Repair Laptop

Like brain surgery? Use this guide to replace the mind of your computer.

Tools used in this guide

• Phillips #00 Screwdriver
• Spudger

Parts relevant to this guide

• MacBook Air 1.6 GHz Logic Board

Step 2

• Slightly lift the lower case near the vents and push it toward the rear of the computer to free the mounting tabs.

Step 3 — Battery 

• Disconnect the battery connector by pulling it straight away from its socket.

Step 4

• Remove the following nine screws securing the battery to the Air:
  • Four 2.9 mm Phillips.
  • Four 3.8 mm Phillips.
  • One 7.2 mm Phillips.

Step 5

• Lift the battery out of the Air.

Step 6 — Hard Drive 

• Disconnect the port hatch ribbon cable from the logic board by pulling it straight up by its black pull tab.
• Pull the audio out ribbon cable off the adhesive securing it to the upper case.
• Use a spudger to pry the audio out ribbon cable connector board off the hard drive bracket.

Step 7

• Disconnect the audio out cable from its socket on the port hatch ribbon cable.

Step 8

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

Step 9

• Use the pointy end of a spudger to de-route the microphone cable from the hard drive bracket.
• Remove the cosmetic screw cover from the adhesive securing it to the hard drive bracket.

Step 10

• Remove the four Phillips screws securing the hard drive assembly to the upper case.

Step 11

• Lift the hard drive assembly out of the upper case.

Step 12 — Heat Sink 

• Use the tip of a spudger to pull the fan cable connector straight away from its connector on the logic board.

Step 13

• Use the tip of a spudger to move the cosmetic fan cover aside.

Step 14

• Remove the following screws securing the heat sink to the logic board:
  • One 5.9 mm Phillips screw.
  • Two 1.9 mm Phillips screws.
• Remove the 1.9 mm Phillips screw securing the processor clamp to the heat sink.

Step 15

• Lift the processor clamp off the heat sink.

Step 16

• Deroute the microphone cable away from the channel in the fan.

Step 17

• Lift the heat sink up off the logic board.
• Be mindful of the microphone cable when lifting the heat sink, as it can get tangled on the top edge of the fan.
• Use the thermal paste guide to properly add thermal paste once you’re ready to put the heat sink back on.

Step 18 — Logic Board 

• Use a spudger to pry the audio cable connector up off the logic board.

Step 19

• If present, remove the small piece of black tape covering the microphone cable connector.
• Disconnect the microphone cable by pulling its connector straight away from the socket on the logic board.

Step 20

• Remove the two small Phillips screws securing the logic board bracket to the upper case.
• Lift the logic board bracket out of the upper case.

Step 21

• Use a spudger to pry the AirPort/Bluetooth and trackpad control cable connectors up off the logic board.

Step 22

• Disconnect the DC-In cable by pulling its connector straight away from the socket on the logic board.

Step 23

• Remove the small Phillips screw securing the display data cable ground loop to the upper case.
• Disconnect the display data cable by pulling its connector straight away from the socket on the logic board.

Step 24

• Remove the three Phillips screws securing the logic board to the upper case.

Step 25

• Lift the logic board out of the upper case.