Apple USB SuperDrive Optical Drive Replacement

Geschrieben von: Alex Jansen
  • Kommentare: 26
Apple USB SuperDrive Optical Drive Replacement

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Moderate

Schritte

8

Zeitaufwand

15 - 30 Minuten

Einleitung

A simple guide to replacing the optical drive in the external optical drive sold by Apple for the MacBook Air. If your optical drive breaks, use this guide to replace it.

Note: Here's a method to hack the OS X configuration file for the SuperDrive to be used on the older iMac, MacBook, or MacBook Pro systems that the drive normally won't work with. Use with caution!

Open the com.apple.Boot.plist file in a text editor or in terminal use nano you will see a key <key>Kernel Flags</key>

Under it add the following line:

<string>mbasd=1</string>

Reboot your Mac.

If you have the later model A1379:

You will unfortunately need to replace the internal drive from another identical Apple external SuperDrive, as the contacts on the PCB are soldered to the USB cable directly. The model produced prior to 2012 is a standard PATA slimline drive, but any SuperDrive purchased from Apple in 2012 or later will need a soldering iron to repair.

  1. gDPCLVLObdps2EN2
    gDPCLVLObdps2EN2
    mSJOHqyMKJ2YuxMM

    • To open the SuperDrive we must remove the lower case.

    • The lower case is attached by 8 clips.

    • 6 along the sides

    • 2 on the back

    <<Add the following>>

    Note: Here's a method to hack the OS-X configuration file for the SuperDrive to be used on the older iMac, MacBook, or MacBook Pro systems that the drive normally won't work with. Use with caution!

    open the com.apple.Boot.plist file in a text editor or in terminal use nano you will see a key <key>Kernel Flags</key>

    under it add the following line

    <string>mbasd=1</string>

    reboot your Mac

    Dan -

  2. xlFRQnRPYlLiJZDE
    xlFRQnRPYlLiJZDE
    Fd2rAy1PXK2GYvRo

    • Insert a metal spudger down between the black lower case and the aluminum upper case.

    • Lightly pry back to gently lift the clip out of place, just far enough to disengage.

    • Don't lift to far, or the clip on opposite side of drive will be wedged in place.

  3. xUMSq652QWK2KGko
    xUMSq652QWK2KGko
    BrSVOgVMDS32BqHi

    • Repeat Step 2 for each of the 8 clips.

    • Continue until all of the clips have been disengaged and the lower case is free.

  4. WlATOoKxWw4MxRGK

    • Lift off and set aside the lower case.

  5. X3JMqAnIcERVI24c
    X3JMqAnIcERVI24c
    tCK24XX2wIqYtrvx

    • Remove the screws holding optical drive in the upper case

    • (A1270) three 3.8 mm with 1 mm deep head #00 Phillips head screws.

    • (A1379) 2 #00 Phillips head screws (I did not measure their length, sorry)

    • (A1379) 1 T9 torx screw

    On later models the bottom-right screw is a TR10 (Torx) screw.

    boelaars -

    The 2 #00 screws in the A1379 are 3mm in length

    Mal -

  6. yTUaeutJIQGRHlxr
    yTUaeutJIQGRHlxr
    UYPLMv5xnwxYOwPd

    • (A1270) Lift the optical drive from the thick side, then pull out.

    • (A1379) You will need to be even more careful with this model, as there is less wiggle room. Peel back the insulation tape to see the connector.

    • Be careful of the wires still running from the drive to case.

    • When re-installing the optical drive insert tongue in groove side first, as pictured.

    On later models the cable goes left instead of right, after entering the enclosure. This makes lifting the optical drive harder, but if done carefully it can still be done safely. The cables and the tape that fixes it in place is flexible and sturdy enough.

    boelaars -

  7. ZdwNYCNUQyMUCPkg
    ZdwNYCNUQyMUCPkg
    tXRTgmYVpwH1CRJZ

    • (A1270) Remove screws holding the board to optical drive.

    • two 3.8 mm #00 Phillips head screws.

    • (A1379) There are similar screws present here, but they only remove the metal shielding plate which gives further access to the USB wires

    • Unfortuantely, you cannot disconnect the drive any further without breaking out a soldering iron.

  8. wdZDfjECaP53p3fQ
    wdZDfjECaP53p3fQ
    nviNUDjZFHRPLLf3

    • Use a plastic opening tool to remove the board from the optical drive.

    • The optical drive is now free from the case.

