Has anyone successfully replaced at home broken LED screen of MacBook Pro 2.4 GHz?

[delianka]

Okay.. This is the ridiculous situation...
I close my MacBook Pro two nights ago and go to bed. I wake up the next morning - and surprize: the LED screen is blossoming like a freaking surrealistic painting because when I closed the laptop obviously there was some pressure and the freaking fragile screen burst into pieces. 2.5 K dead meat! Guess how I am feeling...
I went to Apple - my warranty expires in 10 days... they told me to **** off!
They said they would fix it for $799 before the sale tax - so with the sale tax in PA it would be like $850..
Springboard Media promised me success for $1,300 ..
These are all ****ed up prices ... These morons from apple all want to be easy millionairs..
The idiots from Apple told me that not to be totally ****ed I could use that as a desktop and plug a screen to it - it did not work even with an adapter, the other option they told me was to go to apple.com/buy to try to get help but this website has nothing but corporate bulshit.
Okay.. I spend long time today reading the unsuccess stories of people that got broken apple screens.
I checked on ebay and found LED screens for my MBP of 2.4 GHz for $235...
My question is - has anybody changed in home conditions the LED screen of my type of MBP? If yes, is it something impossible? Where I can get instructions how to do it? What problems did you guys have? Any websites that would sell the right size of LEDs, since obviously Macbookmedics.com or whatever have wrong sizes??
Please, please, please, let me know.. I do not even wanna give a cent to these idiots from apple which were literally joking with me when I went to their store today...

Somebody - please help...

 

[Nukemkb]

any pix to post?

 

[metroid87706]

any pix to post?

Yeah, I'm interested in seeing this as well.

 

[panzer06]

http://www.blisscomputers.net/servlet/the-Apple-Laptop-LCD-Screen-cln-Macbook-Pro/Categories

They have the LED versions.

These guys are great, I just bought a 1920x1200 display to upgrade my MBP 2.16 for $250 and it was in perfect condition, no dead pixels.

I don't have the LED version so I can't say for sure but I started to take this one apart and changed my mind and took it in and had the work done for $160 at Onyx Consulting in Atlanta. It's a bit challenging to replace but Ifixit.com has a movie and so do others.

Best of luck,

 

[UltraNEO*]

Okay.. This is the ridiculous situation...
I close my MacBook Pro two nights ago and go to bed. I wake up the next morning - and surprize: the LED screen is blossoming like a freaking surrealistic painting because when I closed the laptop obviously there was some pressure and the freaking fragile screen burst into pieces. 2.5 K dead meat! Guess how I am feeling...
I went to Apple - my warranty expires in 10 days... they told me to **** off!
They said they would fix it for $799 before the sale tax - so with the sale tax in PA it would be like $850..
Springboard Media promised me success for $1,300 ..
These are all ****ed up prices ... These morons from apple all want to be easy millionairs..
The idiots from Apple told me that not to be totally ****ed I could use that as a desktop and plug a screen to it - it did not work even with an adapter, the other option they told me was to go to apple.com/buy to try to get help but this website has nothing but corporate bulshit.
Okay.. I spend long time today reading the unsuccess stories of people that got broken apple screens.
I checked on ebay and found LED screens for my MBP of 2.4 GHz for $235...
My question is - has anybody changed in home conditions the LED screen of my type of MBP? If yes, is it something impossible? Where I can get instructions how to do it? What problems did you guys have? Any websites that would sell the right size of LEDs, since obviously Macbookmedics.com or whatever have wrong sizes??
Please, please, please, let me know.. I do not even wanna give a cent to these idiots from apple which were literally joking with me when I went to their store today...

Somebody - please help...

I'm sorry you feel this way however Apple's warranty doesn't cover physical damage inflicted by it's user. No matter how you try to phrase it, the TFT screen doesn't crack on it's own, just doesn't happen. Even in extreme weather conditions it's extremely difficult to break and crack the TFT. Usually, if someone stands on the unit or the system has suffered a drop, then yes, it'll shatter.

OK, to be frank it's not as easy as changing the HD in the MacBookPro's but it's not impossible.. but for an inexperience person, lots of things can go wrong. Put it this way, if taking the system apart to change the HD bring on a sweat, this will definitely make you quiver in fear.

