Difficulty

Difficult

Steps

34

Time Required

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Sections

4

  • Lower Case
  • 2 steps
  • Battery
  • 4 steps
  • Display
  • 14 steps
  • Front Bezel
  • 14 steps

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  • BackMacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2010

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Lower Case
  • Remove the following ten screws securing the lower case to the upper case:
  • Three 13.5 mm (14.1 mm) Phillips screws.
  • Seven 3 mm Phillips screws.
  • When removing these screws, note how they come out at a slight angle. They must be reinstalled the same way.

Remove the following ten screws securing the lower case to the upper case:

Three 13.5 mm (14.1 mm) Phillips screws.

Seven 3 mm Phillips screws.

When removing these screws, note how they come out at a slight angle. They must be reinstalled the same way.

1024

Step 2

  • Using both hands, lift the lower case near the vent to pop it off two clips securing it to the upper case.
  • Remove the lower case and set it aside.

Using both hands, lift the lower case near the vent to pop it off two clips securing it to the upper case.

Remove the lower case and set it aside.

Step 3

              Battery
  • Remove the two 7.4 mm Tri-point screws securing the battery to the upper case.
  • Note: For certain repairs (e.g. hard drive), removing the battery is not necessary but it prevents any accidental shorting of electronics on the motherboard. If you do not remove the battery, please be careful as parts of the motherboard might be electrified.
  • You do not necessarily have to follow steps 3-6 to remove the battery in order to replace the hard drive. However it is recommended to remove all power sources from electronics before working on them.

Remove the two 7.4 mm Tri-point screws securing the battery to the upper case.

Note: For certain repairs (e.g. hard drive), removing the battery is not necessary but it prevents any accidental shorting of electronics on the motherboard. If you do not remove the battery, please be careful as parts of the motherboard might be electrified.

You do not necessarily have to follow steps 3-6 to remove the battery in order to replace the hard drive. However it is recommended to remove all power sources from electronics before working on them.

Step 4

  • Use the tip of your finger to carefully peel back the corner of the warning label to reveal a hidden Tri-point screw.
  • Remove the last 7.4 mm Tri-point screw securing the battery to the upper case.

Use the tip of your finger to carefully peel back the corner of the warning label to reveal a hidden Tri-point screw.

Remove the last 7.4 mm Tri-point screw securing the battery to the upper case.

Step 5

  • Lift the battery by its plastic pull tab and slide it away from the long edge of the upper case.
  • Do not try to completely remove the battery just yet.

Lift the battery by its plastic pull tab and slide it away from the long edge of the upper case.

Do not try to completely remove the battery just yet.

Step 6

  • Tilt the battery away from the logic board enough to access the battery cable connector.
  • Pull the battery cable connector away from its socket on the logic board and remove the battery from the upper case.
  • Pull the battery cable connector away from the center of the logic board.
  • If you’re installing a new battery, you should calibrate it after installation:
  • Charge it to 100%, and then keep charging it for at least 2 more hours. Next, unplug and use it normally to drain the battery. When you see the low battery warning, save your work, and keep your laptop on until it goes to sleep due to low battery. Wait at least 5 hours, then charge your laptop uninterrupted to 100%.
  • If you notice any unusual behavior or problems after installing your new battery, you may need to reset your MacBook’s SMC.

Tilt the battery away from the logic board enough to access the battery cable connector.

Pull the battery cable connector away from its socket on the logic board and remove the battery from the upper case.

Pull the battery cable connector away from the center of the logic board.

If you’re installing a new battery, you should calibrate it after installation:

Charge it to 100%, and then keep charging it for at least 2 more hours. Next, unplug and use it normally to drain the battery. When you see the low battery warning, save your work, and keep your laptop on until it goes to sleep due to low battery. Wait at least 5 hours, then charge your laptop uninterrupted to 100%.

If you notice any unusual behavior or problems after installing your new battery, you may need to reset your MacBook’s SMC.

Step 7

              Display
  • Use the flat end of a spudger to carefully pry the AirPort/Bluetooth ribbon cable up off its socket on the logic board.

Use the flat end of a spudger to carefully pry the AirPort/Bluetooth ribbon cable up off its socket on the logic board.

Step 8

  • Pull the camera cable connector straight out of its socket on the logic board.
  • Pull the cable parallel to the face of the logic board toward the optical drive opening.

Pull the camera cable connector straight out of its socket on the logic board.

Pull the cable parallel to the face of the logic board toward the optical drive opening.

Step 9

  • Use the tip of a spudger to pry the three antenna connectors up off the AirPort/Bluetooth board.

