An open community 
of Macintosh users,
for Macintosh users.

FineTunedMac Dashboard widget now available! Download Here

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 2 of 2 1 2
Re: Removing back of MacBook Pro
artie505 #63704 03/26/23 07:36 PM
Joined: Sep 2009
Likes: 3
OP Offline

Joined: Sep 2009
Likes: 3
I looked and none of my drill screw bits fit those tiny screws.

Originally Posted by artie505
My best suggestion...

If you've got a drill, you don't even need to wait for the P5. Since your MBP is headed for the trash, you can/should be able to, anyhow simply drill out the screw heads to remove the case back.

The SSD will be immediately visible, and you can pry it out with a screwdriver or claw hammer. Then break off the connectors that mate with the logic board with a pair of pliers, and bury what's left in the middle of a bag of kitchen garbage.


MacBook Pro - M2, Ventura 13.6
Safari Tech Prev 17.0
Safari 16.6
Firefox 116.0.2
iPhone 7 Version 15.8




Re: Removing back of MacBook Pro
plantsower #63706 03/26/23 08:04 PM
Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 16
Moderator
Offline
Moderator

Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 16
[quote=plantsower]I looked and none of my drill screw bits fit those tiny screws.

Who cares if the drill bits fit? You are just going to drill them out and the result will be an irreparable MacBook no matter whether the size of the holes! A 1/2" bit would easily do the job, but 1/8" bit would likely be faster and easier.


If we knew what it was we were doing, it wouldn't be called research, would it?

— Albert Einstein
Re: Removing back of MacBook Pro
joemikeb #63707 03/26/23 08:40 PM
Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 15
Online

Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 15
Originally Posted by joemikeb
Who cares if the drill bits fit? You are just going to drill them out and the result will be an irreparable MacBook no matter whether the size of the holes! A 1/2" bit would easily do the job, but 1/8" bit would likely be faster and easier.
The MBP is already a dead issue, but under any circumstances, drilling out the screws would ruin only the case back, not the entire computer. (And if you're really careful, you can save the case back.)


The new Great Equalizer is the SEND button.

In Memory of Harv: Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~Voltaire
Re: Removing back of MacBook Pro
artie505 #63711 03/26/23 10:49 PM
Joined: Sep 2009
Likes: 3
OP Offline

Joined: Sep 2009
Likes: 3
I don't need to save anything. So full on destruction.




Originally Posted by artie505
Originally Posted by joemikeb
Who cares if the drill bits fit? You are just going to drill them out and the result will be an irreparable MacBook no matter whether the size of the holes! A 1/2" bit would easily do the job, but 1/8" bit would likely be faster and easier.
The MBP is already a dead issue, but under any circumstances, drilling out the screws would ruin only the case back, not the entire computer. (And if you're really careful, you can save the case back.)


MacBook Pro - M2, Ventura 13.6
Safari Tech Prev 17.0
Safari 16.6
Firefox 116.0.2
iPhone 7 Version 15.8




Re: Removing back of MacBook Pro
joemikeb #63712 03/26/23 10:53 PM
Joined: Sep 2009
Likes: 3
OP Offline

Joined: Sep 2009
Likes: 3
Since I am not mechanically savvy, I think it's a semantics thing. I was talking about the screw bits not fitting the tiny screws so no way to screw them out. Maybe you are talking about just drilling holes into the back at each screw and then removing the back? I'm so confused. confused Glad I ordered the little screwdriver for those screws afterall.


Originally Posted by joemikeb
[quote=plantsower]I looked and none of my drill screw bits fit those tiny screws.

Who cares if the drill bits fit? You are just going to drill them out and the result will be an irreparable MacBook no matter whether the size of the holes! A 1/2" bit would easily do the job, but 1/8" bit would likely be faster and easier.


MacBook Pro - M2, Ventura 13.6
Safari Tech Prev 17.0
Safari 16.6
Firefox 116.0.2
iPhone 7 Version 15.8




Re: Removing back of MacBook Pro
plantsower #63713 03/26/23 11:00 PM
Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 15
Online

Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 15
Originally Posted by plantsower
...full on destruction.
When I was young, my father repaired pre-transistor TVs ("tube jobs"), and he used to give me the dead ones to lay waste to.

It was like heaven! laugh

There's also an old family story about how when someone gave me a new toy, and my mother would ask "What do you say," I'd answer "Now can I take it apart?"


The new Great Equalizer is the SEND button.

In Memory of Harv: Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~Voltaire
Re: Removing back of MacBook Pro
artie505 #63714 03/26/23 11:07 PM
Joined: Sep 2009
Likes: 3
OP Offline

Joined: Sep 2009
Likes: 3
LOL! Were you that kid that took things apart right and left but didn't/couldn't put them back together?