I guess, the bottom line is this, how good is your technical experience? I'm not talking about just taking out the better, dismantling the base and upgrading the ram, no. Nor are we thinking about dismantling display housing. We're talking about Removing the display housing and dismantling the entire unit to it's component parts, pealing off some tape (for wifi-antenna and isight), unscrewing the old display and mounting in the new one without bending the fragile frame or any of the other parts. Then reassembling the unit so everything works!

Here's the inside of the Display housing..


This is the replacement panel you'll need..


You'll need a Torx T6 and a Precision Philips #00 and a few hours.

 

[panzer06]

OK, to be frank it's not as easy as changing the HD in the MacBookPro's but it's not impossible.. but for an inexperience person, lots of things can go wrong. Put it this way, if taking the system apart to change the HD bring on a sweat, this will definitely make you quiver in fear.

I guess, the bottom line is this, how good is your technical experience? I'm not talking about just taking out the better, dismantling the base and upgrading the ram, no. Nor are we thinking about dismantling display housing. We're talking about Removing the display housing and dismantling the entire unit to it's component parts, pealing off some tape, unscrwing the old display and mounting in the new one without bending the fragile frame or any of the other parts. Then reassembling the unit so everything works!

You'll need a Torx T6 and a Precision Philips #00 and a few hours.
This is the replacement panel you'll need..

So true, but the tech that did mine made it look so easy. I'm glad I paid the man!

Cheers,

 

[UltraNEO*]

So true, but the tech that did mine made it look so easy. I'm glad I paid the man!

Cheers,

If your talking about Apple, or an Apple service department then the procedures a little different. When it comes to faulty displays, Apple doesn't muck about with wasting time opening the display housing, instead they just change the entire top housing that holds the TFT and iSight - this is why some times users get their machines back with a faulty iSight.

This is why users that Lazar-etch their MBP's will lose their warranty, Apple don't want your customised aluminium tops.

 

[panzer06]

If your talking about Apple, or an Apple service department then the procedures a little different. When it comes to faulty displays, Apple doesn't muck about with wasting time opening the display housing, instead they just change the entire top housing that holds the TFT and iSight - this is why some times users get their machines back with a faulty iSight.

This is why users that Lazar-etch their MBP's will lose their warranty, Apple don't want your customised aluminium tops.

If you see my post above, I had a custom LCD display installed in my MBP and I watched the Apple Authorized tech part of the time. It was a complete dismantle of the housing, etc. Not for the faint of heart. He knew his stuff and handled it quickly and effectively. While I have replaced most everything else in the system, I don't think I will ever mess with a display.

But that's just me.

Cheers,

 

[UltraNEO*]

If you see my post above, I had a custom LCD display installed in my MBP and I watched the Apple Authorized tech part of the time. It was a complete dismantle of the housing, etc. Not for the faint of heart. He knew his stuff and handled it quickly and effectively. While I have replaced most everything else in the system, I don't think I will ever mess with a display.

But that's just me.

Cheers,

Oh.. Well, I'm referring to a regular exchange, not a upgrade as you mentioned.

Well, I dismantled the housing to it's component parts, then dismantled the actual TFT to sort out the stripy LED issue which occurred two months after the TFT was replaced.. with my warranty expired.. and insurance there was nothing to lose. Just a satisfied curious mind.

 

[delianka]

Someone asked about a pict..

Here is the freaking pict.. Hopefully I uploaded it right...

 

[delianka]

So, as far as I understand ....

I understand that I have to change only the inside part of the LED ... I have a few friends that assemble PCs.. may be they will help... I have installed before on my old PC only hard drives, network cards, DVD drives, replaces cables, but that was easy... MBP looks insanely complicated..


But I have another question - Are there any instructions anywhere I could look at or when I am buying the part - are they gonna send me some booklet??

Do you guys know anything about it??

 

[UltraNEO*]

I understand that I have to change only the inside part of the LED ... I have a few friends that assemble PCs.. may be they will help... I have installed before on my old PC only hard drives, network cards, DVD drives, replaces cables, but that was easy... MBP looks insanely complicated..


But I have another question - Are there any instructions anywhere I could look at or when I am buying the part - are they gonna send me some booklet??

Do you guys know anything about it??

This just tells you how to remove the display from the base...
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac/MacBook-Pro-15-Inch-Core-2-Duo/Display/115/15/Page-1

Doesn't include instructions on how to get into the display case itself.

