Comments

03) Use your fingernails to slightly pry apart the top case of the Mac Mini. Using a metal putty knife will almost guarantee a few scratches that can be avoided simply by using your fingernails. If you have a friend helping, have them try to insert either a putty knife or flat-headed screwdriver into the gap created by the fingernails(s). It's a very tight fit and will require some elbow grease and finessing. You can also try using rulers if your plastic putty knife isn't thick enough.

Be careful not to dig the putty knife in too deep or you will tear up some of the gray foam on the inside of the case. Opening the Mac Mini is not an easy task. Turn back now if you don't feel comfortable.

04) Once you have the putty knife inserted into the side, use it to carefully pry the top case apart from the rest of the Mac Mini. You may have to push back until the putty knife starts to bend.

Don't be alarmed if your Mac Mini starts to snap, crackle and pop like a bowl of Rice Crispies. This is the sound of the plastic clips and metal rim coming loose. Also be aware that minor scratches in and around your Mac Mini will be pretty difficult to avoid [see image]. But a plastic putty knife will dramatically decrease the amount of scratches your Mac Mini will suffer during this procedure. A plastic putty knife is only about ¢0.80 from Amazon.com or your local hardware store.

Once you have loosened the top cover, carefully slide it off.

05) Be careful and take your time. Here's a video of us removing the Mac Mini cover.

• A: RAM slots - hidden from view
  
  
• B: infrared receiver - at the end of the optical-drive slot
  
  
• C: Bluetooth antenna
  
  
• D: AirPort antenna
  
  
• E: Bluetooth card - beneath and behind the AirPort antenna

07) Three of the screws are easily removed. It's the 4th screw that's a pain in the ass. To access to 4th screw, you will have to pop out the airport antenna.

Also, several users have emailed us about a piece of yellow transparent tape attaching a wire to the chassis right below the airport antenna. We haven't seen this piece of tape yet in person, but obviously it has to be removed.

08) Slowly remove all 4 screws.

Grab that souvenir shot glass you got at South Padre Island or a cereal bowl to hold the tiny screws after you remove them from the Mac Mini. These tiny black screws are a major pain in the ass to find if they happen to fall on the floor. We dropped one of the screws and had to use a magnetic wand to find it again.

Click on the images below for a bigger view of the four screw locations.

10) The next step is to unplug the tiny cable next to the battery. Your Mac Mini has what looks like a giant watch battery inside. To the right of this battery is a tiny black cable plugged into the main board of the Mac Mini. Gently pull upwards on the cable and it will pop out of it's socket. If it doesn't pop out, try to gently lift or pry it up from the plastic connector using a a small flat head screwdriver.

Don't pull the wire too hard or it will rip out and you'll be screwed. Finding someone to replace and install this part will be very pricey.

When putting the Mac Mini back together, don't forget to reattach this tiny plug. It's a bit of a no brainer but I bet someone out there will forget!

11) Properly bracing the upper chassis is very important. After you've removed the 4 screws and the tiny cable next to the battery, the chassis can be removed.

Gently lift the chassis straight up - pay close attention to the wires and the daughter board. This sounds more ominous than it actually is, just be careful. Flip the upper chassis over, it should still be connected by a few wires in the back. At this point you can either ask a friend to gently hold the upper chassis in place while you insert the RAM or you can rest it on a book or box. Don't rip the cables or you'll be screwed.

12) Sticking the RAM into place is the easy part. But before you touch anything inside the computer, make sure you are static free. Touch the metal cover on the inside of the Mac Mini top cover.

If you are replacing RAM, grab the tiny metal hinges, spread them apart and gently pull out the RAM chip(s). Insert your new RAM at an angle and push it down until it snaps into place.

13) Before you put the Mac Mini back together, you should power it on and test out your new RAM. The last thing you want to do is put the cover back on, find out that the RAM wasn't seated properly, and then have to take it apart again. Remember several internal components of your computer will be exposed while the top cover is removed. Please be extra cautious.

14) Zap the PRAM! Carefully plug in all the cables and turn it on while holding down the following keys: P, R, Option, Apple. You should hear the Macintosh startup chime. Don't let go until you hear the chime ring 3 times. This is called "zapping" the PRAM.

