Disassemble a Apple Pro (transparent) keyboard to clean it. As usual, I cannot be responsible for any damage to your machines when you will experiment the following tutorial. So the keyboard is dirty! And as it is transparent, the dirtiness is well visible. (Note: I would like Apple discovers that it is possible to produce beautifull stuff. An initial teardown of the 16-inch MacBook Pro offers a close examination of the new keyboard mechanism used in the model, with the scissor mechanism deemed to be a massive improvement over the.
In the following guide I explain how to disassemble a MacBook Pro 15″ (Mid 2010) in order to remove and replace the keyboard.
In my case something sticky was spilled on the keyboard and it stopped working completely. In fact, the laptop didn't even start with the damaged keyboard connected to the motherboard.
I confirmed that this is just a failed keyboard by turning it on using the power-on pads.
The keyboard is attached to the internal side of the top cover assembly. In order to remove and replace the keyboard the entire MacBook Pro (MBP) has to be disassembled.
You can find the year of your MBP by running the serial number on Apple website.
The serial number can be located on the bottom case or memory slot.
For this repair you'll need the following tools:
– T-6 torx screwdriver.
– PH000 Phillips screwdriver.
– 1.5 mm slotted screwdriver ( I used it for removing battery screws).
MBP has a very small screws. I recommend using only high quality precision screwdrivers. I prefer Wiha screwdrivers.
Before you start the disassembly process make sure the computer is turned off.
Also, keep track of all screws (they are all different). Make notes, pictures, etc… This will make your life much easier during the reassembly process.
STEP 1.
Remove ten screws securing the bottom cover.
STEP 2.
Separate the bottom cover and remove it.
Under the bottom cover you can access the following internal MBP components:
– Memory modules.
– Optical drive.
– Cooling fans.
– Hard drive.
– Notebook battery.
– Motherboard aka logic board.
STEP 3.
The battery is secured by three special screws (tri-wing screws). I was able to remove them using a small 1.5mm slotted screwdriver without any problem.
Be careful, using a wrong screwdriver can easily strip the screw.
STEP 4.
Lift up the battery and unplug the battery cable from the motherboard.
Remove the battery.
STEP 5.
Unscrew two screws securing the hard drive mounting bracket.
STEP 6.
Lift up and remove the hard drive bracket.
STEP 7.
Carefully lift up the hard drive and disconnect the hard drive cable.
Remove the hard drive.
STEP 8.
Remove both memory modules.
Spread latches on both sides of the memory slot. The top memory module with pop up at a 30 degree angle. Pull the top memory module from the slot.
After that pull the bottom memory module.
STEP 9.
Remove six screws securing the cooling fans (three screws per one fan).
STEP 10.
Disconnect both fan cables from the motherboard.
STEP 11.
Remove both cooling fans.
STEP 12.
Remove two screws securing the keyboard and trackpad connectors shield.
Remove the shield.
STEP 13.
Disconnect 10 cables from the motherboard.
Be very careful with connectors 6 and 8. I'll explain how to unlock different types of connectors in the following pictures.
Unplug the video cable (connector 10).
Here's how to disconnect the keyboard backlight cable (connector 6).
Carefully lift up the left side of the connector retainer with a small screwdriver.
The retainer will open up at a 90 degree angle.
Now you can pull the keyboard backlight cable from the connector.
Remove the keyboard cable (connector 8) the same way.
First, lift up the connector retainer.
After that pull the keyboard cable from the connector.
Lift up and disconnect the speaker cable (connector 4).
Lift up and disconnect the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth assembly connector. Unlock connectors 1,3,5,7,9 the same way.
Unplug the camera cable form the connector on the motherboard.
STEP 14.
Remove nine screws securing the motherboard and MagSafe board.
STEP 15.
Start removing the motherboard from the left side.
Lift up the left side and work the right side of the motherboard out of the notebook case.
Note: you can leave the MagSafe board connected to the notebook case but in this case you'll have to unplug it from the motherboard.
I found it easier to remove the motherboard with the MagSafe board attached.
STEP 16.
Remove the motherboard.
STEP 17.
Remove two screws securing the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth assembly.
STEP 18.
Move the the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth assembly aside.
STEP 19.
Remove three screws securing the optical drive.
STEP 20.
Lift up and remove the optical drive.
STEP 21.
STEP 3.
The battery is secured by three special screws (tri-wing screws). I was able to remove them using a small 1.5mm slotted screwdriver without any problem.
Be careful, using a wrong screwdriver can easily strip the screw.
STEP 4.
Lift up the battery and unplug the battery cable from the motherboard.
Remove the battery.
STEP 5.
Unscrew two screws securing the hard drive mounting bracket.
STEP 6.
Lift up and remove the hard drive bracket.
STEP 7.
Carefully lift up the hard drive and disconnect the hard drive cable.
Remove the hard drive.
STEP 8.
Remove both memory modules.
