11' MB Pro battery/trackpad

[Juk3s]

Hi,
So I found my MBP in my closet not too long ago and it looks like the battery bubbled.
Back panel is a little bent as well as the trackpad has a crack in the middle across it.

Debating if it is worth getting fixed? I see the DYI battery online is around 100$ and a reliable trackpad is around 80$?

Wondering if people still use a 2011 MBP and it holds up?

Thanks for any responses.

 

[theapplehead]

Hi,
So I found my MBP in my closet not too long ago and it looks like the battery bubbled.
Back panel is a little bent as well as the trackpad has a crack in the middle across it.

Debating if it is worth getting fixed? I see the DYI battery online is around 100$ and a reliable trackpad is around 80$?

Wondering if people still use a 2011 MBP and it holds up?

Thanks for any responses.

I just traded up for a mid 2012 MBP but I have a buddy who still uses his 2011 machine. And they work great. My old one worked when I sold it. I only sold it cause I wanted Mojave support.

I’d say it is worth getting fixed. Especially if it’s in perfect condition otherwise. You could probably sell it for at least a few hundred bucks if it has a lot of RAM or an SSD. Regardless, I’d try repairing it so long as the rest of the Mac works. Do you have any experience with taking apart MBP’s?

 

[Juk3s]

H,
That is good to hear. I just actually took out the battery today. I'm able to use it with it connected to power. It seems to be running a little slow though when opening things. Not sure if it is because of not having full power.
It also has a update notice, not sure if I should do that with how old it is? Currently on Yosemite 10.10.5

I wouldn't say that I know a lot, but I'm good at following youtube haha. I believe I added RAM to this back in the day. It also has the higher GPU but I hear those have been known to have problems?

I believe I could replace the trackpad(just pops out I think), as well as the battery just popping in. Just want to make sure that it is worth it.

 

[theapplehead]

H,
That is good to hear. I just actually took out the battery today. I'm able to use it with it connected to power. It seems to be running a little slow though when opening things. Not sure if it is because of not having full power.
It also has a update notice, not sure if I should do that with how old it is? Currently on Yosemite 10.10.5

I wouldn't say that I know a lot, but I'm good at following youtube haha. I believe I added RAM to this back in the day. It also has the higher GPU but I hear those have been known to have problems?

I believe I could replace the trackpad(just pops out I think), as well as the battery just popping in. Just want to make sure that it is worth it.

Go into the 'About this Mac' section under the symbol on the top left of the screen. Then you will know exactly what your specs are (RAM, GPU, CPU, storage drive). I would personally recommend using ifixit.com guides as they have helped me greatly when I do any work on my Mac. Again, I think it is worth it, especially if you have a higher spec model. Lastly, I would suggest you erase the Mac and get it back to a brand new OS to refreshen it up (make sure you have saved any of your old important files first!) To enter the restore process, hold Option-⌘-R when your Mac is booting. This will launch online recovery which will in turn let you erase your drive and reinstall the latest OS available for your machine (which should be High Sierra). Here is a link for that just in case. Let me know if you have any questions.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904

 

[Juk3s]

Go into the 'About this Mac' section under the symbol on the top left of the screen. Then you will know exactly what your specs are (RAM, GPU, CPU, storage drive). I would personally recommend using ifixit.com guides as they have helped me greatly when I do any work on my Mac. Again, I think it is worth it, especially if you have a higher spec model. Lastly, I would suggest you erase the Mac and get it back to a brand new OS to refreshen it up (make sure you have saved any of your old important files first!) To enter the restore process, hold Option-⌘-R when your Mac is booting. This will launch online recovery which will in turn let you erase your drive and reinstall the latest OS available for your machine (which should be High Sierra). Here is a link for that just in case. Let me know if you have any questions.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904

Hey,
Yeah I might try out reformatting. I just installed Sierra and seems a little quicker. But wondering if it is possibly the HDD slowing it down. I'll check out ifixit, that's where I saw some of the prices.

Thanks for the help.

 

[theapplehead]

Hey,
Yeah I might try out reformatting. I just installed Sierra and seems a little quicker. But wondering if it is possibly the HDD slowing it down. I'll check out ifixit, that's where I saw some of the prices.

Thanks for the help.

No problem. Good luck!

 

[Juk3s]

So, when trying to reinstall Lion, it says that "currently unavailable".
Is there something on my machine holding it up?
I read a few things saying to erase the current HDD in that same area, and then reinstalling Lion.
Does that possibly sound correct to you?

I thought when clicking reinstall Lion that it would erase the HDD beforehand anyways.

 

[rocknrotty]

Check out Beechtech for battery and trackpad cheapest around

 

[theapplehead]

So, when trying to reinstall Lion, it says that "currently unavailable".
Is there something on my machine holding it up?
I read a few things saying to erase the current HDD in that same area, and then reinstalling Lion.
Does that possibly sound correct to you?

