2006(?) A1181 water damaged

chester1066 · Dec 26, 2012, 05:25 PM

Hi,

I wonder if anyone could offer some advice, or at least bash me over the head with a hammer if this sounds like a ridiculous idea.

I bought a 2nd hand Macbook A1181 a few years back, it was loaded with some great software - i loved it, couldnt fault it. One day my flatmate was using it whilst i was at work, when the ceiling to my flat started to leak, RIGHT ONTOP of the open laptop...unfortunately I tried to dry it out, but it stopped working. It wouldnt even come on.
A friend told me he knew someone that would take a look at it and at the least, get my photos from it onto a memory stick. He had it for ages, Ive no idea what he tried, if anything, but he salvaged my photos.

So, I still have the Macbook (dead) - what are my options? Im short on cash so cant afford for someone 'professional' to look at it. Im not very techy. I love the Macbook - should i just let it go to heaven, or is there a way around this? Could I buy a logic board? Could it be the switch short circuited when the water damaged it, and it just needs this? It could be anything right?

Im stuck with a dead macbook and a deadening Macbook Pro - all within 8 months!! IM currently using my stepdads laptop.....

MisterKeeks · Dec 26, 2012, 05:29 PM

You could take it to a tech to diagnose the issue. At this point, it's possible that other things than the logic board are at fault. Of course, the problem probably is the logic board, test to make sure before you by a new one.

chester1066 · Dec 26, 2012, 05:39 PM

Thanks MisterKeeks..you are right, if i go ahead a buy a logic board and it turns out to be something like the on off switch, I would actually hit myself over the head with a hammer

spyguy10709 · Dec 26, 2012, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chester1066

Thanks MisterKeeks..you are right, if i go ahead a buy a logic board and it turns out to be something like the on off switch, I would actually hit myself over the head with a hammer

I'd sell the macbook for parts on eBay and buy a used macbook or MBP on ebay or CL or whatever.

minifridge1138 · Dec 26, 2012, 09:30 PM

there's a decent chance that all of your files and the OS are still on the hard drive (some had to be or else the guy wouldn't have been able to recover your photos).

So if you bought a used MacBook (assuming hardware and OS compatibility), then you could just put the old hard drive into it and boot. It would be like nothing ever happened.

Good luck!!!

chester1066 · Dec 27, 2012, 06:07 AM

Hi

I could sell the white macbook and the macbook Pro for spares/repairs and buy another 2nd hand one, but this would be my third MB in 2 years

Im worried now about buying another second hand one...

The idea of taking the harddrive out of the MB and putting into my dying MB Pro sounds attractive...but my MBPro has had a kernel Panic and I cant get it to work now.....

Options are to buy logic board for both?!

minifridge1138 · Dec 28, 2012, 10:15 PM

Tell us more about the Kernel Panic on the MBP?

When does it happen?
How far into the boot process does it happen?
What are you doing when it happens?
Are there any error codes?
etc.....

thekev · Dec 28, 2012, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chester1066

Thanks MisterKeeks..you are right, if i go ahead a buy a logic board and it turns out to be something like the on off switch, I would actually hit myself over the head with a hammer

An on/off switch is not likely. Even if it is one, I'm not sure that is sold on its own. You could look through the entire forum, and I doubt you'd find one repair instance where that was the only thing that was replaced. As to buying secondhand machines, I'd personally prefer a cheaper new one. It's too difficult to fully assess the condition of the machine including battery, display, etc. at a glance. Logic boards can be expensive. If it's really old, it may not be worth it. Other parts will eventually need to be replaced. Batteries do eventually die. Display backlights die. I've seen power inverters on Apple displays die. The point is don't spend too much on an ancient piece of hardware. If you buy a secondhand computer, don't pay more due to pre-installed software. It's often pirated, and how would you really recover it if the hard drive dies? Hard drive failure is quite common. The last thing is start backing up your photos regularly. That last incident should have taught you this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chester1066

Hi

I could sell the white macbook and the macbook Pro for spares/repairs and buy another 2nd hand one, but this would be my third MB in 2 years

Im worried now about buying another second hand one...

The idea of taking the harddrive out of the MB and putting into my dying MB Pro sounds attractive...but my MBPro has had a kernel Panic and I cant get it to work now.....

Options are to buy logic board for both?!

Kernel panics generate a dump. You should post that to see if anyone can discern what may be wrong from it.

chester1066 · Feb 10, 2013, 07:01 AM

Hi Kev, sorry ive only just seen your reply to this!!

