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MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Hard Drive Replacement

Introduction

You can install hard drives up to 9.5mm thick.

What you need

  1. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Hard Drive Replacement, Battery: step 1, image 1 of 3 MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Hard Drive Replacement, Battery: step 1, image 2 of 3 MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Hard Drive Replacement, Battery: step 1, image 3 of 3

    • Use your fingers to push both battery release tabs away from the battery, and lift the battery out of the computer.

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  2. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Hard Drive Replacement, RAM Shield: step 2, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Hard Drive Replacement, RAM Shield: step 2, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the three identical 2mm Phillips screws from the memory door.

    • Lift the memory door up enough to grip it and slide it toward you, pulling it away from the casing.

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  3. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Hard Drive Replacement, Upper Case: step 3, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the two 2.8 mm Phillips screws in the battery compartment near the latch.

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  4. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Hard Drive Replacement: step 4, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the following 6 screws:

    • Two 10 mm T6 Torx screws on either side of the RAM slot.

    • Four 14.5 mm Phillips screws along the hinge.

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  5. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Hard Drive Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the four 3.2 mm PH00 Phillips screws on the port side of the computer.

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  7. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Hard Drive Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 1

    • Rotate the computer 90 degrees and remove the two 3.2 mm Phillips screws from the rear of the computer.

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  8. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Hard Drive Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 1

    • Rotate the computer 90 degrees again and remove the four 3.2 mm Phillips screws from the side of the computer.

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  9. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Hard Drive Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 3 MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Hard Drive Replacement: step 8, image 2 of 3 MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Hard Drive Replacement: step 8, image 3 of 3

    • Do not yank the upper case off quickly. The case is attached to the logic board via a ribbon cable.

    • Lift up at the rear of the case and work your fingers along the sides, freeing the case as you go. Once you have freed the sides, you may need to rock the case up and down to free the front of the upper case.

    • There are four plastic clips above the DVD slot, and another above and to the left of the IR sensor. These clips can be very difficult to disengage without prying. They can also be difficult to re-engage during reassembly.

    • Reassembly Tip: Press down firmly on the tip of the top case above the location of each clip until you hear a snap to reseat them in their slots.

    • Reassembly Tip: The two center DVD clips will rarely snap back into place properly without help, and downward pressure will instead simply deform the frame around the DVD slot. Support the frame by inserting a plastic spudger into the DVD slot directly under the clip location until it is snug, then press down until you hear the snap.

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  10. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Hard Drive Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Hard Drive Replacement: step 9, image 2 of 2

    • Disconnect the trackpad and keyboard ribbon cable from the logic board, removing tape as necessary.

    • Note: It is possible to replace the hard drive without disconnecting the keyboard from the chassis, but it will need to be held upright to keep it out of the way, while still allowing you both hands to work on the drive removal.

    • Be careful when removing the keyboard-trackpad ribbon cable to ensure that the rear of the upper case is disengaged from the area near the hinge. It is easy to accidentally bend the screw receivers on either side of the keyboard.

    • Remove the upper case.

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  11. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive: step 10, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive: step 10, image 2 of 2

    • Disconnect the orange hard drive ribbon cable from the logic board.

    • Remove tape as necessary and use a spudger (or carefully push a credit card under the tape) to carefully loosen the adhesive securing the sleep light and IR sensor connectors to the top of the hard drive.

    • You may find it best to loosen the left edge, then the right edge, then the center of the tape to attack it from all points, so as to gently apply force to the smallest possible sticky surface.

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  12. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Hard Drive Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 3 MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Hard Drive Replacement: step 11, image 2 of 3 MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Hard Drive Replacement: step 11, image 3 of 3

    • Remove the two 8.2 mm T6 Torx screws securing the hard drive retaining bracket to the lower case.

    • Use a spudger if the hard drive ribbon cable is firmly glued to the top of the drive. You might have to work slowly in order to not damage it.

    • Lift the hard drive retaining bracket up and out of the computer.

    • Lift up the hard drive with one hand and use your other hand to disconnect the hard drive cable.

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  13. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive: step 12, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the two silver T6 6 mm Torx screws from the left side of the hard drive.

    • You'll need to transfer these screws to your new hard drive if you're changing drives.

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  14. MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 Hard Drive Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the two black T6 Torx screws and white rubber bumpers from the right side of the hard drive.

    • You'll need to transfer these screws and bumpers to your new hard drive if you're changing drives.

    • If you are installing a new hard drive, we have an OS X install guide to get you up and running.

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Conclusion

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

1094 other people completed this guide.

22 Guide Comments

Hi folks, is it possible to inserting a new 1 GB 2,5" HDD with a thickness of 12.5 mm into the MBP?

can anyone help me?

Sorry about my bad english...

Andreas from germany

Andreas Zowislo - Reply

Not to the pre-unibody MBPs it isn't possible, no. Maximum size 9.5 mm drives

Alex Jenner -

I used the A1260 hard drive replacement guide to swop out a Western Digital Scorpio SATA (WD3200BEVT) 320 Gig 5400rpm for a Western Digital SATA (ST9750420AS) Momentus 750 Gig 7200rpm. (http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/product...) The whole operation went flawlessly thanks to the guide. The improvement in speed / access with the bigger, faster hard drive is very noticeable. Just to let people know that the installation of a 750 gig drive is an accomplished fact in a A1260 series MacBook Pro.

Uncle Jim - Reply

Thanks for the very thoroughly and easy-to-follow guide. I'm no technical genius, but thanks to the guide I manage to replace the original disc with a Toshiba THNS 512GG8BBAA. I printed out the instructions and attached the screws with scotch to the right picture as I went along - not a chance of mixing or loosing the screws. It all went well, and the improvement is awesome!

HansO - Reply

After some trepidation, it all came together flawlessly in about an hour. Great guide, and good advice in the notes about organizing those 27 screws. This will put at least another year of life in my aging Macbook.

Robert Lied - Reply

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