Macbook Pro 15 Core 2 Duo Model A1211 Upper Case Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          1 hour

Sections

Battery
1 step
RAM Shield
2 steps
Upper Case
7 steps
Upper Case
21 steps

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BackMacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Model A1211
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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Battery

Use your fingers to push both battery release tabs away from the battery, and lift the battery out of the computer.

Use your fingers to push both battery release tabs away from the battery, and lift the battery out of the computer.

1024

Step 2

              RAM Shield

Remove the three identical Phillips screws from the memory door.

Remove the three identical Phillips screws from the memory door.

Step 3

Lift the memory door up enough to get a grip on it, and slide it toward you, pulling it away from the casing.

Lift the memory door up enough to get a grip on it, and slide it toward you, pulling it away from the casing.

Step 4

              Upper Case

Remove the two 2.8 mm Phillips screws in the battery compartment near the latch.

Remove the two 2.8 mm Phillips screws in the battery compartment near the latch.

Step 5

Remove the following 6 screws:
Two 10 mm T6 Torx screws on either side of the RAM slot.
Four 14.5 mm Phillips screws along the hinge.

Remove the following 6 screws:

Two 10 mm T6 Torx screws on either side of the RAM slot.

Four 14.5 mm Phillips screws along the hinge.

Step 6

Remove the four 3.2 mm Phillips screws on the port side of the computer.

Remove the four 3.2 mm Phillips screws on the port side of the computer.

Step 7

Rotate the computer 90 degrees and remove the two 3.2 mm Phillips screws from the rear of the computer.

Rotate the computer 90 degrees and remove the two 3.2 mm Phillips screws from the rear of the computer.

Step 8

Rotate the computer 90 degrees again and remove the four 3.2 mm Phillips screws from the side of the computer.

Rotate the computer 90 degrees again and remove the four 3.2 mm Phillips screws from the side of the computer.

Step 9

Do not yank the upper case off quickly. The case is attached to the logic board via a ribbon cable.
Lift up at the rear 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 (there are some hidden plastic clips that need to be clicked off).

Do not yank the upper case off quickly. The case is attached to the logic board via a ribbon cable.

Lift up at the rear 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 (there are some hidden plastic clips that need to be clicked off).

Step 10

Disconnect the trackpad and keyboard ribbon cable from the logic board, removing tape as necessary.
Remove the upper case.

Disconnect the trackpad and keyboard ribbon cable from the logic board, removing tape as necessary.

Remove the upper case.

Step 11

              Upper Case

Use a spudger to pry up the translucent plastic sheath covering the keyboard connector.

Use a spudger to pry up the translucent plastic sheath covering the keyboard connector.

Step 12

Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the black plastic flaps locking down the keyboard and keyboard backlight ribbon cables.

Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the black plastic flaps locking down the keyboard and keyboard backlight ribbon cables.

Step 13

Slide the orange keyboard backlight ribbon out of its connector.

Slide the orange keyboard backlight ribbon out of its connector.

Step 14

Peel up the orange tape covering the keyboard backlight connector.

Peel up the orange tape covering the keyboard backlight connector.

Step 15

Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the brown plastic flap locking down the keyboard backlight ribbon cable.

Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the brown plastic flap locking down the keyboard backlight ribbon cable.

Step 16

Use a spudger or your finger to slide the keyboard backlight ribbon out of its connector.

Use a spudger or your finger to slide the keyboard backlight ribbon out of its connector.

Step 17

Carefully peel up the orange ribbon cable which carries the power and sleep signals, removing tape as necessary.

Carefully peel up the orange ribbon cable which carries the power and sleep signals, removing tape as necessary.

Step 18

Peel back the black protective sheath on the right side of the upper case. It is not necessary to fully remove this shield. Simply peel it back enough to access the screws beneath.

Peel back the black protective sheath on the right side of the upper case. It is not necessary to fully remove this shield. Simply peel it back enough to access the screws beneath.