I thought when clicking reinstall Lion that it would erase the HDD beforehand anyways.

You have to manually erase the drive before you can reinstall the OS. Go to disk utility to erase the drive, format it in GUID, then reinstall macOS.

 

[Juk3s]

You have to manually erase the drive before you can reinstall the OS. Go to disk utility to erase the drive, format it in GUID, then reinstall macOS.

Alright, i will try that when recovery mode is done with this long timer.
[doublepost=1554057203][/doublepost]

You have to manually erase the drive before you can reinstall the OS. Go to disk utility to erase the drive, format it in GUID, then reinstall macOS.

So.. I did that too and still saying unavailable? Wondering if it has something to do with my iCloud?

Just to confirm:
Disk Utility < Click Toshiba Disk < Erase(Format: Mac OS Ext: Journaled) - Then I try to install and still says unavailable.

 

[Juk3s]

UPDATE: So might have figured my problem out. My MBP is an early 2011 build, which I guess came with Snow Leapord..which is why it won't download Lion.

 

[theapplehead]

UPDATE: So might have figured my problem out. My MBP is an early 2011 build, which I guess came with Snow Leapord..which is why it won't download Lion.

Hmm....so do you have a way to download Snow Leopard?
[doublepost=1554081016][/doublepost]

Alright, i will try that when recovery mode is done with this long timer.
[doublepost=1554057203][/doublepost]

So.. I did that too and still saying unavailable? Wondering if it has something to do with my iCloud?

Just to confirm:
Disk Utility < Click Toshiba Disk < Erase(Format: Mac OS Ext: Journaled) - Then I try to install and still says unavailable.

That is strange that it won’t let you install Lion though. Exactly which buttons did you hold when booting your Mac?

 

[Juk3s]

Hmm....so do you have a way to download Snow Leopard?
[doublepost=1554081016][/doublepost]
That is strange that it won’t let you install Lion though. Exactly which buttons did you hold when booting your Mac?

I even chatted with Apple person on their site. I do not have any way to download Leopard. I see it is 20 bucks on Apple store but don't feel like spending that money. If I find someone with a mac I can hopefully have them download Sierra installer and make me a bootloader.
Exactly as you told me, as well the the Apple tech. Keeps saying unavailable. I don't think I ever downloaded it when I was logged in on machine before, so it never registered.
Real bummer. Needs battery, trackpad, and now this.

 

[theapplehead]

I even chatted with Apple person on their site. I do not have any way to download Leopard. I see it is 20 bucks on Apple store but don't feel like spending that money. If I find someone with a mac I can hopefully have them download Sierra installer and make me a bootloader.
Exactly as you told me, as well the the Apple tech. Keeps saying unavailable. I don't think I ever downloaded it when I was logged in on machine before, so it never registered.
Real bummer. Needs battery, trackpad, and now this.

That does seem strange to me still. When holding those buttons, your Mac should permit you to install the latest macOS (High Sierra). Not an older one like Snow Leopard.

You could attempt to boot into the recovery partition on your Mac by holding only Cmd+R when booting. That would be assuming that that partition is not damaged and is still bootable. You would then erase your drive and reaintall the OS the same as the other described way.

If that doesn’t work either, then I’m afraid your stuck until you can get your hands on a bootable installer (which could be anything from 10.6-10.13). Good luck.

 

[Juk3s]

yeah, he said to try that but it still booted in internet recovery? But then said to check the disk to see if damaged. But it said appears ok.
Maybe I'll try again tonight.

 

[theapplehead]

If it is damaged, then you are unfortunately at an impasse until you can attain a bootable usb. Do you have any friends or family with a Mac you could borrow to download the file to?

 

[Juk3s]

yeah, that what it seems it has come to. Should of just left my computer how it was instead of erasing everything.
I do not, so I'll have to try and figure something out.

Thanks for all your help. Appreciate your kindness.

 

[theapplehead]

yeah, that what it seems it has come to. Should of just left my computer how it was instead of erasing everything.
I do not, so I'll have to try and figure something out.

Thanks for all your help. Appreciate your kindness.

I wish I could have been able to help you more.

Here is a link that will instruct you on how to create a bootable usb (High Sierra) whenever you have access to any Mac. First you should download the macOS from the App Store via the second link (be sure not to install macOS after it has finished downloading. Exit the installer as soon as the window opens), the use the first link to guide you through the process of creating a bootable usb. It is a fairly straightforward process so you shouldn’t encounter too much difficulty. Your biggest problem right now is finding a Mac to download this file to. Technically you could find an Apple store or Best Buy and do this there as well with one of their display model Macs. All you would need would be the usb.

Best wishes.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/macos-high-sierra/id1246284741?ls=1&mt=12

 

[Juk3s]

I wish I could have been able to help you more.

