Macbook Unibody Model A1278 Hard Drive Bracket With Sleep Sensor Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          30 minutes - 1 hour

Sections

Access Door
2 steps
Battery
1 step
Lower Case
2 steps
Optical Drive
8 steps
Hard Drive Cable
7 steps
Hard Drive Bracket with Sleep Sensor
7 steps

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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 white plastic tab and pull the battery up and out of the Unibody.

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

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

Step 4

              Lower Case

Remove the following eight screws securing the lower case to the chassis:
One 3 mm Phillips screw.
Three 13.5 mm Phillips screws.
Four 3.5 mm Phillips screws.

Remove the following eight screws securing the lower case to the chassis:

One 3 mm Phillips screw.

Three 13.5 mm Phillips screws.

Four 3.5 mm Phillips screws.

Step 5

Using both hands, lift and remove the lower case off the upper case.

Using both hands, lift and remove the lower case off the upper case.

Step 6

              Optical Drive

Using the flat end of a spudger, pry the subwoofer connector straight up off the logic board.
On some models, the subwoofer connector is soldered to the logic board and will break if you pry it off. If you need to replace the speaker/subwoofer, you can pull back the foam padding on the connector and remove the red and black wires to disconnect. You will need to reinsert the wires from the new speaker to reconnect.
If you are only removing the optical drive and not replacing the speaker/subwoofer, you do not need to disconnect this connector.

Using the flat end of a spudger, pry the subwoofer connector straight up off the logic board.

On some models, the subwoofer connector is soldered to the logic board and will break if you pry it off. If you need to replace the speaker/subwoofer, you can pull back the foam padding on the connector and remove the red and black wires to disconnect. You will need to reinsert the wires from the new speaker to reconnect.

If you are only removing the optical drive and not replacing the speaker/subwoofer, you do not need to disconnect this connector.

Step 7

Disconnect the camera cable by pulling the male end straight away from its socket.

Disconnect the camera cable by pulling the male end straight away from its socket.

Step 8

Use a spudger to pry the optical drive connector straight up off the logic board.

Use a spudger to pry the optical drive connector straight up off the logic board.

Step 9

Remove the two Phillips screws securing the subwoofer to the upper case.
The longer of the two screws is on the right.

Remove the two Phillips screws securing the subwoofer to the upper case.

The longer of the two screws is on the right.

Step 10

The subwoofer is still connected to the right speaker, so don’t completely remove it just yet.
Lift the subwoofer off the optical drive, and set it above the computer.

The subwoofer is still connected to the right speaker, so don’t completely remove it just yet.

Lift the subwoofer off the optical drive, and set it above the computer.

Step 11

Remove the two Phillips screws securing the camera cable bracket to the upper case.
The leftmost screw may remain captive in the camera cable.

Remove the two Phillips screws securing the camera cable bracket to the upper case.

The leftmost screw may remain captive in the camera cable.

Step 12

Remove the three 2.5 mm Phillips screws securing the optical drive to the upper case.

Remove the three 2.5 mm Phillips screws securing the optical drive to the upper case.

Step 13

Lift the optical drive from its right edge and pull it out of the computer.
The hard drive cable may become disconnected from the logic board when removing the optical drive. Ensure it is connected during reassembly.

Lift the optical drive from its right edge and pull it out of the computer.

The hard drive cable may become disconnected from the logic board when removing the optical drive. Ensure it is connected during reassembly.

Step 14

              Hard Drive Cable

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

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

This screw is captive in the hard drive bracket.

Step 15

Lift the hard drive by its plastic pull tab and remove the freed hard drive bracket.

Lift the hard drive by its plastic pull tab and remove the freed hard drive bracket.

Step 16

Lift the hard drive out of its supports and disconnect the SATA cable by pulling the connector straight away from the hard drive.

Lift the hard drive out of its supports and disconnect the SATA cable by pulling the connector straight away from the hard drive.

Step 17

Remove the four 10.3 mm Phillips screws securing the mid wall to the upper case.

Remove the four 10.3 mm Phillips screws securing the mid wall to the upper case.

Step 18

Lift the mid wall out of the upper case.

Lift the mid wall out of the upper case.

Step 19

Use a spudger to pry the hard drive cable connector straight up off the logic board.

Use a spudger to pry the hard drive cable connector straight up off the logic board.

Step 20

Peel the hard drive cable from the adhesive securing it to the upper case, and maneuver the plastic retaining block out of the upper case.
During reassembly, be sure the two pins on top of the plastic retaining block mate to the holes on the underside of the midwall.

Peel the hard drive cable from the adhesive securing it to the upper case, and maneuver the plastic retaining block out of the upper case.

During reassembly, be sure the two pins on top of the plastic retaining block mate to the holes on the underside of the midwall.

Step 21

              Hard Drive Bracket with Sleep Sensor

Use the pointed end of a spudger to flip the lock on the ZIF connector.

Use the pointed end of a spudger to flip the lock on the ZIF connector.

Step 22

Pull the hard drive bracket cable out of its socket.

Pull the hard drive bracket cable out of its socket.

Step 23

Peel the connector side of the sleep sensor cable up from the adhesive securing it to the upper case.
Be especially careful peeling the folded section of the cable, as this is area will be more easily damaged.

Peel the connector side of the sleep sensor cable up from the adhesive securing it to the upper case.

Be especially careful peeling the folded section of the cable, as this is area will be more easily damaged.

Step 24

Remove the two 5 mm Phillips #00 screws securing the hard drive bracket to the upper case.

Remove the two 5 mm Phillips #00 screws securing the hard drive bracket to the upper case.

Step 25

Insert the tip of a spudger between the hard drive bracket and the front edge of the upper case to free it from its recess.

Insert the tip of a spudger between the hard drive bracket and the front edge of the upper case to free it from its recess.

Step 26

Pull the hard drive bracket and sleep sensor assembly out from the recess in the upper case.
Remove the bracket slowly and carefully to ensure you do not rip the sleep sensor cable, which may still be adhered to the upper case.

Pull the hard drive bracket and sleep sensor assembly out from the recess in the upper case.

Remove the bracket slowly and carefully to ensure you do not rip the sleep sensor cable, which may still be adhered to the upper case.

Step 27

After ensuring the cable is freed of all adhesive, remove the hard drive bracket and sleep sensor assembly from the upper case.
If your new bracket cable is not pre-folded, use the old one as a guide to crease it for proper fit in your MacBook.

After ensuring the cable is freed of all adhesive, remove the hard drive bracket and sleep sensor assembly from the upper case.

If your new bracket cable is not pre-folded, use the old one as a guide to crease it for proper fit in your MacBook.

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

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                    Sam Goldheart

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Introduction#

What you need#

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Introduction

What you need

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