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Use this guide to replace your mini's PRAM battery.
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Place your thumbs in the depressions cut into the bottom cover.
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Rotate the bottom cover counter-clockwise until the white dot painted on the bottom cover is aligned with the ring inscribed on the outer case.
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Tilt the mini enough to allow the bottom cover to fall away from the outer case.
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Remove the bottom cover and set it aside.
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Remove the two 11.3 mm T6 Torx screws securing the fan to the logic board near the antenna plate.
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Lift the ear of the fan nearest the RAM up off the standoff secured to the outer case.
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Lift the fan out of the mini for enough clearance to access its connector.
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Grab all the wires at once and gently pull straight up to disconnect the fan from the logic board.
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Remove the fan.
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Remove the single 3.5 mm T6 Torx screw securing the cowling to the heat sink.
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Lift the cowling from the end nearest the antenna plate.
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Rotate the cowling away from the outer case and remove it from the mini.
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Remove the following screws securing the antenna plate to the mini:
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Two 6.6 mm T8 Torx screws
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Two 5.0 mm T8 Torx or 2.0 mm Hex screws (either screwdriver will work)
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When putting back together:
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Slightly lift the antenna plate from the end closest to the RAM.
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Carefully pull the antenna plate away from the circular rim of the outer case.
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Use the tip of a spudger to carefully pry the antenna connector up from its socket on the AirPort/Bluetooth board.
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Remove the antenna plate from the mini.
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Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the hard drive connector up from its socket on the logic board.
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Use the tip of a spudger to lift the IR sensor connector up and out of its socket on the logic board.
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Remove the following three screws:
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One 5.0 mm T8 Torx or 2.0 mm Hex screw (either screwdriver will work)
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One 16.2 mm T6 Torx screw
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One 26 mm T6 Torx standoff
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crwdns2935267:0crwdne2935267:0Mac mini Logic Board Removal Tool$4.99
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Insert the Mac mini Logic Board Removal Tool into the two holes highlighted in red. Be sure it makes contact with the top side of outer case below the logic board before proceeding.
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Carefully pull the tool toward the I/O board. The logic board and I/O board assembly should slightly slide out of the outer case.
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Remove the Mac mini Logic Board Removal tool.
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Pull the I/O board/logic board assembly out of the outer case enough to access the power connector.
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Use your fingers to disconnect the DC-In cable from the logic board.
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Pull the power cable connector toward the front side of the mini.
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Carefully slide the logic board assembly out of the mini, minding any cables that may get caught.
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Use the tip of a spudger to carefully pry the PRAM battery up and out of its holder on the logic board.
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Remove the PRAM battery from the logic board.
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To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
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Great directions. Unfortunately it’s the logic board. But thanks.
Second time I have used this guide. Thorough and NO fluff…i.e. When the guide says “gently" or “can be difficult" those words are there for a reason. This one is direct and to the point without a head in the clouds. Leave that to me!
The PRAM battery is a commonly available BR2032 coin-cell.
By mail order only and from China for me, Ordered two BR2032 coin cells 12 days ago and still waiting. I doubt if you would find this exact type anywhere locally in a store. You could go with a CR2032 which is found more easily but after what I found online it does make a difference.
The main difference between these two types resides in their electrode.
While similar, the BR2032 uses carbon monofluoride as the positive electrode.
The CR2032 uses manganese dioxide for the positive electrode
There is a difference between CR2032 and BR2032. While the dimensions are the same, the chemistries are different. The BR2032 are preferred for maintaining computer PRAM or BIOS because at temperatures above 60c (140f) the CR type battery decays faster and has more voltage sag. It is not unusual for the inside of your computer to reach these temperatures. In relatively speaking higher drain applications -like many consumer use applications, the chemistry of the CR type battery is advantageous as it provides more steady voltage under higher drains at temperatures under 60c. In short, after 3 or 4 years in a system the CR chemistry battery might not be providing close enough to the 3v for the system clock to maintain the purest accuracy. But can you use either?- yes. But what does Apple put as factory original? - the BR chemistry.
Why is a fan listed as a part? Is it expected to be destroyed in removal? That seems unlikely.
