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MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement

What you need

  1. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement, Battery: step 1, image 1 of 1
    • Use a coin or spudger to rotate the battery-locking screw 90 degrees clockwise.

  2. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 1
    • Lift the battery out of the computer.

  3. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement, Memory Cover: step 3, image 1 of 1
    • 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.

    • Using The Flexible Extension sold by iFixit will help with this step.

  4. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 4, image 1 of 1
    • Grasp the right end of the L-shaped memory cover, then pull it towards you so it clears the battery compartment opening.

    • Lift the memory cover up and out of the computer.

  5. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement, Upper Case: step 5, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the following 3 screws:

    • One 11 mm Phillips#00 in the middle of the lower 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 of the lower case.

  6. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 1
    • Take extra caution with these screws as they can strip easily!

    • You could use a flexible extension to minimize stripping.

    • 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.)

  7. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 1
    • 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)

  8. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 1
    • 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 screws.

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

  9. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the following 4 screws from the back of the computer:

    • 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)

    • During reassembly, the two longer screws go on the inside, and the two shorter screws go on the outside.

  10. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the two Phillips screws from the optical drive (right) side of the computer:

    • Two 5.2 mm Phillips #00, with shank (2.3mm dia. x 3.25 mm len.) (Head: 3.2 mm. dia. x .5mm thick)

    • It is not necessary to remove the similar screws on the ports (left) side of the computer.

  11. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 1
    Tool used on this step:
    Plastic Cards
    $2.99
    Buy
    • There's a trackpad and keyboard ribbon cable connecting the upper case to the logic board, so don't pull the upper case off entirely just yet.

    • Use a plastic opening tool, an expired plastic credit, or a similarly-thick card to pry up on the upper case, starting in the upper-left corner and working around to the front of the computer.

    • The upper case is likely to stick at its connection above the front edge of the optical drive. If this happens, first free all other sides, then proceed to pull upward on the upper case from either side of the optical drive opening. Here again, inserting a plastic card, guitar pick, etc. can be useful.

    • If you stand the base of the MacBook on one end to get a better look, you may displace the four grey plastic clips that hold the right side of the upper case in place. Don't panic. They slide into slots at the top rightmost edge of the lower frame, above the front edge of the optical drive.

    • During reassembly, make sure the clips on the right side, above the optical drive, click firmly into place. They're different from the clips on the left side, and so normally they require a little firmer pressure to click into place.

  12. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 12, image 1 of 3 MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 12, image 2 of 3 MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 12, image 3 of 3
    • While holding up the upper case, pull up the black tab on the connector end of the silver ribbon cable away from the connector's socket on the logic board.

    • If there is no black tab, you can also use a spudger to gently pry the connector out of its socket on the logic board. 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.

    • While you have the upper case removed, it's a good time to remove dust, hair, etc. It's best to use a can of compressed air, though if you use a brush, make sure that its bristles are made of a material (usually animal hair) that doesn't generate static electricity, which can destroy electronics.

    • Upon reassembly, there are 4 grey plastic clips installed in slots running along the top of the frame in front of the optical drive (refer to second and third pictures). These clips must be installed in their slots for their mating tabs on the underside of the right side of the upper case to snap into them.

  13. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement, Optical Drive: step 13, image 1 of 1
    • Grasp the white plastic tab attached to the hard drive and pull it to the left, removing the hard drive from the computer.

  14. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 14, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the two Phillips screws from the side of the optical drive.

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

  15. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 1
    • Disconnect the orange optical drive ribbon cable connector from the logic board by prying it straight up using either a finger or a spudger.

  16. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 16, image 1 of 1
    • Disconnect the newly revealed display data cable's plug from the logic board by pulling it upward using its black pull-tab.

    • If there is no pull-tab on top of the plug, it may be helpful to use a spudger to disconnect this plug.

  17. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 17, image 1 of 1
    • Disconnect the newly-revealed hard drive cable's plug from the logic board by pulling it upward using its black tab.

    • When reconnecting the hard drive cable's plug to the logic board, make sure the plug is routed under the cables for the right speaker and the microphone, or else the plug won't sit flush with the logic board, which will prevent the plug from fully engaging with its socket on the logic board.

  18. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 18, image 1 of 1
    • Peel up the foil tape between the fan and the optical drive. Lift the foil tape from the fan side, leaving it attached to the optical drive.

