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How-to Hotwire a MacBook Pro

lPHONE

lPHONE

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Nov 17, 2009
671
1
I have a 17" Macbook Pro that won't start up and I suspect the topcase ribbon cable. A few years ago, I discovered on an iBook G4, that you can complete the circuit by hotwring these 2 leads with a paperclip, thus starting up the machine.

I was wondering if anyone know of a way to do that on a 17" Core 2 Macbook Pro (non-unibody) :confused:
 
When did the MBP become a car? lol

But honestly, I wouldn't attempt it. Last time I tried that on a board, my finger got burned by a 1500 deg F circuit and I fried the entire thing.
 
I'm well aware of the risks.
I have baked logic boards (in the oven), resulting in their resurrection. Anyone know where the leads are?
 
beg borrow or steal a topcase. trust me when I say this is not an ibook and bound to end in sorrow if you pursue it with a paperclip.
 
fs454 said:
it's probably the 8600M GT failure. The computer seems to not respond to anything or make noise when this happens.
Click to expand...

if it was the Nvidia failure, it would still chime. but that's beside the point, I want to know how to hotwire the thing...

Hmmm... top case from a 15" MBP C2D? is the connector the same?
 
well it's official: i am now gay. :rolleyes: the 15" 2.5ghz topcase uses a different foxconn connector, so that was a big waste of time.
 
Disc Golfer said:
What does this have to do with your sexual preference?
Click to expand...
I'm sorry, we brits say things a little differently.
Our US friends choose to recreate words for some unknown reason. For instance: ******
But of course, what do we know about English?
 
l.a.rossmann said:
We won the war, we get to turn nice words into derogatory terms. :D
Click to expand...

If by we, you mean people that lived in the same relative area that you live ~300 years back? You are not a revolutionary, nor is the brit, as he calls himself, the headmaster of the English language.
 
ha i love how a crazy idea of hot-wiring a computer turned into a discussion of the use of the english language then spun off into the revolutionary war and the use of the word we. only on MR. what entertainment.:rolleyes:
 
lPHONE said:
I'm sorry, we brits say things a little differently.
Our US friends choose to recreate words for some unknown reason. For instance: ******
But of course, what do we know about English?
Click to expand...

speak for yourself, i thought you'd turned gay as well
regardless, take it to an apple store, a paperclip isn't the wisest (or safest) solution to your problem
 
Let those colonial types think what they like. We can afford to be magnanimous... :)

Regarding your original question, there are power-on pads on all Apple motherboards as far as I'm aware. Which specific Macbook Pro are you interested in? I can probably post a picture for you.
 
cal6n said:
Let those colonial types think what they like. We can afford to be magnanimous... :)

Regarding your original question, there are power-on pads on all Apple motherboards as far as I'm aware. Which specific Macbook Pro are you interested in? I can probably post a picture for you.
Click to expand...

The 15" 2.5GHz non-unibody. Thanks.

(btw, I have since replaced the topcase ribbon and it was indeed the culprit. However, I would still like to know- just to know.)
 
As a person with an Electrical background I implore you not to try this, its not worth the anger you will feel when the sparks fly. Just take it in man. DO IT!

Cheers!
 
Okay, I won't do it!

(would still like to know how, just in case)
 
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