Use the tip of a spudger to pry the three antenna connectors up off the AirPort/Bluetooth board.

Step 10

  • De-route all three antenna cables from their channels in the AirPort/Bluetooth housing.
  • De-route the camera cable from its channel in the AirPort/Bluetooth housing.

De-route all three antenna cables from their channels in the AirPort/Bluetooth housing.

De-route the camera cable from its channel in the AirPort/Bluetooth housing.

Step 11

  • Remove the following two screws securing the AirPort/Bluetooth housing to the upper case:
  • One 3.8 mm Phillips
  • One 8.6 mm Phillips

Remove the following two screws securing the AirPort/Bluetooth housing to the upper case:

One 3.8 mm Phillips

One 8.6 mm Phillips

Step 12

  • Remove the AirPort/Bluetooth assembly from the upper case, minding any cables that may get caught.

Remove the AirPort/Bluetooth assembly from the upper case, minding any cables that may get caught.

Step 13

  • Remove the 8.6 mm Phillips screw securing the antenna/camera cable retainer to the upper case.
  • Remove the antenna/camera cable retainer from the upper case.

Remove the 8.6 mm Phillips screw securing the antenna/camera cable retainer to the upper case.

Remove the antenna/camera cable retainer from the upper case.

Step 14

  • Remove two of the three 6 mm T6 Torx screws securing the right side of the display to the upper case.
  • We purposely have you leave one screw attaching the display to the upper case to aid in future steps.

Remove two of the three 6 mm T6 Torx screws securing the right side of the display to the upper case.

We purposely have you leave one screw attaching the display to the upper case to aid in future steps.

Step 15

  • Grab the plastic pull tab secured to the display data cable lock and rotate it toward the DC-In side of the computer.
  • Pull the display data cable straight out of its socket on the logic board.
  • Do not lift up on the display data cable, as its socket is very fragile. Pull the cable parallel to the face of the logic board.

Grab the plastic pull tab secured to the display data cable lock and rotate it toward the DC-In side of the computer.

Pull the display data cable straight out of its socket on the logic board.

Do not lift up on the display data cable, as its socket is very fragile. Pull the cable parallel to the face of the logic board.

Step 16

  • Remove the 8.6 mm Phillips screw securing the display data cable retainer to the upper case.
  • Remove the display data cable retainer from the upper case.

Remove the 8.6 mm Phillips screw securing the display data cable retainer to the upper case.

Remove the display data cable retainer from the upper case.

Step 17

  • Remove two of the three 6 mm T6 Torx screws securing the left side of the display to the upper case.
  • We purposely have you leave one screw attaching the display to the upper case to aid in future steps.

Remove two of the three 6 mm T6 Torx screws securing the left side of the display to the upper case.

Step 18

  • Open your MacBook Pro so the display is perpendicular to the upper case.
  • Place your opened MacBook Pro on a table as pictured.
  • While holding the display and upper case together with your left hand, remove the remaining T6 Torx screw from the upper display bracket.

Open your MacBook Pro so the display is perpendicular to the upper case.

Place your opened MacBook Pro on a table as pictured.

While holding the display and upper case together with your left hand, remove the remaining T6 Torx screw from the upper display bracket.

Step 19

  • Be sure to hold the display and upper case together with your left hand. Failure to do so may cause the freed display/upper case to fall, potentially damaging each component.
  • Remove the last remaining T6 Torx screw securing the display to the upper case.

Be sure to hold the display and upper case together with your left hand. Failure to do so may cause the freed display/upper case to fall, potentially damaging each component.

Remove the last remaining T6 Torx screw securing the display to the upper case.

Step 20

  • Grab the upper case with your right hand and rotate it slightly toward the top of the display so the upper display bracket clears the edge of the upper case.
  • Rotate the display slightly away from the upper case.
  • Lift the display up and away from the upper case, minding any brackets or cables that may get caught.

Grab the upper case with your right hand and rotate it slightly toward the top of the display so the upper display bracket clears the edge of the upper case.

Rotate the display slightly away from the upper case.

Lift the display up and away from the upper case, minding any brackets or cables that may get caught.

Step 21

              Front Bezel
  • It’s very easy for the rubber display gasket to deform when exposed to heat, so it is best to remove it before using a heat gun to remove the display glass.
  • Insert the tip of a spudger underneath the black rubber gasket at the bottom right corner of the display assembly.
  • Gently pry the wide edge of the gasket up from the back case.

It’s very easy for the rubber display gasket to deform when exposed to heat, so it is best to remove it before using a heat gun to remove the display glass.

Insert the tip of a spudger underneath the black rubber gasket at the bottom right corner of the display assembly.

