Put your PC into a slick ATX case

Spread a sheet of bubble wrap for staging the parts you'll pull from your old case.

First, remove the PCI cards and your graphics card. If necessary, unscrew any screws securing those cards. A graphics card may be additionally restrained by a slot-mounted lever. Also, detach any internal cables connected to the cards, such as power connectors or audio cords. Note which motherboard slot you pull each card from; you'll reinsert them into the same slots later.

Next, detach all cables running between the drives and motherboard, as well as all PSU connectors. (PSU plugs in your drives often require a firm yank; those running to your motherboard have a clip to squeeze before pulling.) Remove the hard drives and optical drives next. If they're mounted to the frame with screws, you may have to remove the old case's other side panel to access them all.

Now, it's time for the motherboard. Look for fine wires marrying it to the case. You'll find a forest of them leading from the power switch, speaker, and power/activity LEDs on your old case to a rectangular cluster (or header) of pins on the motherboard. Most will be wire pairs joined by plastic connectors. Gently remove these, one by one. Imperative: Sketch the pin arrangement and the wires as you unplug them, noting which pins correspond to which wires (a name is usually on the connector) and the connector's orientation (by wire color). This could save you a heap of trouble later.

You also may need to detach cables running from USB, audio, or FireWire ports on the case to headers on the motherboard. Unless these connectors are a single solid block, sketch the pin arrangement on these, too.

Once the motherboard is untethered, remove the screws holding it down. Lift it out and place it on your bubble-wrap mat. Finally, if your new case lacks a PSU (ours did), remove the rear screws holding yours in place and carefully slide it out. Stick on a Post-it to indicate which side is up.