Difficulty

Difficult

Steps

38

Time Required

                          45 minutes - 1 hour

Sections

2

  • Upper Case
  • 30 steps
  • Installing the Backlit Keyboard
  • 8 steps

Flags

In Progress

This guide is a work in progress. Reload periodically to see the latest changes!

Member-Contributed Guide

An awesome member of our community made this guide. It is not managed by iFixit staff.

  • BackMacBook Unibody A1278

  • Full Screen

  • Options

  • History

  • Save to Favorites

  • Download PDF

  • Edit

  • Translate

  • Get Shareable Link

  • Embed This Guide

  • Notify Me of Changes

  • Stop Notifications

Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Upper Case
  • Some 2.0 GHz A1278 MacBook Unibody logic boards do not have the necessary socket installed to accept the keyboard backlight ribbon cable attached to the upper case. The first and second pictures show logic boards with and without the socket installed, respectively. If your logic board does not have the backlight ribbon cable socket installed, the keyboard will work but the keys will not light up.
  • If your logic board does not have the socket installed to accept the keyboard backlight ribbon cable and you are installing a backlit upper case, simply tuck the keyboard backlight ribbon cable out of the way when you reinstall the logic board into the upper case.

Some 2.0 GHz A1278 MacBook Unibody logic boards do not have the necessary socket installed to accept the keyboard backlight ribbon cable attached to the upper case. The first and second pictures show logic boards with and without the socket installed, respectively. If your logic board does not have the backlight ribbon cable socket installed, the keyboard will work but the keys will not light up.

If your logic board does not have the socket installed to accept the keyboard backlight ribbon cable and you are installing a backlit upper case, simply tuck the keyboard backlight ribbon cable out of the way when you reinstall the logic board into the upper case.

1024

Step 2

  • Remove the single Phillips screw securing the hard drive bracket to the chassis.
  • This screw is captive to the hard drive bracket.

Remove the single Phillips screw securing the hard drive bracket to the chassis.

This screw is captive to the hard drive bracket.

Step 3

  • Lift the hard drive by its pull tab enough to grab and remove the retaining bracket.
  • Lift the hard drive out of the chassis, minding the cable attaching it to the computer.

Lift the hard drive by its pull tab enough to grab and remove the retaining bracket.

Lift the hard drive out of the chassis, minding the cable attaching it to the computer.

Step 4

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

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

Step 5

  • Remove the four 10.3 mm Phillips screws securing the mid wall to the upper case.

Remove the four 10.3 mm Phillips screws securing the mid wall to the upper case.

Step 6

  • Lift the mid wall out of the upper case.

Lift the mid wall out of the upper case.

Step 7

  • Remove the following three screws securing the fan to the upper case:
  • Two 5 mm Phillips screws.
  • One 7 mm Phillips screw.

Remove the following three screws securing the fan to the upper case:

Two 5 mm Phillips screws.

One 7 mm Phillips screw.

Step 8

  • Use a spudger to pry the fan connector straight up and out of its socket on the logic board.
  • It is useful to twist the spudger axially from beneath the fan cable wires to release the connector.
  • The fan socket and the fan connector can be seen in the second and third pictures. Be careful not to break the plastic fan socket off the logic board as you use your spudger to lift the fan connector straight up and out of its socket. The layout of the logic board shown in the second picture may look slightly different than your machine but the fan socket is the same.

Use a spudger to pry the fan connector straight up and out of its socket on the logic board.

It is useful to twist the spudger axially from beneath the fan cable wires to release the connector.

The fan socket and the fan connector can be seen in the second and third pictures. Be careful not to break the plastic fan socket off the logic board as you use your spudger to lift the fan connector straight up and out of its socket. The layout of the logic board shown in the second picture may look slightly different than your machine but the fan socket is the same.

Step 9

  • Lift the fan out of the upper case.

Lift the fan out of the upper case.

Step 10

  • Using the flat end of a spudger, pry the subwoofer connector straight up off the logic board.

Using the flat end of a spudger, pry the subwoofer connector straight up off the logic board.

Step 11

  • Remove the single Phillips screw securing the subwoofer to the upper case.

Remove the single Phillips screw securing the subwoofer to the upper case.

Step 12

  • The subwoofer is still connected to the right speaker, so don’t completely remove it just yet.
  • Lift the subwoofer off the optical drive, and set it above the computer.

The subwoofer is still connected to the right speaker, so don’t completely remove it just yet.

Lift the subwoofer off the optical drive, and set it above the computer.

Step 13

  • Use a spudger to pry the optical drive connector straight up off the logic board.

Use a spudger to pry the optical drive connector straight up off the logic board.

Step 14

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the hard drive cable connector straight up off the logic board.

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the hard drive cable connector straight up off the logic board.

