MacBook – How to open the 2011 MacBook Air without damaging the screws
hardwaremacbook pro
I would like to open the MBA, I don't have the screwdriver that fits:
Is there a way to remove the screws without the 5 points pentalobe required?
The ideal solution would be to do this without damaging the screws.
Best Answer
You cannot safely remove it without the proper tool and the correct touch. You want to place the driver on the tangent to the case (the screws enter at an angle - not vertical compared to the keyboard plane.
iFixit.com and other places sell the pentalobe tool for less than $15 and it's money well spent to avoid needing to get Apple to replace the screws should you strip them.
The first time you unscrew the screws on your computer, you'll notice there's some blue gunk around the threads. That's Loctite. It's essentially a sort of superglue for screws to help them stay in. The glue adheres the threads to the casing, but isn't strong enough that a decent screwdriver and some wrist action can't break it. I'd probably recommend finding an appropriate bottle of Loctite and then dabbing a bit on the screws and then screwing them back it. That should keep the suckers from comin' back out. :) I'm not sure about prices in Brazil, but in the US a bottle of Loctite (or something similar) should only cost you a few dollars.
They are called Pentalobe screws and look similar to this picture from Wikipedia:
You can find compatible screwdrivers on iFixit or Amazon. If you do go with Amazon, though, make sure you read the reviews before you buy anything, since many of them are filled with complaints about the product not working.
There's even a guide which will show you how to replace the screws with normal phillips ones.
Best Answer
You cannot safely remove it without the proper tool and the correct touch. You want to place the driver on the tangent to the case (the screws enter at an angle - not vertical compared to the keyboard plane.
iFixit.com and other places sell the pentalobe tool for less than $15 and it's money well spent to avoid needing to get Apple to replace the screws should you strip them.