Screw size for MacBook Pro

[David Farber]

I'm trying to disassemble a MacBook Pro, model number A1989, to remove
the hard drive. The screwdrivers I have do not mach the shape or size of
the bottom panel case screws. I believe the screws are pentalobe type.
Does anyone know the exact size screwdriver that will fit these screws?

Thanks for your reply.

--
David Farber
Los Osos, CA

[Clifford Heath]

On 17/1/22 11:44 am, David Farber wrote:
> I'm trying to disassemble a MacBook Pro, model number A1989, to remove
> the hard drive. The screwdrivers I have do not mach the shape or size of
> the bottom panel case screws. I believe the screws are pentalobe type.
> Does anyone know the exact size screwdriver that will fit these screws?

I don't have the right pentalobe bit, but I find that a 1.4mm flat blade
miniature screwdriver gets them undone ok. Ugly, but it works without
mangling the screw, if you use a bit of downforce. Not kind to the
driver, but those can be sharpened or replaced.

Clifford Heath.

[David Farber]

Hi Clifford,

I don't want to risk mangling the screw head unless it's a last resort
type of thing.

[Clifford Heath]

Try it. You'll find that the screwdriver is much more vulnerable than
the screw, and even if something does yield, the pentalobe is still
structurally intact. I've done it multiple times on my Macbook with no
visible damage to any of the screws.

CH.

[whit3rd]

On Sunday, January 16, 2022 at 4:44:40 PM UTC-8, David Farber wrote:
> I'm trying to disassemble a MacBook Pro, model number A1989, to remove
> the hard drive. The screwdrivers I have do not mach the shape or size of
> the bottom panel case screws. I believe the screws are pentalobe type.
> Does anyone know the exact size screwdriver that will fit these screws?

The sizes are not standard, really. So, usually pentalobe drivers are sold in
sets of two or three sizes. 1.2mm pentalobe was the label on the one that
fits my A1370 Air. Some come labeled "P2" "P5" "P6" or "0.8mm".
"P5" and 1.2mm are the same.

I'd not recommend trying non-fitting drivers, those screws are stainless and
generally soft enough that a steel driver can hurt them.

[David Farber]

After some further research, this has all become moot because I found
out the "hard drive" is merely a couple of chips *soldered* onto the
logic board. Since this particular computer has a bad display, it could
be connected to an external monitor and then data could be copied to an
external drive.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250143892

[David Farber]

Thanks for the detailed information on the tools. As it turns out, there
is no hard drive in this model. There are memory chips soldered directly
onto the logic board.

[Jeff Liebermann]

On Sun, 16 Jan 2022 16:44:36 -0800, David Farber
<farberbe...@aol.com> wrote:

>I'm trying to disassemble a MacBook Pro, model number A1989, to remove
>the hard drive. The screwdrivers I have do not mach the shape or size of
>the bottom panel case screws. I believe the screws are pentalobe type.
>Does anyone know the exact size screwdriver that will fit these screws?

As you mentioned, the SSD and memory chips are all soldered to the
motherboard. No user serviceable parts inside. However, if feel
inspired to fix it, there are numerous teardown guides on iFixit.com.
Unfortunately, I couldn't find much for your specific MacBook:
<https://www.ifixit.com/Search?query=Macbook%20Pro%20A1989>

You might want to invest in a pentalobe screwdriver set:
<https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=pentalobe+screwdriver+set>
or something that covers most of the weird fasteners that Apple uses
to keep you out of your equipment:
<https://www.ebay.com/itm/165232777917>


--
Jeff Liebermann je...@cruzio.com
PO Box 272 http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Ben Lomond CA 95005-0272
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

[Clifford Heath]

On 17/1/22 4:12 pm, whit3rd wrote:
> I'd not recommend trying non-fitting drivers, those screws are stainless and
> generally soft enough that a steel driver can hurt them.

You do well to recommend that, but in fact, two of the opposing lobes
are only 18 degrees away from being opposite, and the vertical sides and
depth of the lobes form an effective slot for a right-sized screwdriver.
There is very little risk of damaging the screw, as it turns out. The
flat screwdriver is considerably more secure than it would be in a
normal screw slot. Not as strong as a pentalobe, but quite adequate.

[Mike]

In article <05jeug9jg7uhq8dvu...@4ax.com>,

Jeff Liebermann <je...@cruzio.com> wrote:

>>I'm trying to disassemble a MacBook Pro, model number A1989, to remove
>>the hard drive.

