them with the corresponding rubber feet.
- 3
  Use the utility knife to remove the notched rectangular panel toward the front of the unit. Remove the exposed blue screw. Place the blue screw and the rectangular panel together. The screw is a different color, as it must return to the same place during reassembly. This blue screw holds the internal hard drive in place.
- 4
  Locate the three T8 Torx screws toward the front-right of the unit; located directly under the disc insertion area. These are designed as security screws to prevent users from tampering with the system. Use the T8 Torx screwdriver to remove these specialized screws.
- 5
  Turn the unit over. Pull upward on the cover. It will lift off without force, exposing all of the internal components for modification, cleaning or repair.

PlayStation 3