How Do I Remove Front Panel Presario 7598?

Does anyone know how to remove the front plastic panel of the case of an old Compaq Presario 7598? I checked the website but there are no old manuals listed on the hp site.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

I looked far and wide, and I couldn't even find a picture of it! If you can link a picture, I can probably help you out. I've worked on tons of old Compaqs.....

 

is this it?

http://di1.shopping.com/images1/pi/4d/22/de/20119929-177x150-0-0.jpg

 

IF it has a side door there usually are plastic tabs that you push to release the door.

This link might be of use--but I didn't see a picture of the tabs. http://www.pcguide.com/vb/archive/index.php/t-39353.html

 

You should be able to figure it out. I have one case type where there are tabs along the sides on the outside to press and pull the cover outwards and up but its not an HP. the two most common types are the tab lock and the screwed in. The ones fastened with screws are the very old type so lets assume yours is tabbed. Remove the side panel(s) and look towards the front from the inside, you should see two or three round flared pegs thru round holes or pull back tabs locked into a square hole. Start from the bottom and work up from each side (if both side panels come off) and gently separate the plastic door from the metal housing.

There are a few twisted ones where the drives have to be pulled before the door will come off but they're few and far between. There are also a few with just a couple locking tabs lower and at the top will be a sort of "lift and pull" section which in reverse (putting it back on) would be to set two L shaped plastic tabs into a square hole then drop them down to lock (sort of like a CRT monitors bottom stand locks on if you have ever dealt with that. In that case you release the tabs inside the door(s) and then lift up and out (this is the type where its sometimes necessary to remove the drives to be able to lift the cover up especially if theres a drive in the bottom most section, of course if you can't remove the drives without removing the cover that will not be the case).

Usually when I go thru this operation I end up by placing a piece of furnace filter pad over the front vents when I put it back together to act as a filter if there isn't a filter there already. This of course helps keep your PC clean but also means from time to time you have to do this again to get them out and clean them or they will block the vents with the dust, dirt and hair they collect.

 

Sometimes the front panel is held on by screws from inside, as well as pop fasteners. I work on the theory that if someone put it together, I can take it apart again. It's just a matter of working out how it is held together. Doing this carefully and methodically should avoid any damage. If you take off one of the side panels, you may be able to see if there are any screws.

And as a last resort, there's always this . . .

http://uktv.co.uk/images/standarditem/L1/500863_L1.gif

 

i found once on a compaq front panel, that there is one "arm" that is on the side of the drive bays, about half-way down, (probably tan/white) that u have to lift (or lower? ) the lever. It fits in a slot on the front panel, kinda like a skeleton key. there may even be an arrow on that lever to tell you which way to push it.