Disassembling an Apple Cinema Display

At work (WSI Tübingen) we had a Cinema Display that was just over the extended three year warranty period and has started to flicker. Now and then, the lower half of the backlighting would drop out, leaving half of the display dark. Though you could still see everything on the screen, it was a strain on the eyes, when using it for a longer time. The display is a 23-inch DVI display from late 2005.

Apple service told us, that they would have to replace the whole LCD panel, which would have cost about 800 Euros. So we decided to forego repair.

I wanted to see, whether I could repair the display manually myself, so I took it apart. As I could not find any how-to on the web (apart from this korean site), I took photos of the process. You will find them below, along with some instructions.

<p>Cinema Display flat on desk</p>
Cinema Display flat on desk
<p>Unscrewing the hinge</p>
Unscrewing the hinge
<p>Unscrewing the hinge</p>
Unscrewing the hinge
<p>Hinge is gone</p>
Hinge is gone
<p>Carefully opening the sides (they are glued on)</p>
Carefully opening the sides (they are glued on)
<p>Carefully opening the sides (they are glued on)</p>
Carefully opening the sides (they are glued on)
<p>Carefully opening the sides (they are glued on)</p>
Carefully opening the sides (they are glued on)
<p>This is what we've got so far</p>
This is what we've got so far
<p>Unscrew the sides</p>
Unscrew the sides
<p>Unscrew the sides</p>
Unscrew the sides
<p>This is what we've got so far</p>
This is what we've got so far
<p>Pulling a latch outwards</p>
Pulling a latch outwards
<p>Taking care of the cable</p>
Taking care of the cable
<p>Getting ready ...</p>
Getting ready ...
<p>Sliding panel out</p>
Sliding panel out
<p>Panel</p>
Panel
<p>Panel</p>
Panel
<p>Panel</p>
Panel
<p>Labels</p>
Labels
<p>Flipping over</p>
Flipping over
<p>Panel with some of the electronics gone</p>
Panel with some of the electronics gone
<p>This is what we've got so far</p>
This is what we've got so far
<p>Removing some plugs</p>
Removing some plugs
<p>Removing the final frame</p>
Removing the final frame
<p>Everything's open now</p>
Everything's open now
<p>Another shot of some of the disassembled parts</p>
Another shot of some of the disassembled parts
<p>The cold-cathode fluorescent lamps (<strong>CCFLs)</strong></p>
The cold-cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs)
<p>CCFLs</p>
CCFLs
<p>CCFLs</p>
CCFLs
<p>CCFLs</p>
CCFLs
<p>CCFLs</p>
CCFLs
<p>Aluminium frame without its contents ...</p>
Aluminium frame without its contents ...