 

[delianka]

To Ultra Neo

Hi..
Thank you for your pictures..
Question though - the photos represent the part that I have to buy or the part where I have to install the new LED screen?

here a few more question...
Logically it looks like:
1. I have to separate the monitor part from the body first, is that right?
2. Then just work on the LED screen..
3. Then put back the monitor part to the body of the laptop??

Thanx!

P.S. I am sorry, my tech knowledge is quite bad and I do not know any terminology.. I hope you will understand..

 

[delianka]

This just tells you how to remove the display from the base...
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac/MacBook-Pro-15-Inch-Core-2-Duo/Display/115/15/Page-1

Doesn't include instructions on how to get into the display case itself.

Okay, this answers on how to separate the base from the monitor..
I am wondering if inside the monitor there are a lot of steps to do or just a question of disconnecting and connecting cables??

 

[UltraNEO*]

Hi..
Thank you for your pictures..
Question though - the photos represent the part that I have to buy or the part where I have to install the new LED screen?

here a few more question...
Logically it looks like:
1. I have to separate the monitor part from the body first, is that right?
2. Then just work on the LED screen..
3. Then put back the monitor part to the body of the laptop??

Thanx!

P.S. I am sorry, my tech knowledge is quite bad and I do not know any terminology.. I hope you will understand..

Yep, all the work is for the Display housing...

I would say, if your not sure about what you should do, perhaps it's better not to attempt it yourself? What you think?

My advice would be to check your local area for a Apple Technician or someone who know about MacBookPro's, make some enquires regard the price of installation. Perhaps make it clear that you'll be supplying the replacement TFT panel, all you want from them is to install it, replacing the old, damaged unit. Once your happy there, think about buying the required part from a source...

If the TFT is in good nick with no dead pixels or physical marking on the display side. Then I'd pay not more than $200-270 for the panel.

 

[delianka]

Yep, all the work is for the Display housing...

I would say, if your not sure about what you should do, perhaps it's better not to attempt it yourself? What you think?

My advice would be to check your local area for a Apple Technician or someone who know about MacBookPro's, make some enquires regard the price of installation. Perhaps make it clear that you'll be supplying the replacement TFT panel, all you want from them is to install it, replacing the old, damaged unit. Once your happy there, think about buying the required part from a source...

If the TFT is in good nick with no dead pixels or physical marking on the display side. Then I'd pay not more than $200-270 for the panel.

Nope.. I will not do it. At Springboard asked me about $300... (these peeps are insane)..
I guess I will try to disassemble the monitor and just put the new one inside repeating the same steps in the reverse order... Or I will look for manual to do so.. or whatever I have to put inside (the LED I buy) is the same that has to go out (from the comp)... I hope this simple logic will save my ass 300 additional dollars for installation..

Please, tell me what the pictures represent... are they representing the part that I have to buy ?

 

[panzer06]

Nope.. I will not do it. At Springboard asked me about $300... (these peeps are insane)..
I guess I will try to disassemble the monitor and just put the new one inside repeating the same steps in the reverse order... Or I will look for manual to do so.. or whatever I have to put inside (the LED I buy) is the same that has to go out (from the comp)... I hope this simple logic will save my ass 300 additional dollars for installation..

Please, tell me what the pictures represent... are they representing the part that I have to buy ?

I only paid $80 / hr for custom LCD install in Atlanta. Took 2 hrs. Installing a standard screen should take about an hour with a knowledgeable tech. $300 is nuts. There must be better Apple Service Centers in your area!

 

[UltraNEO*]

Nope.. I will not do it. At Springboard asked me about $300... (these peeps are insane)..
I guess I will try to disassemble the monitor and just put the new one inside repeating the same steps in the reverse order... Or I will look for manual to do so.. or whatever I have to put inside (the LED I buy) is the same that has to go out (from the comp)... I hope this simple logic will save my ass 300 additional dollars for installation..

Please, tell me what the pictures represent... are they representing the part that I have to buy ?

That's up to you, it's your baby and it's your money. I guess your thinking what could go wrong? Well.. you could well endup with a $2500 brick in the form of a MBP. At the moment you have a system that's functional but there's no display.

