So I just got screwed over on trying to add a second hard drive.

[CorporateFelon]

Recently bought a refurb Mini, and I also order the dual harddrive kit and extra harddrive.

However, after opening the mini up I see that the harddrive is in the other spot than expected. So the flex cable I have I can't use to add the second drive. I need to find the original flex cable, but almost every one seems to be selling the secondary flex cable.

 

[Buckeyes1995]

Recently bought a refurb Mini, and I also order the dual harddrive kit and extra harddrive.

However, after opening the mini up I see that the harddrive is in the other spot than expected. So the flex cable I have I can't use to add the second drive. I need to find the original flex cable, but almost every one seems to be selling the secondary flex cable.

I assume you're saying that the hard drive was in the TOP bay (ie.. the one not easy accessible without removing the motherboard?)

On my 2011 MM, I damaged the bottom cable and it took a while to find a replacement.. found one on ebay. Suggest checking there.. they are not as readily available, as you probably know.

 

[CorporateFelon]

I assume you're saying that the hard drive was in the TOP bay (ie.. the one not easy accessible without removing the motherboard?)

On my 2011 MM, I damaged the bottom cable and it took a while to find a replacement.. found one on ebay. Suggest checking there.. they are not as readily available, as you probably know.

Yeah it is the "top" drive when the computer is right side up, and "bottom" when upside down when working on it.

The opposite of what I expected when I opened up the machine to follow this guide. http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Installing+Mac+Mini+Late+2012+Dual+Hard+Drive+Kit/11713

I'm sure I can get one with some searching, but it was just a little bit frustrating.

 

[ashman70]

This is what you are looking for, I also have a late 2012 mini with the drive in the upper bay, so I'll be needing this kit as well.


http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DIDIMM11D2B/

 

[CorporateFelon]

This is what you are looking for, I also have a late 2012 mini with the drive in the upper bay, so I'll be needing this kit as well.


http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DIDIMM11D2B/

That looks like the incorrect cable from the picture.

It looks like this one, which the machine has and now I have an extra one of.
http://www.powerbookmedic.com/Mac-Mini-Top-Hard-Drive-Flex-Cable-with-Sensor-p-22345.html

It looks like I need this one.
http://www.powerbookmedic.com/Mac-Mini-Server-Bottom-Hard-Drive-Flex-Cable-p-20708.html

Edit: The links are sort of confusing, the cable switches when you choose which year, I'm looking at the 2012 year.

 

[ashman70]

If, like me, your drive is indicated as being in the 'upper' position in disk utility, then according to the link I sent, its the correct one. Does disk utility report your drive as being in the 'upper' slot?

 

[jbarley]

Apple adds to the confusion by shipping the same models, in this case 'late 2012's' with the drive in different locations.
ie: my late 2012 came with the drive in the 'lower' mounting location, while it seems others have theirs in the upper.
My lower mount is reported correctly in Disk Utility and verified by me when I opened the case.

 

[rndman]

Apple adds to the confusion by shipping the same models, in this case 'late 2012's' with the drive in different locations.
ie: my late 2012 came with the drive in the 'lower' mounting location, while it seems others have theirs in the upper.
My lower mount is reported correctly in Disk Utility and verified by me when I opened the case.

So which one is easy to replace. "Lower" or "Upper"?

 

[ashman70]

I watched the disassembly video on the OWC website for the drive mounted in the top position and while you pretty much have to disassemble the whole Mac Mini to add a second drive, I think you have to go a few steps further when the drive is in the top position rather then the bottom position.

 

[ElectronGuru]

So which one is easy to replace. "Lower" or "Upper"?

The door is on the bottom. So lower is near the door, upper requires more 'digging'.

 

[mvmanolov]

the cables are the same...! just bent differently! I had same setup

 

[jbarley]

I watched the disassembly video on the OWC website for the drive mounted in the top position and while you pretty much have to disassemble the whole Mac Mini to add a second drive, I think you have to go a few steps further when the drive is in the top position rather then the bottom position.

The very best video for replacing the HDD on a 2012 mini in my opinion is this one. Please note, I said replacing, not adding.
the author is clear and easy to understand, and has eliminated most of the unnecessary steps when replacing the drive.

 

[rndman]

The door is on the bottom. So lower is near the door, upper requires more 'digging'.

IMHO this also means
if your OEM drive is

"Lower" : It is easy to replace (but harder to add a drive)
"Upper" : It is easy to add (but harder to replace the drive)

 

[CH12671]

I don't understand...both hard drives go in the same direction, and the connections to the logic board are right next to each other.....the same cable can be used for both

 

[El Hikaru]

I am confused which one is upper or lower but, when i opened, HD was mounted where I can access after removing the antenna, and I added the second drive after removing the logic board.

 

[jbarley]

I don't understand...

Your opening statement says it all.
The cables are flat ribbon connectors, each change of direction carefully folded, there is not enough length or slack to allow the one designed for the lower bay to extend the extra distance from the upper bay to the connection point.