Here is a link that will instruct you on how to create a bootable usb (High Sierra) whenever you have access to any Mac. First you should download the macOS from the App Store via the second link (be sure not to install macOS after it has finished downloading. Exit the installer as soon as the window opens), the use the first link to guide you through the process of creating a bootable usb. It is a fairly straightforward process so you shouldn’t encounter too much difficulty. Your biggest problem right now is finding a Mac to download this file to. Technically you could find an Apple store or Best Buy and do this there as well with one of their display model Macs. All you would need would be the usb.

Best wishes.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/macos-high-sierra/id1246284741?ls=1&mt=12

Hahah. I wonder how much they would appreciate me downloading that or plugging something in their computer.
But don't stress. I appreciate your quick and informative responses.

 

[theapplehead]

Hahah. I wonder how much they would appreciate me downloading that or plugging something in their computer.
But don't stress. I appreciate your quick and informative responses.

They may not notice or care if they’re slammed like they typically are, but it’s your call.

Let me know if you ever need any more assistance!

 

[Juk3s]

So. I found a buddy on my bball team that has a macbook. Hopefully he has High Sierra as an OS so I can download the installer easily.

 

[theapplehead]

So. I found a buddy on my bball team that has a macbook. Hopefully he has High Sierra as an OS so I can download the installer easily.

Awesome! All you need to do is follow the link from earlier which is a direct link to the App Store to download High Sierra onto his Mac. Once the install box opens be sure to exit it. Then you can use the other link to set up a bootable usb. Be sure to follow all the instructions and you’ll be fine.

Here are the links again:

Direct High Sierra download: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/macos-high-sierra/id1246284741?ls=1&mt=12

Steps for creating bootable usb: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372

 

[Juk3s]

Hey!
So after some confusion/hiccups. I got it figured out.
So App Store was only letting me download "part" of the installer. Wasn't actually downloading the full OS. Opened a chat with Apple, they randomly leave after telling them what I'm trying to do, they call me haha. They said I would need to find a new location to download the OS. It has something to do with Apples Store network or something. How is that a solution? But he also concurred and said that isn't a great solution. So I thought I found a workaround by downloading the files directly into the USB as placeholder. Then pulling them off and into the installer... Well my 16GB USB wasn't big enough...lol.
SO I thought maybe Sierra would be smaller to do that work around. Low and behold it actually downloaded the full OS from the jump. So I reformatted my USB to GUID and transferred. Put in the USB and click install OS. "Sierra OS is damaged" ..... So I look up even more solutions...guess you have to update the date/time of machine. Finally..it starts installing... So I have an OS finally on my machine.
Time to start looking for a battery/trackpad/bottom panel/SSD. It is slugging pretty bad so I'm thinking a SSD will snap things together hopefully.
I guess this is all cheaper than buying a new laptop(not Apple)? lol

Well I thought I should give you the run down of what happened since you were here helping me out so much.
Just want to say thank you again and I appreciate it a ton.
In a way it was fun going back and forth with someone while all this was going down.
Take care theapplehead.

 

[theapplehead]

Hey!
So after some confusion/hiccups. I got it figured out.
So App Store was only letting me download "part" of the installer. Wasn't actually downloading the full OS. Opened a chat with Apple, they randomly leave after telling them what I'm trying to do, they call me haha. They said I would need to find a new location to download the OS. It has something to do with Apples Store network or something. How is that a solution? But he also concurred and said that isn't a great solution. So I thought I found a workaround by downloading the files directly into the USB as placeholder. Then pulling them off and into the installer... Well my 16GB USB wasn't big enough...lol.
SO I thought maybe Sierra would be smaller to do that work around. Low and behold it actually downloaded the full OS from the jump. So I reformatted my USB to GUID and transferred. Put in the USB and click install OS. "Sierra OS is damaged" ..... So I look up even more solutions...guess you have to update the date/time of machine. Finally..it starts installing... So I have an OS finally on my machine.
Time to start looking for a battery/trackpad/bottom panel/SSD. It is slugging pretty bad so I'm thinking a SSD will snap things together hopefully.
I guess this is all cheaper than buying a new laptop(not Apple)? lol

Well I thought I should give you the run down of what happened since you were here helping me out so much.
Just want to say thank you again and I appreciate it a ton.
In a way it was fun going back and forth with someone while all this was going down.
Take care theapplehead.

I’m glad you got it all figured out!

A SSD would certainly speed up your system significantly.

Doing all this should definitely be less expensive than buying a brand new Mac. You may be able to get a cheap PC for less but it won’t be as powerful.

Check eBay and powerbookmedic for a trackpad, battery, and panel. You could buy an SSD from either staples or bestbuy. Just do a little bit of research so you can get the best one for your money.

I’m glad I could be of service to you. I hope everything works out for you.

Good luck!