Introduction
This guide will show you how to replace the SuperDrive from your laptop (requires a SATA SuperDrive).
Tools
Parts
-
-
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.
-
-
-
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.
-
-
-
Using the flat end of a spudger, pry the subwoofer connector straight up off the logic board.
-
-
-
Remove the two black Phillips #0 screws securing the small metal mounting bracket. Transfer this bracket to your new optical drive or hard drive enclosure.
-
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
8 comments
I ruined my laptop because of this guide.
The step 6 says it's a connector that comes of (sub-woofer), mine was welded, I broke it, I cannot fix it.
i am frustrated, and I know I should only blame myself for following blindly that guide.
But at least I thought I should let people know : be careful when removing that sub-woofer connector!!!
Thomas C -
I also broke the sub-woofer connector away from the board, the connection to the board is very fragile, however I managed to solder the connector back on with a very fine soldering iron, (tricky). but it worked. I don't think it is really necessary to disconnect the sub-woofer cable to remove the optical drive, I'll find out when I get a new one to replace the old broken one. To remove the subwoofer cable it would be necessary to hold the connector in place while the plug is very carefully prized up from the lead side without moving the connector socket.
Completed this one successfully. Now running OCZ 256 GB SSD in main bay and WD Black 320GB in optical bay.
This is not a a1278 unibody MacBook Pro. A1278 MacBooks backs are one solid metal piece not two separate pieces. This guide is for a different MacBook Pro.
Brad Burgeson -
This guide isn’t for a pro; it’s a MacBook unibody.
Nicholas -
So, it turns out that Apple used the model code A1278 for quite a few different Mac models, including both Pro and non-Pro versions! This guide is for the non-Pro Macbooks. There’s also one for the Pro models with the same A1278 identifier.
tempelmann -