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MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Optisches Laufwerk tauschen

What you need

  1. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Optisches Laufwerk tauschen, Bodenklappe: step 1, image 1 of 1
    • Lege die Oberseite des Gehäuses mit geschlossener Klappe auf eine glatte Oberfläche.

    • Drücke den Verschlusshebel auf der geriffelten Seite der Klappe in das Gehäuse des MacBooks, bis du den Verschlusshebel auf der anderen Seite greifen kannst.

    • Öffne den Verschlusshebel so weit, dass er senkrecht steht.

    This is not a a1278 unibody MacBook Pro. A1278 MacBooks backs are one solid metal piece not two separate pieces. This guide is for a different MacBook Pro.

    Brad Burgeson - Reply

    This guide isn’t for a pro; it’s a MacBook unibody.

    Nicholas -

    So, it turns out that Apple used the model code A1278 for quite a few different Mac models, including both Pro and non-Pro versions! This guide is for the non-Pro Macbooks. There’s also one for the Pro models with the same A1278 identifier.

    tempelmann - Reply

  2. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Optisches Laufwerk tauschen: step 2, image 1 of 1
    • Die Bodenklappe sollte nun ein kleines Stück offen stehen.

    • Die Klappe kann nun nach oben aus dem Gehäuse des MacBooks genommen werden.

  3. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Optisches Laufwerk tauschen, Akku: step 3, image 1 of 1
    • Versichere dich, dass sich die Entriegelung der Klappe in senkrechter Position befindet, bevor du weitermachst.

    • Ziehe an der weißen Plastiklasche und damit den Akku gerade nach oben und aus dem Laptop.

    Great tutorial ! great step !

    Leo Etcheverry - Reply

    Even though it’s specifically stated, you have to make sure the access door latch is vertical or the battery won’t be removable.

    Henry Kim - Reply

  4. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Optisches Laufwerk tauschen, Unteres Gehäuse: step 4, image 1 of 1
    • Entferne die im Bild gezeigten acht Schrauben, die die Bodenplatte mit dem Rest des Gehäuses verbinden:

    • Eine 3 mm Kreuzschlitzschraube.

    • Drei 13,5 mm Kreuzschlitzschrauben.

    • Vier 3,5 mm Kreuzschlitzschrauben.

    On my model, it seemed the top-left was 3.5mm and the bottom 4 were 3 mm.

    Jim - Reply

    Make sure you have a good quality Phillips screwdriver. Mine had removable tips and had a small play at the connection. As a result I didn't have a good feel and damaged my screws (those securing the fan and the top left in step 23). Game over for me installing new thermal paste...

    Be very carefull with your screws! Especially those on the inside.

    Nickolas Michelinakis - Reply

    You can get away with a Phillips #00 for many of the screws involved but the 4 at the bottom case split are likely to strip if you don’t use a JIS #00 or, in a pinch, a Phillips #000.

    Bill Cole - Reply

    I used the Phillips #00 tip from my Pro Tech Toolkit, and it worked well enough. But yes, maybe #000 might have been better on the lower row of screws. Note to myself: Always read the comments first.

    Les Kitchen -

    When replacing these screws, the order to replace them in is as follows:

    1, Top left

    2. Top right

    3. Top center-left

    4. Top center-right

    5. Bottom center-right

    6. Bottom center-left

    7. Bottom right

    8. Bottom left

    I hope this information is helpful.

    facebook - Reply

    I followed my usual process of putting in all the screws loosely, then tightening them gradually in distributed pattern, to help ensure that the panel settles in place evenly. But maybe some orders are better.

    Les Kitchen -

  5. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Optisches Laufwerk tauschen: step 5, image 1 of 1
    • Hebe die Bodenplatte mit beiden Händen an und entferne sie vom oberen Gehäuse.

    Thanks for the guide!

    It's implicit in the two photos, but worth mentioning because it blocked my progress in this step for a bit: You have to put the release latch back into its horizontal, closed position before you can lift off the lower-case panel.

    Les Kitchen - Reply

  6. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Optisches Laufwerk tauschen, DVD-Laufwerk: step 6, image 1 of 1
    • Verwende das Flache Ende eines Spudgers, um den Subwooferanschluss gerade nach oben vom Logic Board zu entfernen.

