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MacBook Core Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement

Introduction

Replace the cable on your MacBook Core Duo that connects the upper case to the logic board.

What you need

  1. MacBook Core Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement, Battery: step 1, image 1 of 1

    • Use a coin or spudger to rotate the battery-locking screw 90 degrees clockwise.

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  2. MacBook Core Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 1

    • Lift the battery out of the computer.

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  3. MacBook Core Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement, Memory Cover: step 3, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the three evenly-spaced Phillips screws from along the rear wall of the battery compartment.

    • The screws are captive to the metal memory cover.

    • When replacing the battery casing, use a spudger to re-insert the foam cushioning behind the rear wall for propper battery spacing.

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  4. MacBook Core Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 4, image 1 of 1

    • Lift up on L-shaped memory cover, slide it to the right, and lift it out of the computer.

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  5. MacBook Core Duo Upper Case 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 case.

    • Two 14.5 mm Phillips #00.

    • 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.

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  6. MacBook Core Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the following 3 screws from the rear wall of the battery compartment:

    • Two 3 mm Phillips #00. (A1181 has three 3 mm screws and one 4 mm.)

    • One 4 mm Phillips #00 on the right side.

    • When reinstalling these screws, press gently on the lower case to line up the screw holes.

    • These screws easily strip, so be careful while taking these particular screws out.

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  7. MacBook Core Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the two 6 mm Phillips #00 screws from either side of the right wall of the battery compartment (not the ones closest to the battery connector).

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  8. MacBook Core Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the four 3 mm indicated Phillips #00 screws from the front wall of the battery compartment. When working from the left, remove the 2nd, 4th, 7th and 9th screw.

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  9. MacBook Core Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the following 4 screws from the back of the computer:

    • Two 7 mm shouldered Phillips on the far sides.

    • Two 10.5 mm Phillips toward the center.

    • Do not over-tighten these; you can cause the case to distort.

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  11. MacBook Core Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the two 5.2 mm shouldered Phillips #00 screws from the optical side of the computer.

    • It is not necessary to remove the similar screws on the other side of the computer.

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  12. MacBook Core Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 1

    • Starting near the display and working around to the front of the computer, pry up on the upper case. It is held with clips on the right above the optical drive. These will release with some firm lifting pressure.

    • Be careful when prying up the upper case. It's very easy to slice open a fingertip and thus provide the blood sacrifice the Mac gods sometimes require of those who insist on doing their own repairs.

    • There's a trackpad and keyboard ribbon connecting the upper case to the logic board, so don't pull the upper case off entirely just yet.

    • If you have trouble getting the clips to release, be careful that you are not prying the plastic top of the upper case away from its metal frame.

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  13. MacBook Core Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 12, image 1 of 1

    • While holding up the upper case (from the bottom or the top), use a spudger to pry up the orange trackpad and keyboard cable from its connector.

    • Take care to pry between the black socket and the white connector. You might have to pry on both sides for it to release properly.

    • Do not pry from the bottom or the top, but from the sides.

    • 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.

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  14. MacBook Core Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement, Upper Case Cable: step 13, image 1 of 1

    • If you have a silver upper case cable, skip to Step 22.

    • If you have a brown upper case cable, follow this and the following steps to replace your upper case cable.

    • Carefully peel the upper case cable off the adhesive securing it to the upper case.

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  15. MacBook Core Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 14, image 1 of 2 MacBook Core Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 14, image 2 of 2

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to carefully peel up the adhesive around the perimeter of the plastic panel stuck to the underside of the trackpad.

    • Remove the panel from the upper case.

    Edit

  16. MacBook Core Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 2 MacBook Core Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 15, image 2 of 2

    • Use the tip of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the upper case cable ZIF socket near the keyboard cable.

    • Be sure you are prying up on the retaining flap, not the socket itself.

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  17. MacBook Core Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 16, image 1 of 1

    • Gently peel up the section of the upper case cable stuck to the keyboard ribbon cable, being careful not to disturb the keyboard ribbon cable in the process.

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  18. MacBook Core Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 17, image 1 of 1

    • Pull the top upper case ribbon cable connector out of its socket under the trackpad.

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  19. MacBook Core Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 18, image 1 of 2 MacBook Core Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 18, image 2 of 2

    • Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the retaining flap on the mouse button ribbon cable socket.

    • Be sure you are prying up on the retaining flap, not the socket itself.

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  20. MacBook Core Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 19, image 1 of 1

    • Pull the mouse button ribbon cable out of its socket.

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  21. MacBook Core Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 20, image 1 of 1

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to help peel the last portion of the upper case ribbon cable off the adhesive securing it to the underside of the trackpad.

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  22. MacBook Core Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 21, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the upper case cable from the upper case.

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  23. MacBook Core Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 22, image 1 of 2 MacBook Core Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 22, image 2 of 2

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to carefully peel up the adhesive around the perimeter of the plastic panel stuck to the underside of the trackpad.

    • Remove the panel from the upper case.

    Edit

  24. MacBook Core Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 23, image 1 of 1

    • Carefully peel the upper case cable and the piece of clear tape off the bottom of the upper case.

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  25. MacBook Core Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 24, image 1 of 2 MacBook Core Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 24, image 2 of 2

    • Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the retaining flap on the upper case cable ZIF socket.

    • Be sure you are prying up on the hinged retaining flap, not the socket itself.

    Edit

  26. MacBook Core Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement: step 25, image 1 of 1

    • Pull the upper case cable out of its socket and remove it from the upper case.

    Edit
Conclusion

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

33 other people completed this guide.

1 Guide Comment

Andrew you are the best.Very easy to follow instructions.I will replace mind,90 points

Mosua Patrick - Reply

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