Cable from power button broke during hard drive replacement.

OK, so, it IS possible to get that little power button housing out of the case, but it’s hard. I got so mad at the prospect of having to buy an entire new rear shell because of one little broken cable that I resolved to find a way. It’s epoxied in, so take a deep breath, find some inner calm and then arm yourself with a heat gun. Remove all the extra stuff anywhere near the button housing (including that little strip of black folds that runs along the bottom of the screen area, held in by five tiny screws). Point the heat gun at the back of the case, just where the button housing sits. Let it heat up real good, and then take a spudger or small flat screwdriver and try prying at the button housing. Be patient, it took me about ten minutes of heating and poking to get it out. But it is do-able, and when you get it, you will attain a deep and magnificent joy. When putting it back, use hot glue to make life easier for anyone who might have to get it out again.

It is absurd to apple not to have this as a spare!

It does not make sense to have to change the entire housing of the computer, because of a defect in the Power Button ...

...me happens the same! That is not good!!!

I use a hair dryer to blow the back shell for about 5 minutes and I can take it off.

Put it back after repair, and put an eraser inside.

Placed heat gun on back of unit until power button started to push slightly up. Then proceed to run heat gun on top side near power button for 2 minutes. Used a nylon probe tool to pry the power button out.

Next ordered a soldering kit from amazon for $12. Soldered the broken cables back together and back in business. When we reseated the power button we used silicone adhesive. Powers on with no issues and costed us $12 and the client had to wait 3 more days. He wasn’t happy but it’s better then having to file an insurance claim or buy a whole new rear housing.