Macbook Core Duo Optical Drive Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

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Sections

Battery
2 steps
Memory Cover
2 steps
Upper Case
8 steps
Optical Drive
11 steps
Optical Drive Cable
2 steps
Optical Drive
5 steps

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Introduction

What you need

Video Overview

Step 1

              Battery

Use a coin or spudger to rotate the battery-locking screw 90 degrees clockwise.

Use a coin or spudger to rotate the battery-locking screw 90 degrees clockwise.

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Step 2

Lift the battery out of the computer.

Lift the battery out of the computer.

Step 3

              Memory Cover

Remove the three evenly-spaced Phillips screws from along the rear wall of the battery compartment.
The screws are captive to the metal memory cover.
When replacing the battery casing, use a spudger to re-insert the foam cushioning behind the rear wall for propper battery spacing.

Remove the three evenly-spaced Phillips screws from along the rear wall of the battery compartment.

The screws are captive to the metal memory cover.

When replacing the battery casing, use a spudger to re-insert the foam cushioning behind the rear wall for propper battery spacing.

Step 4

Lift up on L-shaped memory cover, slide it to the right, and lift it out of the computer.

Lift up on L-shaped memory cover, slide it to the right, and lift it out of the computer.

Step 5

              Upper Case

Remove the following 3 screws:
One 11 mm Phillips #00 in the middle of the case.
Two 14.5 mm Phillips #00.
If the screws stick in the case, you can use a magnetized screwdriver to draw them out.
The shorter of the three screws goes in the middle.

Remove the following 3 screws:

One 11 mm Phillips #00 in the middle of the case.

Two 14.5 mm Phillips #00.

If the screws stick in the case, you can use a magnetized screwdriver to draw them out.

The shorter of the three screws goes in the middle.

Step 6

Remove the following 3 screws from the rear wall of the battery compartment:
Two 3 mm Phillips #00. (A1181 has three 3 mm screws and one 4 mm.)
One 4 mm Phillips #00 on the right side.
When reinstalling these screws, press gently on the lower case to line up the screw holes.
These screws easily strip, so be careful while taking these particular screws out.

Remove the following 3 screws from the rear wall of the battery compartment:

Two 3 mm Phillips #00. (A1181 has three 3 mm screws and one 4 mm.)

One 4 mm Phillips #00 on the right side.

When reinstalling these screws, press gently on the lower case to line up the screw holes.

These screws easily strip, so be careful while taking these particular screws out.

Step 7

Remove the two 6 mm Phillips #00 screws from either side of the right wall of the battery compartment (not the ones closest to the battery connector).

Remove the two 6 mm Phillips #00 screws from either side of the right wall of the battery compartment (not the ones closest to the battery connector).

Step 8

Remove the four 3 mm indicated Phillips #00 screws from the front wall of the battery compartment. When working from the left, remove the 2nd, 4th, 7th and 9th screw.

Remove the four 3 mm indicated Phillips #00 screws from the front wall of the battery compartment. When working from the left, remove the 2nd, 4th, 7th and 9th screw.

Step 9

Remove the following 4 screws from the back of the computer:
Two 7 mm shouldered Phillips on the far sides.
Two 10.5 mm Phillips toward the center.
Do not over-tighten these; you can cause the case to distort.

Remove the following 4 screws from the back of the computer:

Two 7 mm shouldered Phillips on the far sides.

Two 10.5 mm Phillips toward the center.

Do not over-tighten these; you can cause the case to distort.

Step 10

Remove the two 5.2 mm shouldered Phillips #00 screws from the optical side of the computer.
It is not necessary to remove the similar screws on the other side of the computer.

Remove the two 5.2 mm shouldered Phillips #00 screws from the optical side of the computer.

It is not necessary to remove the similar screws on the other side of the computer.

Step 11

Starting near the display and working around to the front of the computer, pry up on the upper case. It is held with clips on the right above the optical drive. These will release with some firm lifting pressure.
Be careful when prying up the upper case. It’s very easy to slice open a fingertip and thus provide the blood sacrifice the Mac gods sometimes require of those who insist on doing their own repairs.
There’s a trackpad and keyboard ribbon connecting the upper case to the logic board, so don’t pull the upper case off entirely just yet.
If you have trouble getting the clips to release, be careful that you are not prying the plastic top of the upper case away from its metal frame.

Starting near the display and working around to the front of the computer, pry up on the upper case. It is held with clips on the right above the optical drive. These will release with some firm lifting pressure.

Be careful when prying up the upper case. It’s very easy to slice open a fingertip and thus provide the blood sacrifice the Mac gods sometimes require of those who insist on doing their own repairs.

There’s a trackpad and keyboard ribbon connecting the upper case to the logic board, so don’t pull the upper case off entirely just yet.

If you have trouble getting the clips to release, be careful that you are not prying the plastic top of the upper case away from its metal frame.

Step 12

While holding up the upper case (from the bottom or the top), use a spudger to pry up the orange trackpad and keyboard cable from its connector.
Take care to pry between the black socket and the white connector. You might have to pry on both sides for it to release properly.
Do not pry from the bottom or the top, but from the sides.
If you happen to break your upper case cable when removing the upper case, we stock the cable individually and we have a guide that makes replacing it easy.

While holding up the upper case (from the bottom or the top), use a spudger to pry up the orange trackpad and keyboard cable from its connector.

Take care to pry between the black socket and the white connector. You might have to pry on both sides for it to release properly.

Do not pry from the bottom or the top, but from the sides.

If you happen to break your upper case cable when removing the upper case, we stock the cable individually and we have a guide that makes replacing it easy.

