Macbook Pro 13 Unibody Mid 2010 Optical Drive Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          20 minutes - 1 hour

Sections

Lower Case
2 steps
Battery
1 step
Optical Drive
8 steps
Optical Drive
2 steps

Flags

BackMacBook Pro 13" Unibody Mid 2010
Full Screen
Options
History
Save to Favorites
Download PDF
Edit
Translate
Get Shareable Link
Embed This Guide
Notify Me of Changes
Stop Notifications

Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Remove the lower case screws

Remove the following 10 screws securing the lower case to the MacBook Pro 13" Unibody:
Seven 3 mm Phillips screws.
Three 13.5 mm Phillips screws.

Remove the following 10 screws securing the lower case to the MacBook Pro 13" Unibody:

Seven 3 mm Phillips screws.

Three 13.5 mm Phillips screws.

1024

Step 2

              Lift the lower case away

Slightly lift the lower case and push it toward the rear of the computer to free the mounting tabs.

Slightly lift the lower case and push it toward the rear of the computer to free the mounting tabs.

Step 3

              Battery

For precautionary purposes, we advise that you disconnect the battery connector from the logic board to avoid any electrical discharge.
Use the flat end of a spudger to lift the battery connector up out of its socket on the logic board.

For precautionary purposes, we advise that you disconnect the battery connector from the logic board to avoid any electrical discharge.

Use the flat end of a spudger to lift the battery connector up out of its socket on the logic board.

Step 4

              Optical Drive

For precautionary purposes, we advise that you disconnect the subwoofer connector from the logic board to avoid any electrical discharge. This step is optional and is not required.
Remove the soft padding that may be on top and gently pull the connector up out of its socket on the logic board.

For precautionary purposes, we advise that you disconnect the subwoofer connector from the logic board to avoid any electrical discharge. This step is optional and is not required.

Remove the soft padding that may be on top and gently pull the connector up out of its socket on the logic board.

Step 5

It will be necessary to slide the small clear plastic cable retainer (boxed in red) glued to the logic board out of the way before disconnecting the camera cable. Be careful not to break any components off the board as you slide it away from the camera cable connector.
Pull the camera cable connector toward the optical drive to disconnect it from the logic board.
This socket is metal and can be easily bent. Be sure to align the connector with its socket on the logic board before mating the two pieces.

It will be necessary to slide the small clear plastic cable retainer (boxed in red) glued to the logic board out of the way before disconnecting the camera cable. Be careful not to break any components off the board as you slide it away from the camera cable connector.

Pull the camera cable connector toward the optical drive to disconnect it from the logic board.

This socket is metal and can be easily bent. Be sure to align the connector with its socket on the logic board before mating the two pieces.

Step 6

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the optical drive connector straight up off the logic board.

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the optical drive connector straight up off the logic board.

Step 7

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the hard drive connector straight up off the logic board.

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the hard drive connector straight up off the logic board.

Step 8

Remove the following screws securing the subwoofer to the upper case:
One 3.8 mm Phillips screw
One 5 mm Phillips screw

Remove the following screws securing the subwoofer to the upper case:

One 3.8 mm Phillips screw

One 5 mm Phillips screw

Step 9

The subwoofer is still connected to the right speaker, so don’t completely remove it just yet.
Lift the subwoofer off the optical drive, and set it above the computer.

The subwoofer is still connected to the right speaker, so don’t completely remove it just yet.

Lift the subwoofer off the optical drive, and set it above the computer.

Step 10

Remove the two 10 mm Phillips screws securing the camera cable bracket to the upper case.
The leftmost screw may remain captive in the camera cable.
Lift the camera cable bracket out of the upper case.

Remove the two 10 mm Phillips screws securing the camera cable bracket to the upper case.

The leftmost screw may remain captive in the camera cable.

Lift the camera cable bracket out of the upper case.

Step 11

Remove the three 2.5 mm Phillips screws securing the optical drive to the upper case.
Lift the optical drive from its right edge and pull it out of the computer.

Remove the three 2.5 mm Phillips screws securing the optical drive to the upper case.

Lift the optical drive from its right edge and pull it out of the computer.

Step 12

              Optical Drive

Remove the optical drive cable by pulling it straight away from the optical drive.
This connector is particularly deep, so be sure to pull away from the drive at the center of the connector.
If you have a CD or any other object jammed in your optical drive, we have an optical drive repair guide.

Remove the optical drive cable by pulling it straight away from the optical drive.

This connector is particularly deep, so be sure to pull away from the drive at the center of the connector.

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

Step 13

Remove the two black Phillips #0 screws securing the small metal mounting bracket. Transfer this bracket to your new optical drive or hard drive enclosure.

Remove the two black Phillips #0 screws securing the small metal mounting bracket. Transfer this bracket to your new optical drive or hard drive enclosure.

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

Cancel: I did not complete this guide.

                                                                                      78 other people completed this guide.

Author

                                      with 6 other contributors

                    Walter Galan

682,038 Reputation

                                      1,203 Guides authored                  



                       Badges:
                       54







                                                        +51 more badges

T Buckle - Feb 2, 2011

I removed my optical drive without disconnecting the hard drive or anything else. I just unplugged the optical drive from the board, unscrewed the speaker, and very slowly removed the drive after taking out the three screws holding it in place. I was discouraged at first to remove my optical drive because it looked a little too tricky for me from the directions, but it was actually quite easy! I’m going to be interested to see if pulling the optical drive results in any noticeable improvement in battery performance on my 13" 2.4GHz MBP! I doubt it haha

Ary Safian - Aug 6, 2016

I skipped down to the step with 3 screws holding the optical drive, removed them, gently pried out the optical cable, and slid out the optical drive (at a slight 10 degree angle)!! Thank you!

Introduction#

What you need#

Introduction

What you need