MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Late 2011

Released October 24, 2011 / 2.2, 2.4, or 2.5 GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7 Processor

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Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Late 2011 Dual Hard Drive

Featured Guide

This guide has been found to be exceptionally cool by the iFixit staff.

Use this guide to replace your optical drive with a second hard drive or SSD.

Author: Andrew Goldberg
Difficulty: Moderate

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There are many benefits to adding a second hard drive to your laptop such as improved speeds, greater storage space, and less heartache when installing new software. Use this guide to install one using our optical bay hard drive enclosure.

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Edit Step 1 — Lower Case ¶

Remove the following ten screws securing the lower case to the upper case:
- Three 13.5 mm (14.1 mm) Phillips screws.
- Seven 3 mm Phillips screws.

Edit Step 2 ¶

Using both hands, lift the lower case near the vent to pop it off two clips securing it to the upper case.
Remove the lower case and set it aside.

Edit Step 3 — Battery Connector ¶

For certain repairs (e.g. hard drive), disconnecting the battery connector is not necessary but it prevents any accidental shorting of electronics on the motherboard. If you do not disconnect the battery connector, please be careful as parts of the motherboard might be electrified.
Use the edge of a spudger to pry the battery connector upwards from its socket on the logic board.
It is useful to pry upward on both short sides of the connector to "walk" it out of its socket.

Edit Step 4 ¶

Bend the battery cable slightly away from its socket on the logic board so it does not accidentally connect itself while you work.

Edit Step 5 — Optical Drive ¶

Disconnect the camera cable connector from its socket on the logic board.
Do not lift up on the cable as you disconnect it from the logic board. Pull the cable parallel to the face of the logic board.

Edit Step 6 ¶

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the AirPort/Bluetooth connector up from its socket on the logic board.

Edit Step 7 ¶

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the optical drive connector up from its socket on the logic board.

Edit Step 8 ¶

Remove following two screws:
- One 8.6 mm Phillips screw
- One 3.9 mm Phillips screw
Carefully rotate the AirPort/Bluetooth board housing (with AirPort/Antenna cables still attached) out of the lower case.