Editing Amstrad CPC 664 Maintenance Guide (section)

== Opening the System Unit ==

Tools: Philips #1 and #2 screwdriver, anti-static strap.

# Power off the system and unplug the DC power from the monitor.
# Disconnect joystick, printer and expansion-port peripherals.
# Place the keyboard face-down on a soft cloth.
# Remove all screws on the underside of the case (typically 6&ndash;8).
# Lift the lower case carefully. The floppy drive and the keyboard membrane are both clipped to the upper case; the main PCB is on the lower case.
# Disconnect the floppy drive ribbon from the main PCB at the disc-controller area (typically a 26-pin or 34-pin header). Note pin 1 orientation &mdash; the red-striped wire goes to the pin marked '1' on both ends.
# Disconnect the keyboard ribbon at CP002.
# Optionally remove the floppy drive: 4 screws hold it to the upper case.

The floppy drive uses Hitachi part-number HD3.5R or HD3.5-1 (the Hitachi 3-inch single-sided mechanism, the same one used in the Amstrad CPC 6128 and the Sinclair ZX Spectrum +3). Replacement units can be sourced from another non-working 664 / 6128 / Spectrum +3, or modern hardware substitutes (Gotek + FlashFloppy firmware, Hxc emulator) can be fitted in the same bay using a 3-inch-to-Hxc adapter cable.