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MacBook making weird noise, sluggish

amanda_renee

amanda_renee

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 1, 2020
3
0
My MacBook Pro 13” (A1278) was making a weird noise, and I thought it was the fan so I replaced that. When I started it back up after replacing the fan, it seemed to be running smoother, but then the noise started up again and my applications are running real sluggish and freeze up quite often. (They were doing that before.) It also gets really hot after awhile.
Would appreciate any help in figuring out what this could be.
Attached are some videos. The noise is coming from the top right corner/side.



 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thanks! That’s what someone else told me. Since my MacBook is pretty old, I’m thinking about just upgrading to a newer model.
 
BACKUP YOUR INTERNAL DRIVE RIGHT NOW. You are in danger of losing your files!
I recommend using CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper.
Both are FREE to download and use for 30 days.
Both will create a BOOTABLE cloned backup of the internal drive.
If the internal drive fails, you can connect the backup, and then boot and run from it, same as if it were "inside".

The hard drive is showing signs of wear and/failure.

You could replace it with a 2.5" SATA SSD if you want.
They're cheap, and ANYONE can do this job, it's that easy.
I'd suggest a Crucial or Sandisk SSD.
500gb would do fine, and they're not expensive.

Go to ifixit.com to see what's involved.
BE SURE TO USE THE RIGHT TOOLS.
You'll need a Phillips #00 driver and a TORX T-6 driver for the "nubs" on the side of the drive.
 
The drive is dying. I’d focus on copying the <username> folder to an external drive, as that will save the documents and user settings.

with the drive dying, there’s no way to tell how much bit rot has already occurred, and there could be corrupted system files and the like. My opinion is it would be vetter to reinstall the system and applications from scratch,in order to limit possible corruption.
 
I
Fishrrman said:
BACKUP YOUR INTERNAL DRIVE RIGHT NOW. You are in danger of losing your files!
I recommend using CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper.
Both are FREE to download and use for 30 days.
Both will create a BOOTABLE cloned backup of the internal drive.
If the internal drive fails, you can connect the backup, and then boot and run from it, same as if it were "inside".

The hard drive is showing signs of wear and/failure.

You could replace it with a 2.5" SATA SSD if you want.
They're cheap, and ANYONE can do this job, it's that easy.
I'd suggest a Crucial or Sandisk SSD.
500gb would do fine, and they're not expensive.

Go to ifixit.com to see what's involved.
BE SURE TO USE THE RIGHT TOOLS.
You'll need a Phillips #00 driver and a TORX T-6 driver for the "nubs" on the side of the drive.
Click to expand...

I have my laptop shut down right now and am in the process of getting a new one. Am I in danger of losing anything if it’s not running?
 
What Fishrrman says is true. Get yourself a 500gb SSD (I use the Crucial MX500 series, they're less than $70 for 500gb) and an inexpensive USB3 enclosure for it. Download Carbon Copy Cloner, install the SSD in the enclosure, clone the internal drive to the SSD. After cloning, shut down the computer and use these instructions - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202796 - to boot from the external SSD to test your cloned drive. If all runs well shut down the computer and install the ssd into the MBP (really just about anyone can do it, just follow the instructions at https://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/macbookpro_13_unibody_mid12_hd/ ). You will be surprised how fast your 2012 MBP is now. I have two of them, great computers.
 
amanda_renee said:
Am I in danger of losing anything if it’s not running?
Click to expand...
Not likely, but to be sure don't move it around too much. Internal drive assemblies are supposed to lock in place when turned off, but since you drive is failing it's hard to know that for sure. If it were mine I would be OK moving it around, but I would use some care in placing it on a hard surface. I wouldn't let it bang around in the trunk of a car.

The newer models are nice, and if it fits you budget and workflow, go get it! But as all have noted above, a 500GB SSD is well under $100, and some sellers include the necessary tools. Your 2012 will perform better than new. @justashooter explains it well. One thing to note if you proceed: most of the small case screws don't go straight in, but at a slight (15 degree) angle. Take note of them to avoid stripping.
 
I upgraded this machine with ssd. Makes a huge difference.

It’s a shame that Apples current model of soldered parts could Now render a machine trash for such a failure.
 
Jimmy James said:
Now render a machine trash for such a failure.
Click to expand...
You mean the failure of the SSD that is soldered into the motherboard? SSDs are very much more reliable, and longer lifespan, than HDD. Yes, it would be better if these were socketed, at least IMHO.
 
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