Abschluss

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

Tinte & Feder

Alex Jansen

Mitglied seit: 22/04/10

9134 Reputation

22 Kommentare

After you pry open, inside there is an internal Super Drive.

Please tell me what's the markings/printed words model, name, brand, part number, etc....

Thank you.

gwen kent -

My drive has nothing on that orange part in the middle of the drive (like you can see in the pictures here) except for two QR codes; it has absolutely no markings/printed words model, name, brand, part number, etc. on the inside, except the manufacturing date 2012 stamped inside the black aluminum bottom case cover.

Hope this helps.

cubanpete -

Thank you. My drive from 2012 ist fastened with a six-sided star-shaped Torx screw on the right side. The ones on the left side are black Philips screws and they are so tiny that they are hard to see in normal light. All I want to do is clean the drive from dust since it won't read DVDs anymore, while it has no problems with CDs at all. So now this Torx screw is another obstacle. I will have to waste more time & money buying an extra tool, thanks to Apple.

cubanpete -

Is it possible to replace the internal DVD drive by a Bluray? Does macOS Sierra work with external Bluray drives?

Thanks for helping.

Sincerely

thomasli -

Yes, but the only drive that is known to be an ATAPI (EIDE) connecting drive that supports Blu-ray is the Panasonic UJ-215-B. They were astronomically priced new in 2007-2008 when they were released. Good luck finding one today, and if you do it will still be very expensive and almost never a new one. But it seems to be a direct drop in replacement. I myself have already begun this project, and have one on the way right now. Bought it for $250 so it was pricey but considering it was new I got very lucky.

matthewknice -

Will any drive works? Is is SATA?

Philippe Morin -

Nope, it's two different models- the first model was IDE, the second model has the USB cable soldered straight to the drive. Most unfortunate.

Josh Calvetti -

Thanks Alex. If you want to clean the internals there are 4 screws holding the top of the drive. There is one a bit longer than the other three. Make sure you mark the hole for the longer one. Removing these screws and the top of the drive exposes all of the areas to be cleaned. Also, if anyone tinkers around with these and other computer devices even occasionally, it will make your tasks much easier if you buy the Ifixit Pro Tech Tool Kit.

Owen Gascoigne -

Not sure why I wasn’t told till step 7 that I can not replace my optical drive because its soldered together. You can't just use another mac optical drive to replace it, they aren’t the same. Waste of time

Ryan Meyer -

The guide does mention that there are two different versions in the introduction, and that if you have the newer version you’ll have to use an identical drive from another 2012 or later SuperDrive. It’s a stupid decision to be sure. Sorry it didn’t work out for you!

Josh Calvetti -

Does anyone have any information about the drive that I need for the soldered type drive. I can’t find out which drive to order. (part number or model number) I can find the earlier model drive, but not the newer drive.

kevs -

Mine won't erase RW-DVD/CD and I was thinking in replacing the internals with a MacBook drive…

I probably will have it figured out before anyone answer but do they have the same interface?

Carlos Ferrari -

Is there a replacement USB cable available for this unit? Bad design causes the section where it exits the case to get crunched. Need a replacement cable.

Thanks,

Andy

Andy Espo -

Hey Andy,

unfortunately I do not think a replacement cable has ever been made available. On the later revisions the cable is soldered straight to the contacts on the drive- in theory, you could desolder it and re-solder the replacement, but there is no quick fix.

Josh Calvetti -

Is there a way to tell what version you have without tearing it down?

Stanley Smith -

Directly on the bottom of the case itself.

matthewknice -

@swsmith1971. under the Apple (upper left hand corner) > about this Mac > System Report > SATA/SATA Express >. should be the top item

mayer -

Can I replace usb A conector with usb C?

Parsa Meshkini -

No, you can’t replace the connector, you can get an adapter which will allow the drive to connect to your USB-C Mac.

Dan -

Well, depending on your definition of "replace" you can surely solder in a USB-C cable, though one will have to figure out the best course of action with A) Removing the existing cable or B) Just soldering on a new USB-C plug (won't require disassembly).

Martin Winkelmann -

Just use a USB-A to USB-C adapter, don't hardwire the drive.

Dan -

In step #6, it can help to disconnect the "tongue" part (connected by two screws to the side of the internal drive) before removing the drive. When reinserting make sure that the part is properly inserted into the grooves of the silver case, one on the side and two small ones in the roof. When screwing it back onto the drive you will have to hold the drive up a bit so the screws will line up.

Martin Winkelmann -