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Installing MacBook Pro 17" Models A1151 A1212 A1229 and A1261 Logic Board

Prerequisite Only
This guide is only intended to be used as a prerequisite for other guides. It's incomplete by itself.

What you need

  1. Installing MacBook Pro 17" Models A1151 A1212 A1229 and A1261 Logic Board, Battery: step 1, image 1 of 1
    • Use your fingers to push both battery release tabs away from the battery and lift the battery out of the computer.

  2. Installing MacBook Pro 17" Models A1151 A1212 A1229 and A1261 Logic Board, RAM Shield: step 2, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the four identical Phillips 3.4 mm screws from the memory door. These screws have 4 mm diameter heads rather than the 3 mm heads on the body screws.

  3. Installing MacBook Pro 17" Models A1151 A1212 A1229 and A1261 Logic Board: step 3, image 1 of 1
    • Lift the memory door up enough to get a grip on it, and slide it toward you, pulling it away from the casing.

  4. Installing MacBook Pro 17" Models A1151 A1212 A1229 and A1261 Logic Board, Upper Case: step 4, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the three Phillips screws in the battery compartment near the latch. Apple was nice enough to tilt these screws at a slight angle to make them easier to remove. On the A1261 these screws have 4 mm diameter heads rather than the 3 mm heads on the body screws.

  5. Installing MacBook Pro 17" Models A1151 A1212 A1229 and A1261 Logic Board: step 5, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the following six screws:

    • Two 14.5 mm T6 Torx screws on either side of the RAM slot.

    • Four 3.4 mm Phillips screws along the hinge.

  6. Installing MacBook Pro 17" Models A1151 A1212 A1229 and A1261 Logic Board: step 6, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the four 3.4 mm Phillips screws on the port side of the computer.

  7. Installing MacBook Pro 17" Models A1151 A1212 A1229 and A1261 Logic Board: step 7, image 1 of 1
    • Rotate the computer 90 degrees and remove the two Phillips screws from the rear of the computer.

  8. Installing MacBook Pro 17" Models A1151 A1212 A1229 and A1261 Logic Board: step 8, image 1 of 1
    • Rotate the computer 90 degrees again and remove the four Phillips screws from the side of the computer.

  9. Installing MacBook Pro 17" Models A1151 A1212 A1229 and A1261 Logic Board: step 9, image 1 of 1
    • Do not yank the upper case off quickly. The case is attached to the logic board via a ribbon cable.

    • Lift up the back 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.

  10. Installing MacBook Pro 17" Models A1151 A1212 A1229 and A1261 Logic Board: step 10, image 1 of 1
    • Disconnect the trackpad and keyboard ribbon cable from the logic board.

    • Remove the upper case.

  11. Installing MacBook Pro 17" Models A1151 A1212 A1229 and A1261 Logic Board, Optical Drive: step 11, image 1 of 1
    • Disconnect the orange SuperDrive ribbon cable from the logic board, removing tape as necessary.

  12. Installing MacBook Pro 17" Models A1151 A1212 A1229 and A1261 Logic Board: step 12, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the following three screws:

    • Two black 4 mm T6 Torx screws on either side of the SuperDrive.

    • One 8.7 mm silver (black in some models) T6 Torx screw at the back of the drive near the speaker.

  13. Installing MacBook Pro 17" Models A1151 A1212 A1229 and A1261 Logic Board: step 13, image 1 of 1
    • Use one hand to pull back the speaker cable and use your other hand to lift the optical drive up and out of the computer.

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

  14. Installing MacBook Pro 17" Models A1151 A1212 A1229 and A1261 Logic Board, Logic Board: step 14, image 1 of 3 Installing MacBook Pro 17" Models A1151 A1212 A1229 and A1261 Logic Board, Logic Board: step 14, image 2 of 3 Installing MacBook Pro 17" Models A1151 A1212 A1229 and A1261 Logic Board, Logic Board: step 14, image 3 of 3
    • Disconnect the ten indicated connectors from the logic board.

    • If you have a MacBook Pro 17" Model A1229 or A1212, the connectors have different positions and are highlighted in the second and third pictures.

  15. Installing MacBook Pro 17" Models A1151 A1212 A1229 and A1261 Logic Board: step 15, image 1 of 1
    • Rotate the large display data cable to the left and disconnect the small right thermal sensor cable beneath.

  16. Installing MacBook Pro 17" Models A1151 A1212 A1229 and A1261 Logic Board: step 16, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the single black T6 Torx screw securing the clear plastic shield over the right ambient light sensor.

    • Lift the clear plastic shield off the right ambient light sensor.

  17. Installing MacBook Pro 17" Models A1151 A1212 A1229 and A1261 Logic Board: step 17, image 1 of 1
    • Peel up the orange Kapton tape securing the left thermal sensor cable to the logic board.

    • If you have a MacBook Pro 17" Model A1229, this is the middle thermal sensor.

  18. Installing MacBook Pro 17" Models A1151 A1212 A1229 and A1261 Logic Board: step 18, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the following twelve screws:

    • Seven 6.5 mm T6 Torx screws.

    • Two 7.6 mm T6 Torx screws securing the battery connector to the lower case.

    • Three 7.8 mm T6 Torx screws.

  19. Installing MacBook Pro 17" Models A1151 A1212 A1229 and A1261 Logic Board: step 19, image 1 of 1
    • Lift up the left side of the logic board and disconnect the multi-colored power connector from the bottom of the board.

  20. Installing MacBook Pro 17" Models A1151 A1212 A1229 and A1261 Logic Board: step 20, image 1 of 1
    • Grasp the logic board at the left side and at the thin section near the right fan, and rotate the logic board out of the lower case.

  21. Installing MacBook Pro 17" Models A1151 A1212 A1229 and A1261 Logic Board: step 21, image 1 of 1
    • If the right speaker assembly remains attached to the logic board, hold the logic board with one hand and slide the speaker up slightly to free it from the logic board.

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