The photos I posted shows you how the inside of the display housing will looks. It also shows you the display panel brand and model.. for the case of the MBP 15" you'll need a Samsung panel, model LTN154BT03.

 

[delianka]

I only paid $80 / hr for custom LCD install in Atlanta. Took 2 hrs. Installing a standard screen should take about an hour with a knowledgeable tech. $300 is nuts. There must be better Apple Service Centers in your area!

I know.. But I dunno what to do! I will definately shop around, but I am unwilling even to give $80/h.. what if some technician decides to spread his capable wings and unveil his skills for 3-4 hrs over my dead 2.5 K dead MacBook Pro meat? In bad economy conditions people try to screw you...

I am curious how long it took for these people in Atlanta to fix your screen??

 

[delianka]

That's up to you, it's your baby and it's your money. I guess your thinking what could go wrong? Well.. you could well endup with a $2500 brick in the form of a MBP. At the moment you have a system that's functional but there's no display.

The photos I posted shows you how the inside of the display housing will looks. It also shows you the display panel brand and model.. for the case of the MBP 15" you'll need a Samsung panel, model LTN154BT03.

Thank you for your help. This makes a big difference.. I am willing to try to fix it myself.. For God's sake, this is not a nuclear reactor, after all... All your info is very helpful..

 

[panzer06]

I know.. But I dunno what to do! I will definately shop around, but I am unwilling even to give $80/h.. what if some technician decides to spread his capable wings and unveil his skills for 3-4 hrs over my dead 2.5 K dead MacBook Pro meat? In bad economy conditions people try to screw you...

I am curious how long it took for these people in Atlanta to fox your screen??

I handed them a 1920x1200 non-standard LCD that they had never seen before. The tech took just over 2 hours including looking at the MacRumors thread on performing the ultra-hires upgrade to a 15 inch MBP. It cost me $160 plus the cost of the display ($246 from Bliss Computers).

The tech said it would not have taken as long with a standard display, most likely about an hour to 90 mins.

The only real issue I had with them is that you must leave the unit with them for a couple of days because of the work load (or pay extra to jump ahead of everyone else). I'm sure you can imagine what I chose to do.

Cheers,

 

[delianka]

I handed them a 1920x1200 non-standard LCD that they had never seen before. The tech took just over 2 hours including looking at the MacRumors thread on performing the ultra-hires upgrade to a 15 inch MBP. It cost me $160 plus the cost of the display ($246 from Bliss Computers).

The tech said it would not have taken as long with a standard display, most likely about an hour to 90 mins.

The only real issue I had with them is that you must leave the unit with them for a couple of days because of the work load (or pay extra to jump ahead of everyone else). I'm sure you can imagine what I chose to do.

Cheers,

oh wow... anyway - what is a standard display.. why your display was not standard??

 

[panzer06]

oh wow... anyway - what is a standard display.. why your display was not standard??

The std LED-based LCD for your unit is 1440*900. They are currently no upgrades for these. My system does not use LED backlight (older 2.16 C2D MBP) and can use higher res screens (hence my selection of 1920*1200 resolution on my new screen).

Cheers,

 

[delianka]

The std LED-based LCD for your unit is 1440*900. They are currently no upgrades for these. My system does not use LED backlight (older 2.16 C2D MBP) and can use higher res screens (hence my selection of 1920*1200 resolution on my new screen).

Cheers,

So, does it mean that if I buy the correct panel - It will definitely be a standard one... Because for my type of MBP - there are only one type of sreens?

When you looked at the technician installing your new panel - was he unscrewing parts or he was mostly dealing with connections and cables?

 

[panzer06]

So, does it mean that if I buy the correct panel - It will definitely be a standard one... Because for my type of MBP - there are only one type of sreens?

When you looked at the technician installing your new panel - was he unscrewing parts or he was mostly dealing with connections and cables?

Yes, you will get a standard part. You can pick glossy or matte and that's about it. Doesn't matter what you have now, either will work.

The removal of the case took him all of 5 mins. Separating the LCD from the top cover and getting all those cables free took longer (abt 20 minutes).

The real work was testing functionality before putting everything back together. That and making sure you don't break the isight cable and crush the inverter snapping the top cover back together. There was too much for me to mess up. I'm sure if I was really careful I could have done it in about 5 hours myself.

I wish you good luck and blessings.

Cheers,