It's a good idea to do this whenever putting new hardware inside your computer. If you forget the zap the PRAM, you computer will probably boot up and present you with a folder icon and question mark warning.

You can also reset the PRAM buy pressing down a little black button inside the Mac Mini. It looks similar to the Airport Antenna and is in the opposite corner after the lid is removed. I usually call it a doorbell and people know what I'm talking about. If you can't find it, just use the startup key combination listed above.

Now select the "About This Mac" option from the Apple menu. The About screen should indicate the presence of your newly added RAM. You can click on the "More Info" button to see the status of each chip. If everything looks good, Shutdown the computer, unplug all the cables and go to the next step. If you ran into some problems, try some of these RAM troubleshooting tips.

• Return the 4 corner screws back into place. Remember the big screw goes in the front right corner of the Mac Mini.
  
  
• Snap the Airport antenna back into its two plastic clips
  
  
• Don't forget to reattach the tiny plug.
  
  
• As far as the top cover goes, We've heard people say this next step is either very easy or really hard. We just carefully lined up the cover and gently pushed it back into place all in one motion. Easy. However, we can see how putting the cover back on so the metal prongs line up is pretty tricky. If you put the cover on only to find a gap or two showing around the edge of the Mini, then you will have to pry it open and try again. It's a tight fit and will require some patience.

Comments

03) Use your fingernails to slightly pry apart the top case of the Mac Mini. Using a metal putty knife will almost guarantee a few scratches that can be avoided simply by using your fingernails. If you have a friend helping, have them try to insert either a putty knife or flat-headed screwdriver into the gap created by the fingernails(s). It's a very tight fit and will require some elbow grease and finessing. You can also try using rulers if your plastic putty knife isn't thick enough.

Be careful not to dig the putty knife in too deep or you will tear up some of the gray foam on the inside of the case. Opening the Mac Mini is not an easy task. Turn back now if you don't feel comfortable.

04) Once you have the putty knife inserted into the side, use it to carefully pry the top case apart from the rest of the Mac Mini. You may have to push back until the putty knife starts to bend.

Don't be alarmed if your Mac Mini starts to snap, crackle and pop like a bowl of Rice Crispies. This is the sound of the plastic clips and metal rim coming loose. Also be aware that minor scratches in and around your Mac Mini will be pretty difficult to avoid [see image]. But a plastic putty knife will dramatically decrease the amount of scratches your Mac Mini will suffer during this procedure. A plastic putty knife is only about ¢0.80 from Amazon.com or your local hardware store.

Once you have loosened the top cover, carefully slide it off.

05) Be careful and take your time. Here's a video of us removing the Mac Mini cover.

• A: RAM slots - hidden from view
  
  
• B: infrared receiver - at the end of the optical-drive slot
  
  
• C: Bluetooth antenna
  
  
• D: AirPort antenna
  
  
• E: Bluetooth card - beneath and behind the AirPort antenna

07) Three of the screws are easily removed. It's the 4th screw that's a pain in the ass. To access to 4th screw, you will have to pop out the airport antenna.

Also, several users have emailed us about a piece of yellow transparent tape attaching a wire to the chassis right below the airport antenna. We haven't seen this piece of tape yet in person, but obviously it has to be removed.

08) Slowly remove all 4 screws.

Grab that souvenir shot glass you got at South Padre Island or a cereal bowl to hold the tiny screws after you remove them from the Mac Mini. These tiny black screws are a major pain in the ass to find if they happen to fall on the floor. We dropped one of the screws and had to use a magnetic wand to find it again.

Click on the images below for a bigger view of the four screw locations.

10) The next step is to unplug the tiny cable next to the battery. Your Mac Mini has what looks like a giant watch battery inside. To the right of this battery is a tiny black cable plugged into the main board of the Mac Mini. Gently pull upwards on the cable and it will pop out of it's socket. If it doesn't pop out, try to gently lift or pry it up from the plastic connector using a a small flat head screwdriver.

Don't pull the wire too hard or it will rip out and you'll be screwed. Finding someone to replace and install this part will be very pricey.

