Many of the buttons on my Old and Trusty MX-850 Orion have stopped working and also the serial/USB cable. I can no longer get it to connect to my computer. I saw a You tube on taking it apart to fix, but I couldn't get it apart. Has anyone managed to get it aprt and fix the buttons?

It requires a fair bit of twisting force. It tends to start separating around the light button first, and you can begin by working something in there. Note that you may end up breaking some of the clips that hold it closed, which may or may not have any actual effect.

One thing to check is that it may not being the serial port that's bad, but the cable. I've gone through several that have failed at the connector end (intermittent connection, like sometimes if you bent the cable in one direction or another, you could get it to work).

Also, if you're thinking of "re-painting" the key contacts, that tends to be a VERY short-lived fix. But if you see an oily-like substance on the circuit board, cleaning that off may restore operation for a while.

Thanks, I am hesitant to break it since it would eliminate the only way I have to operate my system. I have bought a Harmony elite to replace it, but I am having issues programming it as it doesn't seem as obvious as the MX-850. Maybe I'm just old school. I also considered buying an MX-850 on ebay, but I thought I would upgrade to something made in the last 20 years.

When opening the mx-850, I go through the bottom edge of the remote, if I have to I'll breakthrough the inner wall, just so I can get something in to pry it apart slightly. Then I slide the edge of credit card around popping the catches, never breaking any. Works for most kinds of remotes.

Just a collection:

Still a current product from URC, get a new one for another 10 year life...

Didn't it just get disco'ed!