Written By: Dozuki SystemStep 1 — Bottom Cover Place your thumbs in the depressions cut into the bottom cover. Rotate the bottom cover counter-clockwise until the white dot painted

Mac Mini Mid 2011 SSD InstallationReplace your Mac Mini Mid 2011's hard drive for more storage space and an increase in speed.

Written By: Dozuki System

Mac Mini Mid 2011 SSD Installation Draft: 2013-07-29Guide ID: 456 -

This document was generated on 2019-09-17 10:06:27 AM (MST).

© 2019 guides.crucial.com/ Page 1 of 13

INTRODUCTION

Use this guide to completely replace your Mini's hard drive.

Some drive bays have a height of 7 mm, while others have a height of 9.5 mm. Depending onthe size of your drive bay, you may need to use a spacer to make your SSD fit properly.

TOOLS:2mm Hex Screwdriver (1)Mac Mini Logic Board Removal Tool (1)Spudger (1)T6 Torx Screwdriver (1)T8 Torx Screwdriver (1)

PARTS:SSD Upgrade Kit (1)




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Step 1 — Bottom Cover

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 isaligned with the ring inscribed on the outer case.

Step 2

Tilt the mini enough to allow thebottom cover to fall away from theouter case.

Remove the bottom cover and set itaside.




Step 3 — Fan

Remove the two 11.3 mm T6 Torxscrews securing the fan to the logicboard near the antenna plate.

Step 4

Lift the ear of the fan nearest theRAM up off the standoff secured tothe outer case.




Step 5

Lift the fan out of the mini for enoughclearance to access its connector.

Carefully pull the fan cables upwardto lift the fan connector up out of itssocket on the logic board.

Remove the fan.

Step 6 — Cowling

Remove the single 3.5 mm T6 Torxscrew securing the cowling to theheat sink.




Step 7

Lift the cowling from the end nearestthe antenna plate.

Rotate the cowling away from theouter case and remove it from themini.

Step 8 — Antenna Plate

Remove the following screwssecuring the antenna plate to themini:

Two 6.6 mm T8 Torx screws

Two 5.0 mm T8 Torx or 2.0 mmHex screws (either screwdriverwill work)




Step 9

Slightly lift the antenna plate from the end closest to the RAM.

Carefully pull the antenna plate 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.

Step 10

Use the tip of a spudger to carefullypry the antenna connector up fromits socket on the AirPort/Bluetoothboard.




Step 11

Remove the antenna plate from themini.

Step 12 — Hard Drive

Use the flat end of a spudger to prythe hard drive connector up from itssocket on the logic board.




Step 13

Use the tip of a spudger to lift the IRsensor connector up and out of itssocket on the logic board.

Step 14

Remove the following three screws:

One 5.0 mm T8 Torx or 2.0 mmHex screw (either screwdriver willwork)

One 16.2 mm T6 Torx screw

One 26 mm T6 Torx standoff




Step 15

To remove the logic board, the two cylindrical rods of the Mac Mini Logic Board Removal Toolmust be inserted into the holes highlighted in red. Inserting instruments into any logic board holesother than the ones highlighted in red may destroy the logic board.

Insert the into the two holes highlighted in red. Be sure it makes contact with the top side of outercase below the logic board before proceeding.

Carefully pull the tool toward the I/O board. The logic board and I/O board assembly should slightlyslide 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.




Step 16

Simultaneously push the two plasticclips on the far left and right sides ofthe I/O board toward the middle ofthe I/O board and pull the I/O boardaway from the outer case.

Only pull the logic board assemblyout of the outer case until the edgeof the I/O board is about .5" awayfrom the edge of the aluminum outercase.

Step 17

Pull the hard drive away from the front edge of the mini and remove it from the outer case.




Step 18 — Hard Drive Cable

Remove the strip of tape connecting the hard drive cable to the hard drive.

Remove the hard drive cable by pulling its connector straight away from the hard drive.

Step 19 — SSD Installation

Remove the two 6.2 mm T8 Torxscrews from the side of the harddrive.

Transfer these screws to your newSSD.




To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Step 20

Carefully peel the hard drive coveroff the hard drive.

Transfer this cover to your newSSD.

Step 21

For 7 mm SSDs, you'll need to apply a spacer to ensure a good fit.

Peel the backings up off the adhesive strips mounted on the spacer.

Press the spacer onto the SSD as shown; proper orientation will ensure the spacer does not coverany screws or screw holes.




Documents

Written By: Dozuki SystemStep 1 — Bottom Cover Place your thumbs in the depressions cut into the bottom cover. Rotate the bottom cover counter-clockwise until the white dot painted