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Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive

What you need

  1. Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive, Lower Case: step 1, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the following ten screws securing the lower case to the upper case:

    • Seven 3 mm Phillips screws.

    • Three 13.5 mm Phillips screws.

  2. Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive: step 2, image 1 of 1
    • Using both hands, lift the lower case near the vent to pop it off two clips securing it to the upper case.

    • Remove the lower case and set it aside.

  3. Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive, Battery: step 3, image 1 of 1
    Tool used on this step:
    P6 Pentalobe Screwdriver 2009 15" MacBook Pro Battery
    $5.49
    Buy
    • Three Pentalobe screws secure the battery to the upper case. They can be removed with this special driver.

    • If you don't have a Pentalobe driver, a 1.5 mm flathead screwdriver can be used in a pinch. Be sure the head of your flathead screwdriver fits snugly across two of the five "points" of the screw head before trying to break the screw free, as a loose fit will easily strip the screw head.

    • If the head of your screwdriver fits too loosely, find a bigger bit and file it down until it fits snugly before proceeding.

    • You do not necessarily have to follow steps 3-7 to remove the battery in order to replace the hard drive. However, it is recommended to remove all power sources from electronics before working on them.

    It really depends on how thick the 1.5 mm flathead screwdriver is. I tried a low-cost tool and almost destroyed the screw. So be carefull

    Paul - Reply

    Unfortunately, when I added a second hard drive via these instructions, all went well but Bluetooth is now MIA. Can anyone help?

    Peter Payne - Reply

    I agree...

    I have bought a used MacBook Pro, when problems arise, opening Corps was trying to turn the screw, but with poor quality could not turn a screwdriver, only to ruin the screw. Try to buy ifixit Screwdriver set. Good luck to all and thank you ifixit team for such assistance as ifixit.com. Thank you.

    remjok - Reply

  4. Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive: step 4, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the two exposed five-point Pentalobe screws along the top edge of the battery.

    The screws holding my battery were all worn out since an earlier removal. So instead of ruining them even more I put some saran wrap on the tip of my pentalobe driver and gently unscrewed them.

    magnus - Reply

    I have a problem with these screw. They a completly warn and I need some new ones to fix the new Battery.

    Does anyone know which thread it is and which length?

    alexanderleith - Reply

  5. Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive: step 5, image 1 of 1
    • Use the tip of a spudger to bend back the finger of the "Warning: Do not remove the battery" sticker while you remove the five-point Pentalobe screw hidden underneath.

  6. Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive: step 6, image 1 of 2 Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive: step 6, image 2 of 2
    • Lift the battery by its plastic pull tab and slide it away from the long edge of the upper case.

    • Do not try to completely remove the battery just yet.

  7. Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive: step 7, image 1 of 1
    • Tilt the battery back enough to access the battery cable connector.

    • Pull the battery cable connector away from its socket on the logic board and remove the battery from the upper case.

    • If you're installing a new battery, you should calibrate it as soon as possible.

  8. Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive, Optical Drive: step 8, image 1 of 1
    • Apple sticks a small strip of clear plastic with adhesive applied to one side to the logic board behind the camera cable connector to keep it in its socket. When moving it out of the way, be sure not to break any surface-mount components off the logic board.

    • Hold the end of the cable retainer down with one finger while you use the tip of a spudger to slightly lift the other end and rotate it away from the camera cable connector.

    I tried to move the plastic piece, but it seemed risky for someone with no experience like me. It was not hard at all to just peel off the camera cable without messing with the connector, and then, carefully take the optical drive out.

    joaquingoyret - Reply

    Totally agree. Optical drive is easily removed by peeling off camera cable

    John Doyle - Reply

  9. Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive: step 9, image 1 of 1
    • Disconnect the camera cable by pulling the male end straight away from its socket.

    • Pull the connector parallel to the face of the logic board, not straight up.

  10. Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive: step 10, image 1 of 1
    • Peel the camera cable off the adhesive securing it to the optical drive.

  11. Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive: step 11, image 1 of 2 Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive: step 11, image 2 of 2
    • This step is only required if you have an anti-glare display. If you have a glossy display, skip this step.

    • Disconnect the Bluetooth cable by pulling the male end straight away from its socket.

    • Pull the connector parallel to the face of the logic board, not straight up.

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the Bluetooth antenna cable from its socket on the board.

  12. Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive: step 12, image 1 of 2 Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive: step 12, image 2 of 2
    • This step is only required if you have an anti-glare display.

