Introduction
Upgrade your hard drive for more storage space.
Tools
Parts
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Power down your Mac mini, disconnect all of the cables, and flip it over.
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Insert the Jimmy into the crack between the aluminum top housing and the plastic lower housing.
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The Jimmy should reach a stop about 3/8" down.
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Gently bend the Jimmy outwards to pry the crack open a little larger and lift the lower housing up a small amount.
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Once you have the first side free, rotate the Mac mini and start prying up on the front edge.
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Use the same prying motion to both bend the clips inward and lift the lower housing up out of the top housing.
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You may need to move the Jimmy along the edge to pry up all of the clips. Be patient and do a little bit at a time.
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Slightly squeeze the two retaining arms toward each other and lift the AirPort antenna off its post.
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Grab the Bluetooth antenna nearest the port side of the computer by the edges of the board and pull it straight up off the internal frame.
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Remove the antenna board near the front of the mini by pulling it straight up off the internal frame.
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If necessary, remove the piece of tape securing the antenna leads to the internal frame.
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Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the audio ribbon cable connector up off the audio board.
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Remove the following four screws securing the internal frame to the bottom housing:
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Three 6.7 mm Phillips #00 screws
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One 9.5 mm Phillips #00 screw
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Lift the internal frame off the bottom housing, starting at the rear edge, until you feel the concealed edge connector on the motherboard disconnect. Then lift straight off, minding the bluetooth and 802.11 antenna cables.
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Remove the two Phillips screws connecting the underside of the hard drive to the internal frame.
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Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the hard drive thermal sensor board off the adhesive securing it to the side of the hard drive.
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Remove the strip of tape holding the thermal sensor cable to the hard drive and remove the thermal sensor from the hard drive.
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Slide the hard drive toward the speaker to disconnect it from the interconnect board.
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Lift the hard drive from the edge opposite the fan and remove it from the internal frame.
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To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
27 comments
The Phillips required on this for me was a size 0, not 00, which was too small.
Step 13 is not needed and should not be attempted.
Ah no you need to remove it to get to the hard drive.
You don't need to remove the connector of the HD temperature sensor from the interconnection board, just detach the sensor from the drive. Then you can still get the drive out. My sensor connector unfortunately broke off completly. I managed to solder the sensor wires directly to the tiny contacts on the board :))
A spackle knife makes these steps go much faster.
jouniseppanen -
A double sided letter opener or a thin non-serrated butter knife will suffice.
To prenent cosmetic blemishes, place a matchbook cover or similar thin cardboard on the outer perimeter under the “jimmy”.
Mike -