 

[Cape Dave]

This happened to me and it was a TOTAL PAIN IN THE ASS. Shipping two items allegedly the same and yet being actually two different items is insanity. Bad Apple.

 

[opinio]

Recently bought a refurb Mini, and I also order the dual harddrive kit and extra harddrive.

However, after opening the mini up I see that the harddrive is in the other spot than expected. So the flex cable I have I can't use to add the second drive. I need to find the original flex cable, but almost every one seems to be selling the secondary flex cable.

OWC sells both. They have two kits. Just contact them if you can't find the link.

Also how did you get screwed over? Apple sells minis with the HDD/SSD in either bay. You buy the flex cable for the upper or lower bay once you know which one. I don't think anyone has screwed you over?

 

[opinio]

I don't understand...both hard drives go in the same direction, and the connections to the logic board are right next to each other.....the same cable can be used for both

Have you ever pulled a mini apart? One cable goes over the top of the lower drive and the other under the upper drive. They are also about 10mm apart on the logic board. 10mm difference inside a Mac mini or Macbook is massive. Even 1mm out and some parts do not fit.

The flex cables are folded completely opposite ways.

The upper bay flex cable (HDD where the old optical bay used to be) part number is 076-1391 and the lower bay flex cable (HDD just under the wifi antenna grill) is 076-1390.

 

[opinio]

Upper versus lower bay terminology

For those confused with upper and lower bay terminology...

 

[nollimac]

It seems to me that the OP most likely was unsure what he was ordering and want to pass the blame onto others.

Also, I am not sure why folks have to remove logic or mother board to place a second hard drive. I have seen a video on installing both drive without removing the logic board. When I replaced my original hard drive with a SSD, my observation confirmed that one DOESN'T need to remove the logic board. Adding a second drive in the late 2012 Mac Mini is really not difficult at all.

The flex cable for the second drive is really not different than the first, except that it's folded to take into consideration that it will be placed a little further down from the first, towards the right side, bottom facing up.

It's much to do about nothing, and I agree with CH12671.

 

[scottsjack]

It seems to me that the OP most likely was unsure what he was ordering and want to pass the blame onto others.

Also, I am not sure why folks have to remove logic or mother board to place a second hard drive. I have seen a video on installing both drive without removing the logic board. When I replaced my original hard drive with a SSD, my observation confirmed that one DOESN'T need to remove the logic board. Adding a second drive in the late 2012 Mac Mini is really not difficult at all.

The flex cable for the second drive is really not different than the first, except that it's folded to take into consideration that it will be placed a little further down from the first, towards the right side, bottom facing up.

It's much to do about nothing, and I agree with CH12671.

Not on my new one. The OEM drive would not come out due to interference with the RAM bracket. Also to properly secure the upper-bay drive it has to be attached to the bracket with four screws from the side.

 

[CorporateFelon]

It seems to me that the OP most likely was unsure what he was ordering and want to pass the blame onto others.

I was just venting my frustration, not necessarily blaming any one. I had assumed incorrectly from the iFixit guide, and other guides online, that the lone drive would always be in the lower spot, not the upper. And the market for the dual drive kits would indicate this as well.

I ordered all the parts at the same time. Now in retrospect, it may have made sense to order the mini first. Open it up, and then see which spot the drive was in. But like I said, I assumed that the drive would also be in a certain spot.

Just annoying having to order another part and wait even longer to get this thing set up.

 

[CH12671]

Your opening statement says it all.
The cables are flat ribbon connectors, each change of direction carefully folded, there is not enough length or slack to allow the one designed for the lower bay to extend the extra distance from the upper bay to the connection point.

Thanks for pointing that out, I appreciate positive encounters.

Have you ever pulled a mini apart? One cable goes over the top of the lower drive and the other under the upper drive. They are also about 10mm apart on the logic board. 10mm difference inside a Mac mini or Macbook is massive. Even 1mm out and some parts do not fit.

The flex cables are folded completely opposite ways.

The upper bay flex cable (HDD where the old optical bay used to be) part number is 076-1391 and the lower bay flex cable (HDD just under the wifi antenna grill) is 076-1390.

Thanks for the education. YES, I have completely gutted my mini, and installed a drive in the UPPER drive bay. LOWER bay had factory drive installed. The cables looked the same to me, as one other poster posted...but you guys choose to attack me. Thanks, much appreciated!

the cables are the same...! just bent differently! I had same setup

Apparently not, as so graciously pointed out by our fellow mac rumor EXPERTS.

 

[CH12671]

By the way, when I purchased my kit from OWC, I noticed there was a different part needed for lower bay installation. I looked and I didn't need it, so I never looked into it. I figured the lower bay installation was just the studs that go into the case. I didn't think about the cable. YOU people need to stop acting like you know EVERYTHING. There are better ways to point out people's mistakes.