How-to: Mac mini Take-Apart
Replacing the Optical Drive
Prerequisites
Tools you will need
- #0 Phillips Screwdriver
Disassembly
Once the internal frame is free of the mini, the optical drive can be removed without disturbing any other components. Four screws hold the drive to the frame, and a connector board binds it to the hard drive.
Begin by disconnecting the two small connectors on the board that power the fan and speaker.
Next, remove the four #0 screws which hold the drive to the frame. (There are two screws on each side of the optical drive.) Lay the internal frame with the optical drive down and remove all four screws.
The optical drive is attached still to the hard drive, by way of the connector board; be very careful, as only connector pins are keeping the drive in place. Gently pry the optical drive and connector board off of the hard drive with your fingers. There should be just enough clearance to push against both the connector board and the frame, freeing the optical drive.
Once the hard drive has been disconnected from the connector board, remove the two screws which hold the connector board to the optical drive. Removal is complete.
Reassembly
Using two #0 screws, attach the connector board to the optical drive.
Place the optical drive on your work surface, bottom side up. Position the internal frame over the drive, so that the hard drive can be reconnected to the connector board. Gently reconnect the hard drive to the connector board; be careful to align the pins correctly. (It’s easy to insert the drive with one set of pins outside of the connector.) Replace the 4 screws that secure the drive to the internal frame
Reconnect the fan and speaker. The connectors are different sizes and cannot be attached to the wrong sockets on the board.