There's also an old family story about how when someone gave me a new toy, and my mother would ask "What do you say," I'd answer "Now can I take it apart?" [/quote]


MacBook Pro - M2, Ventura 13.6
Safari Tech Prev 17.0
Safari 16.6
Firefox 116.0.2
iPhone 7 Version 15.8




Re: Removing back of MacBook Pro
plantsower #63715 03/26/23 11:07 PM
Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 15
Online

Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 15
Originally Posted by plantsower
Maybe you are talking about just drilling holes into the back at each screw and then removing the back? I'm so confused. confused
That's more or less correct.

The drill doesn't know the difference between the screw and the case-back, so when you put its tip in the middle of the screw and start drilling, it begins its hole by drilling away the head of the screw leaving the threaded part intact.


The new Great Equalizer is the SEND button.

In Memory of Harv: Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~Voltaire
Re: Removing back of MacBook Pro
plantsower #63716 03/26/23 11:14 PM
Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 15
Online

Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 15
Originally Posted by plantsower
LOL! Were you that kid that took things apart right and left but didn't/couldn't put them back together?
When I'm done taking something apart, it's Humpty Dumptified!

Not that I was interested in the toys, anyhow. I loved the idea that people gave me stuff to destroy.


The new Great Equalizer is the SEND button.

In Memory of Harv: Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~Voltaire
Re: Removing back of MacBook Pro
artie505 #63717 03/26/23 11:14 PM
Joined: Sep 2009
Likes: 3
OP Offline

Joined: Sep 2009
Likes: 3
Once again, you know how to use Rita speak! Thanks, Artie.

The drill doesn't know the difference between the screw and the case-back, so when you put its tip in the middle of the screw and start drilling, it drills away the heads of the screws leaving their threaded parts intact. [/quote]


MacBook Pro - M2, Ventura 13.6
Safari Tech Prev 17.0
Safari 16.6
Firefox 116.0.2
iPhone 7 Version 15.8




Re: Removing back of MacBook Pro
artie505 #63718 03/26/23 11:15 PM
Joined: Sep 2009
Likes: 3
OP Offline

Joined: Sep 2009
Likes: 3
I never took anything apart. Maybe that's why I can't do it now!

Originally Posted by artie505
Originally Posted by plantsower
LOL! Were you that kid that took things apart right and left but didn't/couldn't put them back together?
When I'm done taking something apart, it's Humpty Dumptified!

Not that I was interested in the toys, anyhow. I loved the idea that people gave me stuff to destroy.


MacBook Pro - M2, Ventura 13.6
Safari Tech Prev 17.0
Safari 16.6
Firefox 116.0.2
iPhone 7 Version 15.8




Re: Removing back of MacBook Pro
plantsower #63719 03/26/23 11:24 PM
Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 15
Online

Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 15
Originally Posted by plantsower
I never took anything apart. Maybe that's why I can't do it now!
You learn destruction as you go, progressing from crudely to eloquently. laugh

Even if you can't put it back together, you can very often learn something about how it works as you take it apart.

In my case, the pieces were in pieces...no way anyone could have put them back together.


The new Great Equalizer is the SEND button.

In Memory of Harv: Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~Voltaire
Re: Removing back of MacBook Pro
artie505 #63720 03/27/23 02:08 AM
Joined: Sep 2009
Likes: 3
OP Offline

Joined: Sep 2009
Likes: 3
You must have been fun to raise. A challenge?


Originally Posted by artie505
Originally Posted by plantsower
I never took anything apart. Maybe that's why I can't do it now!
You learn destruction as you go, progressing from crudely to eloquently. laugh

Even if you can't put it back together, you can very often learn something about how it works as you take it apart.

In my case, the pieces were in pieces...no way anyone could have put them back together.


MacBook Pro - M2, Ventura 13.6
Safari Tech Prev 17.0
Safari 16.6
Firefox 116.0.2
iPhone 7 Version 15.8




Re: Removing back of MacBook Pro
plantsower #63721 03/27/23 02:27 AM
Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 15
Online

Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 15
Originally Posted by plantsower
You must have been fun to raise. A challenge?
grin smirk


The new Great Equalizer is the SEND button.

In Memory of Harv: Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~Voltaire
Page 2 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  alternaut, cyn 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.4
(Release build 20200307)
Responsive Width:

PHP: 7.4.33 Page Time: 0.033s Queries: 43 (0.025s) Memory: 0.6504 MB (Peak: 0.7768 MB) Data Comp: Zlib Server Time: 2024-03-28 11:22:06 UTC
Valid HTML 5 and Valid CSS