Installing MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Late 2008 and Early 2009 Hard Drive Cable

Step 1 Access Door



• With the case closed, place the Unibody top-side down on a flat surface.
• Depress the grooved side of the access door release latch enough to grab the free end. Lift the release latch until it is vertical.
Step 2

• The access door should now be raised enough to lift it up and out of the Unibody.
Step 3 Battery
• Be sure the access door release latch is vertical before proceeding.
• Grab the translucent plastic tab and pull the battery up and out of the Unibody.
• If the latch is depressed it will lock the battery in place.
Step 4 Lower Case
• Remove the following eight screws securing the lower case to the chassis:
• One 5.4 mm Phillips screw.
• Three 14 mm Phillips screws.
• Four 3.5 mm Phillips screws.
Step 5
• Using both hands, lift and remove the lower case off the upper case.
Step 6 Optical Drive
• Disconnect the camera cable by pulling the male end straight away from its socket.
Step 7
• Deroute the camera data cable from the channel in the optical drive.
Step 8
• Use a spudger to pry the optical drive connector straight up off the logic board.
Step 9
• Remove two 8 mm Phillips screws securing the camera cable bracket to the upper case.
• The rightmost screw may remain captive in the camera cable.
• Lift the camera cable bracket out from the upper case.
Step 10
• Remove the following three Phillips screws securing the optical drive to the upper case:
• One 3.5 mm Phillips screw.
• Two 2.5 mm Phillips screws.
Step 11
• Lift the optical drive from its left edge and pull it out of the computer.
Step 12 Subwoofer & Right Speaker
• Using the flat end of a spudger, pry the subwoofer connector straight up off the logic board.
Step 13
• Remove the following four screws securing the subwoofer and right speaker to the upper case:
• Two 3.2 mm Phillips screws.
• One 2.6 mm Phillips screw.
• One 5 mm Phillips screw.
Step 14
• Lift the subwoofer and right speaker assembly out of the upper case.
Step 15 Hard Drive Cable
• Remove the single Phillips screw securing the hard drive bracket to the upper case.
• This screw is captive in the hard drive bracket.
Step 16
• Lift the hard drive by its plastic pull tab and remove the freed hard drive bracket.
Step 17
• Lift the hard drive out of its supports and disconnect the SATA cable by pulling the connector straight away from the hard drive.
Step 18
• Remove the following 5 screws securing the mid wall to the upper case:
• Three 10.5 mm Phillips screws.
• Two 3.7 mm Phillips screws.
• Lift the mid wall out of the upper case.
Step 19
• Lift the mid wall out of the upper case.
Step 20
• Use a spudger to pry the hard drive cable connector straight up off the logic board.
Step 21
• Peel the hard drive cable from the adhesive securing it to the upper case, and maneuver the plastic retaining block out of the upper case.

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Walter Galan

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