Step 19

Peel back the black protective sheath on the left side of the upper case. It is not necessary to fully remove this shield. Simply peel it back enough to access the screws beneath.

Peel back the black protective sheath on the left side of the upper case. It is not necessary to fully remove this shield. Simply peel it back enough to access the screws beneath.

Step 20

Remove the ten identical Phillips screws attaching the keyboard to the casing.

Remove the ten identical Phillips screws attaching the keyboard to the casing.

Step 21

There are four locking tabs along the back edge of the keyboard holding it in place. These tabs must be straightened before you can remove the keyboard.

There are four locking tabs along the back edge of the keyboard holding it in place. These tabs must be straightened before you can remove the keyboard.

Step 22

The first frame shows a tab in the “locked” position and the second frame shows the same tab in the “unlocked” position.
Use needlenose pliers or a spudger to bend each of the four tabs so that they are all in the “unlocked” position.

The first frame shows a tab in the “locked” position and the second frame shows the same tab in the “unlocked” position.

Use needlenose pliers or a spudger to bend each of the four tabs so that they are all in the “unlocked” position.

Step 23

Slide the keyboard ribbon out of its connector.
If the keyboard ribbon won’t slide out, make sure that the black plastic flap holding the ribbon in place is vertical.

Slide the keyboard ribbon out of its connector.

If the keyboard ribbon won’t slide out, make sure that the black plastic flap holding the ribbon in place is vertical.

Step 24

Place the upper casing on its edge and use a spudger to push the keyboard away from the casing, poking the spudger through the central keyboard screw hole. Grasp the keyboard as it separates from the casing.

Place the upper casing on its edge and use a spudger to push the keyboard away from the casing, poking the spudger through the central keyboard screw hole. Grasp the keyboard as it separates from the casing.

Step 25

Maintaining your hold on the keyboard, lay the casing flat and gently bow the keyboard until the two tabs on either side of the keyboard come free.
Slide the keyboard away from the trackpad and out of the upper case.

Maintaining your hold on the keyboard, lay the casing flat and gently bow the keyboard until the two tabs on either side of the keyboard come free.

Slide the keyboard away from the trackpad and out of the upper case.

Step 26

Remove the two Phillips screws securing the black antenna holder to the upper case.
Lift the black Bluetooth antenna holder off of the upper case.

Remove the two Phillips screws securing the black antenna holder to the upper case.

Lift the black Bluetooth antenna holder off of the upper case.

Step 27

Disconnect the Bluetooth antenna cable from the Bluetooth board.

Disconnect the Bluetooth antenna cable from the Bluetooth board.

Step 28

Lift the Bluetooth antenna out of its housing in the upper case. The Bluetooth antenna is secured to the upper case with an adhesive, so rocking the antenna board from side to side may help it come free easier.

Lift the Bluetooth antenna out of its housing in the upper case. The Bluetooth antenna is secured to the upper case with an adhesive, so rocking the antenna board from side to side may help it come free easier.

Step 29

Remove the single Phillips screw securing the Bluetooth board to the lower case.

Remove the single Phillips screw securing the Bluetooth board to the lower case.

Step 30

Peel up the Bluetooth data cable from the adhesive on the upper case.

Peel up the Bluetooth data cable from the adhesive on the upper case.

Step 31

Disconnect the Bluetooth data cable from the upper case.
Lift the Bluetooth board and attached cable off the upper case.
Upper case remains.
To install your replacement upper case, install your current Bluetooth board, antenna, and keyboard into the replacement case and reassemble your computer.

Disconnect the Bluetooth data cable from the upper case.

Lift the Bluetooth board and attached cable off the upper case.

Upper case remains.

To install your replacement upper case, install your current Bluetooth board, antenna, and keyboard into the replacement case and reassemble your computer.

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

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                    iRobot

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Introduction#

What you need#

Introduction

What you need