Step 15

  • Remove the three 2.5 mm Phillips screws securing the optical drive to the upper case.

Remove the three 2.5 mm Phillips screws securing the optical drive to the upper case.

Step 16

  • Lift the optical drive from its right edge and pull it out of the computer.

Lift the optical drive from its right edge and pull it out of the computer.

Step 17

  • Peel the hard drive cable from the adhesive securing it to the upper case, and maneuver the plastic retaining block out of the upper case.
  • The hard drive cable and the plastic retaining block are attached together.

Peel the hard drive cable from the adhesive securing it to the upper case, and maneuver the plastic retaining block out of the upper case.

The hard drive cable and the plastic retaining block are attached together.

Step 18

  • Peel back the small piece of black tape covering the right speaker cable.
  • Use the tip of a spudger to pry the right speaker up off the adhesive securing it to the upper case.
  • Lift the subwoofer and right speaker assembly out of the upper case.

Peel back the small piece of black tape covering the right speaker cable.

Use the tip of a spudger to pry the right speaker up off the adhesive securing it to the upper case.

Lift the subwoofer and right speaker assembly out of the upper case.

Step 19

  • Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the locking lever to release the IR sensor ribbon cable from its socket.
  • Pull the IR sensor ribbon cable straight away from the logic board.

Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the locking lever to release the IR sensor ribbon cable from its socket.

Pull the IR sensor ribbon cable straight away from the logic board.

Step 20

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the trackpad connector straight up off the logic board.

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the trackpad connector straight up off the logic board.

Step 21

  • Using the tip of a spudger, flip up the keyboard ribbon cable retaining flap.
  • Pull the keyboard ribbon cable straight out of its socket.

Using the tip of a spudger, flip up the keyboard ribbon cable retaining flap.

Pull the keyboard ribbon cable straight out of its socket.

Step 22

  • Remove the two 5 mm Phillips screws securing the keyboard flex bracket to the upper case.
  • Lift the keyboard flex bracket out of the upper case.

Remove the two 5 mm Phillips screws securing the keyboard flex bracket to the upper case.

Lift the keyboard flex bracket out of the upper case.

Step 23

  • Remove the single Phillips screw securing the battery cable cover to the upper case.
  • Remove the battery cable cover from the upper case.

Remove the single Phillips screw securing the battery cable cover to the upper case.

Remove the battery cable cover from the upper case.

Step 24

  • Use a spudger to pry the battery level indicator cable connector straight up off the logic board.

Use a spudger to pry the battery level indicator cable connector straight up off the logic board.

Step 25

  • Disconnect the battery cable connector by pulling it straight away from the logic board.
  • If you cannot grasp the cable with your fingers, a spudger and tweezers may be helpful for removal.

Disconnect the battery cable connector by pulling it straight away from the logic board.

If you cannot grasp the cable with your fingers, a spudger and tweezers may be helpful for removal.

Step 26

  • Remove the two 4mm Phillips screws securing the bottom case clip to the upper case.
  • Lift the bottom case clip out of the upper case.

Remove the two 4mm Phillips screws securing the bottom case clip to the upper case.

Lift the bottom case clip out of the upper case.

Step 27

  • Use the tip of a spudger to release the microphone from the upper case.

Use the tip of a spudger to release the microphone from the upper case.

Step 28

  • Remove the following five screws securing the logic board to the upper case:
  • Four 3 mm Phillips screws.
  • One 3.5 mm Phillips screw.
  • Remove the two 7 mm Phillips screws securing the DC-in board to the upper case.
  • Lift the logic board from its left edge and pull it out of the upper case.

Remove the following five screws securing the logic board to the upper case:

Four 3 mm Phillips screws.

One 3.5 mm Phillips screw.

Remove the two 7 mm Phillips screws securing the DC-in board to the upper case.

Lift the logic board from its left edge and pull it out of the upper case.

Step 29

  • If you are buying a new upper case from us, the next two steps are not necessary. Your upper case will come with these parts preinstalled.
  • Remove the following screws securing the battery connector cover to the upper case:
  • One 2.5 mm Phillips screw.
  • Two 1.5 mm Phillips screws.
  • Lift the battery connector cover out of the upper case.

If you are buying a new upper case from us, the next two steps are not necessary. Your upper case will come with these parts preinstalled.

Remove the following screws securing the battery connector cover to the upper case:

One 2.5 mm Phillips screw.

Two 1.5 mm Phillips screws.

Lift the battery connector cover out of the upper case.

Step 30

  • De-route the battery connector cable through the gap in the upper case and remove it from the computer.
  • If you are installing an Upper Case that is missing the black bracket in the middle then transfer it from the old case to the replacement.

De-route the battery connector cable through the gap in the upper case and remove it from the computer.

If you are installing an Upper Case that is missing the black bracket in the middle then transfer it from the old case to the replacement.

