Disassembly (Panasonic Q)
To get into the Panasonic Q you have to disassemble it in a specific order.
Start by removing the left and right panels by removing the 6 screws and lifting the panels off.
Next remove the top board by removing the 2x 1/16th Hex (or a T6 bit works well) screws on the front, and 2 Philips screws on the back.
Disconnect all 4 wire harnesses (the left back connector disconnects from the mid-board not top board) and the single ribbon connector.
Then release the clip at the back center, and the 2 clips at the front holding it in place and lift off the top.
Turn the console upside down, remove the 2 Philips screws. From the front remove the bottom 2x 1/16th Hex (or a T6 bit works well) screws that remain.
Flip to console back upright.
Remove the two black Philips screws on the left and right of the front panel when looking down into the console from the top.
Release the clips on the bottom left and right side to release the front panel.
Disconnect the controller port ribbon from the GameCube PCB.
Disconnect the top front ribbon from the disc drive. This goes to the Disc Interface Connector.
Remove the two Philips screws from the rear panel mid-way down that attach to the disc drive.
Move the drive freely out of the way and disconnect the 3 ribbons connected to the drive and right sideboard (removing them from the disc drive side is best as it is easier to remember the orientations of blue line up) and lift out the disc assembly.
Remove the single Philips screw on the rear under the Digital AV Out text.
Unplug the ribbon cable to free the digital AV port, then lift it out of the rear hooks and place to one side.
Remove the two Philips screws on the rear in the center that hold the top power board in place.
Unclip the two white clips by squeezing in their clips using cutters or similar (do not cut them obviously, just squeeze and lift the board up over them to free the top power board.
Disconnect the 12V power 2-pin connector by the text COLD.
Disconnect the large 2-pin red and black connectors for the AC power.
Now the board is free to rotate but is attached to the right sideboard. I recommend leaving it attached as the two black wire harnesses are bare wire clips and are not great at being disconnected/reconnected.
If you want to remove the black wire harnesses, simply slide forward (towards the wires) the white clips to fully remove them and then lift out the wires.
Remove the remaining 6 Philips screws from the back.
Release the 2 clips at the bottom and the rear panel will pull out.
Now it is partly free, disconnect the 3 and 4-wire black wire harnesses by sliding up the white connector and removing the wires.
Disconnect the 8-pin connector going to the GameCube.
Disconnect the 2-pin black and red wire going to the fan.
Finally, disconnect the black wire harness going to the top power board, or the black wire harness from the top power board going to the bottom power board if you want to free it along with the top power board.
If you have not disconnected the black wire harness from the top power board, this will come with it and the bottom power board when you release that.
Remove the 5 Philips screws holding the AC power board in place and lift it out along with the side, rear and top power board if they are still attached by the black wire harnesses.
Remove the 2 Philips screws holding the fan and cover down, the lift it out.
Fish the 2-pin wire through the clip holding the wire down to free it.
The little brown board sitting on top of the GameCube is the power board for it.
Disconnect the 2-pin black and red cable from the right.
At this point you could leave the board stuck to the top of the metal shield. There is no need to remove it further.
Squeeze the white clips holding the board to the metal cage to fully free it.
The little green board on top of the GameCube is the ribbon cable connector joining the disc drive to the GameCube.
Remove the single Philips screw and lift it out.
Disconnect the white block connector from the back of the GameCube.
Remove the 4 Philips screws on the controller port covers with the copper shields.
Remove the 4 Philips screws from the metal shield and lift it free.
Remove the 6 Philips screws and washers from around the heat sink.
Now the console lifts out.
Lift the bottom shield away to expose the GameCube DC Power board.
Remove the 4 Philips screws and lift it out.
