How to disassemble Apple Mac Mini – how to remove the case – How to remove the logic board

How to remove and replace the optical diver -  How to disassemble Apple Mac Mini – how to remove the case – How to remove the logic board - Apple Mac Mini

Place your thumbs in the depressions cut into the bottom cover. Rotate the bottom cover counter-clockwise until the white dot painted on the bottom cover is aligned with the ring inscribed on the outer case.

Tilt the mini enough to allow the bottom cover to fall away from the outer case. Remove the bottom cover and set it aside.

Remove the two 11.3 mm T6 Torx screws securing the fan to the logic board near the antenna plate.

Lift the ear of the fan nearest the RAM up off the standoff secured to the outer case.

Lift the fan out of the mini for enough clearance to access its connector. Carefully pull the fan cables upward to lift the fan connector up out of its socket on the logic board. Remove the fan.

Remove the single 3.5 mm T6 Torx screw securing the cowling to the heat sink.

Lift the cowling from the end nearest the antenna plate. Rotate the cowling away from the outer case and remove it from the mini. Remove the following screws securing the antenna plate to the mini:

Two 6.6 mm T8 Torx screws Two 5.0 mm T8 Torx or 2.0 mm Hex screws (either will work)
Slightly lift the antenna plate from the end closest to the RAM. Carefully pull the antenna plate straight away from the circular rim of the outer case. Do not remove the antenna plate yet. It is still attached to the AirPort/ Bluetooth board.

Use the tip of a spudger to carefully pry the antenna connector up off the AirPort/Bluetooth board.

Remove the antenna plate from the mini.

Logic Board Removal

Remove the following three screws One 5.0 mm T8 Torx or 2.0 mm Hex screw (either will work)
One 16.2 mm T6 Torx screw
One 26 mm T6 Torx standoff

Carefully pull the wires for both hard drive thermal sensors upward to lift their connectors up and out of the sockets on the logic board.

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry both the hard drive and optical drive connectors up out of their sockets on the logic board.

To disconnect the optical drive hermal sensor, pinch its cables between your thumb and a spudger and pry the spudger upward to lift he connector up and out of its socket on the logic board.

Use the tip of a spudger to lift the IR sensor connector up and out of its socket on the logic board.

To remove the logic board, two cylindrical rods must be inserted into the holes highlighted in red. Inserting instruments into any logic board holes other than the ones highlighted in red may destroy the logic board.

Insert a Mac Mini Logic Board Removal Tool into the two holes highlighted in red. Be sure it makes contact with the outer case below the logic board before proceeding. If you don't have a Logic Board Removal Tool handy, you can use two tools having a maximum diameter of 2.5 mm instead. Just insert one into each of the highlighted holes.
Carefully pull the tool toward the I/O board. The logic board and I/O board assembly should slightly slide out of the outer case. Cease prying when the I/O board is visibly separated from the outer case. Remove the Mac Mini Logic Board Removal tool.

Simultaneously push the two plastic clips on the far left and right sides of the I/O board toward the middle of the I/O board and pull the I/O board away from the outer case. Pull the I/O board/logic board assembly out of the outer case enough to access the power connector. Use a pair of tweezers to disconnect the power cable from the logic board.

Carefully slide the logic board assembly out of the mini, minding any cables that may get caught. Remove the 7.9 mm T6 Torx screw securing the power supply and optical drive to the outer case.

Pull the silver metal AC-In socket retainer away from the side of the outer case and remove it from the mini.

Rotate the AC-In connector 90 degrees counter-clockwise.

Slide the power supply out of the mini, minding any cables that may get caught. Remove the hard drive from the mini, minding any cables that may get caught.

Remove the 7.9 mm T6 Torx screw securing the optical drive to the outer case. Slide the optical drive out of the outer case, minding any cables that may get caught.

Carefully de-route the IR sensor cables from the channel in the optical drive bracket.

Remove the two 6.3 mm T6 Torx screws securing both sides of the optical drive bracket to the optical drive (four screws total).

Remove the optical drive bracket from the optical drive, minding any cables that may get caught. Carefully peel the optical drive ribbon cable off the body of the optical drive.

Disconnect the optical drive cable by pulling its connector away from the body of the optical drive. Peel off the strip of black tape covering the optical drive thermal sensor.

Carefully pry the optical drive thermal sensor off the adhesive securing it to the optical drive. It may be necessary to use a strip of tape or rubber cement to attach the thermal sensor to your new optical drive.