When putting the Mac Mini back together, don't forget to reattach this tiny plug. It's a bit of a no brainer but I bet someone out there will forget!

11) Properly bracing the upper chassis is very important. After you've removed the 4 screws and the tiny cable next to the battery, the chassis can be removed.

Gently lift the chassis straight up - pay close attention to the wires and the daughter board. This sounds more ominous than it actually is, just be careful. Flip the upper chassis over, it should still be connected by a few wires in the back. At this point you can either ask a friend to gently hold the upper chassis in place while you insert the RAM or you can rest it on a book or box. Don't rip the cables or you'll be screwed.

12) Sticking the RAM into place is the easy part. But before you touch anything inside the computer, make sure you are static free. Touch the metal cover on the inside of the Mac Mini top cover.

If you are replacing RAM, grab the tiny metal hinges, spread them apart and gently pull out the RAM chip(s). Insert your new RAM at an angle and push it down until it snaps into place.

13) Before you put the Mac Mini back together, you should power it on and test out your new RAM. The last thing you want to do is put the cover back on, find out that the RAM wasn't seated properly, and then have to take it apart again. Remember several internal components of your computer will be exposed while the top cover is removed. Please be extra cautious.

14) Zap the PRAM! Carefully plug in all the cables and turn it on while holding down the following keys: P, R, Option, Apple. You should hear the Macintosh startup chime. Don't let go until you hear the chime ring 3 times. This is called "zapping" the PRAM.

It's a good idea to do this whenever putting new hardware inside your computer. If you forget the zap the PRAM, you computer will probably boot up and present you with a folder icon and question mark warning.

You can also reset the PRAM buy pressing down a little black button inside the Mac Mini. It looks similar to the Airport Antenna and is in the opposite corner after the lid is removed. I usually call it a doorbell and people know what I'm talking about. If you can't find it, just use the startup key combination listed above.

Now select the "About This Mac" option from the Apple menu. The About screen should indicate the presence of your newly added RAM. You can click on the "More Info" button to see the status of each chip. If everything looks good, Shutdown the computer, unplug all the cables and go to the next step. If you ran into some problems, try some of these RAM troubleshooting tips.

• Return the 4 corner screws back into place. Remember the big screw goes in the front right corner of the Mac Mini.
  
  
• Snap the Airport antenna back into its two plastic clips
  
  
• Don't forget to reattach the tiny plug.
  
  
• As far as the top cover goes, We've heard people say this next step is either very easy or really hard. We just carefully lined up the cover and gently pushed it back into place all in one motion. Easy. However, we can see how putting the cover back on so the metal prongs line up is pretty tricky. If you put the cover on only to find a gap or two showing around the edge of the Mini, then you will have to pry it open and try again. It's a tight fit and will require some patience.

Comments

03) Use your fingernails to slightly pry apart the top case of the Mac Mini. Using a metal putty knife will almost guarantee a few scratches that can be avoided simply by using your fingernails. If you have a friend helping, have them try to insert either a putty knife or flat-headed screwdriver into the gap created by the fingernails(s). It's a very tight fit and will require some elbow grease and finessing. You can also try using rulers if your plastic putty knife isn't thick enough.

Be careful not to dig the putty knife in too deep or you will tear up some of the gray foam on the inside of the case. Opening the Mac Mini is not an easy task. Turn back now if you don't feel comfortable.

04) Once you have the putty knife inserted into the side, use it to carefully pry the top case apart from the rest of the Mac Mini. You may have to push back until the putty knife starts to bend.

Don't be alarmed if your Mac Mini starts to snap, crackle and pop like a bowl of Rice Crispies. This is the sound of the plastic clips and metal rim coming loose. Also be aware that minor scratches in and around your Mac Mini will be pretty difficult to avoid [see image]. But a plastic putty knife will dramatically decrease the amount of scratches your Mac Mini will suffer during this procedure. A plastic putty knife is only about ¢0.80 from Amazon.com or your local hardware store.

Once you have loosened the top cover, carefully slide it off.

05) Be careful and take your time. Here's a video of us removing the Mac Mini cover.