What is a dump'...since the kernal panic, my Macbook Pro wont even display a screen and there is no chime on start up....the lights on, but no ones home.

ResPublica · Feb 11, 2013, 12:28 PM

I once fixed a water damaged Macbook from 2008. Weeks after the damage had occured, the machine still refused to start. I removed the topcase so I could acces the motherboard. The water damage was clearly visible around the area were the keyboard with the ON/OFF-button connects to the main board. I cleaned it up using some pure alcohol. Than I tried starting again and the machine has worked perfectly ever since.

Dec 26, 2012, 05:25 PM	#1
chester1066 macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2012	2006(?) A1181 water damaged Hi, I wonder if anyone could offer some advice, or at least bash me over the head with a hammer if this sounds like a ridiculous idea. I bought a 2nd hand Macbook A1181 a few years back, it was loaded with some great software - i loved it, couldnt fault it. One day my flatmate was using it whilst i was at work, when the ceiling to my flat started to leak, RIGHT ONTOP of the open laptop...unfortunately I tried to dry it out, but it stopped working. It wouldnt even come on. A friend told me he knew someone that would take a look at it and at the least, get my photos from it onto a memory stick. He had it for ages, Ive no idea what he tried, if anything, but he salvaged my photos. So, I still have the Macbook (dead) - what are my options? Im short on cash so cant afford for someone 'professional' to look at it. Im not very techy. I love the Macbook - should i just let it go to heaven, or is there a way around this? Could I buy a logic board? Could it be the switch short circuited when the water damaged it, and it just needs this? It could be anything right? Im stuck with a dead macbook and a deadening Macbook Pro - all within 8 months!! IM currently using my stepdads laptop.....
	0

Dec 26, 2012, 05:29 PM	#2
MisterKeeks macrumors 65816 Join Date: Nov 2012	You could take it to a tech to diagnose the issue. At this point, it's possible that other things than the logic board are at fault. Of course, the problem probably is the logic board, test to make sure before you by a new one. __________________ Core Duo 1.83 Mac Mini, Dual 2.7 Power Mac G5, Dual 1.8 Power Mac G5, Dual 1.25 MDD G4, 1.6 GHz iMac G5, 900 MHz iBook G3, 800 MHz iMac G4, 500MHz iMac G3, 400MHz iMac G3
	0

Feb 11, 2013, 12:28 PM	#10
ResPublica macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2011	I once fixed a water damaged Macbook from 2008. Weeks after the damage had occured, the machine still refused to start. I removed the topcase so I could acces the motherboard. The water damage was clearly visible around the area were the keyboard with the ON/OFF-button connects to the main board. I cleaned it up using some pure alcohol. Than I tried starting again and the machine has worked perfectly ever since. __________________ Macbook; Early 2009; 2Ghz C2D; 4GB RAM; 500GB HD; OS X 10.8 and Windows XP. Mac mini G4; Early 2005; 1.25Ghz G4; 1GB RAM; 80GB HD; OS X 10.5.8.
	0

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Dec 26, 2012, 05:39 PM	#3
chester1066 Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2012	Thanks MisterKeeks..you are right, if i go ahead a buy a logic board and it turns out to be something like the on off switch, I would actually hit myself over the head with a hammer
	0

Dec 26, 2012, 09:30 PM	#5
minifridge1138 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jun 2010	there's a decent chance that all of your files and the OS are still on the hard drive (some had to be or else the guy wouldn't have been able to recover your photos). So if you bought a used MacBook (assuming hardware and OS compatibility), then you could just put the old hard drive into it and boot. It would be like nothing ever happened. Good luck!!!
	0

Dec 27, 2012, 06:07 AM	#6
chester1066 Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2012	Hi I could sell the white macbook and the macbook Pro for spares/repairs and buy another 2nd hand one, but this would be my third MB in 2 years Im worried now about buying another second hand one... The idea of taking the harddrive out of the MB and putting into my dying MB Pro sounds attractive...but my MBPro has had a kernel Panic and I cant get it to work now..... Options are to buy logic board for both?!
	0

Dec 28, 2012, 10:15 PM	#7
minifridge1138 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jun 2010	Tell us more about the Kernel Panic on the MBP? When does it happen? How far into the boot process does it happen? What are you doing when it happens? Are there any error codes? etc.....
	0

Feb 10, 2013, 07:01 AM	#9
chester1066 Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2012	Hi Kev, sorry ive only just seen your reply to this!! What is a dump'...since the kernal panic, my Macbook Pro wont even display a screen and there is no chime on start up....the lights on, but no ones home.
	0