    • During reassembly, be sure to route the cables beneath the tape before reattaching it.

    • If the adhesive on this foil tape no longer sticks, you can hold it in place using a regular piece of tape, but don't block the fan intake.

  19. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 19, image 1 of 1
    • Pull up the display data cable from along the edge of the optical drive to reveal a silver Phillips screw.

  20. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 20, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the 2 mm Phillips #00 screw securing the rear corner of the optical drive.

    • When reinstalling this screw, make sure none of the cables nearby get caught under the screw's head.

    • The silver-jacketed Bluetooth cable may be covering the screw. If so, carefully push it aside. You may need to remove the screw holding the ground shield lugs for the two nearby cables before you can move the Bluetooth cable aside sufficiently. This screw is 7mm in earlier models, and may be 4.2mm in Santa Rosa/Penryn and 2009 models.

  21. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 21, image 1 of 1
    • Lift the Bluetooth antenna board from the front edge of the optical drive.

  22. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 22, image 1 of 1
    • Deroute the hard drive cable from under the clips along the near side of the optical drive.

    • During reassembly, reroute the cable under these clips.

  23. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 23, image 1 of 1
    • Lift the side of the optical drive closest to you, then slide the drive towards you, and up and out of the computer.

    • Follow these steps to reinstall the optical drive:

    • First, slide its side nearest to the rear of the Macbook under the edge of the rear frame to the left of the hinge, while also sliding the optical drive's mounting tab at its upper left corner under the cables at this location.

    • Lower the drive partially into the lower housing. Keep the hard drive cable away from the optical drive bay.

    • Before dropping the drive fully in place, use a spudger to push forward (towards the front of the drive) on the screw hole in the drive's mounting tab.

    • Push forward the slider, which runs along the far side of the drive, to insert the end of this slider into a small channel in the lower case's frame. This helps hold the drive in place.

    • When you push the slider forward, if the screw hole in the drive's mounting tab doesn't line up over its threaded brass insert in the lower case, the front end of the slider hasn't fully inserted into its channel in the frame. Keep trying, but if the slider won't move further to the right, remove the drive to see if the end of the slider is bent.

    • If the front end of the slider isn't bent, it may be slightly too long. Use a pair of fine cutters to clip off the narrower portion of the end of the slider. The optical drive will still remain firmly in place.

  24. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement, C-Channel: step 24, image 1 of 1
    • For original Macbook Core Duo and Core 2 Duo models, remove these 3 screws:

    • Two 3 mm Phillips near the right speaker.

    • One 6 mm Phillips threaded through a hole in a plastic finger above the subwoofer.

    • When reinstalling the screw above the subwoofer, be careful not to over-tighten it or the subwoofer's plastic could crack.

    • For Santa Rosa/Penryn and 2009 models, which don't have a c-channel:

    • Remove only the single 3 mm Phillips screw from the right speaker, and skip step 26.

  25. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 25, image 1 of 1
    • Lift the right speaker out of its housing and set it to the side.

  26. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 26, image 1 of 1
    • If you have a Santa Rosa/Penryn or 2009 model, skip this step.

    • Using a spudger, gently pry up the white plastic slot and slide the metal c-channel to the right and away from the display.

  27. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement, Display: step 27, image 1 of 1
    • Use a spudger to carefully disconnect the microphone cable from the logic board. You'll want to work from side to side, and slowly wiggle the plug back and out of its socket.

    • Pulling on this plug vertically will break its socket off the logic board. This connector is removed only horizontally by gently pulling the microphone cable toward the screen while working a spudger between the connector and the socket.

  28. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 28, image 1 of 1
    • Lift up on the black right speaker cable with one hand, and deroute the microphone cable from the silver metal clip just above the right RAM slot.

    • This metal clip may not be present in all models. Be sure that the cable is free from any hold downs around this area before proceeding.

  29. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 29, image 1 of 1
    • If you didn't remove the ground lug retaining screw in step 20 above, remove it now. It's a 7mm (may be 4mm or 3mm in Santa Rosa/Penryn and 2009 models) Phillips screw securing the ground lugs on the right speaker cable and microphone cable to the metal frame.

  30. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 30, image 1 of 2 MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 30, image 2 of 2
    • Deroute the microphone cable and the black display data cable from the tabs at the bottom of the subwoofer.

    • During reassembly, while there may seem to be more than one way to route the cables, the best way is as shown in photo 2. Click on the photo for a larger view.