Gently pry the wide edge of the gasket up from the back case.

Step 22

  • Starting with the freed corner, pull the rubber gasket off the right side of the display assembly.

Starting with the freed corner, pull the rubber gasket off the right side of the display assembly.

Step 23

  • Continue pulling the display gasket off the display assembly across the top edge.

Continue pulling the display gasket off the display assembly across the top edge.

Step 24

  • Continue pulling the display gasket off the display assembly down the left side.
  • Pull the gasket off the bottom edge of the display to completely free it and set it aside.

Continue pulling the display gasket off the display assembly down the left side.

Pull the gasket off the bottom edge of the display to completely free it and set it aside.

Step 25

  • In the following steps, you will use a heat gun to soften the adhesive securing the outer silver border around the underside of the front panel to the display.
  • With the heat gun set to low, start by heating the metal bezel surrounding the LCD.
  • When using the heat gun, the goal is to soften a layer of adhesive holding the bezel to the display assembly. Be very careful not to overheat the LCD, as it could cause permanent damage.

In the following steps, you will use a heat gun to soften the adhesive securing the outer silver border around the underside of the front panel to the display.

With the heat gun set to low, start by heating the metal bezel surrounding the LCD.

When using the heat gun, the goal is to soften a layer of adhesive holding the bezel to the display assembly. Be very careful not to overheat the LCD, as it could cause permanent damage.

Step 26

  • Carefully insert a guitar pick between the top right corner of the bezel and the display assembly.
  • Use the guitar pick to gently pry up the adhesive along the top edge securing the bezel to the display assembly.
  • The bezel is very thin metal, so be very careful not to crease it as you pry it up.

Carefully insert a guitar pick between the top right corner of the bezel and the display assembly.

Use the guitar pick to gently pry up the adhesive along the top edge securing the bezel to the display assembly.

The bezel is very thin metal, so be very careful not to crease it as you pry it up.

Step 27

  • If necessary, use a heat gun to reapply heat along the top right edge to loosen the adhesive securing the bezel to the display assembly.
  • Work along the top right edge of the display assembly, carefully prying the adhesive up with the guitar pick. Stop when you get to the iSight camera.
  • Do not pry near the iSight camera—there is no adhesive immediately surrounding it, and you could damage the camera with the guitar pick.

If necessary, use a heat gun to reapply heat along the top right edge to loosen the adhesive securing the bezel to the display assembly.

Work along the top right edge of the display assembly, carefully prying the adhesive up with the guitar pick. Stop when you get to the iSight camera.

Do not pry near the iSight camera—there is no adhesive immediately surrounding it, and you could damage the camera with the guitar pick.

Step 28

  • Use a heat gun to soften the adhesive under the bezel along the left and top left edges of the display.

Use a heat gun to soften the adhesive under the bezel along the left and top left edges of the display.

Step 29

  • Carefully insert a guitar pick between the top left corner of the bezel and the display assembly.
  • Use the guitar pick to gently pry up the adhesive along the left edge securing the bezel to the display assembly.

Carefully insert a guitar pick between the top left corner of the bezel and the display assembly.

Use the guitar pick to gently pry up the adhesive along the left edge securing the bezel to the display assembly.

Step 30

  • Repeat the procedures in the two previous steps for the right edge of the display.

Repeat the procedures in the two previous steps for the right edge of the display.

Step 31

  • Work along the top left edge of the display assembly, carefully prying the adhesive up with the guitar pick. Stop when you get to the iSight camera.
  • Do not pry near the iSight camera—there is no adhesive immediately surrounding it, and you could damage the camera with the guitar pick.

Work along the top left edge of the display assembly, carefully prying the adhesive up with the guitar pick. Stop when you get to the iSight camera.

Step 32

  • Wedge a guitar pick in between the bezel and display assembly near the inner bottom left corner.
  • Work along the inner bottom left edge of the display assembly, carefully prying the adhesive up with the guitar pick.
  • Continue prying along the inner bottom edge to release the adhesive securing the bezel to the display assembly.

Wedge a guitar pick in between the bezel and display assembly near the inner bottom left corner.

Work along the inner bottom left edge of the display assembly, carefully prying the adhesive up with the guitar pick.

Continue prying along the inner bottom edge to release the adhesive securing the bezel to the display assembly.

Step 33

  • Use a guitar pick to gently lift the bottom right corner of the bezel.

Use a guitar pick to gently lift the bottom right corner of the bezel.

Step 34

  • Slowly lift the bottom edge of the bezel and gently rotate it out of the display.

Slowly lift the bottom edge of the bezel and gently rotate it out of the display.

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

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                    Walter Galan

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