Macbook Pro 15 Unibody Late 2008 And Early 2009 Hard Drive Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Easy

Steps

7

Time Required

Suggest a time??

Sections

4

• Access Door
• 2 steps
• Battery
• 1 step
• Hard Drive
• 3 steps
• Hard Drive
• 1 step

Flags

0

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Access Door               

• With the case closed, place the Unibody top-side down on a flat surface.
• Depress the grooved side of the access door release latch enough to grab the free end. Lift the release latch until it is vertical.

With the case closed, place the Unibody top-side down on a flat surface.

Depress the grooved side of the access door release latch enough to grab the free end. Lift the release latch until it is vertical.

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Step 2

• The access door should now be raised enough to lift it up and out of the Unibody.

The access door should now be raised enough to lift it up and out of the Unibody.

Step 3

              Battery               

• Be sure the access door release latch is vertical before proceeding.
• Grab the translucent plastic tab and pull the battery up and out of the Unibody.
• If the latch is depressed it will lock the battery in place.

Be sure the access door release latch is vertical before proceeding.

Grab the translucent plastic tab and pull the battery up and out of the Unibody.

If the latch is depressed it will lock the battery in place.

Step 4

              Hard Drive               

• Remove the single Phillips screw securing the hard drive bracket to the upper case.
• This screw is captive to the hard drive bracket.

Remove the single Phillips screw securing the hard drive bracket to the upper case.

This screw is captive to the hard drive bracket.

Step 5

• Lift the hard drive by its pull tab enough to grab and remove the retaining bracket.
• Lift the hard drive out of the upper case, minding the cable attaching it to the computer.

Lift the hard drive by its pull tab enough to grab and remove the retaining bracket.

Lift the hard drive out of the upper case, minding the cable attaching it to the computer.

Step 6

• Remove the hard drive from its cable by pulling the cable connector straight away from the drive.

Remove the hard drive from its cable by pulling the cable connector straight away from the drive.

Step 7

              Hard Drive               

• Remove two T6 Torx screws from each side of the hard drive (four screws total).
• You’ll need to transfer these screws to your new hard drive if you’re changing drives.
• If you are installing a new hard drive, we have an OS X install guide to get you up and running.

Remove two T6 Torx screws from each side of the hard drive (four screws total).

You’ll need to transfer these screws to your new hard drive if you’re changing drives.

If you are installing a new hard drive, we have an OS X install guide to get you up and running.

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

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Author

                                      with 9 other contributors 

                    Walter Galan                     

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svelcme - May 26, 2012

Reply

At step 7, the side screws are very tight. Both T6 Torx and 1.5 Hex keys dont work for me. I fear the screws could get damaged if i try more. How do i unscrew them?

Kevin Gordon - Mar 2, 2015

What was your solution to removing the screws? I am having the same isse.

Carlos - Dec 2, 2012

Reply

Perfect instructions. I am now running a Crucial SSD drive and the improvement is amazing. Thanks.

George Konstantakis - Apr 12, 2016

Reply

Hello

Sandisk X400 SSD proposed for this macbook works in 3gb/s?

There is a known limitation of nvidia chipset with ssd’s who appear to work as sataI instead of sataii.

Thank you

George Konstantakis - Apr 18, 2016

Any news regarding this?