  31. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 31, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the single 3 mm Phillips screw securing the ground lug in the display data cable located just above the Bluetooth board. This screw may also be securing a ground lug in the speaker cable.

  32. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 32, image 1 of 2 MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 32, image 2 of 2
    • Disconnect the antenna cables from the Airport card:

    • If you have an original MacBook Core Duo or Core 2 Duo model, see the first picture, which shows that there are three antenna cables.

    • If you have a MacBook Core 2 Duo Santa Rosa/Penryn or 2009 model, there are only two antenna cables, and the plug/socket for the black inverter cable is in a different location. There may be a square foam piece over the plug/socket for the inverter board connector.

    • Disconnect the inverter cable from its socket by inserting a spudger between the right or left ends of the plug and the socket, and prying gently vertically. Do NOT pry up on the socket--you must pull up on the plug alone, vertically out of the socket. Do not pull in the direction of the cable wires or you will tear the socket off the logic board.

  33. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 33, image 1 of 2 MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 33, image 2 of 2
    • For original Macbook Core Duo and Core 2 Duo models, see first picture and remove the following 2 screws from the right hinge mount:

    • One 6 mm Phillips on the left side of the hinge mount.

    • One 10 mm Phillips on the right side of the hinge mount.

    • For Santa Rosa/Penryn and 2009 models, see second picture and remove the following 3 screws from the right hinge mount:

    • One 3 mm smalller diameter Phillips on the far left.

    • One 5.2 mm larger diameter, 4.2 mm head Phillips in the middle.

    • One 10 mm larger diameter, 4.2mm head Phillips from the far right.

    • Before removing the right hinge mount, take care to see how its pieces fit together, including the small white plastic piece. Knowing how the mount pieces fit together will help with reassembly. Lift the right hinge mount with the small white plastic piece out of the computer.

  34. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 34, image 1 of 1
    • Hold the display with one hand while removing the following 3 screws from the left hinge mount:

    • One 7.2 mm smaller diameter Phillips from the right side.

    • One 5.2 mm larger diameter Phillips from the middle.

    • One larger diameter 10 mm Phillips from the left side.

    • Before removing the left hinge mount, take care to see how its pieces fit together, including the small white plastic piece. Knowing how the mount pieces fit together will help with reassembly.

    • In 2009 models, the shape of the left hinge mount may be different than shown in the photo, but the locations and sizes of its screws are the same.

    • Lift the left hinge mount with white plastic piece out of the computer.

    • Check that the cables coming out of the right end of the left hinge are not trapped under other cables.

  35. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 35, image 1 of 1
    • Grasp the display assembly on either side and lift it up and out of the computer, taking care that the cables attached to the display don't snag on parts in the lower case.

  36. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement, Front Display Bezel: step 36, image 1 of 1
    Tool used on this step:
    Plastic Cards
    $2.99
    Buy
    • The following steps should be identical for both white and black MacBooks.

    • Use a thin plastic card to release the tabs and their clips holding the front display bezel to the display assembly. There are five tabs along the left side of the display bezel.

    • You may find some display bezels are easier to remove if you work from their inside edges, directly adjacent to/above the LCD panel.

    • Don't use a card that cannot be replaced if damaged. The clips can be difficult to remove and the card can bend and break, rendering it useless.

  37. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 37, image 1 of 1
    • Continue to free the tabs along the the top edge of the display assembly.

    • Be careful when working near the iSight camera.

  38. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 38, image 1 of 1
    • Next, free the five tabs securing the display bezel on the right side.

  39. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 39, image 1 of 2 MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 39, image 2 of 2
    • Lift up the front display bezel from the top and use your plastic card to free the tabs along the bottom edge of the display bezel.

    • Make sure that your card is between the metal frame around the LCD panel and the display bezel and not touching the LCD panel itself.

    • After freeing all holding tabs, lift the front display bezel away from the display assembly.

    • When reinstalling the front display bezel onto the display housing, you may find it easier to get the tabs and clips to connect if you push on the four sides of the bezel in this order: top, bottom, then the sides (left or right). You may have to apply extra pressure along the bottom side of the bezel to get it to snap into place firmly.

  40. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 40, image 1 of 2 MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 40, image 2 of 2
    • Sometimes when removing the front display bezel, the retaining clips that should remain captive in the LCD brackets come out with the front display bezel. Follow this and the next step to transfer the clips back to the LCD bracket.