Step 31

              Installing the Backlit Keyboard
  • Now that you have removed the display (only required if a new top case is used to replace the keyboard), logic board, optical drive, and various other components from the upper case (or top case), you should have something that looks like this.
  • We are ready to begin!

Now that you have removed the display (only required if a new top case is used to replace the keyboard), logic board, optical drive, and various other components from the upper case (or top case), you should have something that looks like this.

We are ready to begin!

Step 32

  • You have to remove these two screws from the bracket.

You have to remove these two screws from the bracket.

Step 33

  • First, you’ll notice the large black piece of plastic over the back of the keyboard.
  • You will need to use a spudger or a small straight edge screwdriver to carefully unstick the the edges of the plastic from the upper case.
  • Be careful not to tear the plastic as it is very thin.

First, you’ll notice the large black piece of plastic over the back of the keyboard.

You will need to use a spudger or a small straight edge screwdriver to carefully unstick the the edges of the plastic from the upper case.

Be careful not to tear the plastic as it is very thin.

Step 34

  • Now you will see a large clear plastic wafer stuck to the back of the keyboard.
  • You can remove this easily buy peeling it up slowly.

Now you will see a large clear plastic wafer stuck to the back of the keyboard.

You can remove this easily buy peeling it up slowly.

Step 35

  • Now that you can see the back of the individual keys, stop there.
  • You now need to unscrew the 2 small, black Philips screws from the back of the power button assembly. Failing to do this will tear the the power button’s ribbon cable when you try to remove the keyboard.
  • After you do this, remove the power button by pressing on the power button from the top of the upper case. The power button and a small metal ring (spring) will come out.

Now that you can see the back of the individual keys, stop there.

You now need to unscrew the 2 small, black Philips screws from the back of the power button assembly. Failing to do this will tear the the power button’s ribbon cable when you try to remove the keyboard.

After you do this, remove the power button by pressing on the power button from the top of the upper case. The power button and a small metal ring (spring) will come out.

Step 36

  • Now you have all probably noticed the horde of tiny black screws that cover the back of your keyboard. Yes, unfortunately we have to to take ’em out!
  • Be very careful here as you don’t want to strip the small screw heads and you also don’t want to lose any. I’ve found that having a magnet to pick up the screws is helpful. A small container to put them in is also useful for keeping them out of the carpet.
  • There are a total of 66 screws.

Now you have all probably noticed the horde of tiny black screws that cover the back of your keyboard. Yes, unfortunately we have to to take ’em out!

Be very careful here as you don’t want to strip the small screw heads and you also don’t want to lose any. I’ve found that having a magnet to pick up the screws is helpful. A small container to put them in is also useful for keeping them out of the carpet.

There are a total of 66 screws.

Step 37

  • Now that you have removed all of the screws, you can gently press on the face side of the keyboard and it will come right out. (If you have removed all the screws.)
  • Here is an image of the top case without its keyboard. I hope you’re not winded yet. We’re only half way there!

Now that you have removed all of the screws, you can gently press on the face side of the keyboard and it will come right out. (If you have removed all the screws.)

Here is an image of the top case without its keyboard. I hope you’re not winded yet. We’re only half way there!

Step 38

  • Now you are going to install that new backlit keyboard you’ve always wanted!

Now you are going to install that new backlit keyboard you’ve always wanted!

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

Cancel: I did not complete this guide.

                                                                                      33 other people completed this guide.

Author

                                      with 7 other contributors 


                    Nathanael

Member since: 02/11/2010

1,514 Reputation

                                      1 Guide authored                  



                       Badges:
                       20







                                                        +17 more badges

julianbugejacoster - Jan 2, 2013

Reply

The photos which show how to install the backlit aren’t showing. Is there maybe another thread which shows them because I can’t really figure it out .

Taylor Arnicar - Jan 3, 2013

The photos aren’t failing to show up, there just aren’t any photos - no one ever uploaded any, even though the text of the guide talks about the pictures. As you’re doing the upgrade yourself though, snap some pictures, edit the steps here, and upload your pictures!

Kevin Zygmunt - Aug 22, 2013

Reply

just a question. Where exactly do I put the backlight? Because I have a black film, then a thick plastic sheet, then the metal. then the silicon layer with the components inside, and then the front black sheet, and above that you mount the keys. In between which layer do I put the backlight?

Clodoaldo Castro - Sep 23, 2016

Remove black film and put your backlit

NDE - Jun 12, 2014

Reply

I realize that this guide is getting a bit old, but I bought just the backlight part off Ebay. It’s essentially a black film with couple of leds, a clear plastic sheet and a black matte layer. It goes on top (if you look at the MB from the bottom, as in this guide) the metal layer. So it replaces the parts you remove in steps 32 and 33, after which you can start reassembling.