How-to: Mac mini Take-Apart
Removing the Fan
Prerequisites
Tools you will need
- #0 Phillips Screwdriver
Disassembly
Once the internal frame has been removed, the fan can be removed without disturbing any other components. The fan is held in place by three screws and some Kapton tape.
Begin by disconnecting the fan and speaker wires from their connectors on the board. (The speaker doesn’t need to be disconnected, but the two cables are easily confused and you don’t want to tug on one that is still connected.)
The cables are kept in place with two pieces of Kapton tape and a couple of moulded cable-stays. Free the cables from the tape (the tape doesn’t need to be fully removed) and the cable stays so that they are completely loose of the internal frame.
There are three #0 screws holding the fan to the internal frame. They’re long and can be stiff, so take care not to strip the screws. Put the screws aside and the fan should lift straight off the frame.
Reassembly
Begin by reattaching the fan to the internal frame with the three screws; leave the cable loose. Weave the cable under the stay immediately next to the fan and through the notch to the hard drive compartment. Combine the cable with the speaker wire and weave both cables under the remaining stay and resecure with the Kapton tape. Reconnect the two cables. (The cables are different sizes, so they can’t get mixed up.)