• A: RAM slots - hidden from view
  
  
• B: infrared receiver - at the end of the optical-drive slot
  
  
• C: Bluetooth antenna
  
  
• D: AirPort antenna
  
  
• E: Bluetooth card - beneath and behind the AirPort antenna

07) Three of the screws are easily removed. It's the 4th screw that's a pain in the ass. To access to 4th screw, you will have to pop out the airport antenna.

Also, several users have emailed us about a piece of yellow transparent tape attaching a wire to the chassis right below the airport antenna. We haven't seen this piece of tape yet in person, but obviously it has to be removed.

08) Slowly remove all 4 screws.

Grab that souvenir shot glass you got at South Padre Island or a cereal bowl to hold the tiny screws after you remove them from the Mac Mini. These tiny black screws are a major pain in the ass to find if they happen to fall on the floor. We dropped one of the screws and had to use a magnetic wand to find it again.

Click on the images below for a bigger view of the four screw locations.

10) The next step is to unplug the tiny cable next to the battery. Your Mac Mini has what looks like a giant watch battery inside. To the right of this battery is a tiny black cable plugged into the main board of the Mac Mini. Gently pull upwards on the cable and it will pop out of it's socket. If it doesn't pop out, try to gently lift or pry it up from the plastic connector using a a small flat head screwdriver.

Don't pull the wire too hard or it will rip out and you'll be screwed. Finding someone to replace and install this part will be very pricey.

When putting the Mac Mini back together, don't forget to reattach this tiny plug. It's a bit of a no brainer but I bet someone out there will forget!

11) Properly bracing the upper chassis is very important. After you've removed the 4 screws and the tiny cable next to the battery, the chassis can be removed.

Gently lift the chassis straight up - pay close attention to the wires and the daughter board. This sounds more ominous than it actually is, just be careful. Flip the upper chassis over, it should still be connected by a few wires in the back. At this point you can either ask a friend to gently hold the upper chassis in place while you insert the RAM or you can rest it on a book or box. Don't rip the cables or you'll be screwed.

12) Sticking the RAM into place is the easy part. But before you touch anything inside the computer, make sure you are static free. Touch the metal cover on the inside of the Mac Mini top cover.

If you are replacing RAM, grab the tiny metal hinges, spread them apart and gently pull out the RAM chip(s). Insert your new RAM at an angle and push it down until it snaps into place.

13) Before you put the Mac Mini back together, you should power it on and test out your new RAM. The last thing you want to do is put the cover back on, find out that the RAM wasn't seated properly, and then have to take it apart again. Remember several internal components of your computer will be exposed while the top cover is removed. Please be extra cautious.

14) Zap the PRAM! Carefully plug in all the cables and turn it on while holding down the following keys: P, R, Option, Apple. You should hear the Macintosh startup chime. Don't let go until you hear the chime ring 3 times. This is called "zapping" the PRAM.

It's a good idea to do this whenever putting new hardware inside your computer. If you forget the zap the PRAM, you computer will probably boot up and present you with a folder icon and question mark warning.

You can also reset the PRAM buy pressing down a little black button inside the Mac Mini. It looks similar to the Airport Antenna and is in the opposite corner after the lid is removed. I usually call it a doorbell and people know what I'm talking about. If you can't find it, just use the startup key combination listed above.

Now select the "About This Mac" option from the Apple menu. The About screen should indicate the presence of your newly added RAM. You can click on the "More Info" button to see the status of each chip. If everything looks good, Shutdown the computer, unplug all the cables and go to the next step. If you ran into some problems, try some of these RAM troubleshooting tips.

• Return the 4 corner screws back into place. Remember the big screw goes in the front right corner of the Mac Mini.
  
  
• Snap the Airport antenna back into its two plastic clips
  
  
• Don't forget to reattach the tiny plug.
  
  
• As far as the top cover goes, We've heard people say this next step is either very easy or really hard. We just carefully lined up the cover and gently pushed it back into place all in one motion. Easy. However, we can see how putting the cover back on so the metal prongs line up is pretty tricky. If you put the cover on only to find a gap or two showing around the edge of the Mini, then you will have to pry it open and try again. It's a tight fit and will require some patience.

