MacBook Core 2 Duo Upper Case Cable Replacement

Use a coin or spudger to rotate the battery-locking screw 90 degrees clockwise.

Lift the battery out of the computer.

Unscrew the three evenly-spaced Phillips screws from along the rear wall of the battery compartment.

Rotate the L-shaped memory cover so it clears the battery compartment opening and lift it up and out of the computer.

Remove the following 3 screws:

• One 11 mm Phillips#00 in the middle of the case. (Head: 5mm dia. x .75mm thick)
• Two 14.5 mm Phillips #00 (Head: 5mm dia. x .75mm thick)

Remove the following 3 screws from the rear wall of the battery compartment:

• One 3 mm Phillips #0. (Head: 2.75 mm. dia.)
• Two 4 mm Phillips #0 on the either side. (Head: 2.75mm dia.)

Remove the two Phillips screws from either side of the right wall of the battery compartment (not the ones closest to the battery connector).

• Two 6.25 mm Phillips #000. (Head: 4 mm. dia. x .5mm thick)

Remove the four indicated Phillips screws from the front wall of the battery compartment. When working from the left, remove the 2nd, 4th, 7th and 9th screw.

• Four 3.25 mm Phillips #000. (Head: 4 mm. dia. x 4mm thick)

Remove the following 4 screws from the back of the computer:

The longer screws go on the inside, shorter screws on the outside.

• Two 11 mm Phillips #00, with Shank (2.2mm dia. x 2 mm len.) (Head: 3.2 mm. dia. x .5mm thick)
• Two 7.25 mm Phillips #00, with Shank (2mm dia. x 3.75 mm len.) (Head: 3.2 mm. dia. x .5mm thick)

Remove the two Phillips screws from the optical drive side of the computer.

• Two 5.2 mm Phillips #00, with Shank (2.3mm dia. x 3.5 mm len.) (Head: 3.2 mm. dia. x .5mm thick)

Starting near the display and working around to the front of the computer, pry up on the upper case. A plastic opening tool or a medium hard guitar pick may help you to do this.

While holding up the upper case, pull up the black tab of the silver cable away from its connector.

While you have the upper case removed, you may want to take the opportunity to remove dust, hair, etc. It's best to use a can of compressed air, though if you use a brush, make sure that its bristles are made of a material (usually animal hair) that doesn't generate static electricity, which can destroy electronics.

Carefully peel the upper case cable off the adhesive securing it to the upper case.

Use the flat end of a spudger to carefully peel up the adhesive around the perimeter of the plastic panel stuck to the underside of the trackpad.

Remove the panel from the upper case.

Use the tip of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the upper case cable ZIF socket near the keyboard cable.

Gently peel up the section of the upper case cable stuck to the keyboard ribbon cable, being careful not to disturb the keyboard ribbon cable in the process.

Pull the top upper case ribbon cable connector out of its socket under the trackpad.

Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the retaining flap on the mouse button ribbon cable socket.

Pull the mouse button ribbon cable out of its socket.

Use the flat end of a spudger to help peel the last portion of the upper case ribbon cable off the adhesive securing it to the underside of the trackpad.

Remove the upper case cable from the upper case.

Use the flat end of a spudger to carefully peel up the adhesive around the perimeter of the plastic panel stuck to the underside of the trackpad.

Remove the panel from the upper case.

Carefully peel the upper case cable and the piece of clear tape off the bottom of the upper case.

Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the retaining flap on the upper case cable ZIF socket.

Pull the upper case cable out of its socket and remove it from the upper case.