Spread latches on both sides of the memory slot. The top memory module with pop up at a 30 degree angle. Pull the top memory module from the slot.
After that pull the bottom memory module.
STEP 9.
Remove six screws securing the cooling fans (three screws per one fan).
STEP 10.
Disconnect both fan cables from the motherboard.
STEP 11.
Remove both cooling fans.
STEP 12.
Remove two screws securing the keyboard and trackpad connectors shield.
Remove the shield.
STEP 13.
Disconnect 10 cables from the motherboard.
Be very careful with connectors 6 and 8. I'll explain how to unlock different types of connectors in the following pictures.
Unplug the video cable (connector 10).
Here's how to disconnect the keyboard backlight cable (connector 6).
Carefully lift up the left side of the connector retainer with a small screwdriver.
The retainer will open up at a 90 degree angle.
Now you can pull the keyboard backlight cable from the connector.
Remove the keyboard cable (connector 8) the same way.
First, lift up the connector retainer.
After that pull the keyboard cable from the connector.
Lift up and disconnect the speaker cable (connector 4).
Lift up and disconnect the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth assembly connector. Unlock connectors 1,3,5,7,9 the same way.
Unplug the camera cable form the connector on the motherboard.
STEP 14.
Remove nine screws securing the motherboard and MagSafe board.
STEP 15.
Start removing the motherboard from the left side.
Lift up the left side and work the right side of the motherboard out of the notebook case.
Note: you can leave the MagSafe board connected to the notebook case but in this case you'll have to unplug it from the motherboard.
I found it easier to remove the motherboard with the MagSafe board attached.
STEP 16.
Remove the motherboard.
STEP 17.
Remove two screws securing the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth assembly.
STEP 18.
Move the the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth assembly aside.
STEP 19.
Remove three screws securing the optical drive.
STEP 20.
Lift up and remove the optical drive.
STEP 21.
Remove two screws securing the mounting bracket.
STEP 22.
Remove the mounting bracket.
STEP 23.
The keyboard almost ready for the removal and replacement.
Carefully separate the trackpad cable from the keyboard assembly.
STEP 24.
Now you can start separating the keyboard backlight from the keyboard.
The backlight has a few layers. Do not separate them from each other.
Be careful if you plan to use the backlight with a new keyboard.
I purchased a new keyboard WITH backlight so I didn't care much about the original backlight.
STEP 25.
Software macbook pro free download. Remove the keyboard backlight.
STEP 26.
Now remove about 70 very small screws securing the keyboard.
STEP 27.
Remove two screws securing the display cable mounting bracket. Apple mobile application support download.
STEP 28.
Lift up and remove the bracket. Apple os x el capitan update.
STEP 29.
Remove two screws securing the power button.
NOTE: the power button is permanently attached to the keyboard. It's part of the keyboard.
STEP 30.
Start removing the keyboard.
STEP 31.
While removing the keyboard pay attention to the power button.
There is a metal ring (spring) located under the power button. Do not lose it. Do not forget to install this spring back in place under the new power button.
After the old damaged/failed keyboard removed you can install a new keyboard.
New keyboards available on eBay.
Install a new (or old) backlight on the keyboard and assemble the laptop following all steps in the opposite direction.
By the way, If you have damaged keys it might be not necessary to replace the entire keyboard. In some cases it's possible to fix individual keyboard keys.
Related article:
An informational resource for technicians who want to repair classic Macintosh computers and other classic Apple products.Stand up for your Right to Repair! State Legislators have the power to protect you from unfair and deceptive policies that make it difficult, expensive, or impossible for you to repair the things you own. Right to Repair or Fair Repair Bills have been introduced in 16 states, but they will only pass if you tell your lawmakers that you want Right to Repair.
These manuals are Adobe PDFs (mostly) of Apple's 'Service Source' documents, which were historically distributed only to Apple-authorized repair shops. They offer step-by-step Mac repair information for do-it-yourself technicians who want to repair old Apple Macintosh computers. These documents also include Apple technical specifications, memory configuration information, and more. With a few common tools, these repair manuals are what you need to become your own Macintosh Repair Technician for classic Macs (pre-Intel.)
HOW TO USE THIS PAGE:
Apple Keyboard
The links on the left jump down on this page to specific sections. Sometimes the filename of the manual you want starts with, say, 'Power Macintosh' -- other times, 'PMac' -- other times, 'PowerMac' -- sometimes with dots or underscores or dashes between words, etc. You get the idea. If you don't see what you're looking for, try a 'find' (cmd-f or ctrl-f, usually) and search the text of the page for your machine's model number, or part of the name. The categories are the best I could come up with. Some things may appear in only one category but really belong in two -- for example, the combo manuals that cover some model of Mac and also a Performa based on the same internal hardware. So if you have a Performa, you'll have to pick through these a bit.SEARCH FEATURE
Apple Pro Keyboard M7803 Disassembly Manual
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