Comments

03) Use your fingernails to slightly pry apart the top case of the Mac Mini. Using a metal putty knife will almost guarantee a few scratches that can be avoided simply by using your fingernails. If you have a friend helping, have them try to insert either a putty knife or flat-headed screwdriver into the gap created by the fingernails(s). It's a very tight fit and will require some elbow grease and finessing. You can also try using rulers if your plastic putty knife isn't thick enough.

Be careful not to dig the putty knife in too deep or you will tear up some of the gray foam on the inside of the case. Opening the Mac Mini is not an easy task. Turn back now if you don't feel comfortable.

04) Once you have the putty knife inserted into the side, use it to carefully pry the top case apart from the rest of the Mac Mini. You may have to push back until the putty knife starts to bend.

Don't be alarmed if your Mac Mini starts to snap, crackle and pop like a bowl of Rice Crispies. This is the sound of the plastic clips and metal rim coming loose. Also be aware that minor scratches in and around your Mac Mini will be pretty difficult to avoid [see image]. But a plastic putty knife will dramatically decrease the amount of scratches your Mac Mini will suffer during this procedure. A plastic putty knife is only about ¢0.80 from Amazon.com or your local hardware store.

Once you have loosened the top cover, carefully slide it off.

05) Be careful and take your time. Here's a video of us removing the Mac Mini cover.

• A: RAM slots - hidden from view
  
  
• B: infrared receiver - at the end of the optical-drive slot
  
  
• C: Bluetooth antenna
  
  
• D: AirPort antenna
  
  
• E: Bluetooth card - beneath and behind the AirPort antenna

07) Three of the screws are easily removed. It's the 4th screw that's a pain in the ass. To access to 4th screw, you will have to pop out the airport antenna.

Also, several users have emailed us about a piece of yellow transparent tape attaching a wire to the chassis right below the airport antenna. We haven't seen this piece of tape yet in person, but obviously it has to be removed.

08) Slowly remove all 4 screws.

Grab that souvenir shot glass you got at South Padre Island or a cereal bowl to hold the tiny screws after you remove them from the Mac Mini. These tiny black screws are a major pain in the ass to find if they happen to fall on the floor. We dropped one of the screws and had to use a magnetic wand to find it again.

Click on the images below for a bigger view of the four screw locations.

10) The next step is to unplug the tiny cable next to the battery. Your Mac Mini has what looks like a giant watch battery inside. To the right of this battery is a tiny black cable plugged into the main board of the Mac Mini. Gently pull upwards on the cable and it will pop out of it's socket. If it doesn't pop out, try to gently lift or pry it up from the plastic connector using a a small flat head screwdriver.

Don't pull the wire too hard or it will rip out and you'll be screwed. Finding someone to replace and install this part will be very pricey.

When putting the Mac Mini back together, don't forget to reattach this tiny plug. It's a bit of a no brainer but I bet someone out there will forget!

11) Properly bracing the upper chassis is very important. After you've removed the 4 screws and the tiny cable next to the battery, the chassis can be removed.

Gently lift the chassis straight up - pay close attention to the wires and the daughter board. This sounds more ominous than it actually is, just be careful. Flip the upper chassis over, it should still be connected by a few wires in the back. At this point you can either ask a friend to gently hold the upper chassis in place while you insert the RAM or you can rest it on a book or box. Don't rip the cables or you'll be screwed.

12) Sticking the RAM into place is the easy part. But before you touch anything inside the computer, make sure you are static free. Touch the metal cover on the inside of the Mac Mini top cover.

If you are replacing RAM, grab the tiny metal hinges, spread them apart and gently pull out the RAM chip(s). Insert your new RAM at an angle and push it down until it snaps into place.

13) Before you put the Mac Mini back together, you should power it on and test out your new RAM. The last thing you want to do is put the cover back on, find out that the RAM wasn't seated properly, and then have to take it apart again. Remember several internal components of your computer will be exposed while the top cover is removed. Please be extra cautious.

14) Zap the PRAM! Carefully plug in all the cables and turn it on while holding down the following keys: P, R, Option, Apple. You should hear the Macintosh startup chime. Don't let go until you hear the chime ring 3 times. This is called "zapping" the PRAM.

