For this step, you only need to move the connector about 2 mm. Pulling too hard or too far will damage the connector.
Loosen the trackpad connector by pulling the locking bar toward the battery housing, using the tips of your fingers.
Slide the trackpad cable out of the loosened connector.
When reattaching the trackpad ribbon cable, make sure that the orange cable is slid into the connector above the locking bar.
Note: When reassembling the case, the trackpad cable can get stuck below the slot to the motherboard. It's possible to nudge it out slowly by gently prodding it on either side with a small screwdriver. You don't need to use much force to do this. Eventually it will just pop back out and you can reconnect as per the instructions above. Also, note that the locking bar comes loose so if you see a little piece of plastic lying around when reassembling, that's what it is. :)
The optical drive ribbon cable is very fragile. Be sure to gently lift up the cable on the sides. Do not lift up on the cable from the end closest to the display.
Carefully disconnect the orange optical drive ribbon from the logic board.
If you have already removed the DC-in board, your computer may differ slightly from the images in this section. This part does not affect this procedure.
Close the display (cover it with a protective cloth, if you're worried about scratching the screen) and flip the computer over.
Disconnect the two cables and one ribbon in the RAM compartment.
Use a spudger to gently (very gently) pry up the left side of the logic board.
If the logic board does not immediately come free, it may be necessary to soften the thermal paste between the logic board and heat sink. You can soften the thermal compound using a hairdryer. Move the hairdryer back and forth between the two fans about one inch above the logic board for one minute. At this point, logic board should now come free easily.
Grasp the logic board at the left edge with one hand and at the thinnest section with the other hand. Lift the left edge of the board up to approximately a 30 degree angle (if you don't have your protractor handy, just lift until the DVI port clears the right hinge).
Once the logic board clears the ports, slide it out to the left.
Important. When you reinstall a logic board, you'll need to replace the thermal paste that goes between the processor on the logic board and the heat sink. Failure to remove the old paste and apply a new layer can cause the computer to overheat and sustain damage. The following steps refer to replacing the thermal paste between the processor and heat sink; follow these steps only when you are ready to place the logic board in the computer.
Use a firm plastic edge to scrape the thermal material off the raised copper heat conduit in three places. Clean the surface with rubbing alcohol.
Apply a new layer of thermal paste to all three chips.
When replacing the logic board, make sure all cables are routed around and above - not under - it, and to connect the two cables that do go beneath before pushing the board into place.
When you place the logic board back in the computer, try not to move it around once the processor has come into contact with the newly-applied thermal paste.
From each complete hinge assembly, remove two Torx T6 screws from the outside of each set, leaving two remaining in the middle of each hinge. On each side, the two screws closer to the edge of the computer are shorter than the two screws closer to the center of the computer. Then remove the two inner screws from each hinge assembly. There are 8 screws total.
When reassembling the display, check to see that the hinges are seated properly before reinstalling the 8 screws of the two hinges. There is a metal phalange on the inside end of each hinge assembly that must be pointed downward and fit into a slot below the inside edge of the hinge. If not, the inside end of each hinge will sit too high and the plastic retaining bracket for the wiring will not sit down properly.