DIY MacBook Pro 15 LED Driver Board Replacement Guide

– Get your groove on by using your fingers to push both battery release tabs away from the battery, and lift the battery out of the computer.

– Unscrew the three matching 2mm Phillips screws holding the memory door in place.

– Gently lift the memory door to get a solid grip, then slide it toward you to detach it from the casing.

– Unscrew the two 2.8 mm Phillips screws located in the battery compartment by the latch. You’ve got this!

– Let’s get those 6 screws outta there:

– Time to break out the ol’ toolbox and say goodbye to those four 3.2 mm PH00 Phillips screws hanging out on the port side of your computer. Let’s show them who’s boss!

– Give your computer a cool spin by rotating it 90 degrees. Then, carefully unscrew the two 3.2 mm Phillips screws from the back. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair

– Spin that computer another 90 degrees and pop out those four 3.2 mm Phillips screws on the side. Easy peasy!

– Lift up at the back of the case and wiggle your fingers along the sides to free it. Once the sides are free, you might need to rock the case up and down to loosen the front of the upper case.

– There are four plastic clips above the DVD slot and another above and to the left of the IR sensor. These clips can be tough to disengage without some prying. They can also be tricky to re-engage during reassembly.

– Reassembly Tip: Firmly press down on the top case above each clip location until you hear a snap, ensuring they’re back in their slots.

– Reassembly Tip: The two center DVD clips often need some extra help to snap back properly. Instead of just pressing down, which could deform the frame around the DVD slot, support the frame by inserting a plastic spudger into the DVD slot directly under the clip until it fits snugly. Then, press down until you hear the snap.

– Gently unplug the trackpad and keyboard ribbon cable from the logic board, and feel free to peel off any tape that’s in the way.

– Carefully take off the upper case.

– First things first, gently disconnect the two or three antenna cables that are hanging out with the Airport Extreme card. Depending on your model, you might find one of those cables just chilling there, capped off with a black shrink tube, not in use.

– And hey, Apple made it super easy for you! They included a handy label that shows where each color antenna cable should go. So, when you’re reconnecting those cables, just give that label a quick glance to make sure everything’s in the right spot.

– Gently guide the Airport antenna cables out of their cozy little channel in the left speaker.

– Unleash your inner repair magician by gently sliding the iSight cable to the left and out of its connector.

– Hold the display steady with one hand while you carefully take out the screws that follow:

– Gently detach the inverter cable from the left I/O board by sliding a spudger underneath and giving it a little lift. You’ve got this!

– Unplug the display data cable from the logic board. It’s like giving your device a little break!

– Gently peel off the foam bumper from the top of the right hinge of the display. Think of it as removing a cozy blanket!

– Carefully take out the shiny 9.2 mm T6 Torx screw that holds the ground loop of the display data cable to the casing. You’re doing great!

– Hold the display steady with one hand while you take out the next screw!

– Grab the display assembly with both hands and gently lift it upwards to free it from the computer.

– Unscrew the 4.5 mm Phillips screws from the bottom left and right of the display (two in total). These little guys have a .8 mm thick head. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.

– Grab your trusty spudger and slide the flat end in between the plastic strip on the rear bezel and the front bezel, making sure it’s perpendicular to the display. You’re doing great!

– With the spudger still in place, give it a gentle twist away from the display to help separate those bezels. Keep it up!

– Now, work your way along the right edge of the display, gently prying until the rear bezel is nicely separated from the front bezel. Almost there!

– Get your spudger ready to party by slipping it between the front and rear display bezels at the lower right corner of the display.

– Gently encourage the rear bezel to break away from the front bezel to create a bit of space at the bottom edge of the rear display bezel.

– Take the flat end of a spudger and slide it into the gap between the rear display bezel and the clutch cover.

– Give the spudger a twist to pop the lower edge of the rear display bezel away from the clutch cover.

– Keep working along the lower edge until the rear bezel is totally separated from the clutch cover. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.

– Alright, now that you’ve got the right and bottom edges of the rear bezel just a tad loose from the front bezel, grab your trusty spudger and gently nudge the rear bezel off those little tabs hanging out near the lower right corner of the display. You’ve got this!

– Slide the flat end of your trusty spudger between the front bezel and the plastic strip that’s hanging out with the rear bezel near those screw holes at the bottom corners of the display.

– Give your spudger a little twist toward the rear bezel to help them part ways.

– If you’re feeling adventurous, keep working on separating the left edge of the rear bezel from the tabs on the front display bezel.

– Gently lift the bottom edge of the display and carefully pull it away from the rear display bezel. You’re doing great!

– For the next steps in your screen replacement journey, check out this guide: MacBook Pro 15″ Core 2 Duo Models A1226 and A1260 LCD Panel Replacement. Keep it up!

– Gently use the tip of a spudger to pop the LED driver board out of the clutch cover. You’ve got this!

– Gently unplug the backlight cable by pulling its connector away from the LED driver board socket. You’ve got this!

– Gently unplug the LED driver cable from the inverter board. Pull it out smoothly!

– Carefully take out the LED driver board and place it somewhere safe.