Optical drives tend to degrade over time: the mechanical internals wear out and dust accumulates on the laser. Has your optical drive stopped burning or reading discs? Did you unwittingly jam the drive with one of those business card-sized discs? This guide will show you how to fix it.
To help you along the way, make sure to print the PDF screw guide (bit.ly/oc6Pl) to keep track of all the screws you’ll be taking out. You can also visit iFixit’s MacBook Pro Repair page (bit.ly/ahSrK) for more in-depth repair guides.
1. Prepare for the adventure You need to have the same tools in order to replace the optical drive as in last issue’s hard drive upgrade guide: a #00 Phillips screwdriver, T6 Torx driver, and a spudger. We went through how to open up a MacBook Pro last time, so we’ve summarised how to open your laptop in steps 2-5.
2. Remove the battery and RAM shield Remove all power sources and turn the computer upside down. Slide both battery switches toward the rear of the computer and take the battery out. Then remove the three Phillips screws (circled) holding the RAM shield in place. Take off the shield and set it aside.
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