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

I went through this entire process back in October 2008. I ended up replacing the screen with the following steps:

1. Order replacement off of eBay - ~$200 after cashback
2. Read up on iFixit guides, get familiar with the insides
3. Go purchase a Torx screw driver from Lowe's
4. Screen arrives, prep laptop for replacement
5. Take apart laptop
6. Take out old screen (this takes some force, as Apple has it glued in there)
7. Put in new screen
8. Do #5 in reverse
9. Hope it works when you hit the power button!

Overall the process wasn't difficult, just time consuming. I would set aside a good 2-3 hours for it, and take everything slowly. Also, to make sure I didn't lose any screws, I used an ice cube tray with some tape to label each box with sections for the screws such as "Left side," "Right side," etc. My previous experience with computer repair consisted of building a computer from parts off of Newegg, so nothing extremely technical. You just have to take every step carefully and go slowly.

If you need any help with a particular step or something, feel free to ask. I'd be glad to help! :apple:
 
I replaced mine today. Took me two hours, at most. One hour was spent taking off the back aluminum plate cause I never did it before and I didn't want to break anything. If you're a little more aggressive than me, I'm sure you can do it under an hour.

I didn't take photos of every step, but this is the guide I used. And their pictures are what I would have taken to help you anyway: http://www.screentekinc.com/lcd-removal-instructions_en,macbookpro.shtml.

Here's some photos of the process. Nothing quite like saving $500 and exploring your own machine.

Before.
3218443061_4976633898.jpg


After.
3235153467_b96d12d0a7.jpg


3235154209_9e0d883a8d.jpg


The LCD panel itself quite something to hold by itself. It's amazingly thin, and beautiful to look at. I'm keeping the LED backlight for some possible future light table project.

TIPS:
- Easiest place to start prying the case open are the corners. Once you get a gap, slip something soft/plastic and just start sliding it across. The tabs on the bottom side are shorter, and easier to pop than the top ones.

-The glue they used to stick the panel to the aluminum bezel is F-IN strong. I bent my frame slightly, but since it's all screwed in anyway, you can't really see it. But you DON'T want to be putting too much pressure on the bezel. If it breaks completely, you'll have to get a new one. Metal don't bend back nicely, it's a materials property that they get stiffer as you bend them forward and back.

-I don't see a point to unplugging the inverter board power cable, but maybe there's some sort of sequence to follow. (ie. unplug inverter power before unplugging video card, etc) Or maybe in the old cold cathode backlights, the inverter is hooked up differently. In my LED backlit one, the inverter feeds power into the LCD's board, and the board then feeds a ribbon cable into the backlighting panel.


Added a quick case mod while I was at it.
3235173661_3d9ba32cca.jpg


:cool:
 
Ryan,
I can see from the photo that you didn't separate the screen part and the body part of the laptop. (which is one way to do)
How did you unscrew the screws in the bottom? I have been unsuccessfully trying to do that for hours.
 
delianka said:
Ryan,
I can see from the photo that you didn't separate the screen part and the body part of the laptop. (which is one way to do)
How did you unscrew the screws in the bottom? I have been unsuccessfully trying to do that for hours.
Click to expand...

From my experience, I was unable to get the screen apart without taking the entire panel away from the rest of the laptop. I spent a good 30 minutes or so trying to figure out how to do it, but in the end I just decided to take the whole thing apart.
 
Ryan1524 said:
I used the smallest flathead i can find and torqued away at the two bezel screws at a 90 degree angle. :)
Click to expand...

Okay, I am on it now..
I succeeded in unscrewing the two impossible screws... I will post it all later...
Working on the removing the bezel... It is scary cuz looks so fragile as if it will break..
 
delianka said:
Okay, I am on it now..
I succeeded in unscrewing the two impossible screws... I will post it all later...
Working on the removing the bezel... It is scary cuz looks so fragile as if it will break..
Click to expand...

Okay guys!
Mission accomplished. Apple can kiss my blond ass and will not get my f*** $500 to add towards their f**** corporate bonuses.
Guys, without your help though - I would have been lost.
Thank you all for helping me and putting links and advices on this thread for me.
Later tonight I will post a link with step by step photo manual and my tips on how all went. In a few days, probably a week I will have a film coming out on the same thing. The film will be for people like me - I am not a gig - I am just a poor student that doesn't know anything about computers and I am a victim of Apple's f**** "Accidental Damage" Policy. I will post links of it too whenever its ready. Yeah Apple, kiss my blond ass. My computer is working and nothing can stop me from digging again in it in case I need it and your corporate ass is not getting my money. :cool: I already overpaid tons of money in the moment I bought it.
 
delianka, congrats! the flickr photos are amazing! I didnt even see the post until just now. Wish I wouldve seen the pics before i started!
 
delianka said:
HERE IS MY MANUAL ON HOW TO REPLACE THE BROKEN LED.
I explain every photo and of course I recommended there that people look at my thread, and the other websites that I used to fix my computer.
ENJOY!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/delianka/sets/72157613103835605/
Click to expand...

Wow! That was the best instruction manual for fixing a screen EVER!!

Would you mind not deleting these photos from your Flickr? If you don't mind, I may use it as a reference for others who are in the same situation. ;)
 
Abstract said:
Wow! That was the best instruction manual for fixing a screen EVER!!

Would you mind not deleting these photos from your Flickr? If you don't mind, I may use it as a reference for others who are in the same situation. ;)
Click to expand...

Guys, I am absolutely NOT removing these photos from Flickr. Abstract, you can totally use the manual and resend it to people in need.
I want everyone to try fix their computers before deciding to pay Apple tons of money!
We should not put more money in their greedy corporate pockets since we already overpay for the MBPs.
 
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