Macbook Pro 15 Core 2 Duo Models A1226 And A1260 Optical Drive Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          30 minutes - 1 hour

Sections

Battery
1 step
RAM Shield
1 step
Upper Case
7 steps
Optical Drive
2 steps
Optical Drive
3 steps

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BackMacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo Models A1226 & A1260
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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.

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Step 2

              RAM Shield

Remove the three identical 2mm Phillips screws from the memory door.
Lift the memory door up enough to grip it and slide it toward you, pulling it away from the casing.

Remove the three identical 2mm Phillips screws from the memory door.

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

Step 3

              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 4

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 5

Remove the four 3.2 mm PH00 Phillips screws on the port side of the computer.

Remove the four 3.2 mm PH00 Phillips screws on the port side of the computer.

Step 6

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 7

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 8

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 four plastic clips above the DVD slot, and another above and to the left of the IR sensor. These clips can be very difficult to disengage without prying. They can also be difficult to re-engage during reassembly.
Reassembly Tip: Press down firmly on the tip of the top case above the location of each clip until you hear a snap to reseat them in their slots.
Reassembly Tip: The two center DVD clips will rarely snap back into place properly without help, and downward pressure will instead simply deform the frame around the DVD slot. Support the frame by inserting a plastic spudger into the DVD slot directly under the clip location until it is snug, then press down until you hear the snap.

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 four plastic clips above the DVD slot, and another above and to the left of the IR sensor. These clips can be very difficult to disengage without prying. They can also be difficult to re-engage during reassembly.

Reassembly Tip: Press down firmly on the tip of the top case above the location of each clip until you hear a snap to reseat them in their slots.

Reassembly Tip: The two center DVD clips will rarely snap back into place properly without help, and downward pressure will instead simply deform the frame around the DVD slot. Support the frame by inserting a plastic spudger into the DVD slot directly under the clip location until it is snug, then press down until you hear the snap.

Step 9

Disconnect the trackpad and keyboard ribbon cable from the logic board, removing tape as necessary.
Note: It is possible to replace the hard drive without disconnecting the keyboard from the chassis, but it will need to be held upright to keep it out of the way, while still allowing you both hands to work on the drive removal.
Be careful when removing the keyboard-trackpad ribbon cable to ensure that the rear of the upper case is disengaged from the area near the hinge. It is easy to accidentally bend the screw receivers on either side of the keyboard.
Remove the upper case.

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

Note: It is possible to replace the hard drive without disconnecting the keyboard from the chassis, but it will need to be held upright to keep it out of the way, while still allowing you both hands to work on the drive removal.

Be careful when removing the keyboard-trackpad ribbon cable to ensure that the rear of the upper case is disengaged from the area near the hinge. It is easy to accidentally bend the screw receivers on either side of the keyboard.

Remove the upper case.

Step 10

              Optical Drive

Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the orange SuperDrive ribbon cable from the logic board, removing tape as necessary.

Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the orange SuperDrive ribbon cable from the logic board, removing tape as necessary.

Step 11

Remove the following 4 screws:
Two 3.3 mm silver Phillips screws on either side of the SuperDrive.
One 4.7 mm silver T6 Torx screw from the top left corner of the drive.
One 6.2 mm black Phillips screw at the top right corner of the drive.
Lift the optical drive up and out of the computer.

Remove the following 4 screws:

Two 3.3 mm silver Phillips screws on either side of the SuperDrive.

One 4.7 mm silver T6 Torx screw from the top left corner of the drive.

One 6.2 mm black Phillips screw at the top right corner of the drive.

Lift the optical drive up and out of the computer.

Step 12

              Optical Drive

If your new optical drive already has brackets on it, you’ll only need to transfer the data cable to your new drive. Skip the bracket removal steps below.
Remove the two silver Phillips screws securing the mounting bracket to the left side of the optical drive.
Rotate the drive and disconnect the orange ribbon cable from the optical drive.

If your new optical drive already has brackets on it, you’ll only need to transfer the data cable to your new drive. Skip the bracket removal steps below.

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

Rotate the drive and disconnect the orange ribbon cable from the optical drive.

Step 13

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

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

Step 14

Rotate the drive and remove the two Phillips screws securing the mounting bracket to the right side of the optical drive.
If you have a CD or any other object jammed in your optical drive, we have an optical drive repair guide.

Rotate the drive and remove the two Phillips screws securing the mounting bracket to the right side of the optical 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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                    Walter Galan

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capone99 - Mar 31, 2013

In step 5 suggestion, muffin pan for parts, I used 500Ml (1 cup) yogurt containers, about 10 of them and numbered each one with the corresponding dis-assembly/re-assembly step, and my replacement of the CD RW-DVD-Rom to a DVD R-RW DL/CD RW drive in my Macbook went without a hitch. It took me about 2 hours, with breaks, and I also used a Magnifier Lamp along with approved, magnetic tip screwdriver bits, which made the whole thing a lot easier.

Introduction#

What you need#

Introduction

What you need