Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

13

Time Required

Suggest a time??

Sections

4

  • Lower Case
  • 2 steps
  • Battery
  • 4 steps
  • Hard Drive
  • 4 steps
  • Hard Drive/IR Sensor Cable
  • 3 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

              Hard Drive
  • Remove two Phillips screws securing the hard drive bracket to the upper case.
  • These screws are captive to the hard drive bracket.

Remove two Phillips screws securing the hard drive bracket to the upper case.

These screws are captive to the hard drive bracket.

Step 8

  • Lift the the retaining bracket out of the upper case.

Lift the the retaining bracket out of the upper case.

Step 9

  • Lift the hard drive by its pull tab and pull it out of the chassis, minding the cable attaching it to the computer.

Lift the hard drive by its pull tab and pull it out of the chassis, minding the cable attaching it to the computer.

Step 10

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

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

Step 11

              Hard Drive/IR Sensor Cable
  • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the hard drive cable connector up off the logic board.

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

Step 12

  • Remove the following four screws securing the hard drive and IR sensor cable to the upper case:
  • Two 1.5 mm Phillips screws.
  • Two 4 mm Phillips screws.

Remove the following four screws securing the hard drive and IR sensor cable to the upper case:

Two 1.5 mm Phillips screws.

Two 4 mm Phillips screws.

Step 13

  • Slide the hard drive and IR sensor bracket away from the edge of the upper case.
  • Carefully peel the hard drive and IR sensor cable from the upper case.
  • Lift the hard drive and IR sensor assembly out of the upper case.

Slide the hard drive and IR sensor bracket away from the edge of the upper case.

Carefully peel the hard drive and IR sensor cable from the upper case.

Lift the hard drive and IR sensor assembly out of the upper case.

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

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                    Walter Galan

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auronil - Jan 14, 2014

Reply

I followed with success this guide to fix my computer, thanks to an ifixit spare part ! Unfortunately I found very difficult to plug the hard drive IR cable to the IR sensor itself : for now it remained unplugged. Any tips regarding this point ? Thanks again.