Installing Mac mini Model A1283 Hard Drive Replacement

Add Note Introduction

Upgrade your hard drive for more storage space.

Paginated Single Page Steps

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Add Note Step 1 — Top Housing

  • You can skip this step if you bought your putty knife from iFixit. Putty knives purchased from iFixit come with pre-ground edges.

  • You'll need a putty knife in order to open the case. A 1.5 inch thin putty knife will work well, but you'll want to grind the edge down. Rub the putty knife's short edge back and forth on a sheet of all purpose rough grit sandpaper (100 grit will work fine) until it attains a beveled edge.

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Add Note Step 2

  • Carefully insert a putty knife into the crevice in between the top cover and bottom housing. Start on the left side first. Push the blade down until you meet firm resistance (roughly 3/8 of an inch).

  • Gently enlarge the existing crevice by rotating the putty knife downward and away from the mini.

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Add Note Step 3

  • Repeat the prying motion until a portion of the bottom housing has been nudged upward.

Add NoteNotes: Step 3

jonesuki's avatar
Flag Reply by jonesuki Oct 26 @ 11:11 PM

Would you please post photo of the resulting mac mini case (both metal and plastic part) after these steps? I would like to know if there is any scratches by applying these technique. Thanks.

info5825's avatar
Flag Reply by info5825 Nov 6 @ 7:32 AM

Quote from jonesuki:

Would you please post photo of the resulting mac mini case (both metal and plastic part) after these steps? I would like to know if there is any scratches by applying these technique. Thanks.

Use businesscards between case & putty knife if you don't want any scratches. Worked for me.