Installing Mac Mini Mid 2010 Optical Drive Cable

Replace a broken optical drive cable to restore optical drive functionality.

http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/TATKKMaieGeNAMOS Andrew Bookholt Difficult Mac Mini Mid 2010

Replace the optical drive cable if the connector is broken or the ribbon cable itself is damaged.

Tools

2mm Hex Screwdriver Mac mini Logic Board Removal Tool Spudger T6 Torx Screwdriver T8 Torx Screwdriver Installing Mac Mini Mid 2010 Bottom Cover Installing Mac Mini Mid 2010 Fan Installing Mac Mini Mid 2010 Cowling Installing Mac Mini Mid 2010 Antenna Plate Installing Mac Mini Mid 2010 Logic Board Installing Mac Mini Mid 2010 Power Supply Installing Mac Mini Mid 2010 Optical Drive Place your thumbs in the depressions cut into the bottom cover. Place your thumbs in the depressions cut into the bottom cover. Rotate the bottom cover counter-clockwise until the white dot painted on the bottom cover is aligned with the ring inscribed on the outer case. Rotate the bottom cover counter-clockwise until the white dot painted on the bottom cover is aligned with the ring inscribed on the outer case. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/EHeE3OSxnGBpG5cR http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/nrQsgSGm4FLoIsDn Tilt the mini enough to allow the bottom cover to fall away from the outer case. Tilt the mini enough to allow the bottom cover to fall away from the outer case. Remove the bottom cover and set it aside. Remove the bottom cover and set it aside. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/AK1A1wVNKrIgIRBY Remove the two 11.3 mm T6 Torx screws securing the fan to the logic board near the antenna plate. Remove the two 11.3 mm T6 Torx screws securing the fan to the logic board near the antenna plate. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/JhqtrsyiKfY64LhN Lift the ear of the fan nearest the RAM up off the standoff secured to the outer case. Lift the ear of the fan nearest the RAM up off the standoff secured to the outer case. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/abhjpqhOsxFfJyTB Lift the fan out of the mini for enough clearance to access its connector. Lift the fan out of the mini for enough clearance to access its connector. Carefully pull the fan cables upward to lift the fan connector up out of its socket on the logic board. Carefully pull the fan cables upward to lift the fan connector up out of its socket on the logic board. Remove the fan. Remove the fan. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/25C5Ye3RCQIpcttO Remove the single 3.5 mm T6 Torx screw securing the cowling to the heat sink. Remove the single 3.5 mm T6 Torx screw securing the cowling to the heat sink. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/5Hx5hdSKCOfwox3I Lift the cowling from the end nearest the antenna plate. Lift the cowling from the end nearest the antenna plate. Rotate the cowling away from the outer case and remove it from the mini. Rotate the cowling away from the outer case and remove it from the mini. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/t3RIVgUYaeuWDM2A Remove the following screws securing the antenna plate to the mini: Remove the following screws securing the antenna plate to the mini: Two 6.6 mm T8 Torx screws Two 6.6 mm T8 Torx screws Two 5.0 mm T8 Torx or 2.0 mm Hex screws (either will work) Two 5.0 mm T8 Torx or 2.0 mm Hex screws (either will work) http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/1BBtFu1WkRkjU5SW Slightly lift the antenna plate from the end closest to the RAM. Slightly lift the antenna plate from the end closest to the RAM. Carefully pull the antenna plate straight away from the circular rim of the outer case. Carefully pull the antenna plate straight away from the circular rim of the outer case. Do not remove the antenna plate yet. It is still attached to the AirPort/ Bluetooth board. Do not remove the antenna plate yet. It is still attached to the AirPort/ Bluetooth board. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/pDFcSWUnTgOJfwON http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/qU3J1XHlLDRVrahU Use the tip of a spudger to carefully pry the antenna connector up off the AirPort/Bluetooth board. Use the tip of a spudger to carefully pry the antenna connector up off the AirPort/Bluetooth board. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/Am5i3ljZiFKOOExw Remove the antenna plate from the mini. Remove the antenna plate from the mini. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/hAJJtlqdK22YQIGT Remove the following three screws: Remove the following three screws: One 5.0 mm T8 Torx or 2.0 mm Hex screw (either will work) One 5.0 mm T8 Torx or 2.0 mm Hex screw (either will work) One 16.2 mm T6 Torx screw One 16.2 mm T6 Torx screw One 26 mm T6 Torx standoff One 26 mm T6 Torx standoff http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/MqpnTsEaIiYdAtNr Carefully pull the wires for both hard drive thermal sensors upward to lift their connectors up and out of the sockets on the logic board. Carefully pull the wires for both hard drive thermal sensors upward to lift their connectors up and out of the sockets on the logic board. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/bIk3lXYOK5QEO4Dw http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/UHkfq1X4AsK3x2Nj Use the flat end of a spudger to pry both the hard drive and optical drive connectors up out of their sockets on the logic board. Use the flat end of a spudger to pry both the hard drive and optical drive connectors up out of their sockets on the logic board. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/oFyByJp4cWwkIXA6 http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/tFcaJQkdEYqJBmBO To disconnect the optical drive thermal sensor, pinch its cables between your thumb and a spudger and pry the spudger upward to lift the connector up and out of its socket on the logic board. To disconnect the optical drive thermal sensor, pinch its cables between your thumb and a spudger and pry the spudger upward to lift the connector up and out of its socket on the logic board. