Introduction
Changing the top case will also give you a new trackpad.
What you need
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Use a coin to rotate the battery locking screw 90 degrees clockwise.
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Lift the battery out of the computer.
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Pull the keyboard release tabs (highlighted in red) toward you and lift up on the keyboard until it pops free.
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If the keyboard does not come free, use a small flathead screwdriver to turn the keyboard locking screw 180 degrees in either direction and try again.
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Flip the keyboard over, away from the screen, and rest it face-down on the trackpad area.
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Pull the keyboard cable up from the logic board, holding the cable as close to the connector as possible.
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Use a spudger or small flathead screwdriver to pry up the three metal rings that housed the rubber bumpers.
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Push the thin rims of the lower case surrounding the battery compartment in, bending them past the tabs, and then lift up to free that corner of the lower case.
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Use a small flathead screwdriver to pry out the slot's lower rim and pull up on the lower case to free the slot from the tabs holding it.
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Run a spudger along the seam between the lower case and upper case on the front of the computer to free the tabs locking the lower case.
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Pull up on the lower case and continue to use the spudger as necessary until you hear three distinct clicks.
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Once the front and sides of the lower case are free, turn the computer so that the back is facing you.
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Pull the lower case up and toward you until the back tabs pop free.
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Remove the small greasy springs with white plastic caps from either side of the battery contacts.
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Remove the following 9 screws on the bottom of the computer:
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Three 3 mm Phillips around the battery compartment.
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Three 5 mm Phillips on the left and bottom edges.
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Three 14.5 mm Phillips on the top and right edges (you may have to peel back the foil tape to reveal the screw near the security lock slot).
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Turn over the computer and open it.
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Pry up the magnet covering a Phillips screw near the middle of the computer. You may need to peel back the serial number sticker to access the magnet.
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Remove the following 3 screws on the edges of the keyboard area:
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Two 6 mm Phillips underneath the keyboard area.
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One 9 mm Phillips above the keyboard area.
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One 9 mm Phillips above the keyboard area.
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1) With your fingernails, grasp the locking bar on either side and pull up a small amount (about 1/16" or 2 mm).
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2) After disengaging the locking bar, slide the cable out of the connector.
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Loosen the trackpad connector by pulling the top piece up slightly, freeing the trackpad ribbon.
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Slide the orange trackpad ribbon out of the connector.
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Lift the upper case from the left side and use your other hand to pull out the right side in order to clear the power receptacle.
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Lift the upper case enough to disconnect the blue and white power cable from the logic board. Using your fingernails or a dental pick, carefully pry the connector from its socket. Make sure you're pulling only on the connector and not on the socket.
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Lift the upper case off completely and disconnect the red and black speaker cable from the logic board. As before, make sure you're pulling only on the connector and not on the socket.
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