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How to open up a Filco Majestouch Minila. (Cleanly!)

Posted: 17 May 2013, 23:04
by alfa147x
I wrapped the guide in the spoiler tag to help clean up the page. Hit Show to check it out!
Spoiler:
  1. Remove two screws near the rear two rubber pads on the bottom.
  2. Insert card like so:
    • Image
  3. Rotate card:
    • Image
  4. Repeat for all corners:
    • You may have to move the front two cards closer to the corner
    • Image
  5. Locations of clips:
    • Image
    • Image
  6. Slowly start separating the bottom and top cases. If you feel any resistance a clip has not been released.
  7. You can remove the PCB containing the switches by slowly lifting from all corners. Start near the backspace key. Lift there and then lift all around. Repeat till the board has separated from controller board.
  8. Remove the 5 screws to remove the controller board
    • Image
I wasn't able to find a guide so I made one!

Good luck and post what you do!

Posted: 18 May 2013, 00:05
by Muirium
Amazing what doors the right plastic will open up. I believe the official tool for that kind of thing is a spudger. I've one of those for laptop repair. And a filed thin putty knife for doing the same means of entry to Mac mini's.

I think I found Deskthority through Google, originally. So hopefully your guide will top searches for everyone out there attempting to get their Minila apart.

Posted: 18 May 2013, 00:39
by alfa147x
Muirium wrote:Amazing what doors the right plastic will open up. I believe the official tool for that kind of thing is a spudger. I've one of those for laptop repair. And a filed thin putty knife for doing the same means of entry to Mac mini's.

I think I found Deskthority through Google, originally. So hopefully your guide will top searches for everyone out there attempting to get their Minila apart.
Yup. The drywall putty tool I had was either too sharp or too thick. Cheap shopping cards seem to work the best. I have a new Mac Mini with the screw off cover for the inter cavity. So glad they made RAM changes easier. Oh and if you get the optical drive SATA ribbon for a MBP you can hook up a 2nd drive. Pretty sweet without having to shell out the cash for one of those kits or the Sever version.