MacBook Unibody Model A1278 Hard Drive Cable Replacement

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.

The access door should now be raised enough to lift it up and out of the Unibody.

Grab the white plastic tab and pull the battery up and out of the Unibody.

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 both hands, lift and remove the lower case off the upper case.

Using the flat end of a spudger, pry the subwoofer connector straight up off the logic board.

Disconnect the camera cable by pulling the male end straight away from its socket.

Use a spudger to pry the optical drive connector straight up off the logic board.

Remove the two Phillips screws securing the subwoofer to the upper case.

Lift the subwoofer off the optical drive, and set it above the computer.

Remove the two Phillips screws securing the camera cable bracket to the upper case.

Remove the three 2.5 mm Phillips screws securing the optical drive to the upper case.

Lift the optical drive from its right edge and pull it out of the computer.

Remove the single Phillips screw securing the hard drive bracket to the upper case.

Lift the hard drive by its plastic pull tab and remove the freed hard drive bracket.

Lift the hard drive out of its supports and disconnect the SATA cable by pulling the connector straight away from the hard drive.

Remove the four 10.3 mm Phillips screws securing the mid wall to the upper case.

Lift the mid wall out of the upper case.

Use a spudger to pry the hard drive cable connector straight up off the logic board.

Peel the hard drive cable from the adhesive securing it to the upper case, and maneuver the plastic retaining block out of the upper case.