It's a good idea to do this whenever putting new hardware inside your computer. If you forget the zap the PRAM, you computer will probably boot up and present you with a folder icon and question mark warning.

You can also reset the PRAM buy pressing down a little black button inside the Mac Mini. It looks similar to the Airport Antenna and is in the opposite corner after the lid is removed. I usually call it a doorbell and people know what I'm talking about. If you can't find it, just use the startup key combination listed above.

Now select the "About This Mac" option from the Apple menu. The About screen should indicate the presence of your newly added RAM. You can click on the "More Info" button to see the status of each chip. If everything looks good, Shutdown the computer, unplug all the cables and go to the next step. If you ran into some problems, try some of these RAM troubleshooting tips.

• Return the 4 corner screws back into place. Remember the big screw goes in the front right corner of the Mac Mini.
  
  
• Snap the Airport antenna back into its two plastic clips
  
  
• Don't forget to reattach the tiny plug.
  
  
• As far as the top cover goes, We've heard people say this next step is either very easy or really hard. We just carefully lined up the cover and gently pushed it back into place all in one motion. Easy. However, we can see how putting the cover back on so the metal prongs line up is pretty tricky. If you put the cover on only to find a gap or two showing around the edge of the Mini, then you will have to pry it open and try again. It's a tight fit and will require some patience.

Comments

03) Use your fingernails to slightly pry apart the top case of the Mac Mini. Using a metal putty knife will almost guarantee a few scratches that can be avoided simply by using your fingernails. If you have a friend helping, have them try to insert either a putty knife or flat-headed screwdriver into the gap created by the fingernails(s). It's a very tight fit and will require some elbow grease and finessing. You can also try using rulers if your plastic putty knife isn't thick enough.

Be careful not to dig the putty knife in too deep or you will tear up some of the gray foam on the inside of the case. Opening the Mac Mini is not an easy task. Turn back now if you don't feel comfortable.

04) Once you have the putty knife inserted into the side, use it to carefully pry the top case apart from the rest of the Mac Mini. You may have to push back until the putty knife starts to bend.

Don't be alarmed if your Mac Mini starts to snap, crackle and pop like a bowl of Rice Crispies. This is the sound of the plastic clips and metal rim coming loose. Also be aware that minor scratches in and around your Mac Mini will be pretty difficult to avoid [see image]. But a plastic putty knife will dramatically decrease the amount of scratches your Mac Mini will suffer during this procedure. A plastic putty knife is only about ¢0.80 from Amazon.com or your local hardware store.

Once you have loosened the top cover, carefully slide it off.

05) Be careful and take your time. Here's a video of us removing the Mac Mini cover.

• A: RAM slots - hidden from view
  
  
• B: infrared receiver - at the end of the optical-drive slot
  
  
• C: Bluetooth antenna
  
  
• D: AirPort antenna
  
  
• E: Bluetooth card - beneath and behind the AirPort antenna

07) Three of the screws are easily removed. It's the 4th screw that's a pain in the ass. To access to 4th screw, you will have to pop out the airport antenna.

Also, several users have emailed us about a piece of yellow transparent tape attaching a wire to the chassis right below the airport antenna. We haven't seen this piece of tape yet in person, but obviously it has to be removed.

08) Slowly remove all 4 screws.

Grab that souvenir shot glass you got at South Padre Island or a cereal bowl to hold the tiny screws after you remove them from the Mac Mini. These tiny black screws are a major pain in the ass to find if they happen to fall on the floor. We dropped one of the screws and had to use a magnetic wand to find it again.

Click on the images below for a bigger view of the four screw locations.

10) The next step is to unplug the tiny cable next to the battery. Your Mac Mini has what looks like a giant watch battery inside. To the right of this battery is a tiny black cable plugged into the main board of the Mac Mini. Gently pull upwards on the cable and it will pop out of it's socket. If it doesn't pop out, try to gently lift or pry it up from the plastic connector using a a small flat head screwdriver.

Don't pull the wire too hard or it will rip out and you'll be screwed. Finding someone to replace and install this part will be very pricey.