    • Remove the two 8 mm Phillips screws securing the Bluetooth/camera cable retainer to the upper case.

    • One of the screws may remain captive in the Bluetooth/camera cable ground loop. If replacing the display, be sure to transfer this screw to the new unit.

    • Lift the Bluetooth board/cable retainer assembly out of the upper case.

  13. Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive: step 13, image 1 of 1
    • Use a spudger to pry the optical drive connector straight up off the logic board.

  14. Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive: step 14, image 1 of 1
    • Remove three 3.5 mm Phillips screws securing the optical drive to the upper case.

  15. Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive: step 15, image 1 of 2 Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive: step 15, image 2 of 2
    • Lift the optical drive from its left edge and pull it out of the computer.

    • When reassembling, be careful that the SATA cable doesn't get stuck underneath the logic board.

  16. Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive: step 16, image 1 of 1
    • Débranchez le connecteur du câble du lecteur optique de celui-ci.

  17. Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive, Optical Drive: step 17, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the optical drive cable by pulling it straight away from the optical drive.

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

  18. Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive: step 18, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the two black Phillips #0 screws securing the small metal mounting bracket. Transfer this bracket to your new optical drive or hard drive enclosure.

  19. Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive, Dual Hard Drive: step 19, image 1 of 2 Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive, Dual Hard Drive: step 19, image 2 of 2
    • Remove the plastic spacer from the optical bay hard drive enclosure by pressing in on one of the clips on either side and lifting it up and out of the enclosure.

    is it 9,5mm or 12,7mm for the caddy? My stuff macbook pro mid 2010, need advice what size is compatible. Thank you

    Adi Purba - Reply

    All Macbooks use 9.5mm Optical Drive Caddy, also, If you’re wondering as well, the Optical Drive runs at SATA II speeds just like with the main hard drive area, so if you’re using a SSD, then it’s going to run at a slightly slower speed.

    - PS5iscool - - Reply

  20. Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive: step 20, image 1 of 3 Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive: step 20, image 2 of 3 Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive: step 20, image 3 of 3
    • Make sure that the hard drive connectors are facing down before placing it into the enclosure.

    • Gently place the hard drive into the enclosure's hard drive slot.

    • While firmly holding the enclosure in place with one hand, use your other hand to press the hard drive into the enclosure connectors.

    Okay it seems like some models of MacBook Pro have issues with a fast (6Gbit/s) SSD in the optical bay. Even though my Mac says it offers 6Gbit on both bays it simply didn't work in the optical bay. So I switched places between the two drives and everything seems to work. My Mac booted from the old HDD in optical bay automatically and then I cloned it afterwards and changed the startup disk to the new one. As said before, don't put a fast SSD in the optical bay!

    Carl - Reply

    This is an extremely late response to an old comment, but… whatev’s. My 2011 MacBook Pro had that issue: the main (HDD bay) SATA operated at 6Gbit, and while the optical bay said it was 6Gbit, the “Negotiated Link Speed” was like 1.5Gbits regardless of what you put in it (I can understand 1.5Gbits for an optical drive, but not for an SSD). Some of the early 2012 models did the same thing, from what I understand, but that was corrected pretty early on; both my 13” and 15” 2012’s run at 6Gb/s on both SATA busses.

    AJH -

    It’s not wise to swop the optidrive for an HD as there is no physical protection. The caddy is only intended for an SSD.

    Ben Ormerod - Reply

  21. Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive: step 21, image 1 of 2 Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive: step 21, image 2 of 2
    • Once the hard drive is snug, reinsert the plastic spacer while holding the hard drive against the bottom of the enclosure.

    Normally with the HD enclosure there come a set of screws. use these to screw down the HD in the enclosure since you need to flip it up side down to reinstall it into the MBP

    Bart - Reply

  22. Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive: step 22, image 1 of 2 Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive: step 22, image 2 of 2
    • Use two Phillips #1 screws to secure the drive to its enclosure.

    Where are these screws coming from? Were they part of the original optical drive?

    Bradley DeHerrera - Reply

    The new enclosure should include these two Phillips screws.

    Sam Omiotek -

    Can someone show the step of removal process of hdd/SSD placed in the caddy? I am unable to revert this process. Do we have to apply back greater force to remove back the hard drive/SSD from the caddy?

    Tarun Kumar Verma - Reply

    Gads, I wish they made a caddy where the optical drive was removable without having to remove the entire caddy. That is a major peeve of mine. Like… just mount it the other way! I don’t want to have to go through this entire process every time I upgrade the secondary drive.

