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MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Model A1211 Hard Drive Replacement

What you need

  1. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Model A1211 Hard Drive Replacement, Battery: step 1, image 1 of 1
    • Use your fingers to push both battery release tabs away from the battery, and lift the battery out of the computer.

  2. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Model A1211 Hard Drive Replacement, RAM Shield: step 2, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the three identical Phillips screws from the memory door.

  3. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Model A1211 Hard Drive Replacement: step 3, image 1 of 1
    • Lift the memory door up enough to get a grip on it, and slide it toward you, pulling it away from the casing.

  4. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Model A1211 Hard Drive Replacement, Upper Case: step 4, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the two 2.8 mm Phillips screws in the battery compartment near the latch.

  5. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Model A1211 Hard Drive Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the following 6 screws:

    • Two 10 mm T6 Torx screws on either side of the RAM slot.

    • Four 14.5 mm Phillips screws along the hinge.

  6. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Model A1211 Hard Drive Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the four 3.2 mm Phillips screws on the port side of the computer.

  7. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Model A1211 Hard Drive Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 1
    • Rotate the computer 90 degrees and remove the two 3.2 mm Phillips screws from the rear of the computer.

  8. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Model A1211 Hard Drive Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 1
    • Rotate the computer 90 degrees again and remove the four 3.2 mm Phillips screws from the side of the computer.

  9. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Model A1211 Hard Drive Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 1
    • Do not yank the upper case off quickly. The case is attached to the logic board via a ribbon cable.

    • Lift up at the rear of the case and work your fingers along the sides, freeing the case as you go. Once you have freed the sides, you may need to rock the case up and down to free the front of the upper case (there are some hidden plastic clips that need to be clicked off).

  10. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Model A1211 Hard Drive Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 1
    • Disconnect the trackpad and keyboard ribbon cable from the logic board, removing tape as necessary.

    • Remove the upper case.

  11. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Model A1211 Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive: step 11, image 1 of 1
    • Disconnect the orange hard drive ribbon cable from the logic board.

  12. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Model A1211 Hard Drive Replacement: step 12, image 1 of 1
    • Use a spudger to carefully loosen the adhesive securing the sleep light and IR sensor connectors to the top of the hard drive.

    • The entire ribbon cable may be glued to the hard drive. In that case, just carefully pry it up bit by bit with a spudger.

  13. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Model A1211 Hard Drive Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the two T6 screws that are holding down the hard drive retaining bracket (on the right side of the drive).

    • Some machines may use Phillips screws.

    • Lift the hard drive retaining bracket up and out of the computer.

  14. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Model A1211 Hard Drive Replacement: step 14, image 1 of 1
    • Lift up the hard drive with one hand and use your other hand to disconnect the hard drive cable.

  15. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Model A1211 Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive: step 15, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the two silver T6 Torx screws and black rubber bumpers from the right side of the hard drive.

    • You'll need to transfer these screws and bumpers to your new hard drive if you're changing drives.

  16. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Model A1211 Hard Drive Replacement: step 16, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the two black T6 Torx screws and black rubber bumpers from the left side of the hard drive.

    • You'll need to transfer these screws and bumpers to your new hard drive if you're changing drives.

    • If you are installing a new hard drive, we have an OS X install guide to get you up and running.

Conclusion

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

580 other people completed this guide.

iRobot

Member since: 09/24/09

1 Reputation

636 Guides authored

20 Comments

very well explained. I did it by my self and your help using only a little screwdriver of my victrorinox (swiss knife).

tks a lot for your path.

see u soon ;)

giorgio

giorgio - Reply

Thank you all very much, this guide is perfect for everyone, no matter your level of expertise, i never opened my mac before and i succesfully replaced my old 120 gb HD with a new 320 gb HD 7.200 RPM :) And worked flawlessly!!

BIG UPS to ifixit, this guide is perfect for everyone!

lanu39 - Reply

P.S. The only thing that went wrong is that the button to open the macbook is not working perfectly, i have to press it harder than usual, i guess i have to disarm it again and check that everything is in place, other than that it is working flawlessly ;)

lanu39 - Reply

If your button to open mac is hard to use after you re-assembled the computer, check to see if the proper length screws were reinstalled. I had that problem and I switched the 2 screws. One was a tad longer. The longer one when screwed in, interferred with the button function.

Mike - Reply

Definitely NOT true for MY Mac. Both screws are absolutely identical. Still I had this issue. :-(

Turned out that if I screw them in real tight the issue will occur. If I turn back the screws about 180 degrees (i. e. if I loosen them) the problem disappears.

Ralf Bergs -

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