Step 13

              Optical Drive

Grasp the white plastic tab attached to the hard drive and pull it to the left, removing the hard drive from the computer.

Grasp the white plastic tab attached to the hard drive and pull it to the left, removing the hard drive from the computer.

Step 14

Remove the two Phillips screws from the front edge of the optical drive.
The shorter screw (3 mm) is recessed nearest the RAM modules. The other is 3.5 mm.

Remove the two Phillips screws from the front edge of the optical drive.

The shorter screw (3 mm) is recessed nearest the RAM modules. The other is 3.5 mm.

Step 15

Disconnect the orange optical drive ribbon cable from the logic board.

Disconnect the orange optical drive ribbon cable from the logic board.

Step 16

Disconnect the newly-revealed display data cable. If there is no pull-tab on the top of the connector, it may be helpful to use a spudger to disconnect this connector.

Disconnect the newly-revealed display data cable. If there is no pull-tab on the top of the connector, it may be helpful to use a spudger to disconnect this connector.

Step 17

Disconnect the (once again) newly-revealed hard drive cable.

Disconnect the (once again) newly-revealed hard drive cable.

Step 18

Peel up the foil tape between the fan and the optical drive.
Remove the 8.5 mm Phillips screw securing the display data cable to the metal framework.

Peel up the foil tape between the fan and the optical drive.

Remove the 8.5 mm Phillips screw securing the display data cable to the metal framework.

Step 19

Pull up the display data cable from along the edge of the optical drive to reveal a silver Phillips screw.

Pull up the display data cable from along the edge of the optical drive to reveal a silver Phillips screw.

Step 20

Remove the 2.8 mm Phillips screw securing the optical drive.
The Bluetooth cable may be covering the screw; carefully push it aside before removing the screw.
Do not over-tighten this screw when re-mounting. You could break the plastic enclosure.
After removing the screw, push the metal tab backwards, towards the fan, to release the front of the optical drive.

Remove the 2.8 mm Phillips screw securing the optical drive.

The Bluetooth cable may be covering the screw; carefully push it aside before removing the screw.

Do not over-tighten this screw when re-mounting. You could break the plastic enclosure.

After removing the screw, push the metal tab backwards, towards the fan, to release the front of the optical drive.

Step 21

Lift the Bluetooth antenna board from the right side of the optical drive.

Lift the Bluetooth antenna board from the right side of the optical drive.

Step 22

Deroute the hard drive cable from along the front of the optical drive.

Deroute the hard drive cable from along the front of the optical drive.

Step 23

Lift the front edge of the optical drive and slide it up and out of the computer.

Lift the front edge of the optical drive and slide it up and out of the computer.

Step 24

              Optical Drive Cable

Peel up the orange tape partially covering the orange optical drive cable.

Peel up the orange tape partially covering the orange optical drive cable.

Step 25

Disconnect the orange cable from the optical drive.

Disconnect the orange cable from the optical drive.

Step 26

              Optical Drive

Use a spudger to carefully pry the silver metal bracket off the left side of the optical drive. Be careful not to bend the bracket, as it is very thin and bends easily. If the bracket doesn’t come free easily, heating the adhesive may make prying the bracket off easier.

Use a spudger to carefully pry the silver metal bracket off the left side of the optical drive. Be careful not to bend the bracket, as it is very thin and bends easily. If the bracket doesn’t come free easily, heating the adhesive may make prying the bracket off easier.

Step 27

Peel up the L-shaped piece of black tape from the top of the drive.
You’ll want to reapply this tape in the same position on your replacement drive.

Peel up the L-shaped piece of black tape from the top of the drive.

You’ll want to reapply this tape in the same position on your replacement drive.

Step 28

Peel up the silver foil tape from the optical drive.
You’ll want to reapply this tape in the same position on your replacement drive.

Peel up the silver foil tape from the optical drive.

Step 29

Remove the two Phillips screws securing the mounting bracket to the right side of the optical drive.
This bracket is designed to slide back and forth slightly, so don’t tighten the screws so much that the bracket is unable to slide.

Remove the two Phillips screws securing the mounting bracket to the right side of the optical drive.

This bracket is designed to slide back and forth slightly, so don’t tighten the screws so much that the bracket is unable to slide.

Step 30

Use a spudger to pry the gray Bluetooth antenna holder off the top of the optical drive.
You’ll want to reapply this piece in the same position on your replacement drive.
If you have a CD or any other object jammed in your optical drive, we have an optical drive repair guide.

Use a spudger to pry the gray Bluetooth antenna holder off the top of the optical drive.

You’ll want to reapply this piece in the same position on your replacement drive.

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

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

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                    iRobot

Member since: 09/24/2009

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HappyPappy - Oct 4, 2009

Dude, I’ve done a little work on PCs but not on Macs. This optical drive swap-out was my first time. Super KUDOS to the folks who contributed to this guide (including the helpful notes on practically every page) and the terrific pictures…!!!! I did it in under two hours - without a hitch. THANK YOU…!!!

I almost forgot. I got this SuperDrive on eBay - Item:MacBook Pro DVD±RW Superdrive Burner GWA-4080MA - $59.99. That’s the one I just installed; from a place called “power_optical”. What a deal…!

franK - Nov 5, 2009

i have a macbook pro 17“ bought at 2007 and its dvd burner doesn´t work anymore… this you bought does work with mine?

thank you

roeiboot - Apr 26, 2010

this guide is awesome and made the swap of the defective DVD player a breeze..

thanks for posting.

Introduction#

What you need#

Video Overview#

Introduction

What you need

Video Overview