    Me, too, broke the subwoofer connector from the motherboard. I'd suggest removing the padding first so that you can see what kind of connector it is, then pry it loose (insert spudger where the cables enter the connector).

    petterwolff - Reply

    DO NOT REMOVE THE SUBWOOFER CONNECTION. Step 6 IS NOT NESCESSARY.

    You can complete this guide without doing step 6 just BE CAREFUL as you already should be.

    kenneth rhem - Reply

    The subwoofer cable is NOT removable on some models, attempting to remove it, brakes it off the circuit board and them you are @@%#$$, like me. Thanks iFixit. Also it is not necessary to remove it to replace the optical drive.

    todd - Reply

    Oops, I followed Step-6 and my subwoofer connector came off from the motherboard!!! Please suggest me what needs to be done now?

    Srinivasan - Reply

    Happened the same to me ... step 6 is a @%#$$. You should put now a way to repair the damage done. I just have four small tin marks on the board ...

    stratorick - Reply

    Happened the same problem to me ... step 6 is a @%#$$**%%#. You should put now a way to repair the damage done. I just have four small tin marks on the board ... and looking to sky for help

    Badruddin Hisbani - Reply

    Just “4 small tin marks” is what the the motherboard half of the subwoofer connector looks like.

    Bill Cole - Reply

    There are two variants of this connector. In one, there are pins that come up from the motherboard and the connector can be pried directly up without damage.

    The other variant of the connector that everyone commenting here has is soldered to the motherboard. To repair this type, first pull off the small square of foam padding on top of the connector. Then gently pull out the four black and red wires, leaving the soldered connector attached to the logic board. After you have installed the new speaker and subwoofer, you will remove the connector on the replacement component and carefully feed the red and black wires into the connector that is still attached to the motherboard (paying careful attention to their correct order). Then replace the square of black foam.

    If you have removed the soldered on the connector, your two options are to solder it on yourself or to find a repair shop that can do that for you. There are instructables online for soldering tiny components that can help you.

    bike - Reply

    Reading all of these comments prior to beginning the work, I didn’t even try to investigate the type of connector my laptop had. I just DIDN’T attempt removal of this connector, worked around it, and as others have mentioned, it is truly unnecessary to remove this connector. You can move the subwoofer (after removal of its other screws) out of the way just enough to slip out the old drive and slip in the new drive.

    Henry Kim - Reply

  7. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Optisches Laufwerk tauschen: step 7, image 1 of 1
    • Trenne das Kamerakabel vom Mainboard, indem du den Stiftstecker gerade vom Anschluss wegziehst.

    The lack of warning “Be careful not to pull up on the cable as you remove it from the socket.” here, as is displayed on a similar step on the “MacBook Unibody Model A1278 AirPort Card Replacement” guide, has caused me to break the cable. My WiFi is not working anymore. How can I replace only this cable? Thank you.

    Ismael Neiva - Reply

    Bonjour J’ai eu le malheur de toucher à ce câble et depuis je n’ai plus de retro-éclairage sur mon écran. Est-ce lié ?

    Hello I had the misfortune to touch this cable and since then I have no more backlight on my screen. Is it related? (but the computer works fine when I plug in a screen)

    christophe.arnaud - Reply

  8. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Optisches Laufwerk tauschen: step 8, image 1 of 1
    • Verwende einen Spudger, um den Anschluss des DVD-Laufwerks gerade nach oben vom Mainboard abzuheben.

  9. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Optisches Laufwerk tauschen: step 9, image 1 of 1
    • Entferne die beiden Kreuzschlitzschrauben, die den Subwoofer am oberen Gehäuse befestigen.

    • Die längere der beiden Schrauben gehört auf die rechte Seite.

    Longer screw was on the Left for me.

    amiller770 - Reply

    Left: 3.7 mm

    Right: 4.0 mm

    As I measured with a vernier caliper.

    nickjg - Reply

  10. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Optisches Laufwerk tauschen: step 10, image 1 of 1
    • Der Subwoofer ist noch mit dem rechten Lautsprecher verbunden. Deshalb kannst du ihn noch nicht vollständig entfernen.

    • Nimm den Subwoofer vom DVD-Laufwerk ab und lege ihn oberhalb des MacBooks ab.

  11. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Optisches Laufwerk tauschen: step 11, image 1 of 1
    • Entferne die beiden Kreuzschlitzschrauben, die die Halterung des Kamerakabels mit dem oberen Gehäuse verbinden.

