Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Late 2008 and Early 2009 Hard Drive Cable

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This guide will show you how to remove the hard drive cable from your laptop.

Sections
Tools
Relevant parts
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Add Note Edit Step 1 — Access Door  ¶ 

  • With the case closed, place the Unibody top-side down on a flat surface.

  • Depress the grooved side of the access door release latch enough to grab the free end. Lift the release latch until it is vertical.

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Add Note Edit Step 2  ¶ 

  • The access door should now be raised enough to lift it up and out of the Unibody.

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Add Note Edit Step 3 — Battery  ¶ 

  • Be sure the access door release latch is vertical before proceeding.

  • Grab the translucent plastic tab and pull the battery up and out of the Unibody.

  • If the latch is depressed it will lock the battery in place.

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Add Note Edit Step 4 — Lower Case  ¶ 

  • Remove the following eight screws securing the lower case to the chassis:

    • One 5.4 mm Phillips screw.

    • Three 14 mm Phillips screws.

    • Four 3.5 mm Phillips screws.

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Add Note Edit Step 5  ¶ 

  • Using both hands, lift and remove the lower case off the upper case.

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Add Note Edit Step 6 — Optical Drive  ¶ 

  • Disconnect the camera cable by pulling the male end straight away from its socket.

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Add Note Edit Step 7  ¶ 

  • Deroute the camera data cable from the channel in the optical drive.

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Add Note Edit Step 8  ¶ 

  • Use a spudger to pry the optical drive connector straight up off the logic board.

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Add Note Edit Step 9  ¶ 

  • Remove two 8 mm Phillips screws securing the camera cable bracket to the upper case.

  • The rightmost screw may remain captive in the camera cable.

  • Lift the camera cable bracket out from the upper case.

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Add Note Edit Step 10  ¶ 

  • Remove the following three Phillips screws securing the optical drive to the upper case:

    • One 3.5 mm Phillips screw.

    • Two 2.5 mm Phillips screws.

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Add Note Edit Step 11  ¶ 

  • Lift the optical drive from its left edge and pull it out of the computer.

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Add Note Edit Step 12 — Subwoofer & Right Speaker  ¶ 

  • Using the flat end of a spudger, pry the subwoofer connector straight up off the logic board.

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Add Note Edit Step 13  ¶ 

  • Remove the following four screws securing the subwoofer and right speaker to the upper case:

    • Two 3.2 mm Phillips screws.

    • One 2.6 mm Phillips screw.

    • One 5 mm Phillips screw.

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Add Note Edit Step 14  ¶ 

  • Lift the subwoofer and right speaker assembly out of the upper case.

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Add Note Edit Step 15 — Hard Drive Cable  ¶ 

  • Remove the single Phillips screw securing the hard drive bracket to the upper case.

  • This screw is captive in the hard drive bracket.

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Add Note Edit Step 16  ¶ 

  • Lift the hard drive by its plastic pull tab and remove the freed hard drive bracket.

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Add Note Edit Step 17  ¶ 

  • Lift the hard drive out of its supports and disconnect the SATA cable by pulling the connector straight away from the hard drive.

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Add Note Edit Step 18  ¶ 

  • Remove the following 5 screws securing the mid wall to the upper case:

    • Three 10.5 mm Phillips screws.

    • Two 3.7 mm Phillips screws.

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Add Note Edit Step 19  ¶ 

  • Lift the mid wall out of the upper case.

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Add Note Edit Step 20  ¶ 

  • Use a spudger to pry the hard drive cable connector straight up off the logic board.

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Add Note Edit Step 21  ¶ 

  • Peel the hard drive cable from the adhesive securing it to the upper case, and maneuver the plastic retaining block out of the upper case.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

For more information, check out the MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Late 2008 and Early 2009 device page.

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