LifeDrive Disassembly

How to disassemble the Palm LifeDrive

 * You will want to perform a hot-sync and backup the LifeDrive volume to your computer before attempting this. This will ensure that even if you need to buy a replacement LifeDrive if you ruin this LifeDrive, your data will be safe.


 * You'll need the followng:


 * a T5 torx wrench
 * a sharp knife
 * a small flathead screwdriver [optional]


 * 1) Turn off your LIfeDrive, and slide the power switch into the Locked position.  This should prevent the unit from powering up as you fiddle with the case.
 * 2) Pry off the two rubber feet off the bottom of the LifeDrive.
 * 3) Remove the two long torx screws, remove the bottom shell.
 * 4) The inner shell is held in place via 6 small tabs, two per left, right, bottom edge.  Press inward on the edge of the case, and the tab should disengage from the socket.  Use something thin, like a screwdriver or plastic card, to gently wedge open the inner shell.  Work slowly, or you'll damage the shell.
 * 5) Once the inner shell is removed, the inner plastic frame is held down with two short torx screws.  Remove them, keep them separated from the two long torx screws.
 * 6) The inner plastic frame contains a piezoelectric speaker, with two thin wires that plug into the motherboard.  Before you can lift away the inner plastic frame, you'll need to unplug the speaker wires from the motherboard.  Use your fingernails gently to pull the plug from the motherboard.  The plastic frame can be lifted away.
 * 7) The battery is plugged into the motherboard, and can be unplugged at this point.  If the unit has been unplugged long enough, it'll go into a soft reset the next time it is powered up, I believe.
 * 8) Skip this step if you don't need to remove the microdrive.  The microdrive is plugged into the CF interface.  There's a warning sticker placed over the lower half of the microdrive and the CF interface.  Carefully cut through the sticker between the CF plug and the microdrive using the very tip of the knife.  Unplug the microdrive from the CF interface.
 * 9) Reverse these steps to reassemble the unit.