>iFixit.com.
>Unfortunately, I couldn't find much for your specific MacBook:
><https://www.ifixit.com/Search?query=Macbook%20Pro%20A1989>

There's an Apple (and other devices) knowledgebase, courtesy of
Louis Rossmann and community efforts, where you may find all sorts
of tips/hints ...

https://wiki2.rossmanngroup.com/index.php

He also links a lot of the specific tools needed to open/service
Macbooks etc. on most of his board-repair related YouTube videos :-

https://www.youtube.com/user/rossmanngroup/videos

--
--------------------------------------+------------------------------------
Mike Brown: mjb[-at-]signal11.org.uk | http://www.signal11.org.uk

[Jeff Liebermann]

On Wed, 19 Jan 2022 17:57:44 +0000 (GMT), m...@signal11.invalid (Mike)
wrote:

>In article <05jeug9jg7uhq8dvu...@4ax.com>,
>Jeff Liebermann <je...@cruzio.com> wrote:
>
>>>I'm trying to disassemble a MacBook Pro, model number A1989, to remove
>>>the hard drive.
>
>>iFixit.com.
>>Unfortunately, I couldn't find much for your specific MacBook:
>><https://www.ifixit.com/Search?query=Macbook%20Pro%20A1989>
>
>There's an Apple (and other devices) knowledgebase, courtesy of
>Louis Rossmann and community efforts, where you may find all sorts
>of tips/hints ...
>
>https://wiki2.rossmanngroup.com/index.php
>
>He also links a lot of the specific tools needed to open/service
>Macbooks etc. on most of his board-repair related YouTube videos :-
>
>https://www.youtube.com/user/rossmanngroup/videos

Thanks. I found that MacBook A1989 link at:
<https://repair.wiki/w/A1989_2018_13%E2%80%9D_Touchbar_MacBook_Pro>
However, no disassembly instructions or tool specs. Still, quite
useful for troubleshooting and component level repairs.

[David Farber]

On 1/20/2022 1:12 PM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:
> On Wed, 19 Jan 2022 17:57:44 +0000 (GMT), m...@signal11.invalid (Mike)
> wrote:
>
>> In article <05jeug9jg7uhq8dvu...@4ax.com>,
>> Jeff Liebermann <je...@cruzio.com> wrote:
>>
>>>> I'm trying to disassemble a MacBook Pro, model number A1989, to remove
>>>> the hard drive.
>>
>>> iFixit.com.
>>> Unfortunately, I couldn't find much for your specific MacBook:
>>> <https://www.ifixit.com/Search?query=Macbook%20Pro%20A1989>
>>
>> There's an Apple (and other devices) knowledgebase, courtesy of
>> Louis Rossmann and community efforts, where you may find all sorts
>> of tips/hints ...
>>
>> https://wiki2.rossmanngroup.com/index.php
>>
>> He also links a lot of the specific tools needed to open/service
>> Macbooks etc. on most of his board-repair related YouTube videos :-
>>
>> https://www.youtube.com/user/rossmanngroup/videos
>
> Thanks. I found that MacBook A1989 link at:
> <https://repair.wiki/w/A1989_2018_13%E2%80%9D_Touchbar_MacBook_Pro>
> However, no disassembly instructions or tool specs. Still, quite
> useful for troubleshooting and component level repairs.
>

From this detailed disassembly video,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_l5SFWA69I0

The tools needed in order of disassembly are:
1)Pentalobe tool of unknown size for bottom panel screws
2)T4
3)T5
4)T6
5)Pentalobe 2

The problem here is that the video does not explicitly say which size
pentalobe tool is used to remove the bottom panel screws.
When it comes to removing the Wi-Fi screws, the video again says the
screws are pentalobe 2. Does that mean P2 or PL2?

Another video gives more specific information when the size in
millimeters is given along with the P(L) size. That is very helpful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsYsCrOreHo

Wikipedia has a good chart which explains how the same sized screw can
have *four* different names for one specific size.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentalobe_screw

After reading all the information about these disjointed standards for
these pentalobe screws (and explained previously by whit3rd further back
in this thread), what makes the most sense to me is to make sure you
confirm the correct screw size with the measurement in millimeters of
the screw. For example say, "Pentalobe screw size 1.2mm," not,
"Pentalobe 5."

On a side note, there seems to have been a successful lawsuit against
Apple for their faulty displays.

https://www.ifixit.com/News/16943/macbook-pro-flexgate-repair-program

Thanks for your replies.

[Mike]

In article <drjjuglu39iac5cm3...@4ax.com>,

Jeff Liebermann <je...@cruzio.com> wrote:

>>https://wiki2.rossmanngroup.com/index.php
>>
>>He also links a lot of the specific tools needed to open/service
>>Macbooks etc. on most of his board-repair related YouTube videos :-
>>
>>https://www.youtube.com/user/rossmanngroup/videos
>
>Thanks. I found that MacBook A1989 link at:
><https://repair.wiki/w/A1989_2018_13%E2%80%9D_Touchbar_MacBook_Pro>
>However, no disassembly instructions or tool specs. Still, quite
>useful for troubleshooting and component level repairs.

Tools :- If it wasn't linked on the description of the YT "board repair"
video you looked at, some clues here -- lots of Torx and Triwing and
Pentalobe to keep people out.

https://store.rossmanngroup.com/soldering-diy/helpful-tools-extras/screwdrivers.html

Looks like Pentalobe PL4 for MacBooks ...

They've been doing this crap since the days of the Apple Mac, needing a
"special" long, thin Torx to reach the ridiculously deep-buried screws!

Of course, a standard 1/4" "bit set" won't work, because it's down a deep
recess that is too narrow to get a "bit set" down. Real screwdriver, or
go home! :(