    • Use a metal spudger or another thin tool to carefully pry the gray plastic clips off the tabs molded into the front display bezel. A 0.8mm flat screwdriver may be useful for this step. You may find that it's easier to remove some of these clips by prying up on their long sides.

    • Be careful, as the clips are made of thin plastic and are inherently delicate.

  41. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 41, image 1 of 2 MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 41, image 2 of 2
    • Insert one end of the retaining clip beneath the edge of its recess cut into the LCD bracket.

    • Use the edge of a spudger to push the short hook tab on the underside of the other end of the retaining clip into the recess cut into the LCD bracket.

    • The second picture shows a retaining clip properly installed.

    • You may find it easier to get the short hook tabs on the underside of each end of the clip to fit down inside their cutout in the LCD bracket by first very slightly bending down the two ends of the clip, but be careful not to bend the clips too much--only a slight bend is needed, and too much force will break them.

  42. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement, Clutch Cover: step 42, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the three 4.2 mm Phillips screws securing the clutch cover.

  43. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 43, image 1 of 1
    • While holding the display down with one hand, use your other hand to lift the left end of the clutch cover off the clutch hinge and guide the inverter cable and AirPort cables through the gap in the clutch cover. If the cables snag on the two hooked tabs on the inside end of the clutch cover, free them carefully.

    • It may help to wiggle the clutch cover as you pull it up from the display.

    • During reassembly, make sure not to pinch the black inverter cable or the Airport wires when snapping the left end of the clutch cover back into place. To avoid pinching, it may help to lift up and hold these cables and wires in place at the top of the hinge, rather than leaving them running along the sides of the hinge.

  44. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 44, image 1 of 2 MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 44, image 2 of 2
    • Lift up the right end of the clutch cover while guiding the display data and iSight cables through the gap and the two hooked tabs at the right end of the clutch cover. If the cables snag on the two hooked tabs, free them carefully.

    • Lift the clutch cover off of the display assembly.

    • During reassembly, avoid pinching the display data and iSight cables. While guiding the right end of the clutch cover into place, but before snapping it down, guide these cables between the two hooked tabs inside the right end of the clutch cover, and up into the curved area of the clutch cover, above the hinge.

    • Also avoid pinching the backlight wires (with the white connector on the end, plugged into the right end of the inverter). They should run under the upper right edge of the clutch cover. In some models, the two wires are gray and black, and in others they're white and pink. They lead into a hole in the lower right edge of the LCD to the backlight.

  45. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement, Inverter Cable: step 45, image 1 of 2 MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement, Inverter Cable: step 45, image 2 of 2
    • Lift the inverter slightly out of the display.

    • Disconnect the inverter cable from the left side of the inverter board.

    • Set the inverter board back down into its recess molded into the rear display bezel.

  46. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 46, image 1 of 1
    • Gently peel back the strip of tape covering the inverter cable.

    • Remove the single 3.2 mm Phillips screw securing the inverter cable to the left clutch hinge.

  47. MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 47, image 1 of 2 MacBook Core 2 Duo Inverter Cable Replacement: step 47, image 2 of 2
    • Remove the inverter cable from the display.

    • Before ordering a new inverter cable, be sure you are buying one with the correct plugs for your machine. The inverter cable for the Santa Rosa/Penryn and 2009 models has a slimmer plug on its end that connects to the logic board.

Conclusion

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

249 other people completed this guide.

32 Comments

My cable ended up just being loose and was not even broken so that might be the case for you as well if the cable does not look like it is broken. also follow the guide carefully and keep track of all the screws it was very time consuming but totally worth it!

Jenn - Reply

This guide worked perfectly. Fixed my inverter cable and my display is good again!!!

Dave - Reply

Fixed my inverter cable and my display is good again, this guide is great, I love it !

One minor tip, I find doing step 46 before step 45 would be better.

H.Le

01/11/12

hieule88 - Reply

i did it! Was quite scary opening and putting those parts together. But screen good as new now! :D :D :D

thecatrecord - Reply

This fix took me 5 hours to do from start to finish. Most difficult part was removing the keyboard assm on the front left corner. It gets caught under the metal support brace inside the case where the two outside screws are. Very tedious job but worth it because it fixed the backlight problem on my Penyrn Macbook.

johnspaus - Reply

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