We have two guides one is for adding the second drive [guide|11713] and the other is replacing the current drive [guide|11716]
So if the drive is currently in the physical lower bay accessible from the bottom (most are) then to add the drive you will need to fully remove the logic board. But if the drive is in the physical upper bay (below the standard drives location). You only need to slide the logic board out a bit as seen in the second guide I’ve listed here.
As far as damaging things, using a crowbar or hammer will break things as well as forcing. Using the correct tools and techniques as outlined in the guides will work! And I have yet to damage any Mac Mini in all of my years fixing or upgrading them!
=== Update (03/03/24) ===
-
Sadly, there’s a lot of disinformation in the comments, I should clean it up a bit when I find the time.
+
@techtrouble - Sadly, there’s a lot of disinformation in the comments, I should clean it up a bit when I find the time.
So let me correct things here. All of the upper bay (underneath the other drive) drive is always mounted with headed screws as you have to gain access to the frame (2012). Some will have two headless screws in the newer models (2013 ~2015). The lower bay drive is always 2 headed and two headless screws or four headless.
A headless screw doesn’t need to be removed on the far side as they are held in position by the rubber grommets for shock protection.
So in your config follow the lower bay guide which you only need to slide the logic board partway out.
We have two guides one is for adding the second drive [guide|11713] and the other is replacing the current drive [guide|11716]
So if the drive is currently in the physical lower bay accessible from the bottom (most are) then to add the drive you will need to fully remove the logic board. But if the drive is in the physical upper bay (below the standard drives location). You only need to slide the logic board out a bit as seen in the second guide I’ve listed here.
As far as damaging things, using a crowbar or hammer will break things as well as forcing. Using the correct tools and techniques as outlined in the guides will work! And I have yet to damage any Mac Mini in all of my years fixing or upgrading them!
+
+
=== Update (03/03/24) ===
+
Sadly, there’s a lot of disinformation in the comments, I should clean it up a bit when I find the time.
+
+
So let me correct things here. All of the upper bay (underneath the other drive) drive is always mounted with headed screws as you have to gain access to the frame (2012). Some will have two headless screws in the newer models (2013 ~2015). The lower bay drive is always 2 headed and two headless screws or four headless.
+
+
A headless screw doesn’t need to be removed on the far side as they are held in position by the rubber grommets for shock protection.
+
+
So in your config follow the lower bay guide which you only need to slide the logic board partway out.
We have two guides one is for adding the second drive [guide|11713] and the other is replacing the current drive [guide|11716]
-
So if the drive is currently in the physical lower bay accessible from the bottom (most are) then to add the drive you will need to fully remove the logic board. But if the drive is in the physical upper bay (below the standard drives location) the. You only need to slide the logic board out a bit as seen in the second guide I’ve listed here.
+
So if the drive is currently in the physical lower bay accessible from the bottom (most are) then to add the drive you will need to fully remove the logic board. But if the drive is in the physical upper bay (below the standard drives location). You only need to slide the logic board out a bit as seen in the second guide I’ve listed here.
As far as damaging things, using a crowbar or hammer will break things as well as forcing. Using the correct tools and techniques as outlined in the guides will work! And I have yet to damage any Mac Mini in all of my years fixing or upgrading them!
We have two guides one is for adding the second drive [guide|11713] and the other is replacing the current drive [guide|11716]
So if the drive is currently in the physical lower bay accessible from the bottom (most are) then to add the drive you will need to fully remove the logic board. But if the drive is in the physical upper bay (below the standard drives location) the. You only need to slide the logic board out a bit as seen in the second guide I’ve listed here.
As far as damaging things, using a crowbar or hammer will break things as well as forcing. Using the correct tools and techniques as outlined in the guides will work! And I have yet to damage any Mac Mini in all of my years fixing or upgrading them!