MacBook Core 2 Duo Optical Drive Replacement

  • Author: iRobot
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Add Note x
  • x 87

Upgrade or replace the combo or SuperDrive (requires a slim drive).

Sections
Tools
Tools (continued)
Relevant parts
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Add Note Edit Step 1 — Battery  ¶ 

  • Use a coin to rotate the battery-locking screw 90 degrees clockwise.

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Add Note Edit Step 2  ¶ 

  • Lift the battery out of the computer.

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Add Note Edit Step 3 — Memory Cover  ¶ 

  • Unscrew the three evenly-spaced Phillips screws from along the rear wall of the battery compartment.

  • The screws are captive to the metal memory cover so you cannot lose them.

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Add Note Edit Step 4  ¶ 

  • Rotate the L-shaped memory cover so it clears the battery compartment opening and lift it up and out of the computer.

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Add Note Edit Step 5 — Upper Case  ¶ 

  • Remove the following 3 screws:

    • One 11 mm Phillips#00 in the middle of the case. (Head: 5mm dia. x .75mm thick)

    • Two 14.5 mm Phillips #00 (Head: 5mm dia. x .75mm thick)

  • If the screws stick in the case, you can use a magnetized screwdriver to draw them out.

  • The shorter of the three screws goes in the middle.

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Add Note Edit Step 6  ¶ 

  • Remove the following 3 screws from the rear wall of the battery compartment:

    • One 3 mm Phillips #0. (Head: 2.75 mm. dia.)

    • Two 4 mm Phillips #0 on the either side. (Head: 2.75mm dia.)

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Add Note Edit Step 7  ¶ 

  • Remove the two Phillips screws from either side of the right wall of the battery compartment (not the ones closest to the battery connector).

    • Two 6.25 mm Phillips #000. (Head: 4 mm. dia. x .5mm thick)

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Add Note Edit Step 8  ¶ 

  • Remove the four indicated Phillips screws from the front wall of the battery compartment. When working from the left, remove the 2nd, 4th, 7th and 9th screw.

    • Four 3.25 mm Phillips #000. (Head: 4 mm. dia. x 4mm thick)

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Add Note Edit Step 9  ¶ 

  • Remove the following 4 screws from the back of the computer:

  • The longer screws go on the inside, shorter screws on the outside.

    • Two 11 mm Phillips #00, with Shank (2.2mm dia. x 2 mm len.) (Head: 3.2 mm. dia. x .5mm thick)

    • Two 7.25 mm Phillips #00, with Shank (2mm dia. x 3.75 mm len.) (Head: 3.2 mm. dia. x .5mm thick)

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Add Note Edit Step 10  ¶ 

  • Remove the two Phillips screws from the optical drive side of the computer.

    • Two 5.2 mm Phillips #00, with Shank (2.3mm dia. x 3.5 mm len.) (Head: 3.2 mm. dia. x .5mm thick)

  • It is not necessary to remove the similar screws on the other side of the computer.

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Add Note Edit Step 11  ¶ 

  • There's a trackpad and keyboard ribbon connecting the upper case to the logic board, so don't pull the upper case off entirely just yet.

  • Starting near the display and working around to the front of the computer, pry up on the upper case. A plastic opening tool or a medium hard guitar pick may help you to do this.

  • The upper case is likely to stick at the connection above the optical drive. If this is the case, first free all other sides, then proceed to pull upward on the upper case from either side of the optical drive opening.

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Add Note Edit Step 12  ¶ 

  • While holding up the upper case, pull up the black tab of the silver cable away from its connector.

  • If there is no black tab, you can also use a spudger to gently pry the connector from its housing. This connector is tall, so be sure to pry straight up.

  • If you happen to break your upper case cable when removing the upper case, we stock the cable individually and we have a guide that makes replacing it easy.

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Add Note Edit Step 13 — Optical Drive  ¶ 

  • Grasp the white plastic tab attached to the hard drive and pull it to the left, removing the hard drive from the computer.

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Add Note Edit Step 14  ¶ 

  • Remove the two Phillips screws from the front edge of the optical drive.

    • Two 3.25 mm Phillips #000, (Head: 4 mm. dia. x .3 mm thick)

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Add Note Edit Step 15  ¶ 

  • Disconnect the orange optical drive ribbon cable from the logic board. This cable can also be disconnected by prying straight up using a spudger.

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Add Note Edit Step 16  ¶ 

  • Disconnect the newly revealed display data cable. If there is no pull-tab on the top of the connector, it may be helpful to use a spudger to disconnect this connector.

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Add Note Edit Step 17  ¶ 

  • Disconnect the (once again) newly-revealed hard drive cable.

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Add Note Edit Step 18  ¶ 

  • Peel up the foil tape between the fan and the optical drive.

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Add Note Edit Step 19  ¶ 

  • Pull up the display data cable from along the edge of the optical drive to reveal a silver Phillips screw.

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Add Note Edit Step 20  ¶ 

  • Remove the 2 mm Phillips screw securing the optical drive.

  • The Bluetooth cable may be covering the screw; carefully push it aside before removing the screw.

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Add Note Edit Step 21  ¶ 

  • Lift the Bluetooth antenna board from the right side of the optical drive.

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Add Note Edit Step 22  ¶ 

  • Deroute the hard drive cable from along the front of the optical drive.

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Add Note Edit Step 23  ¶ 

  • Lift the front edge of the optical drive and slide it up and out of the computer.

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Add Note Edit Step 24 — Optical Drive Cable  ¶ 

  • Peel up the black tape partially covering the orange optical drive cable.

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Add Note Edit Step 25  ¶ 

  • Disconnect the orange cable from the optical drive.

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Add Note Edit Step 26 — Optical Drive Replacement  ¶ 

  • Use a spudger to carefully pry the silver metal bracket off the left side of the optical drive. Be careful not to bend the bracket, as it is very thin and bends easily. If the bracket doesn't come free easily, heating the adhesive may make prying the bracket off easier.

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Add Note Edit Step 27  ¶ 

  • Peel up the L-shaped piece of black tape from the top of the drive.

  • You'll want to reapply this tape in the same position on your replacement drive.

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Add Note Edit Step 28  ¶ 

  • Peel up the silver foil tape from the optical drive.

  • You'll want to reapply this tape in the same position on your replacement drive.

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Add Note Edit Step 29  ¶ 

  • Remove the two Phillips screws securing the mounting bracket to the right side of the optical drive.

  • This bracket is designed to slide back and forth slightly, so don't tighten the screws so much that the bracket is unable to slide.

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Add Note Edit Step 30  ¶ 

  • Use a spudger to pry the gray Bluetooth antenna holder off the top of the optical drive.

  • You'll want to reapply this piece in the same position on your replacement drive.

  • If you have a CD or any other object jammed in your optical drive, we have an optical drive repair guide.

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

For more information, check out the MacBook Core 2 Duo device page.

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