Installing MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Optical Drive Replacement

Replace a burned-out optical drive on your MacBook Pro 17" Unibody.

http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/5vIAiPoGacNLKOyX Andrew Bookholt Moderate MacBook Pro 17" Unibody

Use this guide to replace your MacBook Pro's optical drive. The Bluetooth board and optical drive cable are not included with a new optical drive.

Relevant parts

Tools

Phillips 00 Screwdriver Spudger MacBook Pro 17" Unibody (Early 2009) 8x SATA SuperDrive (Used) Unibody Laptop Dual Drive SATA Wondercable USB Adapter Installing MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Lower Case Installing MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Battery Installing MacBook Pro 17" Unibody Optical Drive Remove the following ten screws securing the lower case to the upper case: Remove the following ten screws securing the lower case to the upper case: Three 13.5 mm Phillips screws. Three 13.5 mm Phillips screws. Seven 3 mm Phillips screws. Seven 3 mm Phillips screws. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/syE2ybccRrcFeJJi Wedge your fingers between the lower case and the vent, and lift upward to release the clips holding the lower case to the upper case. Wedge your fingers between the lower case and the vent, and lift upward to release the clips holding the lower case to the upper case. Remove the lower case. Remove the lower case. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/FWQlrWBX33M4QNJC http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/eqC63VPAuJvHpSVE Whenever working near the logic board, it is always wise to first disconnect the battery to avoid short circuits. Whenever working near the logic board, it is always wise to first disconnect the battery to avoid short circuits. Grab the plastic tab attached to the battery connector and pull it toward the front edge of the device. Grab the plastic tab attached to the battery connector and pull it toward the front edge of the device. Pull the tab parallel to the face of the logic board. Pull the tab parallel to the face of the logic board. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/IY3hYv13cwDkbBZo http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/atoPupptXJoHHWsm Before disconnecting the camera cable, a small plastic retainer stuck to the logic board must first be moved out of the way. Before disconnecting the camera cable, a small plastic retainer stuck to the logic board must first be moved out of the way. Use the tip of a spudger to push the small plastic cable retainer away from the camera cable socket for enough clearance to remove the camera cable. Use the tip of a spudger to push the small plastic cable retainer away from the camera cable socket for enough clearance to remove the camera cable. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/fL4HNo1lPsrDb1rO Pull the camera cable toward the optical drive opening to disconnect it from the logic board. Pull the camera cable toward the optical drive opening to disconnect it from the logic board. The camera cable socket is very fragile. Do not apply any upward force to this socket, as it may break off the logic board. Pull the camera cable parallel to the face of the logic board. The camera cable socket is very fragile. Do not apply any upward force to this socket, as it may break off the logic board. Pull the camera cable parallel to the face of the logic board. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/xNVDxnvPenQ1WIjQ Carefully pull the Bluetooth cable toward the fans to disconnect it from the Bluetooth board. Carefully pull the Bluetooth cable toward the fans to disconnect it from the Bluetooth board. Pull the cable parallel to the face of the optical drive. Pull the cable parallel to the face of the optical drive. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/4yxJD4wJRo14Bh5s Use the flat end of a spudger to peel the thin plastic cover off the top and sides of the Bluetooth board housing. Use the flat end of a spudger to peel the thin plastic cover off the top and sides of the Bluetooth board housing. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/dykEom62YREuoSyW Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the Bluetooth antenna connector up and off its socket on the Bluetooth board. Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the Bluetooth antenna connector up and off its socket on the Bluetooth board. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/mMUpe3HjBQSGGtgh If present, remove the small piece of EMI foam near the Bluetooth board. If present, remove the small piece of EMI foam near the Bluetooth board. De-route the camera cable from the slot molded into the Bluetooth board housing. De-route the camera cable from the slot molded into the Bluetooth board housing. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/12YwqsCq22TxKYhC http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/EmOuqEBZjJT6RmdS Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the optical drive connector up and out of its socket on the logic board. Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the optical drive connector up and out of its socket on the logic board. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/KqKruKOGSOMiKPtS Remove the three 3.5 mm Phillips screws securing the optical drive to the upper case. Remove the three 3.5 mm Phillips screws securing the optical drive to the upper case. To remove the screw closest to the battery, it may be helpful to use a T6 Torx screwdriver to first remove the upper case bracket directly above it. To remove the screw closest to the battery, it may be helpful to use a T6 Torx screwdriver to first remove the upper case bracket directly above it. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/GqN3KxB2rMQHLqCY Remove the optical drive from the upper case, minding any cables that may get caught. Remove the optical drive from the upper case, minding any cables that may get caught. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/NDUrggqg1qewMhDk Grab the optical drive cable by its connector and pull it away from the body of the hard drive. Grab the optical drive cable by its connector and pull it away from the body of the hard drive. Pulling on anything but the connector may damage the optical drive cable. Pulling on anything but the connector may damage the optical drive cable. Remove the two black Phillips #0 screws securing the small metal mounting bracket. Transfer this bracket to your new optical drive or <a href="/Apple-Parts/Unibody-Laptop-Dual-Drive/IF107-080?utm_source=ifixit_guide&utm_medium=wiki_text&utm_term=if107-080&utm_content=product_link">hard drive enclosure</a>. Remove the two black Phillips #0 screws securing the small metal mounting bracket. Transfer this bracket to your new optical drive or [product|IF107-080|hard drive enclosure]. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/5vIAiPoGacNLKOyX http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/uHh5qXEwFRZNus3l http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/pUapQi3DoyhVIdXb Remove the two 2.2 mm Phillips screws securing the Bluetooth board to the side of the optical drive. Remove the two 2.2 mm Phillips screws securing the Bluetooth board to the side of the optical drive. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/umcWMKeyWw1gbyrk Remove the Bluetooth board from the optical drive. Remove the Bluetooth board from the optical drive. Optical drive remains. Optical drive remains. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/ljHlUnIGChSRHkgL

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