When putting the Mac Mini back together, don't forget to reattach this tiny plug. It's a bit of a no brainer but I bet someone out there will forget!

11) Properly bracing the upper chassis is very important. After you've removed the 4 screws and the tiny cable next to the battery, the chassis can be removed.

Gently lift the chassis straight up - pay close attention to the wires and the daughter board. This sounds more ominous than it actually is, just be careful. Flip the upper chassis over, it should still be connected by a few wires in the back. At this point you can either ask a friend to gently hold the upper chassis in place while you insert the RAM or you can rest it on a book or box. Don't rip the cables or you'll be screwed.

12) Sticking the RAM into place is the easy part. But before you touch anything inside the computer, make sure you are static free. Touch the metal cover on the inside of the Mac Mini top cover.

If you are replacing RAM, grab the tiny metal hinges, spread them apart and gently pull out the RAM chip(s). Insert your new RAM at an angle and push it down until it snaps into place.

13) Before you put the Mac Mini back together, you should power it on and test out your new RAM. The last thing you want to do is put the cover back on, find out that the RAM wasn't seated properly, and then have to take it apart again. Remember several internal components of your computer will be exposed while the top cover is removed. Please be extra cautious.

14) Zap the PRAM! Carefully plug in all the cables and turn it on while holding down the following keys: P, R, Option, Apple. You should hear the Macintosh startup chime. Don't let go until you hear the chime ring 3 times. This is called "zapping" the PRAM.

It's a good idea to do this whenever putting new hardware inside your computer. If you forget the zap the PRAM, you computer will probably boot up and present you with a folder icon and question mark warning.

You can also reset the PRAM buy pressing down a little black button inside the Mac Mini. It looks similar to the Airport Antenna and is in the opposite corner after the lid is removed. I usually call it a doorbell and people know what I'm talking about. If you can't find it, just use the startup key combination listed above.

Now select the "About This Mac" option from the Apple menu. The About screen should indicate the presence of your newly added RAM. You can click on the "More Info" button to see the status of each chip. If everything looks good, Shutdown the computer, unplug all the cables and go to the next step. If you ran into some problems, try some of these RAM troubleshooting tips.

• Return the 4 corner screws back into place. Remember the big screw goes in the front right corner of the Mac Mini.
  
  
• Snap the Airport antenna back into its two plastic clips
  
  
• Don't forget to reattach the tiny plug.
  
  
• As far as the top cover goes, We've heard people say this next step is either very easy or really hard. We just carefully lined up the cover and gently pushed it back into place all in one motion. Easy. However, we can see how putting the cover back on so the metal prongs line up is pretty tricky. If you put the cover on only to find a gap or two showing around the edge of the Mini, then you will have to pry it open and try again. It's a tight fit and will require some patience.

Comments

03) Use your fingernails to slightly pry apart the top case of the Mac Mini. Using a metal putty knife will almost guarantee a few scratches that can be avoided simply by using your fingernails. If you have a friend helping, have them try to insert either a putty knife or flat-headed screwdriver into the gap created by the fingernails(s). It's a very tight fit and will require some elbow grease and finessing. You can also try using rulers if your plastic putty knife isn't thick enough.

Be careful not to dig the putty knife in too deep or you will tear up some of the gray foam on the inside of the case. Opening the Mac Mini is not an easy task. Turn back now if you don't feel comfortable.

04) Once you have the putty knife inserted into the side, use it to carefully pry the top case apart from the rest of the Mac Mini. You may have to push back until the putty knife starts to bend.

Don't be alarmed if your Mac Mini starts to snap, crackle and pop like a bowl of Rice Crispies. This is the sound of the plastic clips and metal rim coming loose. Also be aware that minor scratches in and around your Mac Mini will be pretty difficult to avoid [see image]. But a plastic putty knife will dramatically decrease the amount of scratches your Mac Mini will suffer during this procedure. A plastic putty knife is only about ¢0.80 from Amazon.com or your local hardware store.

Once you have loosened the top cover, carefully slide it off.

05) Be careful and take your time. Here's a video of us removing the Mac Mini cover.