    • Die linke der beiden Schrauben bleibt möglicherweise am Kamerakabel hängen.

    This step is not necessary. Drive can be released without removing the screws.

    mcbohdo - Reply

    If you’re replacing the subwoofer, you DO need to remove the left screw but not the right screw. This is fortunate, because if you are stuck with a Phillips #00 instead of a JIS #00 screwdriver, you may well strip the heads of these screws.

    Bill Cole - Reply

  12. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Optisches Laufwerk tauschen: step 12, image 1 of 1
    • Entferne die drei 2,5 mm Kreuzschlitzschrauben, die das DVD-Laufwerk mit dem oberen Gehäuse verbinden.

    The lower left screw hole of the replacement drive purchased from iFixit doesn’t align with the screw hole of the body of the computer. Doesn’t seem to be a problem as the drive seems to be quite stable with the other 2 screws, and the “fit” within the drive area.

    Henry Kim - Reply

  13. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Optisches Laufwerk tauschen: step 13, image 1 of 1
    • Heben das DVD-Laufwerk an der rechten Seite an und ziehe es aus dem Rechner heraus.

    • Das Kabel, welches die Festplatte mit dem Mainboard verbindet, kann sich dabei möglicherweise lösen. Achte beim Wiederzusammenbau darauf, dass es korrekt mit dem Mainboard verbunden ist.

  14. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Optisches Laufwerk tauschen, Optisches Laufwerk: step 14, image 1 of 1
    • Entferne das Kabel, welches an das DVD-Laufwerk angeschlossen ist, indem du es gerade vom Laufwerk abziehst.

    • Dieser Anschluss ist besonders tief. Deshalb achte darauf, dass du in der Mitte des Anschlusses ziehst.

    • Wenn eine CD oder anderes Objekt in dem Laufwerk festklemmt, nutze bitte diese Anleitung zum Entfernen des Objekt.

  15. MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Optisches Laufwerk tauschen: step 15, image 1 of 1
    • Entferne die beiden schwarzen Kreuzschlitzschrauben Größe #0, die die kleine Metallöse am Laufwerk befestigen.

    • Wenn sie ein neues Laufwerk einbauen oder ein Festplattengehäuse einbauen, muss diese Öse wiederverwendet werden.

Conclusion

Arbeite die Schritte in umgekehrter Reihenfolge ab, um dein Gerät wieder zusammenzubauen.

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8 Comments

I ruined my laptop because of this guide.

The step 6 says it's a connector that comes of (sub-woofer), mine was welded, I broke it, I cannot fix it.

i am frustrated, and I know I should only blame myself for following blindly that guide.

But at least I thought I should let people know : be careful when removing that sub-woofer connector!!!

Thomas C - Reply

I also broke the sub-woofer connector away from the board, the connection to the board is very fragile, however I managed to solder the connector back on with a very fine soldering iron, (tricky). but it worked. I don't think it is really necessary to disconnect the sub-woofer cable to remove the optical drive, I'll find out when I get a new one to replace the old broken one. To remove the subwoofer cable it would be necessary to hold the connector in place while the plug is very carefully prized up from the lead side without moving the connector socket.

John Chinnery - Reply

Completed this one successfully. Now running OCZ 256 GB SSD in main bay and WD Black 320GB in optical bay.

Daniel Reyes - Reply

PLEASE change Step 6 to not blindly pop the subwoofer cable off of the logic board. I also have broken this connection by following the instructions. The comments do not print out/are not shown on the pdf! Some people (like me) may never see these comments until too late.

Jonny - Reply

My computer had a different optical drive than shown. Instead of the screws going through the body of the drive, it was secured by two screws at the corners opposite the screw by the connectors (i.e, along the wall where the CD slot is). In addition, in order to repair the drive, black tape sealing the unit had to be peeled back in order to open it (and the screws underneath the tape were placed slightly differently).

italtrav - Reply

Fixed my optical drive my Mac book runs great

victor generalao - Reply

Just a small tip: I wanted to replace my optical drive that I took from my older MB (A1181) with the broken optical drive in my newer-but still old- MB (A1278). But the drives aren't the same. The connectors don't fit and you can't replace them. So don't try to do this, if you planned to do it.

mofo - Reply

I broke the connector, too. Thanks to this guide. why don't they change the step 6?

akira maeda - Reply

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