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    Got a problem..

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by vatru, May 22, 2010.

  1. vatru

    vatru Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hey guys, I just wanted to ask what I should do if there is a problem with my Mac Book Pro.

    It's a old version MacBook Pro 15.4" 2008 Edition, Core 2 Duo 2.5Ghz (i think) 2GB Ram, 250GB HDD

    The problem I encountered was that one day when I was using my laptop I forgot to turn it off and then my laptop went to 'sleep' mode, when I came back and tried to turn on my laptop I could hear the sound but my display was black.

    I thought it was just a minor problem so I just restarted my laptop but the problem consisted...

    Unfortuately my warranty ran out but still I still put my laptop through the checkup in the official Apple customer center and they said that I needed to purchase a new part PCBA, MLB, 2.5 GHZ, REV2.

    Is there any other way to fix my laptop? I do not want to have to spend around $650 USD for the repairs
     
    vatru, May 22, 2010
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  2. cdnalsi

    cdnalsi Food for the funky people

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    Have you tried doing the basic troubleshooting stuff?

    Like resetting PRAM? Turn on your computer, and right when you hear the "ding" press alt(option)+command+p+r. Hold them until the computer restarts twice (so two more "dings").

    It's very unlikely that your motherboard died because the computer went into sleep mode.
     
    cdnalsi, May 22, 2010
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  3. doh123

    doh123 Without ME its just AWESO

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    when you turn it on and the screen is black.. do you hear the normal start up sound? Can you see a picture in there if you use a flashlight.. .like maybe the backlight just isn't coming on? (hard to see, but can look at some angle with a bright light and see if the screen is actually working.

    if it seems to start up but the screen stays black.. have you tried an external monitor?
     
    doh123, May 22, 2010
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  4. vatru

    vatru Notebook Enthusiast

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    nope, i dont hear any sound coming out when i turn on the computer... does that mean my problem does not come from the graphics card?

    I checked online and alot of people have similar problems...
     
    vatru, May 23, 2010
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  5. Luke1708

    Luke1708 Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    it may be the motherboard...these are quite expensive out there.
     
    Luke1708, May 23, 2010
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  6. Seshan

    Seshan Rawrrr!

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    Annddddd, This is why you buy Apple care.
     
    Seshan, May 23, 2010
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  7. wyefueng

    wyefueng Newbie

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    yes. to be safe!
     
    wyefueng, May 23, 2010
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  8. Luke1708

    Luke1708 Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    i would hate myself to death if i had bought a mac that expensive (that too, in the uk), and it broke down after a year. The same thing happened to my ipod. It decided to break down on me after 1 year and 2 weeks and i had no apple care. Bottom line: Buy apple care and even if you don't have the cash, wait a few months before you buy it. Protect you investment.
     
    Luke1708, May 23, 2010
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  9. dbam987

    dbam987 wicked-poster

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    I had the same problem last week! Mine was the MBP 2007 edition, and when I took it to the Apple Store, they found that the NVidia graphics card was defective. They took it in for repairs, and about a week later got it back to me good as new. There is an Apple web page that explains the situation in depth, and says that even if you don't have warranty on it, if the problem is the NVidia graphics card then they will repair it free of charge.

    More info here: MacBook Pro: Distorted video or no video issues
     
    dbam987, May 23, 2010
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  10. doh123

    doh123 Without ME its just AWESO

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    the OP said 2008, and i thought of the late 2008 unibodies.. that didn't have 8600s.... but it could be an early 2008 with the 8600, which means its most likely that which is bad...and the logic board needs replacing.
     
    doh123, May 23, 2010
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  11. Luke1708

    Luke1708 Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    yes, if it's the model before the unibody one, then this means that it's covered with a 3year warranty. therefore you are covered till 2011 (1st year + 2 years added because of the nvidia fiasco).
     
    Luke1708, May 24, 2010
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