Mac Mini Hard Drive Replacement Problem

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Level 1

8 points

Mac Mini Hard Drive Replacement Problem

I'm trying to upgrade my old mac mini (late 2012) with a new SSD hard drive. Seems like others have done it before, as seen in the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnBtXrofOLc

My problem is that my mac mini seems to be missing screws that should connect to the hard drive, and the hard drive is much much lower that in the video, making it difficult to remove. I don't want to try to pry it out since it doesn't look like what apparently a late 2012 mac min should look like.

1) Does anyone have any ideas on how to safely remove the hard drive?

2) Does anyone know why mine seems to be physically different than is should? (missing screws and hard drive being set in lower in the mac mini?)

3) Will I be able to replace the hard drive like in the video?

Thank you!!!

Mac mini 2018 or later

Posted on Mar 28, 2020 8:06 PM

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Answer 1

Lanny

Level 6

13,225 points

Mar 28, 2020 8:52 PM in response to matt-swim

Stick a piece of scotch tape on it and lift up. It's only going to lift up just enough for you to able to slide it out.

Are you saying that you don't have the lower flat wide head screws that hold the antenna grate on to the hard drive?

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Answer 2

Lanny

Level 6

13,225 points

Mar 28, 2020 8:30 PM in response to matt-swim

Use the video from these guys: https://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/mac_mini2012_hd/

Those screw holes are used for other mounting methods in other computers. There are no missing screws.

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Answer 3

matt-swim Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 28, 2020 8:30 PM in response to Lanny

Thank you, however that is still the same problem as the video I was looking at before. As you can see in their video, the hard drive has 2 screws (circled in red in my pictures above) but mine is lacking these, and my hard drive is sitting significantly lower in the mac mini and is really difficult to remove. I was wondering if I can still just pry it out carefully or if I shouldn't try.

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Answer 4

matt-swim Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 28, 2020 8:42 PM in response to Lanny

yes, and my mac mini does not have these screws. When I tried to remove the antenna grate they just spun around, so when I removed it easily I saw they were not attached to anything below. Also the hard drive is not located in the same position, it is much lower than the one showed in the video and more difficult to get to. Do you think I should just try to pry it out?

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Answer 5

matt-swim Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 28, 2020 10:21 PM in response to Lanny

I have the screws on the antenna grate, they just have nothing to attach to below, on the hard drive.

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Answer 6

Lanny

Level 6

13,225 points

Mar 28, 2020 8:42 PM in response to matt-swim

What you have circled in red are the two screw holes that are used for the screws that hold the antenna grate on. You would have had to remove those two screws to remove the antenna grate.

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Answer 7

Lanny

Level 6

13,225 points

Mar 28, 2020 10:54 PM in response to matt-swim

They should screw into the threaded holes on the hard drive. Bring the edge of the drive up high enough to engage the screws.

If you can’t figure this out, take it into a service center.

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Mac Mini Hard Drive Replacement Problem

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