Compaq desktop: How do I open the case?

[Gidney N Cloyd]

I picked up a Compaq 5320US desktop from Craigslist to clean up and give to someone and I cannot for the life of me figure out how the stupid case opens up. I'm used to dells and generic cases. I've been googling for a couple days now and haven't found anything helpful.

Looks like one of these:


Any advice would be appreciated.

[charlie]

1. Look on the back of the case

for a plastic switch that can be pressed downward. The side the switch is on is the side that can be opened. Above the switch, near the top of the case, is a single screw that holds the removable panel to the frame. Take it out.

Now, while holding the plastic switch down, push the whole removable side panel toward the back of the case (there might be a small depression in the panel to make it easier to grip and push). Once it's moved back about an inch, work the panel up and out.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

2. That did it! Thanks!

Believe it or not I asked a tech at work if that switch had anything to do with opening the case. He said he didn't think so so I stopped fiddling with it.

[charlie]

3. You're welcome

You might want to tell whomever you're giving it to that that balloon-sculpture front end pops off the case. I can't remember if you do it by prying from the top or bottom, but you can just yank it off when you want to swap out components. Also, the forward-facing bays have, in addition to the usual screw holders, plastic flip switches -- flip them up to free the components.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

4. Well...

I WAS gonna recommend a SawzAll...:evilgrin:

[CK_John]

5. Here are a couple of Compaq links for drivers,spec, and how to info.

Product specs:
<http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&cc=us&dest_page=product&dlc=en&product=93212&docname=c00009492>

sample how to page:
<http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=bph07164&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=93212&dest_page=product>