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/CitVeLaF5QH2wrxF Use the tip of a spudger to lift the IR sensor connector up and out of its socket on the logic board. Use the tip of a spudger to lift the IR sensor connector up and out of its socket on the logic board. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/L4FNxtMyEpoRNcRl To remove the logic board, two cylindrical rods must be inserted into the holes highlighted in red. Inserting instruments into any logic board holes other than the ones highlighted in red may destroy the logic board. To remove the logic board, two cylindrical rods must be inserted into the holes highlighted in red. Inserting instruments into any logic board holes other than the ones highlighted in red may destroy the logic board. Insert a <a href="/Tools/Mac-Mini-Logic-Board-Removal-Tool/IF145-159?utm_source=ifixit_guide&utm_medium=wiki_text&utm_term=if145-159&utm_content=product_link">Mac Mini Logic Board Removal Tool</a> into the two holes highlighted in red. Be sure it makes contact with the outer case below the logic board before proceeding. Insert a [product|IF145-159|Mac Mini Logic Board Removal Tool] into the two holes highlighted in red. Be sure it makes contact with the outer case below the logic board before proceeding. If you don't have a Logic Board Removal Tool handy, you can use two tools having a maximum diameter of 2.5 mm instead. Just insert one into each of the highlighted holes. If you don't have a Logic Board Removal Tool handy, you can use two tools having a maximum diameter of 2.5 mm instead. Just insert one into each of the highlighted holes. Carefully pull the tool toward the I/O board. The logic board and I/O board assembly should slightly slide out of the outer case. Carefully pull the tool toward the I/O board. The logic board and I/O board assembly should slightly slide out of the outer case. Cease prying when the I/O board is visibly separated from the outer case. Remove the Mac Mini Logic Board Removal tool. Cease prying when the I/O board is visibly separated from the outer case. Remove the Mac Mini Logic Board Removal tool. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/EDQotRQE6yTJXddi http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/S6oxAjN1sUFqLgLM http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/n5M31nG6jUROpih6 Simultaneously push the two plastic clips on the far left and right sides of the I/O board toward the middle of the I/O board and pull the I/O board away from the outer case. Simultaneously push the two plastic clips on the far left and right sides of the I/O board toward the middle of the I/O board and pull the I/O board away from the outer case. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/gVIdxLgvRkCALKXm Pull the I/O board/logic board assembly out of the outer case enough to access the power connector. Pull the I/O board/logic board assembly out of the outer case enough to access the power connector. Use a pair of tweezers to disconnect the power cable from the logic board. Use a pair of tweezers to disconnect the power cable from the logic board. Pull the power cable connector toward the optical drive opening. Pull the power cable connector toward the optical drive opening. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/xScRLN2eSdug63DQ Carefully slide the logic board assembly out of the mini, minding any cables that may get caught. Carefully slide the logic board assembly out of the mini, minding any cables that may get caught. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/EWbIJKW1AfgwWqUN Remove the 7.9 mm T6 Torx screw securing the power supply and optical drive to the outer case. Remove the 7.9 mm T6 Torx screw securing the power supply and optical drive to the outer case. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/63buQealHKO63kEt Pull the silver metal AC-In socket retainer away from the side of the outer case and remove it from the mini. Pull the silver metal AC-In socket retainer away from the side of the outer case and remove it from the mini. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/LYBu5SXRRDrwdevo http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/npTtTk2HhlBcdBAU Rotate the AC-In connector 90 degrees counter-clockwise. Rotate the AC-In connector 90 degrees counter-clockwise. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/sBjqVYbYJvTn6dxZ http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/MouW1XKyTLfmcEjy Slide the power supply out of the mini, minding any cables that may get caught. Slide the power supply out of the mini, minding any cables that may get caught. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/rLBpofRSxjFOXfyV Remove the hard drive from the mini, minding any cables that may get caught. Remove the hard drive from the mini, minding any cables that may get caught. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/fDcS5Wj1PV2DPCXd Remove the 7.9 mm T6 Torx screw securing the optical drive to the outer case. Remove the 7.9 mm T6 Torx screw securing the optical drive to the outer case. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/GAyQqgyL6HEfrthl Slide the optical drive out of the outer case, minding any cables that may get caught. Slide the optical drive out of the outer case, minding any cables that may get caught. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/HSa5O5BBWdx5uVj2 Slightly lift the small plastic strip spanning the width of the optical drive. Slightly lift the small plastic strip spanning the width of the optical drive. Carefully de-route the free end of the optical drive connector out from under the optical drive bracket. Carefully de-route the free end of the optical drive connector out from under the optical drive bracket. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/TATKKMaieGeNAMOS Peel the optical drive cable off the body of the optical drive. Peel the optical drive cable off the body of the optical drive. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/1JV625aeUDIcD24Q Remove the optical drive cable by pulling its connector away from the body of the optical drive. Remove the optical drive cable by pulling its connector away from the body of the optical drive. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/Y1nCHcgjdbfVTOYL

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