Introduction

A simple guide to replacing the optical drive in the external optical drive sold by Apple for the MacBook Air. If your optical drive breaks, use this guide to replace it.

Note: Here's a method to hack the OS X configuration file for the SuperDrive to be used on the older iMac, MacBook, or MacBook Pro systems that the drive normally won't work with. Use with caution!

Open the com.apple.Boot.plist file in a text editor or in terminal use nano you will see a key <key>Kernel Flags</key>

Under it add the following line:

<string>mbasd=1</string>

Reboot your Mac.

Image 1/2: The lower case is attached by 8 clips.
  • To open the SuperDrive we must remove the lower case.

  • The lower case is attached by 8 clips.

    • 6 along the sides

    • 2 on the back

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Note: Here's a method to hack the OS-X configuration file for the SuperDrive to be used on the older iMac, MacBook, or MacBook Pro systems that the drive normally won't work with. Use with caution!

open the com.apple.Boot.plist file in a text editor or in terminal use nano you will see a key <key>Kernel Flags</key>

under it add the following line

<string>mbasd=1</string>

reboot your Mac

Dan - Reply

Image 1/2: Lightly pry back to gently lift the clip out of place, just far enough to disengage.
  • Insert a metal spudger down between the black lower case and the aluminum upper case.

  • Lightly pry back to gently lift the clip out of place, just far enough to disengage.

    • Don't lift to far, or the clip on opposite side of drive will be wedged in place.

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Image 1/2: Continue until all of the clips have been disengaged and the lower case is free.
  • Repeat Step 2 for each of the 8 clips.

  • Continue until all of the clips have been disengaged and the lower case is free.

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Image 1/1:
  • Lift off and set aside the lower case.

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Image 1/1: three 3.8 mm with 1 mm deep head #00 Phillips head screws.
  • Remove the screws holding optical drive in the upper case

    • three 3.8 mm with 1 mm deep head #00 Phillips head screws.

On later models the bottom-right screw is a TR10 (Torx) screw.

boelaars - Reply

Image 1/1: Be careful of the wires still running from the drive to case.
  • Lift the optical drive from the thick side, then pull out.

    • Be careful of the wires still running from the drive to case.

  • When re-installing the optical drive insert tongue in groove side first, as pictured.

On later models the cable goes left instead of right, after entering the enclosure. This makes lifting the optical drive harder, but if done carefully it can still be done safely. The cables and the tape that fixes it in place is flexible and sturdy enough.

boelaars - Reply

Image 1/1: two 3.8 mm #00 Phillips head screws.
  • Remove screws holding the board to optical drive.

    • two 3.8 mm #00 Phillips head screws.

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Image 1/2: The optical drive is now free from the case.
  • Use a plastic opening tool to remove the board from the optical drive.

  • The optical drive is now free from the case.

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Conclusion

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

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