    AJH - Reply

    These screws seems to be located in different places on different enclosures. I had serious trouble getting the SSD that the previous owner of this MacBook installed out of the enclosure until I realized the screws holding the SSD in place were on the side and not on the bottom. In case anyone else has the same issue!

    nessie1001 - Reply

  23. Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive: step 23, image 1 of 1
    • Attach the optical drive bracket to the new enclosure with two Phillips #0 screws.

    • Reconnect any cables you have removed from the original optical drive onto the optical bay enclosure.

    Replaced the optical with hdd, as well as replaced the hard drive with an ssd. Now I get the circle with a line through it. But, when I hold the option key down, it gives me both hard drives, PLUS, the thumb drive I have in the USB port with a Mountain Lion installer. It even shows the recovery disks, but gives me the circle with the line when I choose one. Any help is appreciated.

    claude - Reply

    Mate,

    My mbp shipped with OS 10.8, and I had upgraded twice to 10.10

    I've a 10.7 USB which upgraded my old MBP.

    My plan today was to boot with my new ssd, my time machine back up and the Lion usb plugged in.

    I would then click on the Lion usb, and tell it to put the OS and time machine back up on the ssd.

    So I help down ALT and when it started it gave me the options of the usual Mac internal or the Lion USB.

    I clicked Lion, but instead of taking me to the install options (Disk utility, restore from time machine etc etc) it gave me that grey circle with a diagonal line through it. The no entry sign - grey on grey - that I think you have.

    Some googling said that it is because I was trying to usb a 10.7 install on a MBP that shipped 10.8

    You can't go back, apparently.

    So if any of the OSs are older than the mac you got, you will get this error. The grey in grey no entry.

    I just cloned my HDD to my ssd (Carbon copy cloner free 30 day trial) using an external stat-usb3 wire and all is good.

    Rory -

    I have a 17" Macbook Pro6,1 unibody with an Intel Core i5, 2.53GHz. I was successful installing a 250GB SSD in the DVD bay, and I'm able to boot from it. I did this by first installing OS X 10.9.4 on the SSD mounted into an external HD case, testing the system to see if it would boot up into the SSD, then installing the SSD and carrier in the DVD drive bay. The system now boots up from the SSD with no problems. If you are having installation problems, I recommend trying this method.

    roger hall - Reply

    I just have finished installing second SSD to my MBP (unibody 15` 2010).

    First one was changed like one year ago. Samsung 500GB SSD. It is in my HDD bay and I'm running system from it.

    Today I put a new Samsung 1TB 850 Evo 1 SSD in to my optic bay.

    I encounter problem with SSD not recognized by Finder.

    But It was recognized by Disk Utility.

    What I did was I erase new SSD by Disk Utility. Then the new partition was created and now It has been seen by Finder.

    So If you see it in Disk Utility just erased it.

    Some extra info in under this link--> https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4...

    Wish you all luck :)

    rybafly - Reply

    My installation went great thanks to the guide. I did notice a small thing that might make a good tip, and that is to inspect all the visible screws. I saw one that was slightly raised, and when I poked around with the spudger, I found 2 more that had worked themselves out a bit. Its probably something super rare but at the age of these things, it wouldn't hurt to check.

    Tineyi Chapisa - Reply

  24. Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive: step 24, image 1 of 3 Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive: step 24, image 2 of 3 Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody 2.53 GHz Mid 2009 Dual Hard Drive: step 24, image 3 of 3
    • Don't ditch that drive! You can still use your optical drive externally with the help of our SATA Optical Drive USB Cable.

    • Align the cable's SATA connector with the drive's port and plug in securely.

    • Plug the USB connector into your laptop and your optical drive is ready for use.

    There is a small metal button in the front of the drive and you can use that to eject the drive if you were wondering.

    Joseph Landry - Reply

    Maybe that explain the eject button mechanism maybe….

    - PS5iscool - - Reply

    Die neue SSD wurde durch das Laufwerk ersetzt aber leider wird jetzt die alte HDD nicht mehr erkannt. Hatte schon ein anderer das Problem?

    Alexander Richter - Reply

Conclusion

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

51 other people completed this guide.

Brittany McCrigler

Member since: 03/05/12

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One Comment

Well, actually a question.

Reading the parts list for this project, I find FOUR different drives -- 2 hybrid, 2 SSD -- that I will be installing. Is that correct, or have I misinterpreted something about these components?

Nicky - Reply

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