PC-3000 Forum

Any idea how to safely get this monolith out? It’s enclosed in metal except for the plug side.

The full size flash drive is for size reference.

I usually start by using diagonal cutters to cut both of the top corners and peel it back like an old sardines can. Usually, ones like this have little clips in the back that hold the monolith in place, but they are near impossible to see.

fun times...

Here is a great example. But it's in Russian
Anyway, everything is pretty clear without any words

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=eBt5EGL4Vmc

I took off the metal piece by piece .
Here’s what’s inside. It doesn’t look like the typical monolith. Do I have to remove the plastic piece with the pins? It looks like its soldered on.

You need to remove to expose the surface which you will need to scratch to remove the top coating - then you will see tracks and from this pattern you need to determine if a pin map if available that you can use as reference to wire connection to.

It looks like it need to be soldered off.....

Very often there is glue inside so this method will not work.

May be is litte late... I hope be usefull for you:
A. With soldering iron and helped whith a cuter knife, remove the points 1 (first picture), result second picture.
B. With hot gun remove the points labeled 2 (first picture), result 3rd picture
C. Remove solder and clean the monolith
D. Remove epoxy using your better procedure
E. Technological pins are exposed... now the problem is I haven't the pinout... this is a SuperSpeed (USB3.1) port that is the reason 9 pin conection.
Next step is get a logical analizer and learn to identify each pad activity.

Yeah, I've been at the last step. No pinout solution currently available for this model yet.

Then... Nex step... logic analyzer.