Introduction
Upgrade or replace the combo or SuperDrive.
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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Use the tip of a spudger to remove the black electrical tape spanning the interconnect board and optical drive.
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Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the audio ribbon cable from the interconnect board.
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If necessary, remove the yellow kapton tape covering the internal frame and the optical drive.
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Turn the mini 180 degrees and remove the two Phillips screws securing the optical drive to the internal frame on the other side.
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Insert the flat end of a spudger into the crevice between the optical drive and the interconnect board.
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Carefully increase the crevice to disconnect the optical drive from the interconnect board.
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To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
6 comments
I found that it's entirely possible to remove the optical drive without removing the whole subframe. You can remove the four screws on the sides of the drive quite easily, remove the other end of the audio cable then unscrew the two screws on the back of the drive holding the interconnect board to the drive (the only fiddly bit as it's hard to get a a good angle onto those two screws), then gently lift the front of the drive and pull it forward.
Can anyone tell me now that I have replaced the optical drive, why if only accepts dvd's being put into it when I have first turn on the computer?? If I do it when the computer is already on, no matter how far I try and push in the DVD it doesn't grab it and pull it in properly. No trouble playing them once in.
Hannah -
Please help! Can anyone tell me now that I have replaced the optical drive, why if only accepts dvd's being put into it when I have first turn on the computer?? If I do it when the computer is already on, no matter how far I try and push in the DVD it doesn't grab it and pull it in properly. No trouble playing them once in.
Hannah -
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 -