• A: RAM slots - hidden from view
  
  
• B: infrared receiver - at the end of the optical-drive slot
  
  
• C: Bluetooth antenna
  
  
• D: AirPort antenna
  
  
• E: Bluetooth card - beneath and behind the AirPort antenna

07) Three of the screws are easily removed. It's the 4th screw that's a pain in the ass. To access to 4th screw, you will have to pop out the airport antenna.

Also, several users have emailed us about a piece of yellow transparent tape attaching a wire to the chassis right below the airport antenna. We haven't seen this piece of tape yet in person, but obviously it has to be removed.

08) Slowly remove all 4 screws.

Grab that souvenir shot glass you got at South Padre Island or a cereal bowl to hold the tiny screws after you remove them from the Mac Mini. These tiny black screws are a major pain in the ass to find if they happen to fall on the floor. We dropped one of the screws and had to use a magnetic wand to find it again.

Click on the images below for a bigger view of the four screw locations.

10) The next step is to unplug the tiny cable next to the battery. Your Mac Mini has what looks like a giant watch battery inside. To the right of this battery is a tiny black cable plugged into the main board of the Mac Mini. Gently pull upwards on the cable and it will pop out of it's socket. If it doesn't pop out, try to gently lift or pry it up from the plastic connector using a a small flat head screwdriver.

Don't pull the wire too hard or it will rip out and you'll be screwed. Finding someone to replace and install this part will be very pricey.

When putting the Mac Mini back together, don't forget to reattach this tiny plug. It's a bit of a no brainer but I bet someone out there will forget!

11) Properly bracing the upper chassis is very important. After you've removed the 4 screws and the tiny cable next to the battery, the chassis can be removed.

Gently lift the chassis straight up - pay close attention to the wires and the daughter board. This sounds more ominous than it actually is, just be careful. Flip the upper chassis over, it should still be connected by a few wires in the back. At this point you can either ask a friend to gently hold the upper chassis in place while you insert the RAM or you can rest it on a book or box. Don't rip the cables or you'll be screwed.

12) Sticking the RAM into place is the easy part. But before you touch anything inside the computer, make sure you are static free. Touch the metal cover on the inside of the Mac Mini top cover.

If you are replacing RAM, grab the tiny metal hinges, spread them apart and gently pull out the RAM chip(s). Insert your new RAM at an angle and push it down until it snaps into place.

13) Before you put the Mac Mini back together, you should power it on and test out your new RAM. The last thing you want to do is put the cover back on, find out that the RAM wasn't seated properly, and then have to take it apart again. Remember several internal components of your computer will be exposed while the top cover is removed. Please be extra cautious.

14) Zap the PRAM! Carefully plug in all the cables and turn it on while holding down the following keys: P, R, Option, Apple. You should hear the Macintosh startup chime. Don't let go until you hear the chime ring 3 times. This is called "zapping" the PRAM.

It's a good idea to do this whenever putting new hardware inside your computer. If you forget the zap the PRAM, you computer will probably boot up and present you with a folder icon and question mark warning.

You can also reset the PRAM buy pressing down a little black button inside the Mac Mini. It looks similar to the Airport Antenna and is in the opposite corner after the lid is removed. I usually call it a doorbell and people know what I'm talking about. If you can't find it, just use the startup key combination listed above.

Now select the "About This Mac" option from the Apple menu. The About screen should indicate the presence of your newly added RAM. You can click on the "More Info" button to see the status of each chip. If everything looks good, Shutdown the computer, unplug all the cables and go to the next step. If you ran into some problems, try some of these RAM troubleshooting tips.

• Return the 4 corner screws back into place. Remember the big screw goes in the front right corner of the Mac Mini.
  
  
• Snap the Airport antenna back into its two plastic clips
  
  
• Don't forget to reattach the tiny plug.
  
  
• As far as the top cover goes, We've heard people say this next step is either very easy or really hard. We just carefully lined up the cover and gently pushed it back into place all in one motion. Easy. However, we can see how putting the cover back on so the metal prongs line up is pretty tricky. If you put the cover on only to find a gap or two showing around the edge of the Mini, then you will have to pry it open and try again. It's a tight fit and will require some patience.